Kaladan News


Date: Sunday, August 29, 2004


Nasaka Authorities Declared Forced Labor Prohibited in Northern Arakan


Maungdaw, August 29:  On 12th August 2004, Nasaka(Burmese- Border Security Force) authorities declared forced labor is prohibited in Northern Arakan from August 12, 2004 to infinity, according to our correspondent.


But, the villagers of Fakira Bazar (Kha Moung Zeik), Shab Bazar(Ta Man Thar), Bawli Bazar( Kyein Chaung) of Maungdaw township in Arakan State, western Burma have been engaged in forced labor for construction of bridges, he further added.


Regarding the forced labor, local UNHCR authorities gave allegation to the concerned Nasaka authorities, said a schoolmaster from the locality.


On May 2, 2004, when the General Khin Nyunt visited the Northern Arakan, local people requested him to build a road, which is connecting to Bawli Bazar from Aung Tha Pray village of Maungdaw Township. Therefore, he gave Kyat 15,000,000/-(US$ 16,666) to the Director of Nasaka( Burmese- Border Security Force) for construction of road, he more added.


Afterwards, the Director of Nasaka held a meeting with local Sector commanders of No.2 and 4 of Maungdaw Township and discussed how to build the road and the bridges, said a Village PDC member.


After that the said Sector commanders held another meeting with nearby Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) Chairmen and discussed the construction of road and bridges with forced labor of villagers although they have got money from General Khin Nyunt. Villagers surprised that though the authority received money for construction of road and bridges, why did they don’t pay any money to the workers, the village VPDC member further said.


Photos were taken by local UNHCR while the villagers were constructing the bridges and road. UNHCR has submitted these documents to the ILO office of Geneva to show them so far the ruling military junta is taking forced labor in Northern Arakan. May be, ILO office of Geneva gave allegation to the Burmese ruling junta about the forced labor, an intellectual of the village said.


On 8th August 2004, a 5-member delegation from Rangoon led by Deputy Minister of Progress of border areas, national races and development affairs arrived at Maungdaw Township to query about the forced labor, said a local leader, whose name was not given.


Before the arrival of delegation from Rangoon, the Director of Nasaka, the said two Nasaka Sector Commanders, the District Peace and Development Council (DPDC) Chairman with the cooperation of the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) Chairman U Zaw Win alias U Khalu have prepared documents, taking signatures from the concerned villagers stating that they didn’t take forced labor for construction of bridges and provided the daily salary to the workers, those who involved in construction of bridges, said a local villager who participated in forced labor.


The local authorities have placed some documents and some villagers who gave signatures in blank papers, before the delegation, as evidence that they (local authorities) were not involved in taking forced labor from villagers. The villagers have already been advised not to tell about the forced labor, said a local elderly people.


After the investigations, the delegation left for Rangoon and the local concerned authorities declared verbally on 12thth August 2004 that forced labor is prohibited in this area from today to infinity. If any authority takes labor, he/she would pay Kyat-500/-per day. But, at present, the daily labor is Kyat-1, 000, he further added.


However, Nasaka is still taking forced labor from Rohingya villagers on construction of 120 houses for a model village for newcomers at Wabag village, near Nasaka headquarters of Maungdaw Township. Besides, it will be completed by the end of this month. ##


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