Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Nasaka (Burma’s border security force) is fleecing new couples of the Rohingya community of huge amounts for granting marriage permits in northern Arakan, Burma.

 

On September 11, Shamshu Alam (24), son of Mohamed Sultan of Thapay Taw (Bassara) village, under Myint Hlut (Merulla) village Tract in Maungdaw Township gave Kyat 80,000 to the Nasaka to get permission to marry. Besides, he also paid Kyat 10,000 to the Nasaka of Myint Hlut to conduct the marriage ceremony, where the bridegroom party was to perform a musical comedy.

 

On September 15, Shuna Meah (27), son of Ali Meah of Myint Hlut village, Maungdaw Township had to bribe Kyat 150,000 to the Nasaka of Myint Hlut camp for permission to marry. The bridegroom was also compelled to pay Kyat 15,000 for the wedding ceremony on September 17.

 

On August 6, a wedding ceremony in Buthidaung Township, Arakan State was raided by the police though it was permitted by the authorities after it took a bribe. For conducting the ceremony, the parents of the bridegroom were fined Kyat 30,000. Since then, the Nasaka has doubled the bribe it takes from Rohingya people for granting marriage permits.

 

A village elder said, “How long, will the Nasaka impose restrictions on marriage in the guise of political motivation?”