Maungdaw, Arakan State: Local people from Myoma Kayoungdan (Sekda para) village blocked traffic police personnel while they tried to extort and harass a religious leader who raiding a motorbike on February 25, said a teacher from Maungdaw.
“Local people blocked the traffic police personnel when the police stopped and tried to take the motorbike and raider – a religious leader - to their station. When the local surrounded the police personnel and the police left the motorbike and raider and escaped from the surrounded area to their place on February 25 evening.”
The bike raider was Moluna Mohamed Hamid hails from Maungdaw south.
“The traffic police personnel from Maungdaw traffic police station are harassing and extorting money from Rohingya community since long while the Rohingya who raided motorbike and now the traffic police started to harass and extort money from Rohingya religious leader,” said a student from Maungdaw.
The traffic police personnel are watching the motorbike raider and stopped the raider from their station. The traffic police personnel searched the raider body and then asking the vehicle paper and driving license. It is only for Rohingya community not for Rakhine community, said an elder from Myoma Kayoungdan village.
“The traffic police station is situated in our village and we are seeing every action from traffic police personnel to Rohingya. The police didn’t do any action against the Rakhine community.”
The traffic police station was controlled by Assistant Inspector Thaung Hay.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
No Rohingya businessmen in Maungdaw trade association
Maungdaw, Arakan State: No Rohingya businessmen are selected as a central executive committee (CEC) in Maungdaw trade association in its annual meeting which held on February 26, said a Rohingya businessman from Maungdaw.
The trade association annual meeting was held in Daywanawdi hall on February 26 and its was organized by Trade Association chairman, U Shwe Tha.
The administration officers who run the trade association was mixed with Rakhine businessmen and Rohingya businessmen since its organized but this year there are no Rohingya administration officers in Trade Association, said a member from Trade Association.
“The meeting organizer didn’t invite all the members of Association and invite from a few from rural areas not from Maungdaw town municipal area.”
“In the meeting, the former CEC didn’t declare Association’s financial statement and future plan.”
There are 5000 Rohingya members and only 300 Rakhine members. In Maungdaw, most of the businessmen are Rohingya and others who need to go to Bangladesh need to be a member of trade association to get a business border trade passport. The CEC of Trade Association requested to the authority – Nasaka and Immigration- to help to collect fund by recommendation of Trade Association and request no to issue border pass without Trade Association’s recommendation, said an Rohingya elder.
“The members need to pay 10,000 Kyat per head to renewal of their memberships and to become a new membership need to pay 40,000 kyat. Most of Association fund came from Rohingya community.”
The Rohingya - former CEC members of Trade Association- were dismissed with allegation of involving political party and selected all CEC members from Rakhine community, said a politician from Maungdaw.
If the Rohingya didn’t a passport to go to Bangladesh for medical treatment, the Trade Association will be paralyzed to establish the Association, said a former CEC member of Association.
The trade association annual meeting was held in Daywanawdi hall on February 26 and its was organized by Trade Association chairman, U Shwe Tha.
The administration officers who run the trade association was mixed with Rakhine businessmen and Rohingya businessmen since its organized but this year there are no Rohingya administration officers in Trade Association, said a member from Trade Association.
“The meeting organizer didn’t invite all the members of Association and invite from a few from rural areas not from Maungdaw town municipal area.”
“In the meeting, the former CEC didn’t declare Association’s financial statement and future plan.”
There are 5000 Rohingya members and only 300 Rakhine members. In Maungdaw, most of the businessmen are Rohingya and others who need to go to Bangladesh need to be a member of trade association to get a business border trade passport. The CEC of Trade Association requested to the authority – Nasaka and Immigration- to help to collect fund by recommendation of Trade Association and request no to issue border pass without Trade Association’s recommendation, said an Rohingya elder.
“The members need to pay 10,000 Kyat per head to renewal of their memberships and to become a new membership need to pay 40,000 kyat. Most of Association fund came from Rohingya community.”
The Rohingya - former CEC members of Trade Association- were dismissed with allegation of involving political party and selected all CEC members from Rakhine community, said a politician from Maungdaw.
If the Rohingya didn’t a passport to go to Bangladesh for medical treatment, the Trade Association will be paralyzed to establish the Association, said a former CEC member of Association.
Fall into reservoir and die in Kutupalong refugee camp
Ukhiya, Bangladesh: A registered refugee minor girl from Kutupalong official refugee camp fell into a damaged reservoir and died on February 24, said a refugee from the camp.
Jannet Ara, the girl who fell into reservoir and died, at her shack
“The minor girl fell into the reservoir while she was playing with other refugee children, but the reservoir is on the way and nearby school No. 8.It is also refugees walk path.”
The deceased was identified as Jannat Ara (7), MRC# Z 0288 Block-E, daughter of Aman Ullah of Kutupalong official camp.
According to sources, one side of reservoir has been damaged since long time. The neighboring refugees of the reservoir, complained to the Research Training Management and International (RTMI), but the RTMI didn’t pay any attention to repair it.
The damaged reservoir after rescued the refugee girl
Suddenly, Jannat Ara fell and sank into dirty water when some refugees saw and went to the spot.
However, the refugees recovered her and brought to refugee clinic for treatment, but doctors declared, she died.
According to refugees, the doctors of Kutupalong official refugee clinic are neglecting the refugee patients. There was no doctor and staffs in the clinic when the young girl arrived at clinic and not able to check the girl on time.
Friday, 24 February 2012
Rohingya joints European Burma Network (EBN) Meeting
Rohingya attended European Burma Network (EBN) meeting in Brussels, Belgium on February 18-19, according to Tun Khin, the President of Burmese Rohingya Organization, UK (BROUK).
Tun Khin, mentioned human rights violations against Rohingya people and pinpointed the denial of citizenship rights and ethnic rights of Rohingya in Burma. All EBN members have agreed on action plans to raise the plight of Rohingya issues and 1982 citizenship law which was targeted to get rid of Rohingya people.
"I am very glad that BROUK is being a member of EBN where we had a good opportunity to raise our suffering people's situation in International Organisations. Recently releasing of high profile political prisoners have shown that international community pressure is working on Burma. It is high time, international community have to push to the regime to stop human rights violations in ethnic areas particularly in Rohingya areas where Rohingyas are facing serious discrimination," said Tun Khin.
BROUK delegation also briefed current situation of Rohingya people in "Round table discussion on political and human rights situation in Burma" at European Parliament on February 20, organised by Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
“I exposed about discrimination on Rohingya people by the military regime in Arakan at the discussion meeting and CSW east Asia Team Leader Ben Rogers mentioned about his recent visit and situation about Kachin people where Directorate -General for External Policies of the European Union (Asia, Australia and New Zealand) and other staffs from European external service Units were attended at the discussion meeting,” said Tun Khin.
BROUK delegation met on February 21 with Andreas LIST who is Principal administrator of South-East Asia at the European Commission organized by Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
“We had valuable meetings in European and Parliament and European Commission in last two days. I have mentioned that the current changes are not genuine change. If there is genuine change, the regime has to stop ethnic cleansing in ethnic areas including Rohingya areas where basic human rights were denied. It might be just to ease sanctions from the western countries and it will be too early to life sanctions,” said the BROUK President.
“We have mentioned European officials that we just want our lost rights which are ethnic rights and citizenship rights. We want to live in our homeland with dignity and peace. We want to live with our other ethnic brothers and sisters of Burma with harmony and working together to develop our federal union of Burma. We really welcome EU continued efforts for the Human Rights and Democracy for Burma. Please raise with the regime our long time suffering Rohingya people’s issue. Instead of protecting our Rohingya people, the regime is practising more human rights violations in Rohingya areas. So international community have to protect us as we are human beings," said BROUK delegations.
BROUK delegations with European Burma Network (EBN) members after meeting in Brussels
“We also met with European Officials from European Parliament and European Commission in the meeting.”
The Rohingya -- BROUK President Tun Khin (aka) Ziaul Gaffar and its Education and Cultural Secretary Mohamed Siddique -- attended the EBN meeting. The EBN is working for campaign together in Europe and has 15 organisations’ representatives from 10 countries to promote Democracy and Human Rights. BROUK officially become a member of EBN September.
The meeting was facilitated by Jared Genser, the President of Washington based Freedom Now Law firm.
