RAKHINE STATE – Junta forces are extorting and seizing items from civilians at certain security checkpoints in Sittwe, according to residents.
It is said that said cases are taking place at the security checkpoints on the Sittwe-Pallinpyin Road, such as the entrance gate of Bumay Village and the gate in front of police battalion 14.
A driver of a sidecar attached to a motorcycle shared that “each of my passengers was asked to pay 1,000 kyats. They truly have no shame in extorting people at a time when things are rough. They said that they wouldn’t let us pass the gate if we didn’t pay. My passengers were in a hurry so they had to pay.”
In addition, the road in question is the main route to Muslim villages and the Muslim people using that road are also said to be subjected to similar extortions.
“We have to pay 5,000 kyats at Bumay Gate even when we are passing it to go to the clinic. The gate in front of the police battalion asks for 1,000 – 2,000 Kyats per person. We have to pay more if they are drunk. Sometimes, young people from our village would get slapped for not understanding their drunken speech,” said a Muslim from Darpai Village.
It is said that in addition to the extortion, the junta forces would sometimes rob the civilians of the items as well.
“We bought four bottles of oil and two were taken by them (junta forces),” said a Muslim who requested to keep their identity hidden.
Just as battles are becoming more fierce between the Arakan Army and the junta council, the junta council has tightened security checks at the gates and started extorting the people even more.