June 6, 2016
Maungdaw- An undeclared curfew is forcing Rohingyas on the border village of Taung Pyo in Maungdaw North to stay indoors, according to our correspondent in the area.
Since last week, a huge contingent of Tatmadaw and Hlun Htein personal have flooded the area and set up checkposts. They are checking everyone for NVC cards. Anyone found without the identity card is being harassed and many have been forced to give hefty fines. Many locals also say the on duty personal cursed them and the Islamic religion in foul language.
The NVC scheme, which identifies Rohingyas as Bengalis and only grants them a temporary residence in Arakan, has been snubbed by most Rohingyas and so most people cannot travel outside their homes.
Locals are saying that even walking from one house to another in the same hamlet has become risky as there are a huge number of soldiers in the area.
The situation is similar in all the hamlets.
Locals are also fearing that at one point, the army will enter their homes, rape the women and take away the men for torture.
An extremely tense situation is prevailing in the area as there are fears of gruesome atrocities that have become even more common in recent months following clearance operations in the Maungdaw North area.
