BROUK ADDRESSES BRITISH PARLIAMENT ON ARAKAN CRISIS

The President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), Tun Khin together with Benedict Rogers (East Asia Team Leader, Christian Solidarity Worldwide) and Chris Lewa (Co-ordinator for Arakan Project) presented evidence of the persecution of Rohingyas in Arakan State at a meeting in the British Parliament today. The meeting was chaired by Baroness Kinnock, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma, and focused on the current crisis in Arakan State, Burma.

Tun Khin told the parliamentary meeting that the current crisis was well planned and organized by hardliners within the regime, who do not want to see reforms in Burma, and the Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP). In recent months, there have been an increasing number of anti-Rohingya activities, including seminars in Rangoon and in Arakan State organized by RNDP, and anti-Rohingya demonstrations.

According to Tun Khin, at least 650 Rohingyas have been killed by Rakhine and government forces, and at least 1200 are missing. More than 80,000 Rohingyas are displaced, 22 villages have been burned down and 14 mosques destroyed. Bangladesh has refused entry to Rohingyas trying to flee the violence, and has pushed back at least 16 boats from Sittwe. The curfew imposed by President Thein Sein has only been applied to Rohingyas and not Rakhine..During curfew time Rohingyas stayed in their homes, while Rakhine and government authorities burned down Rohingya villages and looted Rohingya shops in Sittwe and Maungdaw.

Tun Khin said: “We really need UN observers in Arakan State. Even though the riot was stopped some Rohingya houses are still being burned down by Rakhines, and in the last few days Rakhine police officers and Paramilitary Forces joined together and have been arresting Rohingya men, looting and raping Rohingya girls. We urge the British government to put effective pressure on the Burmese regime to stop the killings and violence against the Muslim Rohingyas in Arakan and to restore peace and security in the region, to allow the international community and NGOs to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to all the victims regardless of race or religion. We call for pressure on the regime to ensure that displaced Rohingya people can return to their original villages safely and freely. We call on the international community to urge the Bangladesh government to keep its border open to Rohingyas fleeing persecution and violence in Arakan. We also urge the Burmese government to restore our citizenship and ethnic rights, to stop anti-Muslim activities and racism in burma. There should be laws on racism if the regime want to see durable peace in Burma. There is a solution if the regime is willing to negotiate between the two communities.”

For more information, please contact Tun Khin Tel; +447888714866
10 Station Road,on Road, Walthamstow, London E17 8AA
Tel: +44 2082 571 143, E-mail: brorg_uk@yahoo.co.uk,
web : www.bro-uk.org