KALADAN NEWS

Dated: Thursday, December 25, 2003

Paddy Procurement Process:

Betrayal of Appointment Letters for Representatives of Paddy Procurement

Maungdaw, Dec. 25: Recently, appointment letters for representatives of paddy procurement of Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships, Arakan State, were sent from Ministry of Commerce and Trade but concerned authorities betray to handover the selected persons, said a VPDC member.

According to the mandate of Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) Chairmen of Buthidaung and Maungdaw, on December 12, 2003, the representatives for paddy procurement Chairmen U Shwe Tha form Maungdaw and Maung Mra Tha from Buthidaung called selected members separately to distribute their appointment letters, which were issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Trade in the first week of December 2003. But, they betrayed to the members showing some reasons. They said “As per the order of high-level authorities, we cannot distribute the appointment letters because of you are Muslims. So, we will return your money later,” he further added.

On October 13, 2003, Township representatives selected 3 Rohingya members from each village tract of Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships for paddy procurement from their respective areas. For the selection of 3 members from each village tract, had to pay an amount of Kyat 60,000 to the concerned authorities, said a representative for paddy procurement, who prefers not to mention his name.

A total number of village tract in both Buthidaung and Maungdaw (85+112) 197 have to pay Kyat 1,18,20,000 (eleven million eight hundred and twenty thousands) to the authorities, he further added.

On July 23, 2003, the Western Command Commander has selected 13 Rakhaing members from Buthidaung and 18 Rakhaing members from Maungdaw Townships as representatives of Townships for paddy procurement. Of them, Maung Mra Tha and U Shwe Tha were appointed as Chairmen of Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships respectively.

They have been assigned to collect the paddy from the villagers of both Townships Maungdaw and Buthidaung for the year of 2003-04.