No Rohingyas Camped Across the Naf River to Cross the Border

Maungdaw, November 8: There were no Rohingyas from the Burma Province of Arakan State have camped across the Naf River for last couple of days with intent to cross into Bangladesh, according to our correspondent from Maungdaw town.

There were no riots in Akyab (Sittwe), the capital of Arakan State and Maungdaw Township. Therefore, there was no possibility for Rohingyas to camp across the Naf River. But they are living in fear-provoking position at whatever time riot will be broken out between two sisters’ communities by instigation of SPDC authorities, he further added.

Meanwhile, the villagers of Lemosori of Bangladesh found 9 slaughtered Rohingyas in the jungle at Nasaka Area No. (1) near the Bandola Nasaka Camp of Maungdaw Township, while they were going to cut bamboos on November 5, 2003. Bangladeshi people usually go to Burma side to cut wood and bamboos with understanding of Nasaka (Border Security Force), said a villager of Lemosori.

It is believed that the non-Arakanese Buddhist settlers (Burman settlers) with the collaboration of Nasaka slaughtered the said Rohingyas to create the chaotic situation in Maungdaw Township, said a villager of lemosori, who formerly lived in Nasaka area No. (1) in Maungdaw Township.

The communal riots have caused unrest in the towns of Myit Tha Town on 11^th October, on 19^th October in Kyaukse in Mandalay Division in Burma including its capital Rangoon on 29^th October, although ruling military junta to be normal officially stated the situation. In Kyaukse, 11 Muslims were killed in the riot including one famous Muslim Physician named U Than Myint including with his 8 family members. Earlier, all the Doctor’s family members were stabbed into death in the house and burnt it into ashes. Three mosques were completely destroyed and some houses were also burned down, a trader from Rangoon said to our Press.

On October 31, 2003, a SPDC member Brigdier Khin Maung Than, ex-Commander of Rangoon Command came at Maungdaw Town and held a meeting with elite of the town, officials of the all departments and the Chairmen of all Village Peace and Development Council. In the meeting, he asked the participants to live peacefully, not create communal riot, sell the paddy any one who pays current rate and not to sell out of the country, a participant in the meeting said to our source. ##