Dead bodies floating in sea near Maungdaw south

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Dead bodies were floating in the sea near Udaung Village of Maungdaw south on October 28, at about 4:00 pm, according to a villager from Udaung, who denied to be named.

“Villagers believe that the dead bodies are probably from boat people who fled from Kyaukpru tried to enter and to land at Maungdaw south for shelter.”

“But, the authorities are not giving them to land and kept on the boat around three to four days. The boat load Rohingyas backed to the sea for save as they were not getting any foods, water and medicine. Even, they are not allowed to meet anylocal Rohingyas from Maungdaw south by Nasaka.”

“Maybe, on the way, one of the boats was sunk for the cause of bad weather or was sunk by the concerned authority,” said a fishing man from Maungdaw south.

According to fishermen, they saw many dead bodies were floating in the sea. There are many wounded people on the boats. The dead bodies that were died in the boats were also thrown into the sea.

Villagers informed to the local Nasaka camp about the dead bodies and a group of Nasaka went to the spot and asked the villagers to push the dead bodies into deep sea, said a local elder from the village.

The boat will be one of those which was attacked by Burmese Navy while they fleeing from Kyaukpru and trying to enter to the Akyab coastline, according to sources.

“Seven boats were seized by Burmese Navy and kept in their camp and released only four after keeping four boats.”

Similarly, a boat which had 130 people who are trying to go Malaysia from Shebrang village of Teknaf union, Bangladesh ,on 28 night which sank in the mount of Naf River for entering water in the boats, according to fisher men from Sharpordip.

“All the boat people are missing in the sea.”

“The people are from Bangladesh who tried to go Malaysia which organized by trafficker. The trafficker and boat people are taking advantage from clashing between Rohingya and Rakhine in Arakan. They all will be saying Rohingya, but only a few are Rohingya there and other all Bangladeshi.”

"The boat was heading to Malaysia illegally and we have spoken to families of missing passengers," said Mohamed Farhad, police inspector of Teknaf.

“A 24-year-old survivor was being held in custody and he does not know what happened to the others as it was dark and he was desperate to save his own life."

Thursday 1 November 2012

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