Arbitrary Arrests of Rohingyas and Subsequent Extortion of Money

RB News 

March 31, 2013

Maung Daw, Arakan - On March 12, 2013, a 15-year-old abnormal Rohingya child from the village of Waccha, (Nearby Alay-Than-Kyaw), Maung Daw, was abducted by NaSaKa (Border Security Force) from the commandment area (7). Now, NaSaKa is demanding humongous amount of money for his release. 

“Asmat Ullah S/o Umzul Haque is an abnormal child. He is just 15. NaSaKa from the commandment area 7 abducted him on 12th March 2013. He has not been released yet as his parents are unable to pay the money demanded by NaSaKa. He has not committed any crime. He was just abducted to extort money from his parents as doing so is so usual these days” said local Rohingya to RB News. 

Major Aung Naing Oo is the commander of the NaSaKa area 7 and under his commandment; Rohingyas are facing arbitrary arrests and with extortion of huge amount of money. Besides, a 25-year-old Rohingya youth from Tharay-Kunbaung, Maung Daw, was arrested by NaSaKa from the same area under the false accusation of using Bangladesh Phone Network (i.e. Bangladesh Sim Card). 

“On Thursday, 28th March 2013, at night, Jawat Ullah S/o U Rabi Ullah was arrested by NaSaKa from the camp 14, commandment area 7 under the false accusation of using Bangladesh Sim Card. Arresting Rohingyas by so accusing is so regular these days. And his family is unable to pay the amount demanded by the in-charge of the camp. So, he has not been released yet” said a Rohingya from Maung Daw. 

NaSaKa normally keep many Rohingyas in detention under different accusations and release them after the extortion of money. Sadly, they are not even sparing the above-mentioned abormal child and the youth from poor family background and it is believed that the detainees will be released after their demand has been fulifilled. 

On top of having been being tortured by NaSaKa, Rohingyas have to endure the troubles caused by Special Investigation Branch (SaSaSa). On 28th March 2013, the incharge of SaSaSa, U Aung Kyaw Thein, beat and arrested Kayfayat Ullah S/o Noor Ahmed, 26, from Alay-Than-Kyaw, Maung Daw. 

“Kayfayat Ullah was arrested under a forged case of taking part in the riot at the Bazaar of Alay-Than-Kyaw on 12th June 2012. He was beaten by the in-charge of SaSaSa on the spot and is now detained in the cell of SaSaSa. The in-charge demanded Kyat 500,000 from the family of Kayfayat Ullah. The next day, the family of Kayfayat Ullah got him released after paying Kyat 400,000. 

“Few days before this case took place, the elder brother of Kayfayat Ullah had faced with a similar arrest, torture and detention. He, too, had to bribe Kyat 400,000 to U Aung Kyaw Thein for his release” said a villager.