More Rohingya prisoners sentenced to jail

Buthidaung, Arakan State:  A special court of Buthidaung, sentenced more Rohingyas to 10- year imprisonment who were served as prisoners in Buthidaung Jail, on October 12, according to a relative of the victims.

“The sentenced prisoners were arrested during the so called sectarian violence between Rakhine and Rohingya communities from different areas of Maungdaw Township.”

“The army, police, Hluntin (riot police), Nasaka accompanied by Rakhines arrested many Rohingya Muslims during the riots in different villages and sent to Buthidaung jail. After the riots on June 8, at Maungdaw Township, the concerned authorities arrested many Rohingya villagers excluding non-Rohingyas. Security forces give favor to the Rakhine people.”

“After arrest, they were severely tortured and detained in police station, Nasaka camps and Nasaka Headquarters of Kyigan Pyin (Kawar Bill) of Maungdaw Township for more interrogations also they were rigorously tortured. In this period, many Rohingyas were dead by torture or shot to death and the rest were sent to Buthidaung jail.”

However, occasionally, some prisoners were sentenced to 10 to 20 years imprisonment without any proper investigations. They were arbitrary arrested by giving false and fabricated allegation that they were involved in riots, a village leader said on condition of anonymity.

“On October 12, fifteen prisoners were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the special court of Butidaung town. They are identified as —Nurul Islam (35), son of Nizam Uddin, Jafar Ahmed (37), son of Azim Ali, Abdullah (60), son of Motiur Rahaman, Kalu (75), son Hassan, Salim Ullah (50), son of Roshan Ali, Abdul Amin (43), son of Ullah Meah, Azalu Hussain (43), son of Jafar Ahmed, Moulvi Mohamed Hussain (43), son of Ali Ahmed, Abu Sayed (48), son of Oli Ahmed, Azam Ullah (30), son of Ali Ahmed, Moulvi Hashim Ullah (35), Nazir Ahmed, Enayet Ullah (30), son of Mortaza, Hamidullah (53), son of Sayed Ahmed, Mostak Ahmed (55), son of Sura Ahmed and Nazir Ahmed (48), son of Sura Ahmed. They all belong to Udaung village tract of Maungdaw south. Over 39 villagers were arrested from U daung village since June 8. “

But, from Aley Than Kyaw village tract of Maungdaw south, over 400 villagers were arrested by security forces because of riots between Rakhine and Rohingya communities, a schoolteacher said preferring not to be named.

“Besides, Habib (29), son of Abul Khasim – a collaborator of ex-Nasaka director Lt. Col Aung Gy, hailed from Merullah village of Maungdaw south was also sentenced to 20 years jail.

An elder from Aley Than Kyaw said on condition of anonymity that many Rohingya Muslims have been languishing in Buthidaung jail without any trial since June 9, 2012.

He also said that the health conditions of prisoners are very bad because they don’t get proper treatment and adequate food from jail authorities.

According to different sources, the remaining prisoners will be sentenced to 7 to 10 years of imprisonment later.

A villager told the Kaladanpress, security forces— police, army and Nasaka — accompanied by Rakhine villagers are arresting Rohingya Muslims with different allegations and extorting money till now. The concerned authority is also threatening to the Rohingya to be arrested and will be sent to jail.

The condition of the jail is very bad. Prisoners have been living in a small room with congested situation and become frequently ill such as—malaria, typhoid, dysentery and skin diseases. They have no medicine and treatment. They are living with naked position. Many prisoners had already died of various diseases.  It is needed to see the condition of jail by International Red Crescent (IRC) and local Red Crescent, according to an elder from Buthidaung Town.

Source KPN: