Rakhine Extremists Terrorize INGOs in Sittwe

Ro Myo Chit Report and Aung Min Khant Report
27th March 2014
Rvisiontv.com

Sittwe (Akyab), Arakan- “Some Rakhine staffs of Malteser International [an International (Humanitarian) Non-Governmental Organization-INGO originated to Germany] office based at Kyaung Htet Hlan Quarter in Sittwe (Akyab) attached Buddhist Religious Flags on a vehicle belongs to the NGO. A Malteser International Staff, an Amrican citizen, removed the flag from the vehicle. Hence, Rakhine staffs started quarreling with her saying that they attached the flag as a symbol of their boycott against the population census in Arakan state. She replied “after a period of 30 years, a population census on par with international standard is to be carried out with the help of UN. Please cooperate in it instead of boycotting.” Hence, the dissatisfied Rakhine extremists spread a false news that she (the staff) insulted the religious flag by putting it on her waist. Therefore, Police from No.1 Police station of Sittwe arrested and detained the accused the staff.

As per their pre-determinded plot, around 6:30PM at Ba-Kyaw Road Junction in Aung Mingalar Quarter, a Rakhine (Magh) youth and a Mramma Gri (Barua) youth started to act as if they were quarreling with each another so as to gather more Rakhine extremists around the area. Hundreds of Rakhines (Maghs) gathered at Payagyi (Win Kabba) stadium in Sittwe (Akyab) township. So, between 8PM to 9PM, Rakhine extremists attempted to attack Aung Mingalar Quarter. Since around 500 Rakhines crowded within 10 minutes, Security Force fired warningshots to disperse the people.

Failing to attack the quarter, they marched towards to Malteser office at Kyaung-Htet-Hlan Quarter around 9:30PM and attempted to vandalize its office as with one of its staff Rakhine extremists had quarelled earlier. The violence Rakhine crowd demanded Police the Malteser Lady Staff accused of insulting Buddhist Flag be handed over. Since Police were warning the Rakhine crowd through warningshots, they dispersed. However, around 11PM, they gathered again at the place opposite to the former Sittwe Collge in Moulake Quarter. Again, Police had to disperse people through warningshots. Yet, the marauding crowd vandalized an NGO office at the Pyagyi (Win Kabba) Football Stadium Quarter around 11:40PM.

The situation calmed down for a while and at 11:50PM, the extremists started to attack the office of UNFPA, a UN Organization helping Myanmar authority on free and fair population census. Consquently, two of its international staffs (one male and one female) got injured. As they were attempting to torch the office, Police and Security Force had to fire several warningshots to disperse the people.

Around 3AM on 27th March 2014, Rakhine terrorists destroyed Malteser office. Besides, they were reports that they were marching towards the office of MSF (Doctors without Borders). It has also been learnt that Rakhine terrorists are trying to create more chaos today.

The Malteser International Staff Falsely Accused of Insulting Buddhist Flag (The Lady on the Left) [Photo: Coral Arakan News)

Maraudning Rakhine Extremist Crowd (Photo: Lwin Thandar Soe)