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‘If we have money, we live,’ says Rohingya refugee
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“If we have the money, we (live another day and) can run away. If not, we just wait for death,” said Rohingya refugee, Saidatul Rahman Norlok on the daily sufferings of his people in Arakan, Myanmar.

The 26-year-old said the killing of Rohingya Muslims occurred every single day, for no reason or rhyme.

“Three years ago, I managed to escape to Thailand. Then, I worked as a carpenter in Kuala Lumpur before moving to Malacca about three months ago. However, I live here alone, (as) my family members have fled to Bangladesh.

“We can see people crying every day, everywhere, trying to save themselves from torture or murder. Children and women are the main victims,” he told reporters here.

Saidatul Rahman, who lives in Melaka Raya, said that apart from the killings, the villagers had to withstand hunger because it was difficult to obtain food.

In fact, the sad truth was that some of his friends and neighbours had starved to death.

Another refugee, Muhamad Ayub Abdul Kasim, said the military junta would harass them daily and carry out various acts of physical torture until he could not even work to eke out a living.

“Each day, there was nothing that I could do, I could not even work. Every day, I was in fear. Bodies lying around. The sound of gunshots could be heard every day,” said the 46-year-old, who is currently staying in Bachang.

The father of three said that in 2002, he escaped to Malaysia, while his wife and children followed suit about five years later.

- Bernama

 

Read Kiniguide on 'The whos and whys behind the Rohingyas' suffering'

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