British Ambassador arrives in Maungdaw, Arakan
Maungdaw, Arakan State: British Ambassador to Burma Andrew Heyn accompanied by two others arrived in Maungdaw in the evening of October 3, according to a trader from Maungdaw Town.
“The Ambassador was accompanied by two others, of them, one is Muslim, and another one is Burman from Rangoon. They stayed in Nasaka headquarters of Kawar Bill of Maungdaw Township.”
Today, at about 9:30 am, the delegation went to Baggona, Horsara and Nurula Para and Ale Than Kyaw villages of Maungdaw Township where especially they met with rape victims, village elders and leaders. Most of the women and girls were raped by army, Hluntin, Nasaka and Natala villagers when the husbands were absent at homes for fear of arrest by the security forces. The victims openly told their matter to the delegation, said a village elder who denied to be named.
The delegation also asked to the village leaders and elders about the recent violence, the present situation of Roingya community and why the violence was occurred.
Regarding the questions villagers said, “During the violence, the Rakhine mobs were torching our houses and when we tried to extinguish the fire the security forces fired to us, so we are unable to switch off our houses. Meanwhile, many villagers were killed and wounded.
Another villager said, “The concerned authorities have been persecuted us by various means to expel us from the country. But, we still exist in Arakan. As a result, the concerned authorities created these riots between two communities.”
“The present situation is very bad. Daily the security forces such as—police, Hluntin, Nasaka, Sarapa, army--- enter our villages, and arrest villagers, torture, extort money, looting our properties, take away our cattle, and rape our women and girls. Now, we are under house arrest, We are not allowed to go to market to buy essentials. If police, army and local Rakhine extremists met us- they beat up and looted our money and goods. Even army robbed a bus of Rohingya passengers recently. How, can we trust them? We have no ration, no medicine, no money, no works, how will we survive. There are NGOs and other donors to support us, said a local leader on condition of anonymity.
A local youth from the village said, “Ten minutes before, the arrival of the delegation to our village, a group of patrol army severely tortured to a poor villager without any reason who was selling vegetables in Sarcombo village market.. He is belong to Konna Para ( village). This event was also appraised to the delegation.
Yesterday, the delegation arrived at Akyab (Sittwe) at about 3:00 pm. The Ambassador met RNDP Chairman Dr U Aye Maung along with other members of RNDP, Phethu Hluttaw member U Maung Nyu of Sittwe, NLD members, USDP members and other social welfare organization members.
They also met with Rohingya leaders in Sittwe (Akyab) and went to Refugee camps to see the situation of Rohingya refugees, said a Rohingya villager from Sittwe.
The aim of the delegation is to discuss with the local people, especially Rakhine and Rohingy, regarding the violence and how they will live together in future. The two groups;- Rohingyas want to stay together as before and the Rakhine want to stay spreatly as they don’t want again conflict( riot).
The Ambassador said that the British government donated 3 million US Dollar to Burma this year, for education, regional and social developments.
Tonight, they will stay at Nasaka Headquarters of Maungdaw Township.
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