"Current situation on Arakan (August 1, 2012)"

Arakan, Burma 

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

"Yesterday, Mr. Quintana could not visit Buthidaung. The Army Intelligence ( Sarapa ) trickfully, took him again to Muangdaw South, Charkumba village near Alethengyaw to show Natala village and meet Buddhist Rakhines and Monks instead of real victims. It was because Mr. Quintana planned to visit Buthidaung Jail yesterday to meet the Rohingyas arrested by the security forces during the riot. Shockingly, last night, all the Rohingyas from Buthidaung Jail were shifted to another place and kept them in a Godown. Today, Mr. Quintana again arrived Buthidaung from Akyab. And we are looking forward to more news. 

Besides, Shahid Ullah ( 28 ) s/o Asharaf, an educated person and NGO worker, from Badurpara of Alethangyaw, got access to talk Mr. Quintana for only 15 minutes. Within 15 minutes and without interpreter, he bravely unveiled and re-counted the tragedy of merciless persecution of Myanmar security forces on Rohingyas during and after the riot . Soon after Mr.Quintana's departure, he suddenly disappeared from the village. The villagers assumed that he went to hide out due to fear of reprisal from the side of army intelligence( Sarapa ). Obviously, the military were on look for him the whole night in his village. His family members, either, do not know where he is about. All are very anxious about his fate. We should express congratulations and gratitude to him for his sacrifice for the community and kindly pray for his safety." informed by A. Faiz from Maung Daw. 

"Meanwhile, a high ranking police officer namely U Hla Sein (tel:0949676422) is taking extraordinary step towards cruelty and tortures in Maung Daw. On 29.07.2012 at 1 pm, this police officer came to the "Three Diamonds Gold Shop" and arrested the shop owner "Anwar." Then he was tortured nearly to death and finally at 11 pm he was released with 5 million kyats. The police officer frequently arrest people who are out for shopping and arbitrarily extorting extra amount of money. He listed some 40 people name from Quarter 5. Then, these people are asked to call his number. When the people contact him, he is always demanding money. When some people reply that they are unable to do so, they are threatened to be killed. In short, he is doing all kinds of brutalities, tortures, arbitrary extortion of money. There are various kinds of brutalities are taking place on the ground without the permission or the consent of Myanmar's higher authorities because the people in the police force and Hluntin (security Guards) are Rakhines themselves. We request to your media to publish this news in an effort to make the news reach to higher authority of Myanmar and International community." a Rohingya victim from Maung Daw reported. 

Compiled by M.S. Anwar 

RB News