Burma Preparing The Killing Fields

Nasaka Dictate New Rules For Rohingya Villages
(part of The Darkness Visible series)

As the radical Buddhists Rakhine continue to rally around propagandist monks the Arakan region of Burma grows even more unstable. Monks with political agendas replace those who had once taught the actual faith of Buddhism. Police with the power to kill back these very political ideals. And an army with the willingness to torture, torment, and slaughter provide the political base the muscle they need to crush all opposition.

During the summer of 2012 the world watched as the Rakhine took to the torch to remove Rohingya from villages and cities. Then when peace had been "restored" the gates of hell swung open once again in October of 2012. The calm of normality has still yet to return.

Now we watch as the radicals call for "action" once again. The blockades are being reinforced so as to keep the Rohingya within their villages and concentration camps. The police presence is being built up well beyond its original strength. Military presence is everywhere as the army of Thein Sein prepares to back the Rakhine pogrom looming over the horizon.

In Maungdaw, Arakan state the Nasaka (border police) called upon all Rohingya villagers to attend lectures about the new laws they are supposedly there to impose. In these meetings with village leaders and Rohingya community leaders, the Nasaka gave even more harsh demands than before. Now Rohingya are banned from leaving their homes from 10pm to 6am. No Rohingya are allowed to go outside the limits of their villages. Farmers must ask permission to leave the villages to tend their fields. Visiting family members must be documented and reported to the Nasaka guards. And anyone caught violating these laws will be removed for punishment at the whims of the Nasaka guards.

More importantly, any demolished house that was not given an OK by the Nasaka will also be punished extremely by the military or police. This is important to note since the Nasaka do not care how the house was destroyed. They simply need excuses to use when attacking Rohingya and removing them to prisons and torture houses. It will not matter if the house was firebombed by Rakhine or not, the Rohingya will be the ones who pay the price.

It is also important to note that the new police presence is not in the area to protect the Rohingya but rather to defend the Rakhine. The harsh new laws do not apply to the Rakhine. They only are meant to keep Rohingya in one place where they can be easily attacked and killed when the Rakhine mobilize. This is a measured step in preparing the area of Maungdaw for the next wave of ethnic cleansing.

Now all we apparently can do is wait and see. More Rohingya die of starvation every day in Maungdaw. And these harsh rules will only help them die of hunger or die at the hands of the radical Rakhine militias. Whichever comes first.