Photo Credit: Nora Rowley--Rathidaung Bayside Small Village Center
Rathedaung, Arakan State: The Rathedaung Juma Mosque (Zedi Pyin)’s brick fence was totally destroyed on March 28, night by local Rakhine villager ( anti-Rohingya), according to a local leader said on condition of anonymity.
“A group of mob went to the Mosque and destroyed the brick fence of it on March 28, at about mid-night, where police, Nasaka (Burma’s border security force) and army camps are stationed near by.”
Nearby Mosque, there are only 25 Rohingya houses are existed; but the villagers were not able to protect the Mosque. It is only a big brick building Mosque in Rathedaung Township. Earlier, the houses were driven out to other village, but later, some Rakhine elders brought them again and re-settled there, said a village administration officer.
Villagers believe the Mosque will be demolished by the local Rakhine villagers with the help of security forces tonight (March 29), said a village youth who declined to be named.
Last year, in June, the local neighboring Rakhine villagers tried to destroy this Mosque and to set fire the Rajar Bill village, but a local Buddhist monk and some elder Rakhines gave obstacle from burning the village. It has about 400 houses, but the villagers are not allowed to go out for marketing or working for their livelihood, according to a religious leader preferring not to be named.
The concerned authorities neglected to take rapid and effective action against the culprits who carelessly committed crimes in front of security forces," a local trader said.
It is the worst conflict since violence between Buddhists and Muslims in the Arakan State last year left hundreds of people dead and more than 120,000 displaced.
The villagers want to stop the attack of Mosque and villages of Rohingyas in future by local Rakhine villagers. It is very needed to give security by the concerned security forces.
Source KPN:
Source KPN: