Maungdaw, Arakan State: Recently, Major Sein Win, the commander of Nasaka Area No. 7 of Maungdaw Township illegally extorted money from villagers in Maungdaw Township by arresting and torturing the villagers, said a local trader on condition of anonymity.
On April 1, Maulvi Abdul Hamid (36), son of Nuzu Meah, was arrested by Nasaka personnel from Aley Than Kyaw Nasaka Camp over allegations that he was involved in the recent killing of a Nasaka collaborator. After arrest, he was brought to the Nasaka camp where he was severely tortured. He was continually tortured there for three days and his head was severely hit, he continued.
A relative of the victim said, “The victim is innocent. He does not know about the murder case of the Nasaka collaborator. The Nasaka deliberately arrests people and extorts money from them after severely torturing them.”
On April 4, the victim was released after paying 900,000 kyats, said a close relative of the victim.
“In addition, on April 4, at about 4:00 p.m., a group of 10 youths from Maungdaw Town, including Abdu Korim (22), son of Ali Akber, and Nur Mohamed (23), son of Somi Ullah, went to the beach of Aley Than Kyaw for a picnic.”
Upon being informed, Naska Commander Major Sein Win himself led a group of Nasaka personnel to the beach and asked the youths why they paid a visit to the Aley Than Kyaw beach.
“The youths answered to the commander that they went there for a picnic. Hearing the answer, the commander himself beat up the youths and said they were not allowed to come to the beach.” The Nasaka also took all of the chickens that the youths brought to the beach for the picnic.
A local elder said, “It is nothing but harassment to the Rohingya community.”
In addition, on April 2, at about 10:00 a.m., the Nasaka personnel of Aley Than Kyaw Nasaka Outpost Camp looted 3,000 kyats from two persons while they were traveling to Aley Than Kyaw Village from Maungdaw Town by car. They were identified as Ruhul Amin, son of Motiur Rahman, and Jaker, son of Ali Ahmed. Both of them belong to Aley Than Kyaw Village. They went to Maungdaw to join Tabalique Jamat (a religious group) and returned to their homes after finishing their duties at Tabalique Jamat. Tabalique Jamat is a group that preaches only religious matters, said a local elder who prefers not to be named.
People believed that some of the restrictions against the Rohingya community would be reduced after the new government was set up. However, Rohingya villagers continue to suffer from various forms of persecution under the Nasaka authorities. So the vision of the people is quite different from the present situation.
“Most of the people say, ‘Old wine, new bottle’. There will be no change,” said a businessman from Maungdaw.
