Two Soldiers Caught Robbing A Rohingya House In Buthidaung

RB News 

September 7, 2013 

Buthidaung, Arakan - On the evening of September 6th in Bagonna village in Buthidaung Township three soldiers were caught attempting to rob a Rohingya house. Two of the soldiers were sent to the police station later that night. 

On Friday at 11:40 pm three men knocked on the door of Amnar Shah’s house in the Bagonna South hamlet. Since it was late at night, Amnar Shah questioned them as to why they wanted to enter the house. The three robbers answered him that they needed to check if there were any guests in the home. However, Amnar doubted that they were there to check for guests but were there for something else. Then he decided not to open the door. As the door remained close, the three robbers broke it and entered into the house. They tied Amnar and started take his things. They took about 75 grams of gold, 10,000 Kyats, and a mobile phone. Amnar ran out while they are trying to take the more items and asked for help from the villagers by shouting. 

“At 11:40 pm, Amnar Shah didn’t open the door when they knocked the door. Then they broke it and tied the man. The man, Amnar ran out when two women inside the house were bothering with the robbers. He shouted and asked the villagers to help him. Our villagers caught 2 robbers but we couldn't catch one. The robbers took about 75 grams of gold, 10,000 kyats and a mobile phone,” a Rohingya villager told RB News. 

Since the villagers could only catch two robbers wearing the army uniform; they informed the military regiment and police station immediately. The police arrived at 1 am and took the two robbers to the police station. After arriving to police station the robbers admitted that they were soldiers from BE regiment 908 based in Buthidaung Township. The Member of Parliament representing Buthidaung constituency, U Shwe Maung confirmed this robbery committed by three soldiers to Voice of America (VOA) Burmese service based in Washington D.C. 

There had been many more robberies committed by the Rakhine rebels based in Bangladesh-Myanmar border. The villagers have said Rakhine rebel groups such as Arakan Liberation Army and Arakan Liberation Party forces frequently rob them. That’s why they thought the robbers on Friday night were Rakhine rebels. However, later they realized that the robbers were real soldiers from the Burmese Army.