October 25, 2022
Township authorities have warned the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in downtown Buthidaung of Arakan State that action will be taken against the IDPs by designating them as squatters if they fail to return to their homes not later than October 31.
On October 19, Township Administrator U Kyan Aye summoned in-charges from Yanaungmyin, Myataung and Gandaryi IDP camps and some ward administrators to explain about the warning, said an IDP camp in-charge who declined to be named.
“At the meeting, the township administrator said the IDPs will be designated as squatters if they don’t return to their homes no later than October 31. The authorities have warned us three or four times. They threatened that action will be taken against the IDPs with the curfew law by designating them as squatters. The chair of the Township General Administration Department himself said that the IDPs shall face two charges—squatting and Section 144,” the in-charge added.
“We will not return to our homes even if the authorities designate us as squatters. The IDPs find it difficult to return to their villages as the fighting continues, and they (Myanmar army) are stationed in the villages. We have no money to live downtown. The IDPs are worrying. They cannot sleep well, an IDP from Lanma IDP camp told the DMG.
An IDP from Yanaungmyay IDP camp said: “The IDPs don’t dare to return to their villages as they are concerned about heavy shelling and landmines due to the renewed fighting. We have no idea. I don’t know what they will do if we don’t return to our villages at the end of October. The authorities said they will take legal action if we don’t return to the villages. We will move if they force us. No one wants to return to their homes.”
The DMG asked Buthidaung Township Administrator U Kyan Aye to seek the comment about the IDP situation. He was unavailable for comment as he was attending the meeting. U Hla Thein, Spokesperson of the Arakan State Military Council was unavailable for comment.
There are 991 people in Lanma IDP camp, 567 in Yanaungmyin IDP camp, 387 in Myataung IDP camp and 740 in Gandaryi IDP camp in Buthidaung Township.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)