14 May, 2017
Maungdaw- As mosque attendees were coming out of their prayers in Garaita Bil, Maungdaw North, Hlun Htein forces fired in their direction. The shots were however aimed above the heads of the Rohingyas and no one received any injuries.
The forces then surrounded the Muslims and brought out a list of people whom they said were ‘terrorists’. As terrified onlookers watched on, two men were pulled away and shoved roughly, with the Hlun Htein alleging their names belonged in the list.
After a detailed check, they however confirmed the two men were not on the list.
Others were also checked and informed that as yet, they were not on the list. They were then warned that if anyone on the terror list were found in Garaita Bil, they would meet the same fate as their neighbouring villages of Maungdaw North.
During the operation, the Hlun Htein maintained an aggressive look, treating the mosque attendees very roughly.
Garaita Bil lies on the edge of the area where Tatmadaw conducted clearance operations last year, killing more than a thousand, including infant children who were thrown into fire. As a result, residents are naturally terrified. The aggressive nature of the Friday’s Hlun Htein operation has raised further fears about the future in an area already reeling under the terror of recent Tatmadaw operations in the very near neighbourhood.
