Starving Rohingya Escapees From Kyauktaw Imprisoned To The Long Term Jail

Source RB, 2 Jan

Buthidaung, Arakan – Eleven Rohingyas who were starving had escaped from the Kyauktaw Township. They were arrested and imprisoned to the long term jail, according to a local in Buthidaung Township of Arakan State.

As the Rohingyas in Kyauktaw Township of Arakan State have no job opportunities, no access to medication and unable to move around in their town, eleven starving Rohingyas were in search of better a living situation and job opportunities. They left their town of Kyauktaw and travelled to Buthidaung Township, passing through various hills for four days. They got arrested on November 25, 2014 in Kin Taung village in Buthidaung Township before reaching their destination. 

The arrestees were sued by the authorities in the name of violating movement restrictions. Among the eleven Rohingyas, nine were sentenced for five years with hard labour and the remaining two were sentenced for two years with hard labour on January 1, 2015.

Among the arrestees, 80 year-old religious cleric Noor Bashar and 78 year-old Noor Mohammed were also included. None of them have any rights to hire a lawyer.

The local said that the Judge at Buthidaung court is completely racist, an extremist and biased. He has been punishing Rohingyas based on his racism, not based on the law. Therefore this punishment is unjust and the higher authorities from the union government must scrutinize this judgment.