About 6,000 Rohingya people have managed their living place in the village Tamru. It is a remote village of Ghumdum union at Naikkhanchari Upazila of Bandarban district. These Rohingyas came to this no- man’s land area after facing the military attack of the Myanmar army about five to six month ago. On Feb 9, at around 11 pm, Myanmar Deputy Home Minister Aung Sow came to the border on inspection of Rakhine state and ordered the Rohingyas to move away from the no-mans land. He also threatened them (Rohingyas) saying that the consequences will not be fruitful to them if they don’t leave the area.
Our correspondent captured a video of a conversation between the Myanmar deputy home minister to the Rohingyas. It is seen that some Rohingyas are on the border of the Bangladesh area and the Myanmar government's Deputy Minister Aung Sow and some officials are on the other side of the Barbed wire fence. In the meantime, Myanmar law enforcers raised their arms to point to the Rohingyas (staying in the no man’s land). There are some journalists on the other side of the fence from the Myanmar side. At this time, Aung Sow was speaking to the Rohingyas and a representative of the Buddha community was translating his words to the Rohingya people.
Mr Aung Sow said, “I didn’t come here to compromise with you. You people are not allowed to stay here (no man’s land) as it is Myanmar's land. We will not allow you to live here. We already have talked with the Bangladesh govt to make this land Rohingya free. But now Myanmar government may take legal action according to the law to empty this place. If you people do not move away, then the later consequences will be horrific.”
It is found that the Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) has set up some temporary tents by the barbed wire and announcing with a mike to the Rohingyas to leave the no-mans land.
Rohingya leader Dil Mohammad said, “On that day (Feb 9), Myanmar Deputy Home Minister Major General Aung Sow did not show any interest to return us to Myanmar but to leave the no-mans land.
News has been published in an international media that the Myanmar govt is eager to bring back us which is not true. We think that it's a long process and it should be solved internationally as it is difficult for us to believe the Myanmar govt.”
“If there is any intention to repatriate us to Myanmar, we would have observed the positive behaviour of the Myanmar home minister. After the international pressure, Myanmar govt was given their consent to bring back us. But it is obvious that it is nothing but camouflage,” he added.
Another Rohingya leader Arif Ahmad said, "Torture is still running in the Rakhine state. Myanmar govt is spreading a matter that they are setting up the transit camps are to bring back us which is not true. This is nothing but propaganda.
It is to be noted that near about 7 lac Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh after a violent attack by the Myanmar Army in Rakhine state to save their life.