KALADAN NEWS

Dated: July 22, 2004

A ROHINGYA BEATEN TO DEATH FOR FORCED LABOR IN NORTHERN ARAKAN

Maungdaw, July 22: A Rohingya (Arakanese) was beaten to death by Nasaka (Burmese- Border Security Force) for forced labor on 15^th July 2004 in Maungdaw north, Arakan State of Burma, said a villager from the village.

Victim, Abdus Salam, (50), hails from Hlaing Thi village tract of Mangdaw Township, Arakan State of Burma. He was engaged for forced labor in construction of a bridge over the Laya Chaung (creek) accompanied by other villagers. In one stage, he was taking rest as he became very tired in carrying of heavy stones from hillsides to the constructing bridge for a long time. The bridge has been constructing with wood and stones, he more added.

Another laborer named Nur Hossain asked Abdus Salam to carry stones continuously, but the he refused to carry stones anymore and abusing the Nasaka forces in the absence of them. Abruptly, Nur Hussain informed this to a concerned Nasaka and the Nasaka became furious and went straight to the victim and hit on his head with a stick while he was taking rest. As a result, he was dead on the spot, said a relative of him.

Some villagers said, “This demise is not intentionally but by accident.”

Soon after, Nasaka ordered to the laborers to bury the dead body. So, the neighboring laborers carried the dead body to his family members and buried at their local cemetery without any post-mortem.

All the forced laborers are Rohingyas while new Buddhists settlers are exempted from forced labor, said another villager who was engaged in forced labor with the victim.

For the construction of the bridge, hundreds of Rohingyas have been engaged in forced labor since last month, he further said.

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