Security force demand money from UN transport vehicle in Maungdaw

By KPN News

October 10, 2013

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Security force – Hluntin – from Oodaung outpost demanded money from a foods carrying vehicle of World Foods Program –WFP – while its carrying foods to Maungdaw south to distribute on September 9 evening, said a transport owner from Maungdaw.

Six Hluntin personnel from Oodaung outpost camp demanded 10,000 kyats from driver Syed Alam who was driving vehicle number 5E/6176 and the vehicle owned by Islam, a Rohingya. So, the Hluntin asked money from the vehicle as usual as collecting money from Rohingya owned vehicle, the transport owner said.

But, the driver explained the security force-Hluntin- that the vehicle was under WFP and carrying the foods for aids program to poor people from Maungdaw south, so he can’t able to pay the demanded money. After hearing the refused to pay demanded money, the six Hluntin personnel started to beat the driver till the driver become unconscious, said a driver who play on this road.

The commanding officer of Hluntin battalion 13 which was stationed Maungdaw south rushed to the outpost and take the driver to the Myinn Hlut Health center and ordered to give him best treatment, said an aide of Hluntin who deny to mention his name.

The commanding officer also ordered not to give permission to meet the driver and not allow to go out from Health center, the aide said.

The security forces – police, Hluntin and army- stationed on the roads, bridges and outpost camps, are collecting money by forced from Rohingya community, Rohingya owned transport vehicles. It is like the duty to pay money to them when crossed in front them, said Kamal (not real named) from Maungdaw south.

There are more than 15 stations and out posts of security forces in Maungdaw-Maungdaw south high way road, a Rohingya who traveled on this road had to pay 2000 to 5000 kyats and Rohingya owned vehicles had to pay more than 10000 kyats including demanding gas, wine, cigarette and money. How the Rohingya community will survive for their lives within these systems, said Sadek (not real name), a politician from Maungdaw.

Maungdaw high authority or commanding officers are not known the systems of security forces stationed on the road collecting money from Rohingya only, not from other community in Maungdaw, the politician said.

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