Bangladesh turns away Muslims fleeing Myanmar

TEKNAF, Bangladesh: Bangladesh border guards Monday turned back eight boats carrying more than 300 Rohingya Muslims, mostly women and children, fleeing religious violence in Myanmar, a border guard said.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and coastguard patrol teams, which have been ordered to prevent an influx of refugees, intercepted the boats on the Naf river that separates the two nations, BGB Major Shafiqur Rahman said.

"There were more than 300 Rohingya in the boats which are coming from the Myanmar city of Akyab (Sittwe). They were carrying mainly Rohingya women and children, many of whom were crying and looked extremely anxious," he told AFP.

"All eight boats have been pushed back to Myanmar territory," he added.

Akyab is the former name of Sittwe, the capital of Myanmar's western Rakhine state where sectarian violence flared last week, leaving at least 17 people dead and prompting the authorities to declare a state of emergency.

An AFP photographer at Teknaf in Bangladesh, near the border with Myanmar, saw smoke billowing from houses believed to be burnt in villages during the sectarian violence.

BGB men handed out water and food to the Rohingyas on the boats before they were turned back, Rahman told AFP.

Security has been stepped up along Bangladesh's 200-kilometre (125-mile) border with Myanmar to stem the influx of Rohingya refugees.

"We have been asked not to allow any illegal entry of Rohingya in Bangladesh. The authorities are concerned that their could be large-scale Rohingya entry from Myanmar," coastguard officer Badruddoza, who uses one name, told AFP.

Reinforcements have been sent to intensify patrols on the Naf river and the islands close to the Myanmar border. "We have also enhanced vigilance during night time," he added.

Bangladeshi officials estimate that a total of 300,000 Rohingya people live in the country, with only about a tenth of them in two official refugee camps in southern Cox's Bazaar.

Two injured Rohingya, including one who was hit by a bullet, entered Bangladesh illegally Saturday and were arrested, Rahman said.

Rohingya are a stateless people described by the United Nations as one of the world's most persecuted minorities.

The Myanmar government considers the Rohingya to be foreigners, while many citizens see them as illegal immigrants from Muslim-majority Bangladesh and view them with hostility.

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.

Breaking news:

The latest news of  June 10 morning

A young poor Rohingya girl - Zahara Begum (12) daughter of Abu Sidduque, hail from Bomu village- was killed by Tin Aye, sergeant from Maungdaw police station when  she went to  kitchen market  to sell  pea at the local village kitchen market of  Kanrre village  at bout 9:00am, the dead body of the girl was kept in police vehicle,  said an eye-witness said to Kaladan press.

The Rohingya who killed by Rakhine racists and security personnel in Maungdaw

Most of the Rohingya shops have been looted by Rakhine racists with the help of Hluntin (riot) and police. All the looted goods were handed over to the Buddhist monastery where the Rakhines- from Natala (settlers) villages- are kept by authorities. The looting was led by Paungmae son of U Aung Gyi.

More than 10 floating dead bodies are seen in the stream, beside of Maungdaw- four mile road in the morning after heavy rain in yesterday.  The Rohingya people believed that the dead bodies were thrown into the stream by security personnel after shooting dead.

A Rakhine racists holds a long sword and preparing to attack Rohingya
Today the missing and wounded collection sources said more than 250  Rohingya people  were killed by security personnel and Rakhine racists.

Violence Escalates in Burma’s Rakhine State

Rohingya protesters gather in front of a UN regional office in Bangkok on to call for an end to the ongoing violence in Burma’s Rakhine State, June 11, 2012.

BANGKOK - Northwest Burma’s Rakhine state remains tense after President Thein Sein dispatched troops to try to end religious and ethnic violence. The riots began after 10 ethnic-Rohingya Muslims were mobbed and murdered by ethnic Rakhines, in retaliation for the gang-rape of a Rakhine girl.

Local witnesses in villages in Burma’s western Rakhine state said fires continued to burn Monday, even after President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency and sent in troops to bring the riots under control.

The clashes that began on June 8th are the most severe in a string of violent attacks between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, the state’s largest minority group, and ethnic Rohingya Muslims, who are denied citizenship in both Burma and Bangladesh.

“In the morning after leaving the army from the Maungdaw today morning, the police and the riot police they and the Rakhine people are trying to burn to loot and to kill the Rohingya people," said Tin Soe is the editor of Kaladan Press Network, a Rohingya news agency, which has been reporting on the riots. "Ethnic problem or religious problem, we don’t know which one we can say.”

Both minority groups in the region claim to be under attack, but the Rohingya have a history of being a target of racism. Although many Rohingya communities have lived in Burma for decades, the government refuses to grant them citizenship - a position that has broad support among other Burmese nationals.

