November 18, 2016
A
committee investigating into violent attacks in Maungtaw and Rathetaung on 9
October formed by Rakhine State Government made a field trip to Kyikanpyin Command
Centre, Chanpyin Village, Sabaipinyin Village, Yemyettaung Village, Ngakhuya Village
and Kyainchaung Village on 17 November.
First,
members of the committee met with 17 households of Maramagyi ethnic group from Forkitaung
Village of Laungdon Village-tract, who fled their homes in fear to Kyainchaung Village
and inquired about the security situation in their village.
Emergency
Assistance Committee of Maungtaw, that accompanied the Investigation Committee on
9/10 Violent Attacks, delivered rice, edible oil, drinking water, dried noodles
and fried dry-fish to residents of Hparwutchaung and Kyainchaung villages and
security forces along the route. The assistance committee also presented K
20,000 donated by monks and laypersons in Kalay Township to each family in
Kappakaung, Myyemyattaung and Kyainchaung villages on behalf of the
well-wishers.
Rakhine
State Government formed the investigation committee with 11 members on 9 October.
Chairman
of the commission U Aung Win said, “This is the second time we have visited the
area to learn what the difficulties of local people are. We visited many
villages including Sabaipinyin, Ngakhuya and Kyainchaung villages today. We
found only a few people in villages resided by Muslims.
It is
said that they leave their villages during mornings and come back at nights. We
also found that some buildings in some villages, including Ngakhuya and Kyikanpyin,
were burnt down.
We later
learnt that the buildings were set on fire by residents to cast suspicion over
security forces.
Another
fact we found is that ethnic local people are too afraid to go out as they are
minority in the area. They have to live on donations of local social
organizations.
It is
difficult for them to move to Maungtaw. Their rice is ripe but they do not have
harvesting machines. Although the government and social organizations are
donating harvesting machines, it is still not enough. They urgently need
harvesting and winnowing machines at the moment. The paddy will ruined. We will
discuss the issues with the state government as soon as we arrive back.”
In
addition, the chairman said that the ethnic families are requesting the
government to resettle them in Kyainchaung as they had to live in fear in their
native village. One of members of the ethnic group lost his ear and was injured
on the throat as he was attacked with swords. He was left as his attackers
thought he was dead. He was later treated by the Tatmadaw.
“Education
and health conditions are also bad. Schools are still closed. No student dares
to go to school,” the chairman added.
The
ethnic group also want security for them to go to a market in Maungtaw. The
chairman promised to report to the state government everything the resident
requested.
Ref; The Global New
Light of Myanmar
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