Hlun Htaine Police At Kyigan Pyin Check Post Ask Money From Rohingya Travellers

RB News 

September 22, 2013

Maungdaw, Arakan – The headquarters of the now disbanded Nasaka became the headquarters of Hlun Htaine police in Kyigan Pyin village of Maungdaw Township in Arakan State. The Hlun Htaine police launched a check post in front of the headquarter. They are checking Rohingya travellers who are arriving from Area 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 by buses, hilux cars and motorcycles. The buses, cars and motorcycles needed to stop back from the check post. The travellers need to walk to check post to answer the questions from police.

The check post is checking for White Cards (Temporary Registration Card) and Travel Permit. All Rohingya travellers must pay 500 Kyats even if they have all the required documents. The police claimed that they are checking for security reasons but it is quite disturbing as the police abuse them in several ways. 

The duty of the police is to protect the public but they couldn’t find the culprits of a robbery cases that took place in Maungdaw in the past weeks. Rohingya villagers know that the robbers were wearing Hlun Htaine police uniforms. The authorities forced them not to say that they were police. Instead authorities arrested some innocent Rohingyas for the crime. One was beaten to death while in custody. They also extorted money from some people on false allegations. 

The check post in front of Hlun Htaine headquarters was launched in the name of "security reasons" but their real work is to extort money as well as to abuse and torture the Rohingya travellers. 

On September 15, 2013 a group of authorities led by Maungdaw District Immigration Head came to Northern Maungdaw and met the Rohingyas. In the meeting, the immigration head told that no travel permit will be needed while travelling within the township and can travel with White Card but it will be needed if they want to travel to other townships. The travel permits will need to be obtained from immigration office. However, now the check post at Hlun Htaine headquarters and other check posts are extorting money, abusing and torturing Rohingyas who do not have travel permits while traveling from one village to another. 

Maungdaw Township Administrator Kyi San took huge amounts from people who wanted to be village administrator when he was selecting village administrators. That is one of the reasons that the village administrators are extorting money from villagers by various means. They need to get back their capital that they invested to get the village administrator post. The village administrators do not issue the travel permit giving the reason of security concerns but one could get one if they bribe them. In a few villages, the village administrators are openly charging Kyat 1000 for travel permit. 

“We are travelling for necessary cases but the authorities are disturbing us a lot. They are dealing us like animals at the check post. We need to get down from cars and need to walk. They are scolding us. They are extorting money. These are not their jobs but they are doing. Although they have to protect our properties they are unable to do so. Their works are extorting money, torturing and abusing us. What we believe now is the authorities’ duties and responsibilities are those nasty works.” a Rohingya told RB News.