Locals Say Police Ordered To Extort Money By Buthidaung Township Administrator

RB News 

September 3, 2013 

Buthidaung, Arakan – The local Rohingyas in Buthidaung Township in Arakan State said the township administrator ordered the local police to extort money from them. 

Buthidaung Township administrator U Than Shwe spread a rumor that there were illegal immigrants in the township. The police proceeded to search every house to check guests. The police ask “Is he attending training in another country?” if they find out someone is not at home. They arrest the one remaining at home and bring them to the police station. The locals said that police beat the arrestees and eventually demanded 200,000 to 300,000 kyats extortion in order to be freed. Reportedly, cases such as these have been happening everyday now. The poor arrestees who can’t effort the money got charged on false and baseless accusations. 

Moreover, the police are extorting from 100,000 to 200,000 kyats from the people who come to Buthidaung market without possession of travel permit from their respective village. A Rohingya said “Previously the Nasaka was robbing from us. Now the police are doing the same. They became licensed robbers.” 

Locals said that the township administrator U Than Shwe is executive committee member of Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) and is getting monthly salary from RNDP. Furthermore, he will compete in the election for Member of Parliament post. 

Police officer Myat Htwe from Buthidaung police station is the most notorious police in the region. The people there had peace when he was attending the training somewhere outside of the town. Rohingyas are suffering again now, as he returned from the training. A Rohingya said that a Rohingya woman was raped and killed by that police officer Myat Htwe in 2007 but there were no action from the authorities against him. 

The below people were extorted the money by the police recently. 

(1) Nurul Ahmed, son of Shaker (From Ywama – Paid extortion amount 150,000 kyats) 

(2) Harun Rashid (From Ywama - Paid extortion amount 150,000 kyats) 

(3) Ghani (From Ywama - Paid extortion amount 50,000 kyats) 

(4) Ayub Khan, son of Siddique (From Ywama – Paid extortion amount 1,000,000 kyats)

(5) Lautful Hakim (From Quarter 7 – Paid extortion amount 100,000 kyats) 

(6) Hashim (From Quarter 7 – Paid extortion amount 60,000 kyats) 

(7) Shaker (From Quarter 7 – Paid extortion amount 80,000 kyats) 

(Thiha contributed in reporting)