Kaladan News

Dated: July 15, 2003

BURMA-BANGLADESH BORDER ALERT

Taungbro (Maungdaw) July 15: From last week of June 2003, the border security forces of both Burma and Bangladesh are on alert all along the border due to possible sporadic fresh influx of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, according to our correspondent.

At present, about 80 Rohingya families, most of whom were repatriated refugees from Bangladesh have, in their attempt to cross the border to Bangladesh, gathered in a bordering village of Taungbro Left in Nasaka Sector No.3. After repatriation, they are not properly rehabilitated in their original places and are denied the right to own their lands and properties, sources said.

The returnees are living under constant threat of the authorities, who are accusing the Rohingyas of Bangladeshis, while creating impossible situation for them to continue a peaceful living in their own homeland, a VPDC member said. Now they are in complete despair over the recent arrest of Burmese democracy leader Daw Suu Kyi, he further added.

Most of these uprooted families are from Taungbazar area of Buthidaung township and Tamintha area of Maungdaw Township. Restriction on paddy cultivation, price hike of essentials, land confiscation, forced taxation, forced labor and humiliating restriction on their movement even within the same locality are some of the root causes of their displacement, source further said.

During the recent weeks, some of these internally displaced people had entered into Bangladesh. Of them about 20 newcomers were arrested by Bangladesh Border security Forces (BDR) and were sent to jail. On the other hand, the Nasaka is dispersing the gathering of such uprooted people on their side of the border, another source said. #

Md. Sadek

Staff Reporter

Kaladan Press Network