Several Rakhines Arrested for Drug-Peddling in Arakan State

By M.S. Anwar

July 08, 2014

Entrance to Taung Gote Township

Myanmar Police arrested at least six Rakhines in two townships of Arakan State for Drugs Peddling in recent days, according to Narinjara News Agency.

Taun Gote and Man Aung Townships have, as a result of decades-long systematic and institutionalized ethnic cleansing, become two Rohingya Muslims free zone. At the same time, these two regions are also notorious for being hotspots for drug-smuggling.

“On June 1, Man Aung Police said that they had arrested four Rakhines red handed with ‘48 Cards of Yaba Tablet and Kyat 4.2 Million drug money. They are:

1) Ko Thar Khaung Gyi @Ko Ko Aung, hails from Annauk-Su Quarter

2) U Tuan Min Hlat

3) U Pho Htuu

4) One more person

The former is the main drug peddler and the latter three were arrested because they were found together with the former. One of them was released later on the day as he was doubtful to be a drug smuggler. Other three are still in detention” Narinjara News Agency reported. (Original Report: HERE)

On July 4, mother and son duo was arrested in Taung Gote Township in relation to the above-mentioned drug-smuggling ring.

“Taung Gote Police raided house no. 121 located at Gat Nauk Road in Guataa Quarter of Taugote Township on July 4. The Police arrested Daw Khin San Yee (of age 55) and her son, Aung Chit San @Tharr Gyi (of age 29), together with three cards of Yaba Tablets.

The Police raided the house actin g on the

admission by the people arrested with drugs earlier that they had bought from the drugs the mother and son duo” the news agency mentioned in another report. (Original Report: HERE)

The king of drug-peddlers in Taung Gote is reported to be an extremist Rakhine man known as U Kyauk Taung. He has become the wealthiest man in the township by smuggling drugs to ‘Teknaf Region of Bangladesh.’ He sells drugs to ‘Bodi, MP of the Region’ and in exchange, Bodi also supplies weapons to U Kyauktaung.

Sometimes, few Rohingyas, too, fall prey to drug-peddling trade driven by hunger and total lack of employment. They are, most of the time, used as middle agents.

(Read: Narcotics Lords and Terrorists Rings Unmasked Also read: A Rakhine Drug-Weapon Smuggling Ring Busted by Myanmar Military )

Amnesty International's T. Kumar to Speak at the Islamic Society of North America's Convention

Amnesty International's T. Kumar to Speak at the Islamic Society of North America's Convention Advocacy Director T. Kumar to Speak on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma) Contact: Carolyn Lang, clang@aiusa.org, 202-675-8759 /EINPresswire.com/ (Washington, D.C.) -- Amnesty International Advocacy Director T. Kumar will address the Islamic Society of North America's 49th Annual Convention "One Nation Under God: Striving for the Common Good," in regards to the minority community of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma) on Saturday, September 1, at 11:30 am at the Washington DC Convention Center.

American Buddhists Promote 969 Movement With Website

Irrawaddy News: July 9, 2013 A group of American Buddhists has launched an English-language website promoting the 969 movement, in response to negative media surrounding the ultra-nationalist Buddhist campaign in Burma. The website aims to dispel “myths” about the movement, with a letter from nationalist monk Wirathu to a Time magazine reporter whose article about 969 was banned in Burma. “We’re not officially endorsed by Ven Wirathu at this time but will send a delegation to his monastery soon,” a spokesperson for the site said via email, adding that the group would create a nonprofit to coordinate “969 activities worldwide in response to religious oppression.”

Rohingya Activist Nominated for Human Rights Award

PHR congratulates Zaw Min Htut, a Burmese Rohingya activist, on his nomination for the 2011 US State Department Human Rights Defenders Award . Zaw Min Htut has been working for Rohingyas’ rights through the Burmese Rohingya Association of Japan since he fled Burma in 1998. Prior to that he was a student activist in Burma, and was detained for his participation in protests in 1996. In Japan, Zaw Min Htut has organized protests at the Burmese embassy and has written books on the history of Rohingya.

The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Search This Blog