KALADAN NEWS

Date: Monday, September 13, 2004

 

Sentry imposed in Northern Arakan for SPDC authorities

 

Maungdaw, Sept. 13: Recently, Western Command Commander imposed sentry on Rohingya villagers to ensure the security of SPDC authorities in Northern Arakan.

 

Everyday, a number of 20 villagers are being engaged to stay in sentry posts in every village of Maungdaw Township since the end of August 2004 that was ordered in the first week of August 2004. Of them, 10 for daytime and another 10 for nighttime, while a section of Nasaka (Border Disciplinary Control Force) forces or military also have been patrolling and checking the sentries in every village at night. But, illagers have to provide food to the patrolling forces, said a villager from Maungdaw.

 

Based on a robbery that occurred on 4th August 2004 at Dar Bine Sara (Dawin Sarah) village of Buthidaung north, Nasaka authorities imposed the order of the Western Command Commander, he further said.

 

A gang of robbers, consisting of 12 from bordering Bangladesh went to the said village and committed robbery at the house of Khalu, Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) Chairman of Dabin Sara village of Buthidaung Township. They looted cash and valuables worth about Kyat- 11, 47,000/-. Some robbers are identified as Nagu, 40, Dolu Hossain, 42, who are originally Burmese (undocumented refugees) but living at Nhila village of Teknaf, Bangladesh while another two are Bangladeshi origin named Jafar 30, son of Shafi Alam and Shaker, 25, son of Habibur Rahman from Nayapara, the bordering village of Bangladesh, said Mono Mia, a Bangladeshi villager from Nhila who has relation with robbers.

 

The armed robbers went Burma, crossing the Naf River and the Mayu Mountain deep forest, which is laying Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships, he further said.

 

Nasaka authorities said, “This gang is not robbers. They are a group of insurgents, come from Bangladesh, as their target is the VPDC chairman and may be the SPDC authorities. Otherwise, they may commit robbery to others in Maungdaw.” 

 

But, a villager said “Such incident is taking place in the area due to negligence by police and Nasaka. We know that security must be provided to the civilians while they feel insecure. It is a prime duty for the military or Nasaka who are holding arms. Despite guarding us, now we have to guard them.” # #

 

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