At the meeting the speakers had briefed the following topics --- Soe Aung, the representative of Forum for Democracy in Burma, briefed current situation and change in Burma; Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, Karen National Union representative, updated situation about KNU; Tun Khin the President, Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, briefed current situation of Rohingya people of Arakan; Ben Rogers, East Asia Team Leader ,Christian Solidarity Worldwide, briefed recent visit to Burma and Kachin State; Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, the Campaign Officer, Buma Campaign UK, briefed update and perspective of 88 Generation Students and Neil, the Head of EU policy and Development, Open Society Institute-Brussels, briefed current Burma discussion within European Union.
“We also met with European Officials from European Parliament and European Commission in the meeting.”
The Rohingya -- BROUK President Tun Khin (aka) Ziaul Gaffar and its Education and Cultural Secretary Mohamed Siddique -- attended the EBN meeting. The EBN is working for campaign together in Europe and has 15 organisations’ representatives from 10 countries to promote Democracy and Human Rights. BROUK officially become a member of EBN September.
The meeting was facilitated by Jared Genser, the President of Washington based Freedom Now Law firm.
At the meeting the speakers had briefed the following topics --- Soe Aung, the representative of Forum for Democracy in Burma, briefed current situation and change in Burma; Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, Karen National Union representative, updated situation about KNU; Tun Khin the President, Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, briefed current situation of Rohingya people of Arakan; Ben Rogers, East Asia Team Leader ,Christian Solidarity Worldwide, briefed recent visit to Burma and Kachin State; Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, the Campaign Officer, Buma Campaign UK, briefed update and perspective of 88 Generation Students and Neil, the Head of EU policy and Development, Open Society Institute-Brussels, briefed current Burma discussion within European Union.
Mohamed Siddique , Tun Khin and European Commission Principal Adminstrator South-East Asia ,European External Action Service
Tun Khin, mentioned human rights violations against Rohingya people and pinpointed the denial of citizenship rights and ethnic rights of Rohingya in Burma. All EBN members have agreed on action plans to raise the plight of Rohingya issues and 1982 citizenship law which was targeted to get rid of Rohingya people.
"I am very glad that BROUK is being a member of EBN where we had a good opportunity to raise our suffering people's situation in International Organisations. Recently releasing of high profile political prisoners have shown that international community pressure is working on Burma. It is high time, international community have to push to the regime to stop human rights violations in ethnic areas particularly in Rohingya areas where Rohingyas are facing serious discrimination," said Tun Khin.
BROUK delegation also briefed current situation of Rohingya people in "Round table discussion on political and human rights situation in Burma" at European Parliament on February 20, organised by Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
“I exposed about discrimination on Rohingya people by the military regime in Arakan at the discussion meeting and CSW east Asia Team Leader Ben Rogers mentioned about his recent visit and situation about Kachin people where Directorate -General for External Policies of the European Union (Asia, Australia and New Zealand) and other staffs from European external service Units were attended at the discussion meeting,” said Tun Khin.
CSW East Asia Team Leader Ben Rogers , CSW EU Liason Office Sofia and Tun Khin, the President of BROUK at European Parliament
BROUK delegation met on February 21 with Andreas LIST who is Principal administrator of South-East Asia at the European Commission organized by Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
“We had valuable meetings in European and Parliament and European Commission in last two days. I have mentioned that the current changes are not genuine change. If there is genuine change, the regime has to stop ethnic cleansing in ethnic areas including Rohingya areas where basic human rights were denied. It might be just to ease sanctions from the western countries and it will be too early to life sanctions,” said the BROUK President.
“We have mentioned European officials that we just want our lost rights which are ethnic rights and citizenship rights. We want to live in our homeland with dignity and peace. We want to live with our other ethnic brothers and sisters of Burma with harmony and working together to develop our federal union of Burma. We really welcome EU continued efforts for the Human Rights and Democracy for Burma. Please raise with the regime our long time suffering Rohingya people’s issue. Instead of protecting our Rohingya people, the regime is practising more human rights violations in Rohingya areas. So international community have to protect us as we are human beings," said BROUK delegations.
Authority warns administration office of Muslim religious gathering center in Maungdaw
Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Maungdaw township authority had given warning to trustees from administration office of Muslim religious gathering center (Tabaleak Markaz) in Maungdaw in the evening of February 19, said an elder from Maungdaw.
“We all Rohingya gathered in the religious gathering center (Tabaleak Markaz) and pray for peace and listened to religious sermons, where huge Rohingya gathered in the event.”
“The Rohingya who gathered in the event are mostly farmers, religious leaders, businessmen and elders from Maungdaw Townships.”
We informed to the authority about the event, but the authority called the administration officers when the authority saw a huge Rohingya devotees in the event, said a devotee from the gathering center.
The Township administration officer warned the religious gathering center’s trustees not to do like this gathering event in the future and took bond sign, said a member of village administration office.
“The township officer also warned to the village administration officer of Myoma Kayoundan (Seikda para) not to allow like this event in the future.”
Religious persecution is still going on in the northern Arakan State after President Thein Sein’s government took office where the government declared its move towards democracy, said a politician from Maungdaw.
“We all Rohingya gathered in the religious gathering center (Tabaleak Markaz) and pray for peace and listened to religious sermons, where huge Rohingya gathered in the event.”
“The Rohingya who gathered in the event are mostly farmers, religious leaders, businessmen and elders from Maungdaw Townships.”
We informed to the authority about the event, but the authority called the administration officers when the authority saw a huge Rohingya devotees in the event, said a devotee from the gathering center.
The Township administration officer warned the religious gathering center’s trustees not to do like this gathering event in the future and took bond sign, said a member of village administration office.
“The township officer also warned to the village administration officer of Myoma Kayoundan (Seikda para) not to allow like this event in the future.”
Religious persecution is still going on in the northern Arakan State after President Thein Sein’s government took office where the government declared its move towards democracy, said a politician from Maungdaw.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Visitor arrests in Nayapara refugee camp
Teknaf, Bangladesh: Two visitors who visited their relatives in the camp were arrested by the camp police of Nayapara official recognize refugee camp on February 18, said a relative of the victims.
“They were arrested when went out from the camp and on the road of Teknaf-Cox’s Bazar high way near the camp at about 6:00 pm when they went out from the camp.”
The arrested visitors were identified as Mohamed Rafique (18) and Jamil Ahamed (20) hailed from Maungdaw Township, Arakan State.
They came to Bangladesh from Burma to see their relatives at the Nayapara camp after long time without border pass.
Nurul Islam, the camp police inspector informed to the acting Camp-in-Charge about the visitors.
Their relatives of the visitors requested to the police inspector Nurul Islam and the acting Camp-in-Charge, Jalal Uddin of Kutupalong official camp for their release, but the inspector and camp-in-charge did not take any interest. However, the camp-in-charge was bribed Taka 20,000 for their release, said a source who refused his name.
“But, the police inspector also took Taka 7,500 from the visitors and the visitors were detained in the police camp for one night and one day. They were also beaten severely.”
On February 19, at about 11: 00 pm, they were handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) of Dum Dum Meah check-post and they were pushed back to Burma at night.
Nevertheless, the camp authorities took huge money from them and gave statement in local newspaper that they are the human traffickers, according to sources.
The inspector Nurul Islam has been harassing the official refugees such as arbitrary arrest, seizing mobiles and computers from the refugees and also restricted the movement of the refugees since he was appointed at the refugee camp.
“They were arrested when went out from the camp and on the road of Teknaf-Cox’s Bazar high way near the camp at about 6:00 pm when they went out from the camp.”
The arrested visitors were identified as Mohamed Rafique (18) and Jamil Ahamed (20) hailed from Maungdaw Township, Arakan State.
They came to Bangladesh from Burma to see their relatives at the Nayapara camp after long time without border pass.
Nurul Islam, the camp police inspector informed to the acting Camp-in-Charge about the visitors.
Their relatives of the visitors requested to the police inspector Nurul Islam and the acting Camp-in-Charge, Jalal Uddin of Kutupalong official camp for their release, but the inspector and camp-in-charge did not take any interest. However, the camp-in-charge was bribed Taka 20,000 for their release, said a source who refused his name.
“But, the police inspector also took Taka 7,500 from the visitors and the visitors were detained in the police camp for one night and one day. They were also beaten severely.”
On February 19, at about 11: 00 pm, they were handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) of Dum Dum Meah check-post and they were pushed back to Burma at night.
Nevertheless, the camp authorities took huge money from them and gave statement in local newspaper that they are the human traffickers, according to sources.
The inspector Nurul Islam has been harassing the official refugees such as arbitrary arrest, seizing mobiles and computers from the refugees and also restricted the movement of the refugees since he was appointed at the refugee camp.
