Houses of IDPs in Sittwe witness burglaries in broad daylight

Maung Sar Ga, Narinjara News, 5 October 2024

In Sittwe, the capital city of  Arakan State, which is currently under full control of the military junta, the residents reported that houses belonging to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in urban wards are facing burglaries, vandalizing and demolition even during the broad daylight.

The thieves are indulging in the 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 regular events. These items are later sold at a low price in nearby Muslim villages.

"The Arakanese individuals demolish the houses and then sell the items. They take those to the Muslim market and sell at a cheaper price. There are depots in those markets which buy these items," said a local resident.

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

The junta soldiers and police personnel are stationed at a number of intersections in Sittwe, but they have not  arrested anyone among the thieves.

"The junta is deliberately making people suffer, both mentally and physically. In other words, it’s a form of oppression against the Arakanese people,” added the resident.

The vehicles transporting these stolen items are often covered with tarpaulins, creating an impression that those are carrying other goods.

Many people use carts to carry these items, particularly from the Bu May Muslim village near Sittwe University.

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

"They are taking these items openly. There’s no one to stop them. They are doing it without any difficulties,” said an eye witness.

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

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

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

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

Similarly, in many villages near 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-trained Muslim armed groups continue demolishing and selling uninhabited houses.

Photograph: Individuals stealing items from the houses of internally displaced persons  in Sittwe in September 2024