findings iII: Justice and corruption 43 Corruption by authorities is commonplace in the camps. In fact, an overwhelming number of survey respondents (98 percent) reported some level of corruption in the operation of security forces in the camps. The APBn was most frequently reported by interview respondents as being the most corrupt actor. However, corruption by the majis and CICs was also reported regularly. Corrupt acts reported include extortion, theft, illegitimate fines, rape and sexual abuse, and wrongful imprisonment. “They stop us, check our bodies and interrogate us,” said Kushida, a 32-year-old Rohingya woman. “They tell us that we should stay inside the Rohingya camp because we are Rohingyas. When they blatantly talk like this, we have to keep silent; otherwise, they beat us. They persecute people at the checkpoints and snatch anything people carry and the cash with the people. That’s how we have to endure difficulties here.” 71 The police interviewed acknowledged the corrupt acts alleged against them. They reported that, despite knowing that there are policies in place against abuse of Rohingya by authorities, physical abuse, extortion, and the illegitimate confiscation of Rohingya money and market goods are still committed by APBn. “No, we can’t [take] money from the Rohingya,” said Hossain (pseudonym), an APBn officer in the camps. “We have rules and regulations, and we can’t go beyond it. There might be some such incidents in other refugee camps. According to my working experience in the camp, I have heard such things happen in other camps. But, I have never taken from them, and they never offered me money. However, sometimes we have to treat them badly in some particular situations. When they don’t listen to us, they don’t allow us to do our job, we have to treat them badly.” 72 Falsifying Evidence The police are reported to “When they blatantly talk like this, we have to keep silent; otherwise, they beat us. They persecute people at the checkpoints and snatch anything people carry and the cash with the people. That’s how we have to endure difficulties here.” fabricate evidence to justify their abuses, such as planting yaba (a illicit drug made of methamphetamine laced with caffeine) on someone or accusing them of involvement with ARSA or other illegal activities. To cover up their corruption, the police frequently force Rohingya, under threat of further violence, to say on video that the police did not take anything from them. “They looted everything [from him] including his phone so that he cannot contact anyone through the phone,” said Shafika, a 35-year-old Rohingya woman. “After snatching everything, they made him say on a video that they didn’t harm him or take anything from him. He had to say whatever they wanted. Otherwise, he would be beaten up and brutalised.” 73 71 72 73 Interview C04F Interview P01 Interview C16F