Burmese envoy meets with Rohingya in Jeddah
Chittagong, Bangladesh: Burmese envoy to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia met with Rohingya during his visited to Jeddah on February 17, according to an elder from Rohingya community from Jeddah.
Burmese envoy U Khin Zaw Win with Rohingya from Jeddah
“U Khin Zaw Win, the Burmese envoy had a fruitful discussion with Rohingya politicians, businessmen, overseas workers and elders at a lunch party hosted by Rohingyas at Lasani Hotel in Jeddah.”
“The Ambassador and his team, Mohamed Rafique, the chairman of Rohingya League for Democracy (Burma), RLDB – a political party based in Jeddah - and some RLDB’s CEC members, Rohingya businessmen, Rohingya elders and Burmese expatriate workers from Jeddah region were attended in the lunch party program,” according to RLDB information desk.
The lunch party was organized by RLDB and the keynote speech was delivered by Mohamed Younous, the owner of Alabeer cold store, the RLDB information desk said.
“U Khin Zaw Win, the Burmese envoy had a fruitful discussion with Rohingya politicians, businessmen, overseas workers and elders at a lunch party hosted by Rohingyas at Lasani Hotel in Jeddah.”
“The Ambassador and his team, Mohamed Rafique, the chairman of Rohingya League for Democracy (Burma), RLDB – a political party based in Jeddah - and some RLDB’s CEC members, Rohingya businessmen, Rohingya elders and Burmese expatriate workers from Jeddah region were attended in the lunch party program,” according to RLDB information desk.
The lunch party was organized by RLDB and the keynote speech was delivered by Mohamed Younous, the owner of Alabeer cold store, the RLDB information desk said.
Burmese envoy U Khin Zaw Win, Mohamed Rafiqur (chirman RLDB), Mohamed Yousuf (Alabeer cold store) and Mostafa in lunch party at Lasani Hotel in Jeddah.
The discussions were mainly for “registering Rohingyas from Saudi Arabia and subsequently issuing them with Burmese passports, repatriation of Rohingyas prisoners from Saudi Arabian prisons to their home country (Burma), establishing a Burmese school in Jeddah and assuring lost rights of Rohingyas in Burma and abroad” a Rohingya who had joined the lunch party said on condition of anonymity.
“Rohingya prisoners’ information are collecting and checking their identity in the prisons of Jeddah and Makkah to verify as a Burmese after the discussion meeting with Burmese envoy.”
The military junta always denied and discriminated Rohingya citizen rights and other social rights; during 2009, Rohingyas were as ugly as ogres, said U Ye Myint Aung, the Burmese consular to Hong Kong, proving Burmese regime discrimination against Rohingyas while the worldwide watched the Rohingya boatpeople and the current Burmese parliament (Hluttaw) convened in last September, the immigration minister U Khin Yee, also said Rohingyas were illegal Bangali immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh despite well existence of historical evidences supporting Rohingyas being ancient citizens of Arakan. But, now the Burmese envoy from Saudi Arabia is showing green signal to Rohingya. How long it will give these signal and will Rohingya get indigenous and birth rights in Burma which the Rohingya have lost for half a century in Arakan and now they are scattered in many countries living as refugees?, said a Rohingya politician from Makkah.
First secretary and embassy staffs from Burmese Embassy in Saudi Arabaia at Lasani Hotel in Jeddah
This olive branch from President Thein Sein’s government is probably the result of the recent mounting criticisms from international leaders; British foreign secretary William Hague and UN Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana about regime’s maltreatments on Rohingyas. International community has always reiterated the importance of National Reconciliation in Burma reforms for genuine democracy and now it is the sign that Burmese leaders have been successfully convinced and now taking serious steps towards achieving it.
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Friday, 17 February 2012
One killed, two injured in Rohingya refugee camp
Ukiah, Bangladesh: A woman was killed and two were serious injured with knives in the Kutupalong makeshift camp by a drug addict refugee on February 15 at night, said a refugee elder from camp.
Rafique Uddin – a unregistered refugee from Kutupalong refugee camp – was listening music with a mobile phone nearby his shack at around 10:00pm and Jafar Alam (25) son of Ulla Meah – a drug addict—approached to him where Jafor tried to snatch mobile and become a quarrel between them, the elder added.
Rafique screamed and called his family member for help to save his mobile and his life as he was stabbed. Rafique’s mother, Azeda, (40) went to the spot to save her son and his mobile, but suddenly, Azeda was stabbed by Jafor where she died on the spot, according to neighboring refugees.
“Mamataz Meah, the father of Rafique went to the spot after hearing screamed and noisy of his family member, but he was also stabbed by Jafor and ran away from the seen while nearby refugees rushed to the spot.”
Rafique and Mamtaz were seriously injured, admitted at Shamak hospital in Cox’s Bazar where Azeda was sent to government hospital of Cox’s Bazar for autopsy. She was buried at refugee cemetery on February 16, said a relative of the victims.
Regarding the accident, son in law of Azeda had filed a case against the Jafor in Ukhiya police station.
Jafor was arrested by the refugees on February 16 and sent to the Ukhiya police station.
According to Camp-In-Charge, Jalal Uddin of official Kutupalong camp confirmed that the accident was occurred in the unregistered makeshift camp.
Rafique Uddin – a unregistered refugee from Kutupalong refugee camp – was listening music with a mobile phone nearby his shack at around 10:00pm and Jafar Alam (25) son of Ulla Meah – a drug addict—approached to him where Jafor tried to snatch mobile and become a quarrel between them, the elder added.
Rafique screamed and called his family member for help to save his mobile and his life as he was stabbed. Rafique’s mother, Azeda, (40) went to the spot to save her son and his mobile, but suddenly, Azeda was stabbed by Jafor where she died on the spot, according to neighboring refugees.
“Mamataz Meah, the father of Rafique went to the spot after hearing screamed and noisy of his family member, but he was also stabbed by Jafor and ran away from the seen while nearby refugees rushed to the spot.”
Rafique and Mamtaz were seriously injured, admitted at Shamak hospital in Cox’s Bazar where Azeda was sent to government hospital of Cox’s Bazar for autopsy. She was buried at refugee cemetery on February 16, said a relative of the victims.
Regarding the accident, son in law of Azeda had filed a case against the Jafor in Ukhiya police station.
Jafor was arrested by the refugees on February 16 and sent to the Ukhiya police station.
According to Camp-In-Charge, Jalal Uddin of official Kutupalong camp confirmed that the accident was occurred in the unregistered makeshift camp.
BGB alerts on Rohingya along Bur ma - Bangladesh border
Teknaf, Bangladesh: Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have alert on Rohingya to arrest, pushed back who enter Bangladesh without legal travel border pass, according to border security forces’ source.
“The alert was imposed after information was spread out along the Burma-Bangladesh border that BGB personnel from outpost camps take 100 taka per head who is crossing illegal into Bangladesh.”
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested sixty two Rohingyas from different border areas on February 13 -15 after warning, said a local from Teknaf.
“Twenty Rohingyas were arrested from various buses at Whykong BGB check-post after being investigated while they were going to Cox’s Bazar.”
The conducted operation was led by Company Commander Nurul Amin of Whykong. BGB-out post. Later, they were pushed back to Burma through the entry point of Lamba Bill under Teknaf police station, according to BGB sources.
On the other hand, twenty three Rohingyas were arrested by Shapuri Dip BGB personnel, while they were entering the Bangladesh.
The Company Commander Fool Meah from Shapuri Dip BGB-out post confirmed that they were pushed back to Burma same day.
Besides, on February 13, nineteen Rohingyas were arrested by Dum Dum Meah BGB check-post after being checked on different buses which ply from Teknaf to Cox’s Bazar. Of them, twelve male, three female and four children, they all are belonging to different areas of northern Arakan State, Burma.
Sources also said that most of Rohingya people cross Burma-Bangladesh for medical treatment and visiting to their relatives who live in the refugee camps.
BROUK highlight discrimination against Rohingya in Norwegian Parliament and Human Rights Human Wrongs Documentary Film Festival
Chittagong, Bangladesh: Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK) President Maung Tun Khin (aka) Ziaul Gaffar highlighted untold suffering Rohingya people’s situation in Norwegian Parliament, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign affairs and Human Rights and Human Wrongs Documentary Film Festival in Oslo on February 9, according to Ahmed Hussein Jarmal, General Secretary, BROUK.
