Interviews of Rakhine/Arakanese victims of the Bengali Muslims

BUDDHIST MONKS TELL OF HORRORS

On June 9, 2012, about 250 houses in the SakRonSu quarter of Sittwe, and four monasteries included Saydiprawn monastery were set on fire at about 3:00 pm by Bengali Muslims and at about 5 pm, as the dark evening began, the monks and people of SakRonSu quarter had to flee for their safety to RawTharYar village. On June 10, 2012, about 1,000 Bengali from Narzi quarter fought with monks of Damarama monastery in RawTharYar village. Two young monks were injured by the Bengalis fighting. The police and army arrived just in time and stopped the Bengalis fighting. How was the situation of RawTharYar village after the Bengalis attack? After the police and army stopped the Bengalis fighting, the police and army left our village without deploying any security forces. On June 11, we observed Bengalis organizing their groups and gathered weapons, such as swords, spears, arrows and catapults (slingshots). Bengalis were planning to fight Arakanese villages and Buddhist monasteries in Arkyab-taw-kone. We therefore, organized villagers and formed a defensive group to protect our villagers, our nationality and our peaceful religion from the Bengalis' deadly plans of conquest. Moreover, three monasteries were already under control of Bengalis near RawTharYar village before the June 10th fighting. So, on June 10th our Arakanese defensive group counter-attacked and took back control of those monasteries and villages. How do you feel and what do you think about the Bengalis fighting? I feel so sorry and angry with the Bengalis, and the government also. Arakanese are the indigenous people of Arakan and an ethnicity of Burma, but Bengalis are migrants who illegally entered into Arakan, often using bribes. On the other hand, they are not citizens of Burma. They fought locals and destroyed our villagers houses, properties and even religious monasteries. The main entity causing this conflict is the Immigration Department of the Burmese government. Some of the them took bribes from Bengalis and illegally allowed them to enter into Arakan State. So, unnecessary unrest occurred in Arakan. U Panni-ta - - head monk in Panni-thara Monastery, Akyab-taw-kone, Sittwe ____________________________________________________________________ Can you explain to us what happened, and how you were injured, and how you escaped death? The attacking Bengali Muslims were blocking from the south side so that we could not escape. We were the last group to try to flee. We were destined to be there at that unfortunate time, and we got attacked and we had to fight back. When we tried to escape, there were 3 laymen and 3 students. I was the last in the group fleeing the village. A group of Bengalis were waiting and blocking us at the south side, holding long sticks. They confronted us. They were eager to kill us all. One Bengali run towards me to attack me (Im a 77 yearold monk) with a long stick. At that time I saw the stick swinging to me, so I tried to lower my head and to protect from the stick. If my head got hit, it would be very serious. To protect my head, I was holding hand like this. As he attacked me, I tried to hit back with this stick here (a short stick). This one saved my life. I began climbing the mountain for safety. The old laymen and children were still below, surrounded by Bengali Muslims. They were stabbing the old laymen to death. They were stabbing him repeatedly. Did they kill the children? Among the children, they killed the older one, but the two younger ones managed to escape. They reached Pan-Taw-Pron camp. They are young kids. It is very easy for them to sneak away. So they ran away fast. U Tay Za - 77 year-old monk, Shwe Yin Aye Monastery, Maungdaw 1

BUDDHIST MONKS TELL OF HORRORS

When the Bengalis from Bu Mae village charged towards our village, the villagers gathered and defended on one front. The villagers from Rwar Tharyar gathered here to defend their village as well. At that time, the Bengalis started attacking the Arakanese with sharp metal spikes with catapults (slingshots). Then the Muslim elders and Arakanese elders intervened and the fighting was stopped for the rest of that day. On the next day, when we were in the monastery, about 40 Bengalis came to the monastery intending to set it on fire. Only three of us; the abbot, myself and a novice were there at the monastery. I told the abbot that the situation was not good and we should not stay here anymore. We would be in danger if we continue to stay here, I said. The abbot said he wanted to stay one more day. The mob went away, but, in the evening, approximately 50 Bengalis, armed with knives, sticks and swords came to burn the monastery. But it didn't catch fire and the mob faded away again. On the next day, around 10 a.m., we moved to Rwar Tharyar village from our Narzi village. On the same day, those Bengalis entered the monastery, ransacked it, and stole any properties and belongings that they could grab, and finally they burned down the monastery. A layman who ran for his life -from a Bengali trying to kill him - told me that "After setting the monastery on fire they set their own houses on fire and ran from the scene". Can you tell us the situation you had seen in Rwar Tharyar village? When I got to Rwar Tharyar, we werent yet free from the hostilities of the Bengalis. The Bengalis destroyed the wall of the Dhama Rama monastery as they tried to enter the compound. And, they tried to set the monastery on fire by spreading fuel. Luckily, security forces arrived in the area and the monastery survived. Because your monastery was burnt by the Bengalis, where are you staying presently? Currently, I stay at Pyi Gyi Mandai monastery. Did the government do anything for you because your monastery was burnt during the riot? No, the government didnt offer anything. As a monk, how do you think about these Bengalis? If I have to say, I don't want to see anyone facing trouble. I want people to be living in harmony and peace. But the Bengalis stay on Arakanese land and they destroy the properties of the Arakanese. Moreover, they want to occupy the land of Arakan, but without the Arakan people. The Arakanese face deep trouble because of the hostile actions of the Bengalis. I don't want to forgive those kinds of Bengali actions. Setting a monastery and houses on fire are violent acts against religion and Burma. So, I have responsibility for defending my race, my language and my religion from the Bengalis who seem possessed by evil. What do you want to say about these Bengalis to the state authority? There is one thing I would like to say to state leaders. That is there is a big difference between Bengalis and Myanmar people. Bengalis give a lot of trouble to the Myanmar people. They burn down religious buildings and houses. So if they are allowed to continue to live in Burma, they must be confined to the refugee camps. U Arsara - monk, Shwe Beik Mahn Tawya Monestary, Narzi quarter, Sittwe