Hussain (not his real name) lives in Aley Than Kyaw Village, Maungdaw, in Arakan State, western Burma. The 45 year-old Rohingya daily labourer and his family are facing a food crisis because of sharp increases in food costs and high unemployment in his area.
He told the Kaladan Press (KPN) that he is the only wage earner in the family, supporting his wife and two daughters.
“Frequently, I go to mountain to collect firewood and sell it in the local market. I repair fences and houses.” Hussain said in a recent interview.
“I earn Kyat 1,000 to 1,500 daily (less than $2.00 USD). If I can’t find work for a day, our family cannot eat,” he said.
“My income is not sufficient for my family because of high prices. For instance, a kilo of rice is being sold at between 300 to 350 Kyat today. However, two months ago a kilo of rice was sold for 200 to 300 Kyat. And, a kilo of normal fish is 1,500 to 2,000 Kyat. A kilo of beef is sold for Kyat 2,500 to 3,500 but two months ago, it was 2,000 to 3,000 kyat. Now, a kilo of red chilli is being sold for 2,000 kyat, a kilo of onion is 800 kyat and one liter of cooking oil is 2,400 kyat in Aley Than Kyaw.”
The onset of rainy season is making things even more difficult for the family.
“I can’t go to mountain to collect firewood regularly because of heavy rain. So, my family is facing a food crisis. We can eat once per day; there is not enough food available to eat more than that.”
Husain’s challenges are compounded by harassment from police personnel and Nasaka (Burma’s border security force) personnel who frequently arrest woodcutters and fine them 2,000 to 3,000 kyat per head for going to the forest and taking wood without permission.
“I can’t feed good fish to my family members and am only able to feed beef to my family members during religious festivals when the Muslims sacrifice cattle and provide (meat) to poor families,” he said.
“It makes cry that my six-year old daughter can’t go to school because we cannot afford the fees. When a child is admitted to a primary school, teachers will take admission fees of 1,500 kyat per head and families also need to buy excises books. Where will I get this money so that I can send my daughter to school?.”
Like Hussain, many daily laborers and poor families are also facing the same difficulties in the village.
A primary school teacher from Aley Than Kyaw said that is especially true for poor people are who have 5 to 8 children.
He said in an interview poor villagers have to stand guard duty at night in their village. However, those who can afford to pay bribes do not have to because they paid money to the village Chairman- monthly or yearly- which goes to the Nasaka (Border Guards).
“The night sentry duty is very difficult for the villagers,” he said. “They work the whole day for their survival. After returning to their homes, they have to follow orders from Burma’s border security force to serve as night sentries.”
And, he said, “The villagers are further harassed when the Nasaka tours around the village because they arrest, torture and fine the sentries over allegations that they are sleeping while on duty.”
Rohingyas also face restrictions on movement without permission from authorities.
For example, Rohingya people are not allowed to go to Akyab (Sittwee), the capital of Arakan State, to receive adequate health services.
A former Rohingya elder said in an interview, “We hope, we will get some concessions from Burmese authorities after the November 10, 2010 elections, including freedom of movement, access to medical facilities, education and equal rights enjoyed by other ethnic groups. We are concerned about our future in Arakan State. Harassment against the Rohingya community is increasing day by day.”
So far, the newly elected government has not taken any steps to initiate changes called for by the Rohingya Muslim Community in the Arakan State.
Instead, the Burmese government arbitrarily arrests, fines, tortures and extorts large sums of money from Rohingya villagers.