U Tun Khin, president of BROUK with Norway former Prime Minister and other officials
Tun Khin, the BROUK, president met several high level officials from Norwegian government including the Norwegian former prime minister Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik who is also director of Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights where he highlighted discrimination against Rohingya and their situation in northern Arakan, according to their press statement.
“I had an extremely valuable discussion with the Former Prime Minister of Norway. I express our gratitude for his long time efforts for human rights and democracy for Burma. I urged him to continue to put pressure on the Thein Sein Regime to stop human rights violations in ethnic areas particularly in Arakan State where Rohingyas are facing serious persecution,” said Tun Khin, the president of BROUK.
Tun Khin with Member of Parliament Peter Skovholt Gitmark (Standing Committee on Foregin Affirs and Defence).
Recently, the Norwegian government is engaging with the Thein Sein Regime and cancelled its earlier calls for Norwegian Companies not to do business or invest in Burma.
The BROUK president also called the government of Norwegian to urge the regime to restore Rohingya citizenship rights, ethnic rights, to lift restrictions on marriage, movement, education, and to find a permanent solution for Rohingya refugees who are living in Bangladesh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Malaysia while meeting with high level government official.
“I am extremely satisfied with the meeting with various officials from Norwegian government, parliamentary members and NGOs including Norwegian People's Aid -- Largest NGO in Norway and currently thinking to take part heavily to develop in Burma-- in which we were able to raise awareness about the suffering of all the people of Burma, and particularly the plight of the Rohingyas who are not receiving much international attention and less International NGOs are working for suffering Rohingya in northern Arakan,” said BROUK president Tun Khin.
“I delivered the message that if Thein Sein regime wants to do genuine reform, the Burmese government has to stop human rights violations against all ethnic areas including Rohingya’s areas.”
“The regime is not showing even little sign of change on the Rohingya, instead tagging Rohingyas as foreigners, ignoring their glorious past and establishments in our own homeland.”
“Recent changes might be just to ease sanctions from western governments and I must say it is too early to lift the sanctions on Burma.”
In the evening, the BROUK president Tun Khin participated with Rohingya traditional dress in the Panel discussion “The Exodus of Rohingyas” at the Human Rights Human Wrongs documentary film festival in Oslo where about 70 people joined to the event including Norwegian Foreign Officials, Former Prime Minister’s Office, and Norwegian NGOs., according to Tun Khin, the president of the BROUK.
Tun Khin with Rohingya traditional dress in the Panel discussion “The Exodus of Rohingyas”
Tun Khin explained the Rohingya History and the recognitions of Democratic government of U NU era with references and evident. He also explained about Rohingya dress which was open used in the Democratic government of U NU era but it was kept in the dark by Dictator Ne Win and it was all most disappear in the recent period.
“I also share the situation Rohingya in northern Arakan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh with Democratic Voice of Burma –DVB in Oslo after the event,” Tun Khin said.
Tun Khin with Rohingya traditional dress in DVB studio for interview
The film "The Exodus of the Rohingyas" describes the nightmarish legal limbo they are living in. The Rohingyas, a Muslim minority group in Burma, were made stateless in 1982 by the military dictatorship. Thousands of Rohingyas have fled brutal suppression in their home country to poverty, misery and abuse in neighboring Bangladesh. Bangladesh does not accept them as refugees while Burma does not want them back. After the film, follows a debate: The Rohingyas of Burma are stateless and have been living in misery for decades. They are a forgotten people. Why is it so difficult to find a solution to their situation and to give them a life with dignity?, according to global.no and uteliv.no website.
U Tun Khin, president of BROUK with Norway former Prime Minister and other officials
Tun Khin, the BROUK, president met several high level officials from Norwegian government including the Norwegian former prime minister Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik who is also director of Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights where he highlighted discrimination against Rohingya and their situation in northern Arakan, according to their press statement.
“I had an extremely valuable discussion with the Former Prime Minister of Norway. I express our gratitude for his long time efforts for human rights and democracy for Burma. I urged him to continue to put pressure on the Thein Sein Regime to stop human rights violations in ethnic areas particularly in Arakan State where Rohingyas are facing serious persecution,” said Tun Khin, the president of BROUK.
Tun Khin with Member of Parliament Peter Skovholt Gitmark (Standing Committee on Foregin Affirs and Defence).
Recently, the Norwegian government is engaging with the Thein Sein Regime and cancelled its earlier calls for Norwegian Companies not to do business or invest in Burma.
The BROUK president also called the government of Norwegian to urge the regime to restore Rohingya citizenship rights, ethnic rights, to lift restrictions on marriage, movement, education, and to find a permanent solution for Rohingya refugees who are living in Bangladesh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Malaysia while meeting with high level government official.
“I am extremely satisfied with the meeting with various officials from Norwegian government, parliamentary members and NGOs including Norwegian People's Aid -- Largest NGO in Norway and currently thinking to take part heavily to develop in Burma-- in which we were able to raise awareness about the suffering of all the people of Burma, and particularly the plight of the Rohingyas who are not receiving much international attention and less International NGOs are working for suffering Rohingya in northern Arakan,” said BROUK president Tun Khin.
“I delivered the message that if Thein Sein regime wants to do genuine reform, the Burmese government has to stop human rights violations against all ethnic areas including Rohingya’s areas.”
“The regime is not showing even little sign of change on the Rohingya, instead tagging Rohingyas as foreigners, ignoring their glorious past and establishments in our own homeland.”
“Recent changes might be just to ease sanctions from western governments and I must say it is too early to lift the sanctions on Burma.”
In the evening, the BROUK president Tun Khin participated with Rohingya traditional dress in the Panel discussion “The Exodus of Rohingyas” at the Human Rights Human Wrongs documentary film festival in Oslo where about 70 people joined to the event including Norwegian Foreign Officials, Former Prime Minister’s Office, and Norwegian NGOs., according to Tun Khin, the president of the BROUK.
Tun Khin with Rohingya traditional dress in the Panel discussion “The Exodus of Rohingyas”
Tun Khin explained the Rohingya History and the recognitions of Democratic government of U NU era with references and evident. He also explained about Rohingya dress which was open used in the Democratic government of U NU era but it was kept in the dark by Dictator Ne Win and it was all most disappear in the recent period.
“I also share the situation Rohingya in northern Arakan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh with Democratic Voice of Burma –DVB in Oslo after the event,” Tun Khin said.
Tun Khin with Rohingya traditional dress in DVB studio for interview
The film "The Exodus of the Rohingyas" describes the nightmarish legal limbo they are living in. The Rohingyas, a Muslim minority group in Burma, were made stateless in 1982 by the military dictatorship. Thousands of Rohingyas have fled brutal suppression in their home country to poverty, misery and abuse in neighboring Bangladesh. Bangladesh does not accept them as refugees while Burma does not want them back. After the film, follows a debate: The Rohingyas of Burma are stateless and have been living in misery for decades. They are a forgotten people. Why is it so difficult to find a solution to their situation and to give them a life with dignity?, according to global.no and uteliv.no website.
Teachers collect extra money from students in Maungdaw
Maungdaw, Arakan State: Teachers from Aley Than Kyaw high school have been collecting extra money from students for coaching and exam fee in the academic year of 2011-2012, which hampered to the poor students, said one of the parents of a student.
“The high school is controlled by its headmaster and collecting money from students per month and fee for sitting examination and to give them pass after final examination.”
The headmaster of the school collects Kyat 1,000 per head from class-half students, Kyat 1,500 from class-one students, Kyat 2,000 from (class-two and three) students, Kyat 4,000 from class-(four and five) students, Kyat 7,000 from class-six students, Kyat 7.5000 from even students, Kyat 15,000 from class-eight students, and class nine students, said a trader from the locality.
This money is for extra tuition fees, monthly exam fees which is huge amount for poor students,
The poor students are not able to pay the extra money, so they are not able to attend the coaching classes within the academic year, said one of the fathers of a student.
“We had never given money for extra classes that the schoolteachers took earlier and there was no collection for monthly exam,” said a student.
“If the collection is going on, more students will be got out of the school for fee,” said a local elder.
But, some of the students attend to the coaching classes in the area as the school classes are not sufficient to pass the final exam, said a mother of a student.
“There are over 800 students in the school, so the teachers will get a big amount from the students. The final exam will be held on February 14.”
Education is the back bone of a nation. But, poor students are not able to study in schools because of financial crisis, said a retired school teacher from the locality.
“The high school is controlled by its headmaster and collecting money from students per month and fee for sitting examination and to give them pass after final examination.”
