KaladanNews

Dated- July 29, 2003, Tues

A MOTOR BOAT SEIZED AND EXTORTED

Chittagong, July 29: On July 10, 2003, a motorboat carrying 22 bulls was seized by Nasaka (Bordr Security Force) of Area No. 8 of Maungdaw Township and was later released after paying a bribe of 2.8 million Kyats, a border trader said to our source.

A syndicate to carry on border trade was formed by three Rakhines from Rathedaung town, about 35 miles north of Akyab, and three Rohingyas (including Maung Bu (alias) Koram Ali) from Nazir Para quarter of Akyab, the capital of Arakan State, with a capital of Kyat 2.4 million for border trade, source further added.

On July 10, 2003, at about 12:00 noon, when a Nasaka team from Nasaka Area No. 8 patrolling in an engine boat saw a motorboat with full load of cattle was crossing the Naf river over to Bangladesh they (Nasaka) chased and seized it by firing five blank shots, one of the victims said to our source.

The boat was carried to Nasaka camp, and during the time of unloading of all 22 bulls in it, three of the 9 boatmen managed escape and the remaining 6 were held up in Nasaka custody, he further added.

After three days, that is on July 14, 2003, the Nasaka released all the boatmen together with boat and bulls on payment of a bribe of Kyat 2.8 million, another relative told our correspondent.

Though there is a ban on export of cattle from Burma to neighboring countries, the said consignment of bulls was legally exported by using licenses duly issued by the ruling military regime officials for the purpose of border trade, he further said. ##