Even democracy leader and former political prisoner Ko Ko Gyi recently said he believed "so-called Rohingya" not to be one of the recognized Burmese ethnic groups.

Nicholas Farelly, Burma analyst of Australia National University, says the Rohingya’s statelessness between Burma and Bangladesh is partially to blame for the conflict's escalation.

“The Rohingya, they fit somewhat awkwardly in that borderland between the two different political systems, they have nowhere to call home and, as a result from time to time, there are these episodes of conflict," said Farelly. "We have seen one of those very recently and it has in this case taken the form of Buddhist and Muslim mobs of varying sizes coming to blows.”

On Sunday, Thein Sein’s national address referenced what he called Burma’s “checkered” history of peaceful co-existence of among the country’s diverse ethnic groups. He condemned racial and religiously-based violence, which he said could jeopardize the country’s democratic reforms.

In Bangkok Monday, Maung Kyaw Nu of the Burmese Rohingya Association of Thailand asked the United Nations to intervene.

"Today, I am coming here to express, to hand over the letter to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, secretary general of the United Nations," said Maung Kyaw Nu. "I would like his intervention, U.N. intervention to save my people who are killed. Genocide is there. I'm coming here to ask his help, intervention as well as the global civil society's help."

The U.S. embassy issued a statement urging all parties to stop violent attacks and the government to hold a transparent investigation.

Updated News From Arakan (08-06-2012 to 11-06-2012)

8th June 2012 (Friday)

After Friday congregation, at about 2 pm. while a group of Muslims were trying to join a payer at Kayandan Islamic propagation centre (Tabligh Centre) for those 10 Muslims who were murdered by Rakhine extremists at Taunggup on 3 June 2011, the security forces tried to stop them and then started firing at the crowd killing at least two people and injuring many others. 

At 2:30 p.m. two young Rohingyas who were returning home after Friday prayer from Maungdaw Central Mosque were seriously beaten by police. One of them whose hand was broken was released after sometime while the other who received head injury was still in police custody. His condition is still unknown.


9th June 2012 (Saturday)

Armed security forces with Rakhine extremist equipped with lethal arms were roaming Maungdaw towns and surrounding villages. This morning 4 Rohingyas were carried away from Fayazi village of Maungdaw. Their whereabouts is known.

According to a report, “Nasaka security forces and police are the killers. The Rakhine extremists joined them and reining hell on Rohingya. Because of the curfew no one dares to go out, and at the absence of witness Rakhine extremists set fire on houses, village after village. If anyone comes out from the fire, he/she gets a bullet or two or more. No witness, no proof. Natala villagers and Rakhine extremists have been supplied guns as well, but no one may prove it. In the mean time, racist monks are busy with media supplying fabricated news. These tragic events have been well planned in advance.”

At midnight (8/6/12) the Hlun Htein forces from Ngakura village accompanied by the extremists from the Rakhine village of San Oo Rwa (Hatipra) attacked the Rohingya villagers of the same village killing one person injuring 3 others. The dead body was carried away by the killers.

Last night groups of armed forces with Buddhist Rakhine extremists went to the Rohingya villages. They opened fire to the Muslim houses. When the inmates left their homes the Rakhine extremists set on fire. Many houses in several villagers have been reported burnt into ashes. Many people were killed and several others injured. The villages of Hatalia, Sommonia, Razarbil, Kayandan and San Oo are among those which were attacked.

Since yesterday the Buddhist monks and Rakhine extremists escorted by security forces were announcing ‘War on Kalas, (war on Rohingyas) along the street of Maungdaw. This message was spread like a wild fire all over Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships. 

Many security forces dressed in civil clothes but with arms are firing the Rohingyas.
An estimated 100 Rohingyas were killed. As dead bodies were not handed over to the relatives or villagers. Exact number of death could not be confirmed. Some estimate that the number of death could exceed 200 Rohingyas.

Hundreds of injured Rohingyas are lack of treatment. Thousands of people were deprived of food and water as Police, military, and Hlon Htin block them. 

At about 12: 25 P.M. Deputy Home Minister accompanied by U Aung Zaw Win (USDP- MP) arrived at Maungdaw. They are reportedly discussing with local leaders on the situation. The details of the discussion are still not known.

10th June (Sunday )

00.30am-Tensions increased in Arakan according to some sources.
00:35am - Buthidaung Township (16 mile from Maungdaw) : Half an hour ago two boatloads of Rakhine were brought in to the town of Buthidaung from other places under the programme of the authorities.
01:-00 am- In Sittwe, Rakhine in Islamic attire wearing caps were seen roaming in the streets of Akyab trying to pretend Muslims. The following racist Medias are engaged in anti-Rohingya propaganda.
01:30 am - The Akyab Airport Mosque is being burnt .It has been reported that the riot have been supervised by Aung Myat Kyaw an MP at State Parliament. It is reported that the house of one Mohammed Hussein was killed and his house was burnt down. For this destruction, Aung Myat Kyaw is using Aung Tun Sein (Olympic group) and Pho Sein(Danyawadi group) .Another source reported that a mosque in Magyi Myaing Village (1mile from Sittwe Airport) at quarter8 was also destroyed.