The headmaster of the school collects Kyat 1,000 per head from class-half students, Kyat 1,500 from class-one students, Kyat 2,000 from (class-two and three) students, Kyat 4,000 from class-(four and five) students, Kyat 7,000 from class-six students, Kyat 7.5000 from even students, Kyat 15,000 from class-eight students, and class nine students, said a trader from the locality.
This money is for extra tuition fees, monthly exam fees which is huge amount for poor students,
The poor students are not able to pay the extra money, so they are not able to attend the coaching classes within the academic year, said one of the fathers of a student.
“We had never given money for extra classes that the schoolteachers took earlier and there was no collection for monthly exam,” said a student.
“If the collection is going on, more students will be got out of the school for fee,” said a local elder.
But, some of the students attend to the coaching classes in the area as the school classes are not sufficient to pass the final exam, said a mother of a student.
“There are over 800 students in the school, so the teachers will get a big amount from the students. The final exam will be held on February 14.”
Education is the back bone of a nation. But, poor students are not able to study in schools because of financial crisis, said a retired school teacher from the locality.
Nasaka extorts money for visiting guests in Maungdaw
Maungdaw, Arakan: Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) extorted money from a villagers of Maungdaw Township for giving permission to guest to stay in their homes at night without informing to concerned authorities recently, said a local elder who denied to be named. .
Aung Mingala Nasaka out-post officer Myo Than extorted Kyat 100,000 from a Maung Nama Nge villager named Ms Rashida Begum (35), daughter of Lukman Hakim, with allegation that she received a guest without giving information to the local Nasaka authority on December 28. The Nasaka personnel arrested the nephew of Ms. Rashida who visited to his auntie near the village at about 9:00pm and released after extorted the money from Ms. Rashida, according to a relative of Rashida.
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Moreover, on February 2, Khalek (25), son of Ahmed Hussain, hailed from Maung Nama Gyi village of Kawar Bill village tract was arrested by the same Nasaka while he was visiting his younger uncle’s house. He went to Maungdaw to visit his relatives from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) where his father is now living. He went there with legal passport and informed to the Nasaka headquarters about his visit, but he did not informed to the Nasaka outpost---Aung Migla camp. He stayed only an hour after noon at his younger uncle Jamal’s house. After arrest, the Nasaka seized his passport and took away to their camp after releasing him. However, the Nasaka officer Myo Than returned the passport after taking Kyat 200,000 when he returned to Maungdaw Town, on that day, said a close relative of Khalek.
Besides, on February 6, Sayed Hussain (aka) Gula (55), son of Sher Muluk, hailed from Maung Nama Gyi village under Nasaka Headquarters of Maungdaw Township was arrested by the Nasaka of same camp over the allegation that he received two guests at his home without giving any information to concerned authorities. Among the two, one guest informed to the concerned authority but another one was not. Both of them have ID cards. However, the house owner brought to the Nasaka camp where he was detained. After 24 hours, he was released after taking Kyat 200,000, according to a relative of the victim.
In addition, on February 7, Ms Zaw lama (33), wife of Eliyas, hailed from south Maung Nama village under the Nasaka Headquarters of Maungdaw township, was arrested by the same Nasaka over the allegation that one of her relatives, a class (1X) student was giving private coaching to her children who are primary students in her home at about 8:00 pm. Now, her husband Eliyas is in KSA. However, she was released after giving Kyat 200,000 on that day. The coaching teacher is from Kyauk Pyin Seik village of Maungdaw Township, said a relative of the victim.
In 2010, the Nasaka authority had declared that any villager will be arrested in the house, who has not enlisted in the family list and who has not informed to the concerned authority for permission to stay in a house as a guest. The Nasaka will arrest villagers after 9:00 pm. But, in 2011 and 2012, there was no any warning to villagers about night guests, said a local businessman preferring not to be named.
“But, those above people were arrested between 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm,” said a local school teacher.
Nsaka personnel are very brutal to harass Rohingya community and to extort money in illegal ways, said a local trader who denied to be named
Aung Mingala Nasaka out-post officer Myo Than extorted Kyat 100,000 from a Maung Nama Nge villager named Ms Rashida Begum (35), daughter of Lukman Hakim, with allegation that she received a guest without giving information to the local Nasaka authority on December 28. The Nasaka personnel arrested the nephew of Ms. Rashida who visited to his auntie near the village at about 9:00pm and released after extorted the money from Ms. Rashida, according to a relative of Rashida.
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Moreover, on February 2, Khalek (25), son of Ahmed Hussain, hailed from Maung Nama Gyi village of Kawar Bill village tract was arrested by the same Nasaka while he was visiting his younger uncle’s house. He went to Maungdaw to visit his relatives from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) where his father is now living. He went there with legal passport and informed to the Nasaka headquarters about his visit, but he did not informed to the Nasaka outpost---Aung Migla camp. He stayed only an hour after noon at his younger uncle Jamal’s house. After arrest, the Nasaka seized his passport and took away to their camp after releasing him. However, the Nasaka officer Myo Than returned the passport after taking Kyat 200,000 when he returned to Maungdaw Town, on that day, said a close relative of Khalek.
Besides, on February 6, Sayed Hussain (aka) Gula (55), son of Sher Muluk, hailed from Maung Nama Gyi village under Nasaka Headquarters of Maungdaw Township was arrested by the Nasaka of same camp over the allegation that he received two guests at his home without giving any information to concerned authorities. Among the two, one guest informed to the concerned authority but another one was not. Both of them have ID cards. However, the house owner brought to the Nasaka camp where he was detained. After 24 hours, he was released after taking Kyat 200,000, according to a relative of the victim.
In addition, on February 7, Ms Zaw lama (33), wife of Eliyas, hailed from south Maung Nama village under the Nasaka Headquarters of Maungdaw township, was arrested by the same Nasaka over the allegation that one of her relatives, a class (1X) student was giving private coaching to her children who are primary students in her home at about 8:00 pm. Now, her husband Eliyas is in KSA. However, she was released after giving Kyat 200,000 on that day. The coaching teacher is from Kyauk Pyin Seik village of Maungdaw Township, said a relative of the victim.
In 2010, the Nasaka authority had declared that any villager will be arrested in the house, who has not enlisted in the family list and who has not informed to the concerned authority for permission to stay in a house as a guest. The Nasaka will arrest villagers after 9:00 pm. But, in 2011 and 2012, there was no any warning to villagers about night guests, said a local businessman preferring not to be named.
“But, those above people were arrested between 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm,” said a local school teacher.
Nsaka personnel are very brutal to harass Rohingya community and to extort money in illegal ways, said a local trader who denied to be named
Dead bodies floating in the Naf River
Maungdaw, Arakan State: More than ten dead bodies are floating in the Naf River since February 7 along the Burma side near the Myinthlut village tract under Burma border security force (Nasaka) area number 8, said a village administration office member from Myinthlut village.
“The dead bodies floating in the Naf River are not allowed to collect and bury by their relatives and villagers. The order was given by the commander of Nasaka area number 8.”
“The dead bodies are hopefully belonging to Malaysia bound voyagers who left four days ago from Nasaka area number 8 with the cooperation of Nasaka where the Nasaka collected 50,000 kyats per head. The Malaysia voyage’s boat may capsize in the Bay of Bengal. But no one confirm it.”
The Nasaka personnel and the commander are denying collecting and burying of the dead bodies from river as fear of exposing their involvement in the boatpeople trafficking, said a school teacher from the village.
“The Nasaka also ordered the villagers to push the dead bodies to the river if any dead body reaches the shore.”
The Nasaka personnel want to destroy the dead bodies, but they afraid of investigation by Human Trafficking department which occurred last November 23, 2011 where more than 138 were missing while a Malaysia voyage’s boat capsized in the Bay of Bengal where the dead bodies were drowned in the sea by the Nasaka personnel after fastening heavy stone with dead bodies for destroying the evidences of the event, said an aide from Naska camp.
The voyage to Malaysia from Bangladesh and Burma is a risky route where some boatpeople were died on the way with risky boat which sank in the sea, some were arrested by Thailand and Burma, but voyagers from Burma and Bangladesh are still not stopped to go that risky route.
The Rohingya community in northern Arakan is facing same as before such as discriminations - restriction of movement, marriage, education, health, employment and etc.-. Though there is some reforms appear to be marked in the Burma, the repression and oppression of the Rohingya community are not stopped, said a trader from Maungdaw.
