No reason to abandon Rohingyas

Apparently, Bangladesh's pushback of helpless Rohingyas from its territorial waters into those of Myanmar seems to have worked. Or has it? Given that 30,000 were afflicted in the latest eruption of ethnic violence in Rakhine state capital Sittwe, this may have been just a stalling operation.

Since no media is allowed in the troubled zone, there's no way knowing whether those sent back by us are safe. Perhaps, Bangladesh's stern approach has gone down well with the Myanmar authorities. For once, we could bite the bullet and let them float into the elements of nature, or shove them into the tunnel of uncertainty.

Clearly, all this is a palliative, and not a cure of the disease. Because the fundamental issue of statelessness of the Muslim minority in the Rakhaine state of Myanmar remains intact. Persecution and ethnic cleansing of varying intensity follow from this non-existent status of not even second class citizens.

So long as this seminal question of nationality is not resolved, Rohingyas in boatloads or trickles would keep coming in through the 200km long porous border between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Thus, we find in the UNHCR's version, eight unregistered Rohingya refugees to every registered one. In contrast, government's ratio between listed and unlisted refugees stands at 15 to 1. This demographic pressure on an already densely populated part of Bangladesh is headed for snowballing with severe repercussions in the horizon.

One reputed international observer Derek Tonkin's position on this fallacy is unassailable: "The statelessness of the Rohingya is a breach of Article 15(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which provides that: 'Everyone has the right to a nationality'."

When a country is at the receiving end of fallout from either a willful persecution of the Rohingyas by the military as in 1978 and 1991 and internal ethnic violence as erupted lately, it has to defend its national interest. Bangladesh has every right to address the problem bilaterally, and if necessary, internationally. But a hands-on role is missing.

What is difficult to understand is Bangladesh government treating the latest dimension to the Rohingya question in a way that it can make all the difference between good and bad bilateral relations. Why must this be so; an issue has arisen and it must be dealt with, first compassionately and then by taking it up at the government-to-government level in a no nonsense manner.

Now, why have a short memory? In both times that the spates in Rohingya exodus were triggered by military operations in Myanmar, we arranged repatriation of the refugees by engaging the military authorities, post-1978 and 1991. We could work out a solution, incomplete that it might have been, albeit under the auspices of the UNHCR. Why then the latest upshot of ethnic raw nerves centering around a criminal act but allowed to proliferate as a religious-ethnic reprisal by the majority community under military watch should be handled like "glass with care" approach? By accident, if you like, the core issue has come to the fore, through a haemorrhage though. And if the wound is 'band-aided' now, it would bleed again.

In a sense, the international community is also playing kid glove with Myanmar authorities. The West is supersensitive to the cause of consolidating the pro-democracy and open economy gains and advancing the freedom and leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi to complete the process of Myanmar's opening to the world. So, why rock the boat?

Suu Kyi's appeal to reason, her sagacity, and persistent theme of reconciliation have inspired analogies with Nelson Mandela. This is something to draw on. One of the first Suu Kyi statements on her release from house arrest had been to call for speedy resolution of ethnic minority issues. We are looking to her to take a conscientious role in resolving the "nationality" issue of the Rohingyas. We are heartened by her expression of concern over "the handling of the situation by local Rakhaine authorities, in particular their failure to dampen anti-Muslim sentiment. Suu also calls on Buddhists to 'have sympathy for minorities'." (Xinhua)

Suu Kyi's growing international image is of value to the military who still retain the levers of power but understands the efficacy of withdrawal of sanctions on and investment in Myanmar. Pragmatism suggests they should swim with the current.

The two foregoing factors taken together, condition in Myanmar couldn't have been potentially more conducive than it is today towards settling all the ethnic minority issues that bristle the Myanmar body-politic.

There is a third element that the Myanmar government needs to consider to reshape its policy towards the Rohingyas. Ethnic groups like the Karen and Kachin are "insurrectionist" espousing the aspirations of small nations. While attempts are made to assimilate them into the Myanmar society, why should the innocent, armless Rohingyas be left behind?

