Maung Sar Ga, NarinjaraNews, 5 October 2024

In Sittwe, the capital cityof  Arakan State, which is currently under full control of the militaryjunta, the residents reported that houses belonging to internally displacedpersons (IDPs) in urban wards are facing burglaries, vandalizing and demolitioneven during the broad daylight.

The thieves are indulging inthe burglary of residents belonging to IDPs in Min Gan ward and others, where stealing household appliances, plastic chairs, sewing machines,tableware, motorcycles, auto-rickshaws, irons, windows, and doors become regularevents. These items are later sold at a low price in nearby Muslim villages.

"The Arakaneseindividuals demolish the houses and then sell the items. They take those to theMuslim market and sell at a cheaper price. There are depots in those marketswhich buy these items," said a local resident.

Later these items are openlytransported to Muslim villages using various vehicles, including large &small trucks, auto-rickshaws, and carts.

The junta soldiers andpolice personnel are stationed at a number of intersections in Sittwe, but theyhave not  arrested anyone among the thieves.

"The junta isdeliberately making people suffer, both mentally and physically. In otherwords, it’s a form of oppression against the Arakanese people,” added theresident.

The vehicles transportingthese stolen items are often covered with tarpaulins, creating an impressionthat those are carrying other goods.

Many people use carts tocarry these items, particularly from the Bu May Muslim village near SittweUniversity.

More than 30 carts come fromthe urban ward every day  transporting these items.

"They are taking theseitems openly. There’s no one to stop them. They are doing it without anydifficulties,” said an eye witness.

Sittwe is currently underthe command of junta-appointed Arakan State chief minister U Htein Lin and it’sunder the security provided by the junta soldiers and police personnel. Butinnocent people's houses are being demolished and even sold later.

Many Sittwe residents lefttheir places fearing an outbreak of gun fighting. The process began

in December last year andmost of them left for Yangon and other liberated areas in the mainland andArakan State.

The junta is now using theresidents of Sittwe as human shields. The entry and exit points have been blocked to prevent anyone fleeing from the capital city.

Similarly, in many villagesnear Sittwe like Byine Phyu, Shwe Pyi Thar, Kan Tawt, Taw Kan, Nga Tauk Tat,Chi Lel Pin and Ah Myint Kyun, the locals observe that the military-trainedMuslim armed groups continue demolishing and selling uninhabited houses.

Photograph: Individualsstealing items from the houses of internally displaced persons  in Sittwein September 2024