Nur Begum from Myi Gyi Myaing village Sittwe was chopped and packed in a Jute bag at Mayu Road. The dead body was said to have been hidden by the police.

03:00 am- Some Rohingya youths were carried away by NaSaKa Border Security Forces. The number of youths was unknown. At least 70 Rohingyas were killed from Myothugyi village (Kaindapara) alone. A total of about 300 Rohingyas were believed to have been killed in the Maungdaw township. It is very hard to ascertain the exact figures as the dead bodies have not been handed over to their relatives or villagers yet.

4:00am- Harzamya village from Sittwe was burnt- 13 Rohingyas were shot dead by Police and Paramilitary Forces. 4 injured. Reliable sources said dead bodies were collected and buried.

9:00am- Government ordered to leave all the NGOs from Northern Arakan State (confirmed). 

09:15 am- Police Officer Than Htin killed innocent one Rohingya girl (Ramzaan- 12yrs ) Rohingya boy (Name –Abdu Rahaman-10yrs ) and her brother injured. Dead body was taken by Paramilitary Forces.

09:30am- Bu May village (Wayalis) ,Sittwe Township is burning till now.

12:00 - Set fire Zay Haung Mawleik Village (which was know as Rohingya Para) .about 40 houses burnt

 12:30 - Set fire all Rohingya's house Yanpyay Township ( Rohingyas are like 5to 10% there)

12:55 - Narzee Village set fire (1 mile from Sittwe Airport ) and Burning now.

13:00- Some sources saying that government announced Marchell Law in Sittwe (unconfirmed)

 14:00- Curfew was imposed only for Rohingyas. Rakhine are burning Rohingya’s houses.

16 :00-Rakhines came the support of police to Aung Min Ga Lar Quarter (where I grown up ) Sittwe and brought petrol with them. My source told me doesn’t know what time they will set fire. The situation is very worrying.

17:00- Someone told me from Maungdaw We would like to appeal international community to provide humanitarian assistance to Rohingyas as many Rohingyas are direly in need of food besides full security which can be given by International Community.

17:45- Many dead bodies (Estimated about 20-25 ) were seen in Pai Thay Ywa Village (0.5 mile to Sittwe Market) while people jumped to the sea when Rakhine were killing with co operation of Police.

17:55 -There are about 3 trucks of dead bodies were carried to Maungdaw Quarter to bury in Buddhist Cemetery. 3 trucks were fully escorted.

18:20- There are a few hundreds of Rakhine with knives at the mountain of Southside of Maungdaw .Our sources said that Rakhine prepared to kill many Rohingyas tonight with the help of Police and Military. It is estimated about 300 killed only in Maungdaw Township.

18:30- Three Rohingya dead body was found nearby Myo Thu Gyi village.19:00- 16 people slaughtered in Zay Haung Mawleik . Rakhines are intruding Rohingyas houses and killing everyone.

19:20- Saying 62 houses were burnt down and Rohingyas were taken out from the house and slaughtered 4 people.

19:35- Than Taw Lee village burnt down.

19:35-Some Rohingya’s dead bodies were dressed up with monk dress and put acid on the Face,

After State Emergency announced Some of Rakhine group went to Rohingya’s small villages and killed some people.

11th June 2012 (Monday)

7:15 – U Ba Than Military Office (Camp no.378) shot two Rohingyas.
09 :30- Maung daw Quarter (4) 4 houses burnt down under Emergency time.
10:00- In Sanpya Village (Sittwe) many Rohingya houses were fired.estimated like 200 people killed by Police while they tried to defend.
12:00- Rakhines are preparing to attack Nazi Village. One of the Rakhine Extremist Ba La Gyi (RNDP member)is shouting with loud speaker coming towards Mawleik village .
13:10 –Estimated 3000 Rakhines enterd to Mawleik Village, Sittwe
13:30- Harr Ree Fara (Har Ree village), Maungdaw is burning. People who come out they just shooting them in front of families.
14:00- Received mail


Current situation of Maungdaw is going worst and worst, Ward (2- Bo Mu para ) is burning by the Na Sa Ka and local Rakhine youth with Uniform of Na Sa Ka and Police. Taking information is difficult but any how they are sending some mentioned below :

(1) Master Sham SHu's house---- arrest and took away all Family members
(2) MD. Ali's house'''''............arrest and took away all Family members
(3) Dalal Roshid's house''''''''' arrest and took away all Family members
(5) Mosjeed. building
(6) Shopkeeper.. Sayed husson's house..... arrest and took away all Family members
Killing and destroying the houses are uncountable. All the dead bodies were taken away by trucks.

