Nasaka deceives people in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State (KPN): Nasaka, Burma’s border security force promises to get things done by taking money but actually they cheat the people in Maungdaw town, said a local villager on condition of anonymity.

On May 7, some businessmen from Kyauk Pun Dhu (Sitar Pawrika) of Maungdaw Township with 17 heads of cattle were arrested by Nasaka of Inn Din Nasaka camp while they were crossing the Burma-Bangladesh border. The businessmen had necessary documents from Nasaka authorities after paying it money.

But, they were arrested by another Nasaka group which said they had not given permission. So they would have to pay them. The Nasaka took away five heads of cattle. The businessmen had paid Kyat 120,000 per cattle, and the Nasaka took Kyat 1,440,000 from them, said a close relative of a businessman

Similarly, on April 27, a woman Fatema Khatun, daughter of Azar Meah from Wabek village of Maungdaw Township held a religious gathering by inviting some persons after taking verbal permission from the immigration officer of Nasaka. She paid money for this. Nasaka comprises the police, the Burmese Army, Sarapa, immigration and customs personnel.

However, when the function began, a section of Nasaka accompanied by Sarapa (Military Intelligence) personnel went to the function and asked Fatema Khatun, to show the permit to them. She failed because the permission was verbal. She was taken to the nearby Naska camp and extorted Kyat 500,000 for her release, said a relative.

A trader from the locality said, “Nasaka is using double standards towards the Rohingya community to extort money from them.”