The Nasaka is using the policy of “killing two birds in one shot” means the Nasaka is trying to reduce the population of Rohingya community from Arakan soil and earning money by giving permission to go abroad. But, there is no permission for Rohingya community to enter their homeland again.
“The dead bodies floating in the Naf River are not allowed to collect and bury by their relatives and villagers. The order was given by the commander of Nasaka area number 8.”
“The dead bodies are hopefully belonging to Malaysia bound voyagers who left four days ago from Nasaka area number 8 with the cooperation of Nasaka where the Nasaka collected 50,000 kyats per head. The Malaysia voyage’s boat may capsize in the Bay of Bengal. But no one confirm it.”
The Nasaka personnel and the commander are denying collecting and burying of the dead bodies from river as fear of exposing their involvement in the boatpeople trafficking, said a school teacher from the village.
“The Nasaka also ordered the villagers to push the dead bodies to the river if any dead body reaches the shore.”
The Nasaka personnel want to destroy the dead bodies, but they afraid of investigation by Human Trafficking department which occurred last November 23, 2011 where more than 138 were missing while a Malaysia voyage’s boat capsized in the Bay of Bengal where the dead bodies were drowned in the sea by the Nasaka personnel after fastening heavy stone with dead bodies for destroying the evidences of the event, said an aide from Naska camp.
The voyage to Malaysia from Bangladesh and Burma is a risky route where some boatpeople were died on the way with risky boat which sank in the sea, some were arrested by Thailand and Burma, but voyagers from Burma and Bangladesh are still not stopped to go that risky route.
The Rohingya community in northern Arakan is facing same as before such as discriminations - restriction of movement, marriage, education, health, employment and etc.-. Though there is some reforms appear to be marked in the Burma, the repression and oppression of the Rohingya community are not stopped, said a trader from Maungdaw.
The Nasaka is using the policy of “killing two birds in one shot” means the Nasaka is trying to reduce the population of Rohingya community from Arakan soil and earning money by giving permission to go abroad. But, there is no permission for Rohingya community to enter their homeland again.
Friday, 3 February 2012
The Rohingya: Myanmar's outcasts
Millions of residents of western Myanmar have been stripped of citizenship and basic human rights. Will Suu Kyi help?
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| The Rohingya ethnic group of Myanmar is not recognised by the government [GALLO/GETTY] |
Washington, DC - The image of a smiling Daw Aung San Suu Kyi receiving flowers from her supporters is a powerful message of freedom and optimism in Myanmar, the symbol of democracy in a country which has known nothing but authoritarian oppression for decades.
Yet few ask one of the most pressing questions facing Daw Suu Kyi. How will she deal with the Rohingya?
"The Rohingya," you will ask. "Who are they?"
The Rohingya, whom the BBC calls "one of the world's most persecuted minority groups", are the little-publicised and largely forgotten Muslim people of the coastal Rakhine state of western Myanmar. Their historic lineage in Rakhine dates back centuries, as fishermen and farmers. Over the past three decades, the Rohingya have been systematically driven out of their homeland by Myanmar's military junta and subjected to widespread violence and the total negation of their rights and citizenship within Myanmar. They are a stateless Muslim minority.
The continued tragedy of the unrecognised Rohingya, both in Myanmar and as refugees abroad, casts a dark shadow over the bright hopes and prospects for democracy in a country plagued by violence and civil war. Suu Kyi is ideally placed to extend democratic reforms to all ethnic peoples, including the Rohingya, in a free Myanmar.
Though the Rohingya may be small in number at less than two million, the real lesson of the Arab Spring is that no notion of democracy can succeed without the inclusion of all people within a country's borders. Every member of society, regardless of race and religion, must be given their due rights as citizens.
| "While many ethnic minorities in Myanmar have been the victims of the central government's oppressive measures, the Rohingya stand apart in that their very existence is threatened." |
These policies were enacted by Myanmar's government to force the Rohingya outside of Myanmar as a result of their being Muslim and ethnically non-Myanma. The government erroneously labelled them as "illegal Bengali immigrants" in their efforts to eradicate the Rohingya culture.
Kings to refugees
Yet, the long history of the Rohingya and the Rakhine state contradicts the government's claims. The medieval Kingdom of Arakan, encompassing the Muslim Rohingya, was once an enlightened centre of culture, knowledge and trade, displaying a harmonic blend of Buddhism and Islam in its administration and court life. The kingdom's cosmopolitan and international capital city, Mrauk U, was described in the 17th century as "a second Venice" by a Portuguese Jesuit priest and was often compared to Amsterdam and London by travellers and writers of the time.
It was the 1784 military conquest by Bodawpaya, the king of Burma (now Myanmar), that transformed this once vibrant kingdom into an oppressed peripheral region. After this, many haunting tales began to circulate of Burmese soldiers rounding up the Rohingya in bamboo enclosures to burn them alive, and marching thousands to the city of Amarapura to work, effectivley as slave labour, on infrastructure projects.
| Rohingya boat people stuck in limbo |
Stripped officially of their citizenship, the Rohingya found their lives in limbo: prohibited from the right to own land or property, barred from travelling outside their villages, repairing their decaying places of worship, receiving an education in any language or even marrying and having children without rarely granted government permission. The Rohingya have also been subjected to modern-day slavery, forced to work on infrastructure projects, such as constructing "model villages" to house the Myanmar settlers intended to displace them, reminiscent of their treatment at the hands of the Burmese kings of history.
The denial of citizenship and rights was accompanied by a military strategy of physical and cultural war designed to drive the Rohingya out of Myanmar.
The initial push of the military's ethnic cleansing campaign came in 1978 under Operation Naga Min, or Operation King Dragon. The purpose of this operation was to scrutinise each individual within the state as either a citizen or alleged "illegal immigrant". This resulted in widespread rape, arbitrary arrests, desecration of mosques, destruction of villages and confiscation of lands among the Rohingya people. In the wake of this violence, nearly a quarter of a million Rohingya fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, many of whom were later repatriated to Myanmar where they faced further torture, rape, jail and death.
In 1991, a second push, known as Operation Pyi Thaya or Operation Clean and Beautiful Nation, was launched with the same purpose, resulting in further violence and another massive flow of 200,000 Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh.
Non-governmental organisations from Europe and North America estimate that 300,000 Rohingya refugees remain in Bangladesh, with only 35,000 residing in registered refugee camps and receiving some sort of assistance from NGOs.
Acknowledging the Rohingya
Those remaining, more than 250,000, are in a desperate situation without food and medical assistance, largely left to slowly starve to death. The December 2011 refugee repatriation agreement reached between Myanmar President Thein Sein and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will exclude the Rohingya, due to their lack of Myanmar citizenship, one of the conditions for repatriation for the expected 2,500 returning refugees.
The Rohingya predicament underlines a paradox for the world's great faiths, straddling the divide between Islamic Asia and Buddhist Asia. Each emphasises compassion and kindness and yet, we see little evidence of this in their dealings with the Rohingya people.
As part of this current study on the relationship between centre and periphery in the Muslim world, we recently interviewed Dr Wakar Uddin, Chairman of The Burmese Rohingya Association of North America (BRANA). A gentle and learned man, he is an energetic ambassador for his Rohingya people with a firm grasp of regional history. All the Rohingya want is the reinstatement of their citizenship in their own land, as revoked by the former dictator General Ne Win, and the dignity, human rights and opportunities that come with it.
Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy have a unique opportunity to reach out to the Rohingya people and include them in the new democratic process. The NLD should work with the central government to expand the role of all ethnic minorities as full Myanma citizens.
By acknowledging their rights, the government will bestow upon the Rohingya the dignity and the responsibilities of citizenship and present opportunities for mutual cultural understanding and the repatriation of the thousands of refugees existing in purgatory, separated from their homes and families. Great strides have recently been made by the Myanmar government towards the creation of an open and democratic political system and an end to ethnic violence, yet this is only the beginning.
With the recognition of the Rohingya as Myanma citizens, Suu Kyi will honour the memory of her father, Aung San, as he, before his untimely and tragic death, also reached out to ethnic minorities to participate in an independent Myanmar. Only then can a democratic and modern Myanmar be legitimate and successful in the eyes of its own people.
But the first step is to acknowledge the Rohingya exist.
This article is based on research being conducted by Professor Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University, Washington, DC, and Harrison Akins, a Research Fellow attached to the Chair, for the forthcoming study, Journey into Tribal Islam: America and the Conflict between Center and Periphery in the Muslim World, to be published by Brookings Press, exploring the conflict between Muslim tribal groups and central governments across the Muslim world in the context of the US-led 'war on terror'.
