Disabled woman raped in Kyauktaw Twsp

By Admin 18 Oct 2023

DMG Newsroom
18 October 2023, Sittwe
 
A 22-year-old woman, mentally impaired from birth, in Leikma Village, part of Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township, was raped on September 30.
 
The woman was allegedly raped by neighbour U Ni Hla Maung, 66, at his house. Family members at first did not report the rape due to shame, but ultimately filed a complaint with the village administrator on October 16.
 
“The woman often goes to his house. That day, the victim’s mother and the rapist’s wife went outside to search for vegetables. The man raped her as there was no one else at his home. A villager saw him raping the woman as he went to his house,” said village administrator U Kyar Pan.
 
A family member of the victim said: “She loves children. So, she often goes to his house and plays together with his grandchild. How could he do that?”
 
The village administrator summoned U Ni Hla Maung following a complaint from the victim’s family. U Ni Hla Maung has confessed to raping the woman. The local police force of the parallel government run by the United League of Arakan has taken the alleged rapist into custody.
 
Family members of the victim are demanding that fitting punishment be given to the rapist.
 
There have been at least five rape cases including three cases of child rape since October, two cases in Pauktaw and one each in Mrauk-U, Buthidaung and Kyauktaw. Women’s rights activists say there are likely more rape cases that have gone unreported.
 
On October 6, a three-year-old toddler girl was raped by her neighbuor in Thayetchaung village in Pauktaw Township. A 28-year-old disabled woman was also raped in Thayichaing village in the same township on October 14.
 
A four-year-old girl was raped in Mrauk-U town on September 19, and a 10-year-old girl was also raped in Tetyar village in Buthidaung Township on September 4.
 
Women’s rights activists have called for imposing harsh penalties for rape.
 
“Rape is an unacceptable crime. We have heard about rape cases even in rural villages now. Authorities should effectively handle it,” said U Kyar Pan.
 
Under Section 376 of Penal Code, the rape of minors younger than 12 years old carries a minimum 20 years in prison to maximum life sentence.