Youth arrested by Nasaka for marrying

Maungdaw, Arakan State (KPN): A youth was picked up by Burma’s border security force, Nasaka on July 19, in Maungdaw Township for marrying without informing, said a close relative of the victim requesting anonymity.

The victim was identified as Abul Hussain (25), son of Abdu Salam hailing from Maung Nama Village of Maungdaw Township.

On July 19 night, a section of Nasaka personnel from Pawet Chaung outpost camp in Maungdaw Township went to the victim’s house and arrested him on the allegation that he had married without informing the authorities. He was hustled to the Naska camp.

He tied the knot with a girl two years ago. He had submitted an application to the Nasaka, but he did not get permission because he failed to pay money to the local officer. He went ahead and married a girl in 2007 without informing the Nasaka, said a local trader on condition of anonymity.

The Nasaka camp received the information, albeit late, so Abul Hussain was arrested for extortion. They (Nasaka) only want money from the Rohingya community, locals alleged.

However, the victim was released on July 22, after paying Kyat 600,000 to the Nasaka officer, according to an elder related to the victim.

There are many unmarried girls in northern Arakan given the scarcity of youths. This is because many youths have fled Burma following persecution by Burmese authorities. The youths are unable to marry because of financial crisis and not being able to pay a huge bribe to the Nasaka, said a religious leader who declined to be named.

Since 1999,

Burma's border security force
has imposed marriage restrictions on
the Rohingya community

. The marriageable age was fixed at 24 years for bridegrooms and 18 years for brides. The couples are not allowed to have more than two children and the bridegroom cannot take more than one wife. The grooms also have to be clean-shaven to be eligible for marriage permits. A few people have got marriage permits after offering huge bribes to the Nasaka.

23 July 2009