KALADAN NEWS
Dated: Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Bridges Construction by Forced Labor in Western Burma Border
Maungdawa, July 27: Nasaka (Burmese-Border Security Force) authorities are busy with bridges construction by forced labor in Maungdaw north, Arakan State, western Burma Border, according to a local villager of Bawli Bazar of Maungdaw Township.
Since 3rd week of June 2004, about 500 indigeneous Rohingyas (Arakanese) from different villages of Maungdaw north have been engaged with the construction of bridges on the road, which is connecting from Ye Aung Tha Phwai (Rani) to Kyien Chaung (Bawli Bazar) road, he further said.
The villagers were ordered by Nasaka that the bridges should be completed by the end of August 2004, while the 5 large and other culverts are being constructed of cements, stones, wood and other materials, a youth from Rani village while he visited his relatives in border area told our source.
Five large bridges are being built at Latya Chaung (creek), Pa Da Kah Dai Whan Ali Chaung (Deyal Toli), Wed Kiang Chaung (Wed Kyin), Ta Man Thar Chaung (Shab Bazar) and Kyanug Na Phay Chaung (Mazir Para). All these bridges would be built with 150 pillars of different sizes, which to be provided by the Rohingya indigenous people who are living nearby villages, the youth further added.
In fact, the SPDC authorities have already authorized to their collaborators and Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) members for these bridges construction. Of them Chit Maung and Kalu from Kamauk Seik village are the main leading persons who received wages for workers from concerned authorities to pay the villagers who were working at the constructing site. But, these collaborators used the money for their personal purposes with the cooperation of some Nasaka authorities. But, the laborers have not received one of the Kyats, said a local schoolteacher who refused not to write his name.
The collaborators informed deceitfully to the concerned authorities that the villagers fully didn’t comply with their order to complete the construction of the bridges. We (collaborators) have given the money to the villagers who participated in the construction of bridges. So, we need help from Nasaka to implement it. So, Nasaka forced the villagers for forced labor to work in the constructing site, the schoolteacher more added.
SPDC is responsible for these bridges construction as it is the main road while the other paths and small roads were funded and completed by NGOs, UNHCR and WFP, said a elderly villager.
When some villagers asked concerned Nasaka authorities appraising their difficulties, they said, “ You are indigenous people of this area. So, it is your duty and these roads and bridges are your properties. You should take care of your works. For your services, government authorities have paid to your village leaders for these bridges constructions. They (village leaders) say that the money has been paid to you. If you don’t receive, you can ask from them, but you should complete the works in time.”
Due to continuous working, the villagers are facing various problems of food, malnutrition, health and etc, the elderly villager further added.
When Gen. Khin Nyunt (the then Secretary-I and the present Prime Minister of SPDC) visited the area on 7/8 of May 2004, some villagers from Kamauk Siek village have requested to him for this road construction by the help of government. General assured them the road would be constructed by the state aid.
However, at present, the construction is going on, not by the state aid but by the people’s forced labor that have been continuing since last many years back. # #
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