Women in Sittwe of Arakan State said they feel insecure as they frequently face murder, sexual harassment and robbery cases.
Daw Win Win Than from Mingan No.15 ward said: “We feel insecure as the girls are raped to death frequently. I have children. I have to go outside to earn a living as I am poor. I feel insecure about going outside by leaving my children at home.”
At night on 15 March, an 11-year-old girl from No.15 Mingan ward disappeared. On the morning of March 16, she was found unconscious and with no clothes near the railroad in Mingan ward. She died on 18 March while receiving medical treatment at Sittwe Hospital.
Currently, the police have detained two suspects at the age of 17 from the same ward and are interrogating them.
It is still unknown whether the victim was raped or not as the medical report is not out yet. The family members of the victim called for effective action against two suspects as both suspects have confessed to the case, Daw Nyo Nyo Win, the mother of victim said.
“They (suspects) have confessed to the crime. They must be sentenced to death as my daughter died,” Daw Nyo Nyo Win said.
On 15 August, 2022, an 18-year-old girl who is working at a shop near Arakan State Administration Council Office in Sittwe, was raped. She was found dead with two knife wounds and wounds to her face and chin.
The people in Sittwe feel insecure as Sittwe sees a gradual increase in the number of crimes such as snatching mobile phones and handbags by motorbike, gang robberies and the females raped to death, not only in the daytime but also at night.
Daw Kywat Sein, Chair of Rakhine Tagar Light Association: “We cannot allow the children to play freely. It is like a free-zone which has no security . The police no longer patrol at night. In my view, the lack of security is linked to theft, rape and murder.”
Locals view that the killings of young girls, thefts, robberies are reported in Sittwe daily. This is related to the fact that the people can easily buy drugs with a very small amount of money, and the rule of law is weak.
Daw Nyo Aye, Chair of Rakhine Women’s Network said: “The main cause is the people face livelihood difficulties. They have no opportunities to earn their living. Some people are selling narcotic drugs to children taking advantage of it. The rise in the sale of narcotic drugs pushes for this situation.”
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)