KALADAN NEWS
December 16, 2002

FOUR FISHERMEN ARRESTED IN AKYAB FOR MURDER OF TWO WOMEN AND THROWING OF TWO OTHER MEN INTO THE RIVER

Sittwe, December 16,2002: Four Rohingya fishermen were arrested in Akyab (Sittwe) for murdering and robbing two Rakhine women and for throwing two other Rakhine men into the river while they were crossing the mouth of the Kaladan river on 11th November 2002, according to our source in the Police Department.

On the day of occurrence, two Rakhine women one married and the other unmarried accompanied by two other Rakhine men were going to Pauktaw town, in a motorboat from Sittwe, the capital of the Arakan State, after selling their goods at Sittwe. While they were crossing the mouth of the Kaladan River, the engine of their motorboat was suddenly stopped due to mechanical trouble, he further added.

Then the motorboat was blown bare by strong wind and struck by rough waves. At that time, the boatmen asked a group of five Rohingya fishermen, who were passing through them in a fishing boat, for help. Instead of helping them, the fishermen killed the two women, robbed their gold ornaments and money while the two other Rakhine men were thrown into the river. One of the elderly fishermen strongly opposed this heinous action of the fellow fishermen. But he was overpowered and was tied to a pole with a rope and had thus become completely helpless, an elderly villager from Nazirpara told our source.

Later, the two Rakhine men were rescued by another boat and were sent to Akyab hospital, he further added.

The news spread ‘like wild fire’ and caused large-scale dissatisfaction among the people of all communities. The people, particularly the Rohingyas, worried that the incident might lead to intolerance between two sisters communities of Rakhines and Rohingyas, a Rohingya community leader from Akyab said. .

The aforesaid elderly Rohingya fisherman, on arrival at Akyab, revealed the real happening to the concerned authorities lamenting that the action was inhuman and demanded stern action against the culprits, he further said.

In early February 2001, a riot broke out in Akyab following a problem with a Rohingya woman vendor created by an intelligence person in disguise of a Buddhist monk. Some Rohingyas were killed, their houses were burnt dawn into ashes and a number of them arrested by the police and military intelligence personnel, said an ex- teacher to our correspondent.

Sources said, the city has been put on high alert and security forces have been asked to be on watch round the clock to avoid communal riot of any kind. All strata of Rohingya people strongly condemned this heinous action. Now the situation in Akyab is normal. #

Editor
Kaladan Press