Rohingya Activist interview with ABC Radio Australia on current situation of Arakan

Activists say muslim Rohingyas in Burma are running out of food, because of a curfew imposed under emergency rule in Rakhine state.

Curfew in Burma's Rakhine state hitting Rohingyas hard - activists (Credit: ABC)

The move follows a wave of violence, mainly targetted against Rohingya muslims.
Burma placed Rakhine, also known as Arakan, under emergency rule, after a wave of violence, targetted against Rohingya muslims.

Troops have been posted outside monasteries and mosques, but unconfirmed local reports say police are allowing Buddhist Rakhines to roam the streets, while Rohingya muslims were housebound and running out of food.

Tensions in the western region started after the rape and killing of a Buddhist woman, which then led to the reprisal killings of ten Muslims last week.

Presenter: Sen Lam

Speaker: Aman Ullah, general-secretary, Arakan Rohingya National Organisation

AMAN ULLAH: There're so many casualties, but people don't know how many, because no one can go out from their house. All are under curfew and an emergency, so villagers do not go from their houses. As far as I've collected the information, there're not fewer than 200 people killed there, from different sides of the town (Maungdaw).

LAM: Where did you get this information from?

AMAN ULLAH: I get from the local people, from them. There is some areas they can use telephones. Local telephones and communication are cut out.

LAM: So you're saying the communication lines are phone lines to much of Rakhine state have been cut off?

AMAN ULLAH: Ya, especially in these rural areas.

LAM: The President Thein Sein has announced a state of emergency in the region. Will this help?

AMAN ULLAH: The chief administrator of the Maungdaw township is now at the office of the Maungdaw. There is some military personnel also come to Maungdaw, but there're still so many Muslims' old buildings are burning, one mosque is still burning and so many houses are looted. It's still going on. He did not do anything to stop them.

LAM: So you're saying that burning and looting are still continuing in the town of Maungdaw?

AMAN ULLAH: Yes, and from another village too. And from one person who phoned me, I don't know which telephone he's using, but he got my number and he contacted me yesterday at 10pm. The situation is also very bad. This emergency government and the emergency did not stop it immediately. Still today, the local police and what we call 'hloonhtein' the riot police - most of them are Rakhine ethnic origin. With their protection, the Rakhines (Buddhists) go to the Muslim houses, and areas, and they loot and they killed the people.

LAM: So you're saying the police are local Rakhines, and they will not protect the Muslim Rohingyas?

AMAN ULLAH: No, instead of protecting, they're looting to the Muslims.

LAM: Can you tell us who are the people instigating the violence?

AMAN ULLAH: From the Rohingya side, they're doing peacefully, but accidentally, their sentiments went beyond their control, and they did attempt something, but later, when the curfew was declared, all Muslim villagers were inside their homes, they could not even go outside their houses. They had no rations at all - no rice, no dry food, no essential commodities in the house. All are in the market place - the Rakhine people are looting all these things, take away, and not a bit of rice left in the markets now.

LAM: The President has imposed a curfew in the state - are the military helping out? Are they trying to impose law and order there?

AMAN ULLAH: In the town, where security remains in the hands of police and 'hloontein' so with their protection, the mobs can do anything. Curfew was imposed on the Muslims, not on the Rakhines - they can go anywhere, they can do anything.

LAM: So the local Rakhine Buddhists are allowed to roam the streets freely?

AMAN ULLAH: With the protection of police.

LAM: What do you think the Burmese government should do?

AMAN ULLAH: The first thing is, that the government should do, is to stop these ongoing incidents. Number two, they have to distribute rations, rice and essential things to these people. They have to make one peace committee, like a peace committee, to include the Rakhines and the Rohingyas, to maintain peace and establish it there. All the violence are targetting the local Rohingyas.