Ambassador Ahmed is a former Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK and former administrator in Waziristan and Balochistan. He is the award-winning author of numerous books, including Discovering Islam, and Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam (Brookings Press, 2010).
Villagers Fear Arrest after Refusing to Pay Paddy to Army
The villagers from Palaypauk (Balipauk) Village in Minbya Township in Arakan State are in fear of arrest after being threatened by the army because they were unwilling to sacrifice their paddy harvests which are charged by the army as rent for their confiscated farmlands.
One of the villagers told Narinjara that the Military Operation Command or Sa-Ka-Kha (9) based in nearby Kyauktaw Township has threatened to arrest the villagers because they were hiding when the army personnel came to collect paddy from them.
“The army personnel from Sa-Ka-Kha (9) led by Major Ne Win and Corporal Ar Jone came to our village on the 31st of January to collect paddy from us. All the villagers were hiding when they came. After this they went to the village monastery and informed the monk of the monastery that they would arrest us if we do not pay the paddy to them”, said the villager.
Palaypauk Village is situated in the place where Minbya and Pauktaw Townships meet in north eastern Arakan State. According to the villagers, the Sa-Ka-Kha (9) has forcibly confiscated over 300 acres of paddy farmlands that were owned by the villagers, and have then been leasing the lands back to the owners with a rent of 25 baskets of paddy per acre.
“The army personnel even picked a quarrel with the monk as the monk requested they spare the villagers the rent this year. The monk told them the paddy harvest in the village was very poor this year, and the villagers are very poor, and then they asked the monk if he would pay, or who would pay 40,000 baskets of paddy that the government has ordered them to annually contribute to the state”, said the villager.
According to the source, there are only two villages in the Palaypauk Village Group namely Palaypauk and Dokekanlae, and the army have been annually collecting 15,000 baskets of paddy harvests—9,000 baskets from Palaypauk and 6,000 baskets from Dokekanlae—since it confiscated the farmlands from those villages.
“We villagers here are very poor farmers who are mainly living on the traditional paddy farming and we have been facing a lot of trouble in our livelihood since we have had to pay our harvests to the army. That is why we are unwilling to pay our harvests anymore, and we have recently written an appeal to the President U Thein Sein”, said the villager.
The villager said they are worrying about arrest by the army, as the army personnel have informed them that they would come again on 5 February threatening they would take action against those who fail to pay the paddy to them on that day.
One of the villagers told Narinjara that the Military Operation Command or Sa-Ka-Kha (9) based in nearby Kyauktaw Township has threatened to arrest the villagers because they were hiding when the army personnel came to collect paddy from them.
“The army personnel from Sa-Ka-Kha (9) led by Major Ne Win and Corporal Ar Jone came to our village on the 31st of January to collect paddy from us. All the villagers were hiding when they came. After this they went to the village monastery and informed the monk of the monastery that they would arrest us if we do not pay the paddy to them”, said the villager.
Palaypauk Village is situated in the place where Minbya and Pauktaw Townships meet in north eastern Arakan State. According to the villagers, the Sa-Ka-Kha (9) has forcibly confiscated over 300 acres of paddy farmlands that were owned by the villagers, and have then been leasing the lands back to the owners with a rent of 25 baskets of paddy per acre.
“The army personnel even picked a quarrel with the monk as the monk requested they spare the villagers the rent this year. The monk told them the paddy harvest in the village was very poor this year, and the villagers are very poor, and then they asked the monk if he would pay, or who would pay 40,000 baskets of paddy that the government has ordered them to annually contribute to the state”, said the villager.
According to the source, there are only two villages in the Palaypauk Village Group namely Palaypauk and Dokekanlae, and the army have been annually collecting 15,000 baskets of paddy harvests—9,000 baskets from Palaypauk and 6,000 baskets from Dokekanlae—since it confiscated the farmlands from those villages.
“We villagers here are very poor farmers who are mainly living on the traditional paddy farming and we have been facing a lot of trouble in our livelihood since we have had to pay our harvests to the army. That is why we are unwilling to pay our harvests anymore, and we have recently written an appeal to the President U Thein Sein”, said the villager.
The villager said they are worrying about arrest by the army, as the army personnel have informed them that they would come again on 5 February threatening they would take action against those who fail to pay the paddy to them on that day.
Nasaka’s harassment increased in north Arakan
It is indeed a matter of serious concern that Arakan north remain as dangerous as ever, courtesy of the persistent harassments being perpetrated by the Burma’s border security force (Nasaka), army, despite a number of changes in Burma after elections in November 2010.
According to reports in the last few days, the situation in north Arakan appears to have worsened. For instances, from January 19 to 21 (within three days) the Nasaka arrested 20 villagers from Kawarbill village of Maungdaw Township while going to forest to collect firewood and are being detained in Nasaka headquarters of Kawarbill (Kyigan Pyin). They were arrested by the Nasaka of Nasaka headquarters because some of villagers gave complaints to the Parliament members about the Nasaka’s harassments when the parliament members held a meeting inviting local villagers at Kawarbill village on January 12.
Presently, Nasaka seriously restricts the movement of Rohingya people, increases in night sentry at villages and taking huge amount to give permission to build or renovate houses. Besides, the Nasaka specially creates a new chapter of black list of Rohingya kids. All these were made after giving speech on January 12 in public meetings held in Maungdaw north by U Aung Zaw Win and U Htay Win, the upper house and lower house parliament members respectively. The two MPs are the members of Union Solitary and Development party (USDP).
The parliament members are U Aung Zaw Win (Upper Parliament member) and U Htay Win (Lower Parliament member), both are from Union Solidarity and Development Party and arrived at Maungdaw on January 9, from Rangoon. In the meeting, the parliament members asked to the participants to appraise any difficulty they have been facing in their villages. Getting this opportunity, some of the villagers appraised the harassments of Nasaka against the Rohingya community. This made Nasaka very angry and tried to take revenge on the villagers whenever they got a chance. As a result, they arrested 20 villagers while going to forest for firewood collection and brought to the Nasaka headquarters where they were detained. After that they asked the arrestees to come back the said parliament members from Rangoon to release them. The parliament members are assaulted by them.
The arrestees are not fed from the camp and the relatives of the victims have to pay Kyat 2,000 per head everyday for their food, moreover, they paid extra Kyat 20,000 per each for excluding from torture.
On January 24, a group of Nsaka from Nari Bill out-post camp went to the house of Mohamed Sidique (60), son of Oli Ahmed, hailed from Nari Bill west village of Maungdaw Township and took away 100 bamboos from his house without giving any allegation. The current value is about Kyat 40,000 per 100 bamboos. He bought it from Bawli Bazar for his house’s renovation and had already paid Kyat 3,000 tax to the concerned authority. He has not committed any fault. The Nasaka is doing against the Rohingya community as they like because there is no action against the culprits, but they are rewarded.
So far, the Nasaka and army are taking forced labor from villagers and force them--- to carry water for their kitchen, collect firewood from nearby forest, clean their latrines, grow paddy and vegetables in their compound, build camp and renovate the houses in the camp and to cut bamboos from the forest, etc. They also force the villagers to give night sentry at their own village. It makes them very difficult to the villagers.
If a villager wants to go from one place to another, he/she will pay Kyat 500 to the Nasaka whether it has documents or not from the concerned authority.
Since January 21, the Nasaka personnel of Nasaka area No.6 of Maungdaw Township have been trying to arrest Maulana Ismail (40), hailed from Paung Zaar village of Maungdaw Township as he had appraised the Nasaka’s harassments in the said meeting which was held on January 12. The Nasaka is moreover trying to arrest other villagers who gave complaints against the Nasaka in the meeting which was held by the parliament members in Maungdaw north.
President Thein Sein has introduced a series of political and economic reforms. He has announced cease-fires with armed ethnic minorities that have been fighting the government for decades. Many groups have reached a truce with the government, while others are in negotiations. He has also relieved restrictions on the media, and a significant number of political prisoners were released in recent months.
We believe that the government only wants in order to get recognition from the international community by showing they are working towards peace in the country. The main thing the government needs to change is the 2008 constitution because the military has able to take all the main positions in the government. It is also required to release all political prisoners, freedom of the press and freedom of movement.
Last year, the USDP members and Nasaka Director gave assurance on stopping harassments against the Rohingya community in north Arakan. But, so far, there are so many forced labors, restriction of movements, restriction of marriage and arbitrary extortion. On one side they have a cease-fire, while on the other side there is brutality practiced against minorities.
