KALADAN NEWS

Dated: Tuesday, February 17, 2004

An Arakanese Youth Fighting For Life In Hospital

Maungdaw, Feb. 17: An Arakanese Rohingya youth is fighting for his life in Maungdaw hospital with serious injury from gun firing by Nasaka (Border Security Force) in Arakan State, Burma.

The youth Mohammed Ismail, 25, son of Deen Mohammed is a professionally fisherman hailing from Kyauk Chaung (Shill Khali) Village Tract under Maungdaw Township was fired by Nasaka in front of his family members with the accusation of link with rebel group, said a family member to our source.

On February 1, 2004, a section of Nasaka forces accompanied by some policemen from Nasaka area No. 4 of Maungdaw Township went to Ismail house and dragged him out of the house. A Nasaka person then shot Ismail at his head, whereupon he fell on the yard unconscious. Despite their efforts, the Nasaka could not extract any confession from the victim, said another relative to our sources preferring not to cite his name.

On the order of the Nasaka the relatives and villagers took the victim to the township hospital of Maungdaw for medical treatment. But, no improvement has been seen and is still in coma, said his mother in tears.

Similarly, there are many reports of such events, which have been kept unreported across Arakan State. So, it has become a Field of Silent Killing,” said Mr. AFK Jilani, the author of Human Rights Violations in Arakan and Organizing Secretary of the National League for Democracy (NLD) for Arakan State, now living in exile in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

“He is very simple and earning money for his family by fishing in the river and there is no allegation against him about anti-government activities. Why the Nasaka suddenly accuse him of having link with insurgent groups without any proper inquiry” said his father with great sorrow.