14:10 – Just destroyed all Rohingyas shops .

14:15- Destroying Sittwe Central Mosque
Note - Time refers to Local Time

Breaking News:

Current Buthidaung situation:

Yesterday, at about 12 noon, 200 Rakhines with long swords came to Buthidaung town by two boats and landed from the U Oo Thama Park in front of police and  went to straight to the Buddhist monastery.  Hearing the news, the Upper Parliament member U Shwe Maung contacted with Tactical Operation Officer of Buthidaung Town to provide security by army to the Rohingyas as the people don’t rely the police security.

Again, today, about 300 Rakhines with lethal weapons came to Buthidaung town by boats from other places. Of them, some had gone to hide in the forest. But, local Rakhines females with children are sent to the secure places.

Rohingya people in Buthidaung Township have been living with constant fear of unholy alliance of Buddhist Rakhines and security forces.

Breaking News : Nearly 1000 houses burnt down in Sittwe, over 100 killed, more than 300 wounded

Sunday, 10 June 2012 11:14

Sittwe( Akyab: At about 11:00 am to 2 pm, the racist Rakhines with the co-operation of riot police (Hluntin) set on fire to nearly 1000 houses in the Rohingya villages in Sittwe( Akyab), the capital of Arakan State and  over 100 killed and more than 300 wounded by Rakhine racists and security personnel. After setting fire in different villages, the security forces are in cordon the areas. When the Rohingya villagers try to distinguish and intentionally fired to them.

At present, many villagers become homeless and are staying in the open sky. They do not get any supporting from the concerned authorities. About 1000 houses were burnt down to the ashes.

Besides, Shafi Khan Mosque which is situated near the gate of Akyab airport was also burnt down by the racist Rakhines, Pakeseik Mosque and some  other 6 Mosques.

Some villages have been identified as---Rohingya Para, Zala Para (village), Gumay Para, Naya para, wireless para, Paluktown para and Deram para were burnt down.More than ten thousands Rakhine participated to arson of the Rohingya villages in Akyab.

The Rohingya villagers are in panic-stricken without any help from any quarter and survival of the villagers is at stake.

Rakhine racists, police and Hluntin attack Rohingya in Maungdaw in absent of Army

Maungdaw, Arakan State: A group of Rakhine racists, police and Hluntin are attacking Rohingya properties - burning houses, destroying Mosques and killing Rohingy people today morning after the army left from Maungdaw town , according to an elder from Maungdaw town.

Two Rohingyas killed by a group of Rakhine racists in Arakan

“Last night, after President’s speech to public through MRTV that northern Arakan was handed over to Army to control the situation.  The army controlled the Maungdaw last night and the people get a little relief from tension. But, in the morning after leaving the army from town, a group of Rakhine racists along with police and Hluntin are destroying Rohingya’s properties and religious building and killing Rohingyas.”
“Today morning, after leaving the choppers, which carried the relief goods for Rakhine, the Police, Hluntin and Rakhine set on fire Karim Ullah’s house of Bo Mu para, Maungdaw town at 9:30Pm (BST).”

“Police, Hluntin and Rakhine set on fire the Ward number (5) where three houses were burnt down into ashes   including Ex- MP Fazal Ahmed‘s  house. In Ward number 3, one Mosque and one house owned by Kalam are being destroyed; other houses are being burnt down.”

In Ward number 2, the houses of Nurul Isam, Syed Hussein and Feroz were burnt down and some houses are still burning in front of the Middle School, not known how many houses were destroyed in arson attack. At about 12: 00 noon, Fayazi Para is surrounded by police, Hluntin and Rakhines. Later Sayed Hussain was slaughtered by Rakhines.

Five engines boats along with over 300 people including women and children from Akyab reached at Shapuri Dip of Bangladesh in the morning today, but these boats were pushed back to the sea by BGB personnel so the boat went again to the Saint Martin Island of Bangladesh   where Bangladesh Coast- Guards pushed-back again to Arakan State.  The fate of the people is not known    after pushed back.  It is learnt that some dead bodies and wounded persons are present in the boats.      

At about 11:30 am, a truck with Rohingya dead bodies was seen in front of the old jail today, which was taken away by police to unknown places. These are previous dead bodies of Rohingyas.

According to the President Thein Sein’ speech, army will control the situation of the Arakan, but still slaughtering the Rohingya people by the police, Hluntin and some group of  Rakhine  racists. It is very surprise for the Rohingya community.