ARU DIRECTOR GENERAL MEETS WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF JORDAN

ARU DIRECTOR GENERAL PROF. DR. WAKAR UDDIN MEETS WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF JORDAN H.E. NASSER JUDEH AT THE OIC FOREIGN MINISTERS CONFERENCE

The Foreign Minister of Jordan H. E. Nasser Judeh met the Director General of Arakan Rohingya Union, Prof. Dr. Wakar Uddin, at the OIC Foreign Ministers Conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The meeting was also attended by Jordanian Foreign Ministry officials and Jordanian Press. The meeting with the Foreign Minister covered the current situation in Arakan and chronic political and human right issues faced by Rohingya ethnic minority in Burma/Myanmar. 

The Foreign Minister asked Dr. Uddin to provide the details of the cause of the recent violence by Buddhist Rakhine against Rohingya people. Dr. Uddin provided two different perspectives that occurred concurrently in Myanmar. “There is a long standing hate and bigotry against Rohingya by Buddhist Rakhine prior to independence. Dr. Uddin told the Foreign Minister that these types of violence against Rohingya by Buddhist Rakhine are chronic problems which are fueled by the immense hostility against Rohingya by former Burmese military regime and current government. “It is absolutely deplorable that the new government, despite so-called democratic reforms, is continuing the same policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide” He added. He further elaborated the recent response to UN officials by President Thein Sein that Rohingya people are not citizens of Myanmar, and they should be transferred to a third country or just keep them in camps. “His such incendiary statements instigated Rakhine to further commit the violence against Rohingya – this was not just a slip of his tongue, but it was something that the government wants to believe” Dr. Uddin explained. The Foreign Minister was stunned when Dr. Uddin indicated that Rohingya people, who the President Thein Sein evidently abhors, overwhelmingly voted for him and his USDP party candidates. “Strangely enough, now the President is saying that these people who voted for him are not citizens of Burma. I believe he will have a lot of explaining to do to the international community and the civilized community of nations of the world” Dr. Uddin stated. He also explained how the violence by Buddhist Rakhine has quickly transitioned to cold blooded murders of Rohingya by Burmese police force in Arakan. “They are arresting hundreds of Rohingya men and women, and they are reportedly kept in various prisons in Arakan. 

There are horrifying reports coming out from the prisons that the Rohingya men and women are kept together in the same halls without clothes. Discharge of dead bodies from the prisons has also been seen, according to reports” he stated. 

Another important point he mentioned was that the military hardliners in the current military-dominated Burmese government was poised to deprive Rohingya people the flavor of democracy because true democracy guarantees human rights. “All evidences gathered from the sequence of events on the ground in Arakan and the Burmese media war on Rohingya are clearly pointing straight to preplanning and coordination violence by Rakhine and the military hardliners. They evidently did not want democracy in Arakan, rather a military rule – that is happening now; therefore, they can continue their old policy of ethnic cleansing without any legal ramification” Dr. Uddin added. Other issues discussed were the long history of Rohingya in Rohang region of Arakan and more importantly the current humanitarian crisis faced by Rohingya in various townships in Arakan. “The Rohingya victims are not getting supplies in most areas because local Rakhine and Burmese officials are diverting the food supplies to Rakhine people. The OIC, United Nations, and other international organizations present must be present on the ground, working side by side with the Burmese officials. “The supplies given to Rohingya people recently by the visiting Turkish Foreign Minister were robbed from Rohingya by police, after his delegation left Arakan. Also, the government-picked interpreter reportedly falsified statements made by the victims when they met the Foreign Minister; how can you trust these people in the Burmese government?” he emphatically said. He appealed to the Foreign Minister for urgent humanitarian aid “We are running out of time. The Rohingya victims are facing starvation in several areas. Losing one day in supplying food, medicine, and shelter could result in losing hundreds of Rohingya lives” Dr. Uddin stressed.

The Jordanian Foreign Minister H.E. Nasser Judeh assures Dr. Uddin of commitment of full support for Rohingya people by HRH King Abdullah of Jordan