Breaking News: Looting, Extortion, Police Harassment, Continuing in Maungdaw, Burma

In the meanwhile, the area's only Muslim Lawyer, U Kyaw Min, has been set up in what advocates say is a false case.

Rakhine terrorists & Security forces marching together towards Rohingya village (Than Taw Li) in Sittwe.

(MAUNGDAW, Burma) - (Editor's note: One significant aspect of the tragedy in Burma is that no independent media crews are present to record and document the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya Muslims by the Rakhine Buddhists. We have been reporting about it since it began months ago, and the strife has only worsened. Like in Sri Lanka, and so many other places, this absence of media is allowing the problems to continue, because the world would not accept what is taking place if they could see it. Due to the same circumstances taking place today in Burma, the following information was reported by phone only. It is also important to note that the violence against Buddhists in Bangladesh taking place in recent days is a direct response to the lawlessness in Burma and the government's turning a blind eye to this substantial problem. There is no excuse for it.)

The following information was reported from Burma by phone

Extortion Against Rohingya Citizens

The police officers in Maungdaw spent the whole day rounding up a file of arrest warrant lists with the intention of extorting money from Rohingyas.

Police officer, Aung Kyaw Kham raided a village, Alipara ( Quarter No.2) on 8th October and arrested 5 persons. However the officer freed them by taking 300,000 kyats as a bribe.

Another police officer, U Hla Khin raided Quarter No. 3 yesterday 9th, October and arrested 2 businessmen while demanding 50 Lac kyats each for their release. They are still under police custody because unable to afford the large amount for release.

False case filed against the only Muslim Lawyer who can fight for Rohingyas in Maungdaw court

From what we understand, the Rakhines managed to reach a Hindu client of the Muslim Lawyer, Nurul Amin(a) U Kyaw Min from Quarter No.2, Maungdaw; convincing this client to file a case against him on a charge of taking a large amount of money from him to bribe Judge for his case.

It was happened on 8th October, 2012. Now, the only Muslim lawyer in this area has to embrace a defamation case.

This is intentional and political motivation. The Rakhines are now happy because no lawyer is available to fight for Muslims in Maungdaw court. If the charge is proved once, the license of the Lawyer would be cancelled. It is totally a conspiracy of the Rakhines.

Nurul Islam,
A Human Rights Activist &
Media coordinator, Arakan Rohingya Union(ARU)

Edited for Salem-News.com by Tim King