Two Parallel Governments Alike Persecute Rohingya in Homeland

Buthidaung – Rohingyas in the homeland currently live a situation where their money and property have to satisfy, as if, two parallel governments at the same time, and many victims who survive persecutions of Myanmar military have to suffer from that of the Arakan Army (AA).

On November 1, 2019, a Rohingya nicknamed “Lalaya” from Say Oo Kya village bought 20 oxen, cows and buffaloes from Nwa Yone Taung village under his butcher licence that he had to pay a huge amount for to the issuing authority.

While he was loading them on to a ferryboat to carry to his village, about 10 members of AA suddenly appeared and blocked his way.

They interrogated him and asked legal documentation for himself and his business activity. Although he showed proper legal papers, the squad commander rejected and forcefully extorted one million kyat saying “we are the government of this land. This is our territory.” Then they allowed him to go.

On November 1, 2019, another Rohingya man called Kalaya, son of Mokbul Husain from Ywar Chay Ywar (locally known as Abdul Goni Fara) village, Pone Nyo Lei village tract, sought permission from the respective military unit to reap the paddy form his own paddy field located to the east side of the village by ten workers.

The major from the military unit near the Pone Nyo Lei bridge extorted one hundred thousand kyat to allow him to reap his own crop. Yet he didn’t take the responsibility of the remote field besides the mountains and hence didn’t allow to reap the paddy there, as there is possible danger from the AA.

Yesterday a Rohingya elderly in his fifties was brutally killed by Rakhines in Kyauktaw.

In last couple of months, Rohingyas in homeland, especially in Buthidaung and Rathedaung face money extortion, robbery, kidnapping, killing, physical assault and other forms of extremism by the Arakan Army.

A local Rohingya senior citizen said, “we used to believe that if Arakan Army is dominant in this region, then if they can’t protect us, they will not harm us at least.”

“We can consider this attitude as a hint of how they will treat us if they have full dominance or freedom.” Added the man.

Though the Rohingya have been showing willingness for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence, neither a Rakhine layman nor leader ever showed a positive stand to accept this sister community. In addition, they cooperated with and shared the military while the latter was conducting cleansing operation.

Rohingya need a protected homeland or safe zone.