Arakan News Agency
The authorities have stepped up their harassment of the Rohingya community in order to compel them to participate in the “population data collection program,” a scheme designed to deny Rohingya their right of self-identification by categorizing them as “Bengalis” instead of “Rohingya,” thereby rending them ineligible for Burmese citizenship.
The authorities have also imposed restrictions on the ability of Rohingya to work, travel, marry, and obtain health care and education, said Nur Mohamed at a meeting between the Rohingya community and local administration officials in Maungdaw on August 27th.
Security forces set fire to Rohingya-owned houses in Labowzarr Village on Aug 28th and forcibly entered Rohingya houses in the village, after which they stole personal property, family lists, “white identity cards,” and gold from the homes, said Harron, a shopkeeper from the village.
Male villagers ran away from the village when they saw security forces entering the area, but all the females stayed behind, Haroon said.
