Kaladan Press Network

Dated:  July 15, 2002

Census carried out in North Arakan

 By Our Correspondent

Akyab, 15 July: The government is conducting

population census in the areas inhabited by Rohingyas,

particularly in the townships of Akyab, Buthidaung and

Maungdaw in Arakan state, said a  source close to

District Peace and Development Council (DPDC).

The Township Peace and Development Councils (TPDCs)

which supervised the census have made several teams

consisting of personnel from immigration and police

departments. They have started taking census in the

townships of Maundaw, Buthidaung and Akyab

respectively from 1st, 6th and 10th June, he further

added.

According to sources from many villagers, the census

teams are openly demanding money only from the

Rohingyas to conduct proper count of their household

members. The bribe money varies from place to place

ranging from Kyat 500 to 2,000 per family. Except the

Rohingyas and Hindus other communities are exempted

from bribe money.

According to a Rohingya politician, ‘there is a hidden

motive behind this census since it has been carried

out discriminately in the Rohingya areas’.#

Editor

Kaladan Press