Maungdaw, Arakan State: Sham Shu, the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) chairman of Oo Shaikya  (Bura Shida para)  has been harassing villagers and teasing young girls in the village, according to a village elder.
The Chairman along with other members makes a round of the village every evening to check the family list in each house, the elder said.

He creates problems for villagers who do not support his programme and harasses them through the nearest Burma border security force (Nasaka) camp, the elder added.

The Chairman Sham Shu uses the power and influence of his uncle Aung Zaw Win, who works in Naypaydaw. So Shamshu can get away with anything, said a close aide of Nasaka.

The Chairman goes to the village in the evening with his group and enters the villagers’ house to check the family list. When he sees any young girl in the house, he starts teasing the girl in front of the family members, said a victim.

It is a regular duty of the chairman in the village and the villagers are not able to go for work in the evening as the chairman can enter the house any time. So the villagers are facing problems and are worried about their families, the victim said.

The villagers complained to Nasaka about the village chairman, but no action was taken against him, said a school teacher.

The Nasaka is unable to take action against the chairman as his uncle is working in Naypaydaw, said an aide of Nasaka.

But, on September 25, police personnel from Maungdaw Police department arrested him and took him to the police station for interrogation when the villagers complained to the police department, said an officer.

But, we did not keep him for long or take any action, hoping that instructions will come from Naypaydaw for him, he added.

“If he is released from police custody with the help of Naypaydaw, he may use his power more often against the villagers,” said a student from Maungdaw.