Threefold rise in monthly levy on households to supply Muslim conscripts

By Admin 12 Oct 2024

DMG Newsroom
12 October 2024, Sittwe

Junta soldiers and village heads in Arakan State's Sittwe Township have increased the amount of monthly charges, purportedly to fund Muslim conscripts, that they collect from Muslim villages and displacement camps.

They charged 5,000 kyats per household in September, but this month increased the rate to 15,000 kyats, according to affected Muslims.

"They said they are collecting money to supply food, clothes and other necessary items for Muslim militias," said one woman from the Thae Chaung displacement camp, who asked for anonymity. "Last month, they collected 5,000 kyats. This month, they collected 15,000 kyats."

The regime has been forcibly levying monthly charges on Muslim villages including Bumay, Thaechaung, Barsar, Thakkelpyin, Ohntawgyi, Ohntawche and Darpaing, and Muslim camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Sittwe Township, describing the money as going toward providing salaries, food and other necessities for Muslim conscripts.

IDPs, meanwhile, are suffering from significant hardships as they have no regular income and do not receive relief supplies on a regular basis from humanitarian organisations.

One man from the Ohntawgyi IDP camp said: "Without a job and income, many can't afford to give that amount of money. They have to borrow from others to pay. Many are even struggling just to not starve. Many can't afford to buy medicines when they are sick."

At the same time, relatives of Muslim conscripts say the conscripts are themselves enduring various hardships.

"[Junta authorities] said the money they collect is intended for conscripts," said a family member of a Muslim conscript from the Thakkelpyin IDP camp. "But when I asked the conscripts, they said they don't have three meals a day and they don't receive proper medical treatment when they get sick. So, where has the money gone?"

There are more than 1,000 Muslim conscripts from Sittwe Township who have undergone military training by the junta. Some were assigned to keep guard in bunkers and trenches near their villages, while others sent to the junta's naval bases and the front line in the regime's war with the Arakkha Army (AA).

DMG was unable to obtain comment from junta spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun or the junta's Arakan State government spokesman, U Hla Thein.

The regime has been forcibly recruiting Muslim men monthly in Sittwe Township to defend against the AA's attacks. They have been living at IDP camps in Sittwe Township since they were displaced by the intercommunal conflicts of 2012.