findings iV: impact of movement restrictions 53 Security and Violence Violent acts perpetrated by individuals, gangs, and authorities are ubiquitous throughout the camps. “Rohingya people are being murdered, subjected to torture, assassinated, split in two, having their nails and eyes pulled out, kidnapped, taken to jail, and being dragged out on the road and shot,” 89 said Aisha, a 60-year-old Rohingya woman. Accounts of physical assault, abduction, murder, theft, SGBV, and arson were reported repeatedly by respondents. Eighty-one percent of survey respondents reported feeling ‘not at all safe’ or ‘a little bit safe’ in the camps, while only 19 percent reported feeling ‘quite a bit safe’ or ‘extremely safe.’ Complicating the security situation further, Rohingya noted that reporting such acts to authorities is dangerous because retributive violence is commonplace. “When such criminals are released, they cause chaos killing people in the camp when they return,” said Hamidullah, a 35-year-old Rohingya man. “They become more violent than before. If one was arrested for torturing people and gets released from jail, he becomes a murderer after his return.” 90 According to camp authorities, restrictions on movement have been put in place as an attempt to curb the uncontrollable violence in the camps. In re- “Rohingya people are being murdered, subjected to torture, assassinated, split in two, having their nails and eyes pulled out, kidnapped, taken to jail, and being dragged out on the road and shot,” ality, many respondents believe that these restrictions have instead further destabilised camp security, as corruption among authorities has allowed criminals and gangs to act with impunity while the restrictions prevent innocent Rohingya from seeking safety.91 “They are causing riots, beating and killing people, looting houses, torturing us,” said Kushida, a 32-yearold Rohingya woman. “In the camp, people are usually abducted, slaughtered and cut into pieces. So, the police claim that restrictions are put in place to stop them. How can these things keep happening despite the presence of the CIC, the police, and the guards at night? Thinking logically, we can understand that government officials have united with the bad guys to cause all these problems in our lives.”92 Feelings of insecurity related to camp violence were pervasive among Rohingya respondents. Unstable living conditions combined with restrictions on movement exacerbate these feelings as the flimsy construction of their shelters does not afford safety from criminals and, without freedom of movement, they are not able to seek safety elsewhere. These findings were affirmed by feedback from survey respondents, the vast majority of whom (86 percent) reported that the restrictions on movement made them feel less safe in the camps, while 14 percent felt that the restrictions made no difference in safety, and less than 1 percent reported feeling more safe due to restrictions. The recent murders of Mohib Ullah and other Rohingya leaders also contribute to general feelings of insecurity among respondents. Many reported being afraid to leave their shelters alone and that the fear of violence prevented them 89 90 91 92 Interview C09F Interview C4EM Corruption, police violence, and access to justice are discussed in greater depth in Section II: Enforcement and Section III: Justice and Corruption. Interview C04F