RB News

October 14, 2013





Buthidaung, Arakan – Township Administrator of Buthidaung Township in Arakan State warned Rohingya Muslims in Buthidaung that they must not pray the Congregational Eid Prayer on Eid day. The authorities will take serious action if more than five people gathered.





Today Buthidaung Township Administrator Than Shwe held a meeting with 85 village tract administrators and some local elders at Township Administration office. He told them that the Muslims in Buthidaung are not allowed to pray congregational prayer for Eid day at any mosque and madarassa (religious school). He added that they will take serious action if more than five people gathered.





District Administrator and Township Administrators in Maungdaw District ordered in writing to custodians of mosques not to open mosques. They must keep doors locked.





Curfew section 144 in Northern Arakan State is just for the Muslims. Buddhists can gather more than 500 people at monasteries at any time and they are allowed to do anything. The curfew section 144 is there to oppress the Muslims only and is legal act to discriminate the Muslims religiously.





According to locals in Buthidaung the Township Administrator Than Shwe is the worst administrator in Arakan State. He secretly engages with Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) as an executive member. He has earned more than 200 million Kyats by torturing and extorting Rohingyas in the region. Although the locals sent complaint letters to the President Thein Sein, State Chief Minister Hla Maung Tin and the MPs against him, no any action has been taken. The local people are suffering more, day by day.





Zeya Aung contributed in reporting.







