Deceptions and Fears Escalate in Arakan as the Cyclone Approaches

Maung Auther 

Narrative Article 

Rohingya Blogger 

May 16, 2013

During the period natural disasters, any responsible government, in any corner of the world, remains engaged in evacuation programs and taking protective steps in order to save its citizens or people from disasters. And Cyclone storm approaches Arakan coast, which is now barely around 300 miles away from the coast. But Burmese regime is up to deceiving the world with its usual cunning and apartheid methods. And of course, the domestic media in Burma are not but on par with Burmese regime in deceptions and lying. The Burmese government is telling the world that it is relocating the displaced Rohingyas to the higher places in order to protect them from the possible disasters. The domestic media are biblically spreading the news as such. 

But how is the regime helping Rohingyas in moving to the safer places? All the Rohingyas in all over Arakan have the same account to say. Let’s have a look into the miserable situation that Rohingyas say they are in. “There are some camps of Rakhines on the beach besides the Sittway Hotel. They are, in actual fact, are poor Rakhines who are made to pretend as if Refugees by authority in order to hide the reality of the one-sided violence targeted Rohingyas. At the same time, they are having International assistances pretending as if Refugees. Now, those Rakhines are being moved to the monasteries and schools. 

Cruelly enough, the Arakan state administration asked the displaced Rohingyas in Sittway to move to the camps at the beach being evacuated by Rakhines. There is a possibility that this place will get in the water as the water level arises. By this, it will not be difficult for one to understand that the government just wants to kill Muslims” said a displaced Rohingyas from Sittway. 

Another local Rohingya from southern Maung Daw states “what we are worried of is that the only government staffs and Rakhines have been moved to the safe places such as to the mountains. Rohingyas are still in their houses. In the villages such as Kunkara Fara, Baddil and Gojjon Dia of Padin village tract, Shikda Fara (Kayin Tan) and some other villages in Maung Daw, the authority officials are gathering Rohingyas by force and shooting videos to make up a fake scenario to deceive the world that they are helping Rohingyas. In reality, it is completely opposite situation.” 

The head of the Maung Daw District Adminstration, in his interview to Radio Free Asia, said on 14th May 2013 night “we are trying to move Bengalis to the safe places. But they are not willing to go.” Concerning this, a Rohingya expressed his feeling “now, tell me who wants to die? Who doesn’t want to stay alive? If they are really willing to help us, we are ready to take it with an open arm. But they are lying and rather trying to make us suffer more by taking us to the empty places with no shelter and food. What they only did was just issuing warning to us about the storm.” 

According a Rohingya in Southern Maung Daw, the authority in his region did ask some Rohingyas to go to the high lands taking some food rations for three to four days. Their saying of helping Rohingyas with food ration and shelter is said to be completely false. And in Padin village tract, Military and NaSaKa did promise to help Rohingyas with food rations. But no ration has been provided yet. 

In Mrebun Township, no displaced Rohingyas and Kamans have been taken to the safe places yet. In the Pauktaw Township, the displaced Rohingyas are going through some disasters. Many displaced Rohingyas from the camps of Nget Chaung are moving to the Sin Tet Maw (Sandama). However, there are no shelter and food for them over the place. One Rohingya victim cried “Authority just screamed at us to move to wherever we feel to be safe. They will not help. They are just asking us to move but do not tell us where and how to move. The places they want us to go to are more dangerous. They just want to kill us. Many of us will die if we don’t get shelter and food in time.’ 

On Monday night, more than 150 Rohingyas from a village called Domfara leaving for Sandama (Sin-Tet-Maw) died as their boat sunk evacuating ahead of the storm. They had been blocked by Rakhine extremists and trying to escape secretly at night. To their misfortune, many people died. 

It hardly came as a surprise to Rohingyas about double standard behavior of the Burmese. Saying something to the world and doing something else. “We expected that government would lie and cheat as usual. They like to lie and feel happy in doing so. Ultimately, they can kill more Rohingyas without using their guns” exclaimed elderly Rohingya from Sittway. 

“We plead the international community not to simply believe the fascist Burmese official narratives and their racist media. If you find hard to believe, please come and see our situation on the ground” he added. As the consequences of the government’s deceptions and apartheid tactics, the fear among Rohingyas escalate day by day. The Cyclone is expected to hit Arakan soon. Rohingyas were forced to the sea beaches. Just prepare your popcorn to enjoy while watching the news of another catastrophe to come TV tomorrow. Their fear is turning into a reality. The entire humanity will regret for not preventing yet another manufactured humanitarian disaster in their capability. 

The writer is an activist and student. He can be reached at Dhannyawadi@gmail.com