Authority orders to destroy mosque and houses in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The concerned authority ordered to destroy a mosque accompanied by 14 other houses in Maungdaw south on May 24, according to our correspondent. On that day, at about 12 noon, U Than Htun, an officer of Maungdaw Township administration office (Mayaka) summoned the Khonza bill village Administration officer— Sayed Alam and other village elders to Aley Than Kyaw police station and ordered to destroy a mosque and 14 houses because of renovation.

“The officer also said that the order came from high level office”, said one of the participants on condition of anonymity.

The authority also targets religious buildings. Though the Burma claim itself as religious freedom country, but not for Rohingya community, said a Rohingya youth Jalil from the Maungdaw south.

Some owners of the houses have been identified as— Ms Azida (35), wife of Abdul Hanan; Abdullah (30), son of Dawat; Abdu Sukkur (30), son of Abul Hakim; Abdullah (45), son of Mohamed; Sayed Alam (30) and Enamul Hoque (31), son of Nazir. They all hailed from Khonzabill village of Aley Than Kyaw police station of Maundaw south.

One of the house owners named Sukkur said, “I renovate my house one year ago after taking permission from the Nasaka (former Burma’s border security force), but I didn’t repair my house this year. So, the order is not fair.”

According to villagers, if the houses are destroyed by the concerned authority, our family members including our children will face many difficulties in the next coming rainy season.

“Our houses were built by wood, bamboo and roofed with thatches and Dhani (palm leaves), so it is needed every one year or two years to be renovated. Without renovation, family members are not able to live inside the houses in the rainy season. Concerned authorities do not give permission for renovation. As a result, what to do, as villagers,” asked Asief, a village elder from Alay Than Kyaw.

However, Rohingya villagers and elders earnestly requested to the concerned authorities to withdrew the order.

All the concerned authorities want to make troubles against the Rohingya community. How many days/ years they could resist? It is not a small matter, it is a great impact to the community, so the Rohingya leaders must consider it very seriously, said a local leader who did not give his name from Maungdaw.

Source KPN

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