Burma: Burma’s border security force use aftermath of floods to exploit villagers

The commander of Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) area No. 6 of Maungdaw Township with help from Nasaka collaborators have been earning a lot of money in Maungdaw Township by forcibly taking salt for the last two months from salt producers. They are selling it after the floods, said a local trader from Maungdaw Town.

The commander of Nasaka area No.6 with the help of former village Chairman Ayas (32), son of Dil Mohamed from Shwe Zaar village of Maungdaw Township, forcibly bought salt from the salt producers at a lower price compared to the open market prices.

They paid only Kyat 300 per mound (one mound= 37.32 kg) while it is being sold in the open market for Kyat 1,200 to 1,500.

The authorities forced salt producers in Maungdaw Township not to sell to other local buyers and others who came to Maungdaw Township. As a result, the producers were compelled to sell to the Nasaka at a lower price because they needed money for salt production, said a local salt producer seeking anonymity.

The Nasaka authorities stored about 4,000 to 5,000 mounds of salt after forcibly taking salt from the villagers at a lower price.

But at present, the authorities are selling the salt to traders, who came from Rangoon at the rate of Kyat 3,000 per mound. The salt traders are loading salt in the ship which came from Rangoon to north Arakan with materials for building barbed wire fencing on the Burma-Bangladesh border. The ships would have returned empty, if it is not loaded with salt. So, salt traders and ship owners will benefit, said a local businessman.

The Nasaka will get good profit, but the producers do not even get the expenses incurred. In this way, Rohingya villagers are discriminated by the authorities in northern Arakan.

Every business of the Rohingya community in north Arakan is dominated by local authorities directly or indirectly, said a local trader who did not want to be named.

Source: Kaladan Press Network Please visit and show your support and appreciation