Boats carrying Rohingyas fleeing recent violence in Pauktaw township in Arakan state landed in Bangladesh on Nov. 12. Hussain, one of the passengers, told Kaladan Press Network by telephone, three boats carrying a total of 200 people left Pauktaw on Nov. 10 arriving in the evening at several locations in Cox Bazaar District.
One of the boats carrying 60 people landed near Enani village. Another was reportedly on route to Mosh Khali Island, but stopped in the Dal Ghata area. The third one, which Hussain was on, arrived near Shamlapur area carrying 100 people; 25 women and 30 children were on board. Some of the 200 people were immediately arrested by Bangladesh police, but most managed to hide in nearby villages. In Bangladesh their future is uncertain, at any time they could be picked up by police.
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The already volatile situation in Arakan state for Muslims has worsened following recent violence resulting in the deaths of three Rohingyas and one Rakhine women in early November. One Rohingya man was murdered by Rakhine villagers when collecting firewood in the forest. Another two were killed and four wounded after riot police opened fire during clashes. In what appeared to be a revenge attack carried out by several Rohingya men a Rakhine woman was murdered and another injured in the following days.
In Pauktaw township the situation remains tense with many of the remaining Rohingya villagers being forced into an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp allegedly for their own security by army and police. Many are afraid because the camp funded by an international aid group is very close to a village with only Buddhist Rakhines.
As a result of ongoing discrimination at the hands of state security and Rakhine extremists that has escalated after widespread violence broke out over a year ago many Rohingyas see no way out but to board rickety boats for Bangladesh, or make the perilous journey to Malaysia. Many have already drowned trying when their boats capsized.
A passenger named Du Du Mea told Kaladan Press Network two more boats will soon leave for Bangladesh.
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