Maungdaw, Arakan State: British
Ambassador to Burma Andrew Heyn accompanied by two others arrived in
Maungdaw in the evening of October 3, according to a trader from
Maungdaw Town.
“The Ambassador was accompanied by
two others, of them, one is Muslim, and another one is Burman from
Rangoon. They stayed in Nasaka headquarters of Kawar Bill of Maungdaw
Township.”
Today, at about 9:30 am, the delegation went to Baggona, Horsara and Nurula Para and Ale Than Kyaw villages of Maungdaw Township where especially they met with rape victims, village elders and leaders. Most of the women and girls were raped by army, Hluntin, Nasaka and Natala villagers when the husbands were absent at homes for fear of arrest by the security forces. The victims openly told their matter to the delegation, said a village elder who denied to be named.
Today, at about 9:30 am, the delegation went to Baggona, Horsara and Nurula Para and Ale Than Kyaw villages of Maungdaw Township where especially they met with rape victims, village elders and leaders. Most of the women and girls were raped by army, Hluntin, Nasaka and Natala villagers when the husbands were absent at homes for fear of arrest by the security forces. The victims openly told their matter to the delegation, said a village elder who denied to be named.
The delegation also asked to the
village leaders and elders about the recent violence, the present
situation of Roingya community and why the violence was occurred.
Regarding the questions villagers said,
“During the violence, the Rakhine mobs were torching our houses and
when we tried to extinguish the fire the security forces fired to us,
so we are unable to switch off our houses. Meanwhile, many villagers
were killed and wounded.
Another villager said, “The concerned
authorities have been persecuted us by various means to expel us from
the country. But, we still exist in Arakan. As a result, the
concerned authorities created these riots between two communities.”
“The present situation is very bad.
Daily the security forces such as—police, Hluntin, Nasaka, Sarapa,
army— enter our villages, and arrest villagers, torture, extort
money, looting our properties, take away our cattle, and rape our
women and girls. Now, we are under house arrest, We are not allowed
to go to market to buy essentials. If police, army and local Rakhine
extremists met us- they beat up and looted our money and goods. Even
army robbed a bus of Rohingya passengers recently. How, can we trust
them? We have no ration, no medicine, no money, no works, how will we
survive. There are NGOs and other donors to support us, said a local
leader on condition of anonymity.
A local youth from the village said,
“Ten minutes before, the arrival of the delegation to our village,
a group of patrol army severely tortured to a poor villager without
any reason who was selling vegetables in Sarcombo village market.. He
is belong to Konna Para ( village). This event was also appraised to
the delegation.
Yesterday, the delegation arrived at
Akyab (Sittwe) at about 3:00 pm. The Ambassador met RNDP Chairman Dr
U Aye Maung along with other members of RNDP, Phethu Hluttaw member
U Maung Nyu of Sittwe, NLD members, USDP members and other social
welfare organization members.
They also met with Rohingya leaders in
Sittwe (Akyab) and went to Refugee camps to see the situation of
Rohingya refugees, said a Rohingya villager from Sittwe.
The aim of the delegation is to discuss
with the local people, especially Rakhine and Rohingy, regarding the
violence and how they will live together in future. The two groups;-
Rohingyas want to stay together as before and the Rakhine want to
stay spreatly as they don’t want again conflict( riot).
The Ambassador said that the British
government donated 3 million US Dollar to Burma this year, for
education, regional and social developments.
Tonight, they will stay at Nasaka
Headquarters of Maungdaw Township.
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