Just for one night stay a Rohingya has to bribe 3,000 kyats

“Any Rohingya traveling from Buthidaung to Maungdaw has to bribe 3,000 Kyats to concerned authorities,” a Rohingya who recently crossed the border, told Kaladan Press yesterday in Teknaf preferring not to be named.
“Rohingyas are totally banned to travel any parts of Arakan and Burma except within the townships of Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships, but under severe restrictions,” he further added angrily.

“Many Na Sa Ka camps with several check-posts are set up in the name of security and development of the border areas. But, in fact, they are controlling and restricting our day to day activities, including our freedom of movement and economic pursuits,” said the man in disappointment.

According to his statement, first of all a Rohingya traveler has to get recommendation from his VPDC (Village Peace and Development Council) showing his family list and paying Kyats 200/- as fee. Then he has to submit VPDC recommendation to the local Na Sa Ka camp to get its recommendation for which he has to pay 200/- Kyats. Upon receipt of those recommendations, he has to take “From 4”, and recommendation from the township immigration office on payment of Kyats 500/-. It is to be mentioned that”Form 4” is commonly meant for foreigners.

Afterwards, the filled up copy of the “Form 4”, accompanied by all necessary recommendations, has to be submitted to the Na Sa Ka outpost, set up on Maungdaw-Buthidaung road, for gate-pass paying Kyat 100/-.

On way to Maungdaw, he has to show all his documents and recommendations again to the Military Intelligence Service No. 18, which stands on Buthidaung-Maungdaw road, about 10 miles from Maungdaw town where they charge him 200 Kyats. Again, he has to show all the documents to the Na Sa Ka outpost, situated at Razarbil, a place on Buthidaung—Maungdaw road, about 3 miles from Maungdaw town, There an amount of Kyats 200/- has to be paid. On arrival at destination, he is bound to report to Maungdaw immigration office of his arrival where he needs to pay 100 Kyats.

On his way back to Buthidaung he has to appear before the Na Sa Ka outpost and MI-18 camp, located on Maungdaw-Buthidaung road, where he has to pay 100 Kyats to each and in case of over stay at Maungdaw, he has to pay extra 500 Kyats per night. On his back home, he is again required to report to Buthidaung Na Sa Ka outpost of his return from Maungdaw. There he is charged 100 Kyats and, in case of overstay, additional 500/- Kyats per night.

Failure to report, in time, to the concerned township immigration office and Na Sa Ka camp of his return, he is punished for 3 months imprisonment or a fine of 2,500 Kyats. Thus a Rohingya visitor from Buthidaung needs at least an amount of 3,000 Kyats for one night stay at Maungdaw.

He continued that sometimes one has to spend 5,000 to 6,000 Kyats to travel between the two northern cities of Maungdaw and Buthidaung with a distance of 16 miles only.