Nasaka has now resorted to medieval (AD 1100-1500) forms of harassments against the Rohingya community. The bigger question now is whether the ongoing trend of reform can bring a durable peace and stability to the country.
According to reports in the last few days, the situation in north Arakan appears to have worsened. For instances, from January 19 to 21 (within three days) the Nasaka arrested 20 villagers from Kawarbill village of Maungdaw Township while going to forest to collect firewood and are being detained in Nasaka headquarters of Kawarbill (Kyigan Pyin). They were arrested by the Nasaka of Nasaka headquarters because some of villagers gave complaints to the Parliament members about the Nasaka’s harassments when the parliament members held a meeting inviting local villagers at Kawarbill village on January 12.
Presently, Nasaka seriously restricts the movement of Rohingya people, increases in night sentry at villages and taking huge amount to give permission to build or renovate houses. Besides, the Nasaka specially creates a new chapter of black list of Rohingya kids. All these were made after giving speech on January 12 in public meetings held in Maungdaw north by U Aung Zaw Win and U Htay Win, the upper house and lower house parliament members respectively. The two MPs are the members of Union Solitary and Development party (USDP).
The parliament members are U Aung Zaw Win (Upper Parliament member) and U Htay Win (Lower Parliament member), both are from Union Solidarity and Development Party and arrived at Maungdaw on January 9, from Rangoon. In the meeting, the parliament members asked to the participants to appraise any difficulty they have been facing in their villages. Getting this opportunity, some of the villagers appraised the harassments of Nasaka against the Rohingya community. This made Nasaka very angry and tried to take revenge on the villagers whenever they got a chance. As a result, they arrested 20 villagers while going to forest for firewood collection and brought to the Nasaka headquarters where they were detained. After that they asked the arrestees to come back the said parliament members from Rangoon to release them. The parliament members are assaulted by them.
The arrestees are not fed from the camp and the relatives of the victims have to pay Kyat 2,000 per head everyday for their food, moreover, they paid extra Kyat 20,000 per each for excluding from torture.
On January 24, a group of Nsaka from Nari Bill out-post camp went to the house of Mohamed Sidique (60), son of Oli Ahmed, hailed from Nari Bill west village of Maungdaw Township and took away 100 bamboos from his house without giving any allegation. The current value is about Kyat 40,000 per 100 bamboos. He bought it from Bawli Bazar for his house’s renovation and had already paid Kyat 3,000 tax to the concerned authority. He has not committed any fault. The Nasaka is doing against the Rohingya community as they like because there is no action against the culprits, but they are rewarded.
So far, the Nasaka and army are taking forced labor from villagers and force them--- to carry water for their kitchen, collect firewood from nearby forest, clean their latrines, grow paddy and vegetables in their compound, build camp and renovate the houses in the camp and to cut bamboos from the forest, etc. They also force the villagers to give night sentry at their own village. It makes them very difficult to the villagers.
If a villager wants to go from one place to another, he/she will pay Kyat 500 to the Nasaka whether it has documents or not from the concerned authority.
Since January 21, the Nasaka personnel of Nasaka area No.6 of Maungdaw Township have been trying to arrest Maulana Ismail (40), hailed from Paung Zaar village of Maungdaw Township as he had appraised the Nasaka’s harassments in the said meeting which was held on January 12. The Nasaka is moreover trying to arrest other villagers who gave complaints against the Nasaka in the meeting which was held by the parliament members in Maungdaw north.
President Thein Sein has introduced a series of political and economic reforms. He has announced cease-fires with armed ethnic minorities that have been fighting the government for decades. Many groups have reached a truce with the government, while others are in negotiations. He has also relieved restrictions on the media, and a significant number of political prisoners were released in recent months.
We believe that the government only wants in order to get recognition from the international community by showing they are working towards peace in the country. The main thing the government needs to change is the 2008 constitution because the military has able to take all the main positions in the government. It is also required to release all political prisoners, freedom of the press and freedom of movement.
Last year, the USDP members and Nasaka Director gave assurance on stopping harassments against the Rohingya community in north Arakan. But, so far, there are so many forced labors, restriction of movements, restriction of marriage and arbitrary extortion. On one side they have a cease-fire, while on the other side there is brutality practiced against minorities.
Nasaka has now resorted to medieval (AD 1100-1500) forms of harassments against the Rohingya community. The bigger question now is whether the ongoing trend of reform can bring a durable peace and stability to the country.
Tropical diseases spread in Rohingya refugee camp
Ukhiya, Bangladesh: Tropical diseases -- chicken pox, pneumonia and measles-- have spread inside Kutuplong makeshift (unregistered) camp and Lada camp recently, said a refugee elder from the Kutupalong makeshift camp.
Many children have fallen ill with various diseases and illnesses such as chickenpox measles and fever
”Many refugee children including some woman have been suffering from chicken pox and measles since middle of January 2012. The affected children are taken to the clinic of Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) where doctor provided medicine to refugees.”
“Mostly the refugee children under five to seven years old are suffering with these diseases.”
The Kutupalong makeshift camp is situated on the hills and open field where cool air waves cross the camps where the shacks of the refugees are made with plastics, bushes and branches. The refugees are suffering cool as they have no warm cloth to protect the cool waves. The refugee children are now suffering with pneumonia, cold and etc., said a refugee health worker from the camp.
”Many refugee children including some woman have been suffering from chicken pox and measles since middle of January 2012. The affected children are taken to the clinic of Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) where doctor provided medicine to refugees.”
“Mostly the refugee children under five to seven years old are suffering with these diseases.”
The Kutupalong makeshift camp is situated on the hills and open field where cool air waves cross the camps where the shacks of the refugees are made with plastics, bushes and branches. The refugees are suffering cool as they have no warm cloth to protect the cool waves. The refugee children are now suffering with pneumonia, cold and etc., said a refugee health worker from the camp.
A refugee kid with skin diseases in the camp
Similarly, over 12,000 undocumented refugees live in the Leda (unregistered) camp is also facing topical diseases recently, said an aide who works in the Muslim Aids.
Over 40,000 Rohingya refugees live in Kutupalong makeshift and more than 12000 refugees in Lada camp, without recognizing from UNHCR or Bangladeshi authorities.
The refugees are working with their own styles to survive their live but some time the authority and local people bar to them to go for work, said an aide member of NGO form border.
Over 40,000 Rohingya refugees live in Kutupalong makeshift and more than 12000 refugees in Lada camp, without recognizing from UNHCR or Bangladeshi authorities.
The refugees are working with their own styles to survive their live but some time the authority and local people bar to them to go for work, said an aide member of NGO form border.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Maungdaw High School collects extra fee from student
Maungdaw, Arakan State: Maungdaw High School is collecting extra fees from student which is giving to divert student from education, said an elder from Maungdaw.
The High school is controlling U Kyaw Zaw Htun, the headmaster and collecting 1000 kyat for extra tuition class fee and 1500 kyat for monthly examination fee which is very big amount for poor student, the elder said.
The poor students are not able to pay the collecting money from school where didn’t not take any extra tuition class within this academic year, said a student who is a son of rickshaw puller.
“We never give any money for extra class which the teachers take special classes and no collection for monthly examination.”
“The collections diverted students from their education as they are not able to pay the collections.”
“I hope, if the collections are going on, more students will go home for fees.”
Most of the students are going to tuition in the town as the school’s classes are not enough to sit their final examination and the outside tuitions are teaching the students how to sit the final examination in the future, said a teacher from Maungdaw high school.
The High school is controlling U Kyaw Zaw Htun, the headmaster and collecting 1000 kyat for extra tuition class fee and 1500 kyat for monthly examination fee which is very big amount for poor student, the elder said.
The poor students are not able to pay the collecting money from school where didn’t not take any extra tuition class within this academic year, said a student who is a son of rickshaw puller.
“We never give any money for extra class which the teachers take special classes and no collection for monthly examination.”
“The collections diverted students from their education as they are not able to pay the collections.”
“I hope, if the collections are going on, more students will go home for fees.”
Most of the students are going to tuition in the town as the school’s classes are not enough to sit their final examination and the outside tuitions are teaching the students how to sit the final examination in the future, said a teacher from Maungdaw high school.
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About Me
- The Voice Of Rohingya
- Maung daw, Arakan state, Myanmar (Burma)
- I am an independent man who voted to humanitarian aid.