48 People Arrested in Maungdaw with Anti-Referendum Posters

48 people have been arrested by border security forces in the last three days from 7 May to 9 May in Maungdaw Township in possession of several anti-referendum posters, reports a source close to Nasaka.

The source said some people were arrested as they were distributing the movie posters among the public, while others were arrested while transporting the posters to various locations for distribution.

Among those arrested are 29 people from Buthidaung, 10 from Rathidaung, and 9 from Maungdaw Township, and most are Muslim. Four Muslim women are among the arrestees.

The source also added that some were arrested during the night in southern Maungdaw Township as they were entering Burma from Bangladesh with the anti-referendum posters across the Naff River on board boats.

Nasaka forces seized three large posters and 102 small posters from the individuals, but the source did not elaborate on what anti-referendum statements or markings the posters contained.

The arrestees are currently being interrogated by authorities at Nasaka headquarters located at Kyigan Byint on the outskirts of Maungdaw City.

It has also been learned that security was tightened in Maungdaw for today's constitutional referendum and many armed security forces are patrolling around Maungdaw on alert to crackdown if anyone tries to protest the referendum.

May 10, 2008