No Rohingya : Township Administrator officer

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Maungdaw Township Administration officer told the village administration officers not to use the word “Rohingya” as their reports and official corresponding to other government offices, said a village administration officer.

U Kyi San, The Township administration officer had ordered not to use the word “Rohingy” to the village administration officers who attend the monthly meeting at Township administration office on January 1, 2012.”  

The township officer told in the meeting that the word “Rohingy” was not accepted by the official and will not use it while they are corresponding with government office and the officer had no rights to Rohingya in the office, said an officer from Maungdaw Township administration office. 

The word “Rohingya” is using in the Rohingya community inside Arakan and exile as per Ancient Arakan historical prospect and the international and national media (exile) also using the word “Rohingya” in their reports. It is first time, the high officer from Maungdaw is giving direction not to use word “Rohingya” in the northern Arakan, said a politician from Maungdaw.
“The most extensive exodus was due to the harshness of Dragon King Operation in 1978. Nearly 300.000 fled to Bangladesh. First Burma denied them to be Burmese citizens or residents. Later signed the agreement on 7th July 1978 to receive the refugees back, as they were residents of Burma and finally repatriated all under a bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and Burma.”
“Historically Arakan has many names. Most of the names are nearer in pronunciation. Different people who had contacts with Arakan pronounced its name in their own languages, which sound a bit different from each other. Rakhasa, Rakhasha, Rakhapura were the names called by Indians.  Arkhaung, Rakhanj, Rakham, Recon, Rachami and Rakhang were mostly used by Armenians, Moors, Arabs and Persians Recon, Rakan, Rachan, Rakao, Arkao and finally Arakan were the names found in the records of Dutch, Portuguese, French, Italian and English peoples.Rakan, Rakham, Rohang and Roshang were found in medieval Bengali, Tripura and Indian literatures. People in Arakan (mostly the Muslims, Hindus and Bruwas) called their country Rowang or Rohang or Roshang. From Rohang, its people are Rohingyas.”
In traditional Bengali literature, Arakan amply and wider has been described as “Rohang”. Thus from Rohang its people is Rohingya, according to Dr. Kunango, History Chittagong, vol: 1, 1978 and Etymology of Arakan by one researcher in Rakhine, “Thahara” magazine, 2002.

U Nu, the Union Prime Minister, on the radio speech relayed from BBS (Burma Broadcasting Service) on 25th September 1954 at 8:00 PM explained that the people living in Maungdaw and Buthidaung regions are our national brethren.They are called Rohingyas according to U Nu's radio speech .5th Sep.1954. P-3.

Both Prime Minister U Nu and then Defense Minister U Ba Swe in November 03, 04 1959 made public speeches to the mass public gatherings in Maungdaw and Buthidaung. There, they assured the public that the government was clean and clear in regard of Rohingya's Burmese citizenship. They told Rohingyas were at the same par in the status of nationality with Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Mon, Rakhine and Shan.
"The people in this district (May Yu) now northern Arakan are Ruhingya. On the other side of the border, there are Muslims too. They are Pakistanis (Now Bangli). Muslims in Arakan side are Rohingyas. Some other ethnic people live on the both sides of the border, not only in this border, but also in our borders with India, China and Thailand. So, frankly speaking people living in this May Yu region are our national brothers, and one of our national minorities. So, we had any wrongs in the past, forget them. From today, you all are our Union citizens. Feel yourself as our family members, not strangers,” according to Brigadier Aung Gyi, Deputy Chief of Staff, had given the speeches on Mujahids surrendered ceremonies on 8/7/61 and 15/11/61 which were published in a booklet, named “Future of May Yu”.