“On August 5, at about 10 am, the Western Command Commander went to Maungdaw along with local officers including Nasaka Director Lt. Col. Aung Gyi, district administration officers, and township administration officers with tight security. They went there by six cars to survey Nasaka Areas Nos. 1, 2, and 3 where the Commander met with local concerned authorities. After discussions with them, the Commander returned to the Nasaka Headquarters at around 2 pm.”

However, the Commander returned to Sittwe (Akyab), the capital of Arakan State, on August 6. The commander spent the night at Nasaka Headquarters of Kyi Gan Pyin under Maungdaw Township.

The Commander had a program to pay visits to all Nasaka areas in Maungdaw Township, but the commander later cancelled part of the schedule. The reason for the cancellation is unknown, another aide of Nasaka said on condition of anonymity.

Whenever former Western Commander visits Maungdaw Township, he meets with local officers, and sometimes Natala villagers who have been brought to Arakan State for settlement from other parts of Burma. The authorities keep the travels of the Western Commander secret from local villagers.

Villagers believe that the trip of the Western Commander is very important for local administrators, and indicated some points to the local authorities to implement against the Rohingya people, said a local elder who declined to be named.