The writer is Associate Editor, The Daily Star.

Arakan Roit News Update : June 28, 2012

Rathedaung Township:

Twenty two villagers were arrested from Anukpin village of Rathedaung Township earlier and on June 27, again 60 villagers were arrested from the said village by army and Nasaka. After arrest, they were sent to Rakhine villages where they were tortured severally by Rakhine villagers. After that, they were sent to Akyab. The fate of the arrested villagers is not known to their relatives. The village has about 1000 houses, of them, 60 houses were burned down by Rakhines with the help of army and Nasaka though they have responsibility to give security of the Rohingya villagers, said a villager from Rathedaung on condition of anonymity.

Besides, 350 houses from Mozai Dia village and 150 houses of Sarat Pyin village were burned down into ashes by a group of Rakhine extremists in front of army and Nasaka. The concerned authorities declared that the army and Nasaka take security of the villages of Rathedaung Township. It is very difficult to understand that the army and Nasaka give security only Rakhine, but not to Rohingyas. They also co-operate with the racist Rakhines for arson attack to the Rohingya villages. The Burmese media also highlighted that the Rakhines are suffering from crisis of food and shelter, showing artificial Rakhine refugees who have been taking shelter in Nasaka camps and Buddhist monasteries of Maungdaw and Akyab (Sittwe).


It is learnt that many Rohingya villagers in Rathedaung Township have been suffering from food, shelter, medicine crisis since the event were broken out.

In addition on June 26, the Rohingya villagers were flooded by heavy rain fall in Rathedaung. There is no place to take shelter whose houses had already burned down by Rakhine mobs. There is no one to give them any help as it is an isolated area. Every day, the army and Nasaka along with some Rakhines arrest the Rohingya villagers, so, the villagers are passing their days and nights with terrible situation for fear of arrest and torture.

Situation Maungdaw Township:

Yesterday, at about 4:00 pm a widow – Syeda Kanon daughter of Basa Meah – was shot dead by army while she was returning from a grazing ground with her goat. When the army took away her goat forcibly from her, the widow asked the army “Why do you take away my goat?”. It caused army angry and shot dead her on the spot. She was forty-five year old of Lamba Ghona village. Earlier, the army also took away a cow from her.

Moreover, today, at about 8:30 am, two helicopters arrived at Aley Than Kyaw village of Maungdaw Township from Akyab(Sittwe) and then flied to Nasaka headquarters to see the Rakhine refugees who have been taking shelter in the Nasaka camps and Buddhist monasteries at Maungdaw. The refugees are the Natala villagers who were brought to the Nasaka camps from Maungdaw north, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships and the relocated Natala villagers of southern side of Maundaw town. Whenever, the international community and the high level officials from Naypyidaw visited Maungdaw, they only see the Rakhine refugees. They never visited to Rohingya refugees (internal refugees) who have been locking in their own villages by imposing state of emergency. They have been suffering from food crisis since the sectarian violence was occurred. The government didn’t expose to the international community regarding the internal Rohingya refugees who have been persecuted by the Burmese authorities by daily basis.

Besides, the army and Nasaka are arresting the Rohingya villagers continuously, especially from Nurrullah Para, Kilaidaung, Sarcumbo, Horsara and Sombonna villages and other villagers of Maungdaw Township. The authorities are targeting mostly to Rohingya young people even 10-12 year old boys. It is learnt that the young boys were stabbed by Natala villagers, after arrest.

The authorities also took away cattle, goats, rice, fowls and valuables from Rohingya villagers. Every night, the armies, Nasaka accompanied by Rakhines go to the said villages and make arbitrary arrest to the villagers. So, the villagers flee from the villages leaving their family members in the villages. Taking this advantage, the authorities assault the Rohingya women and young girls in the villages. This is the daily basis occurrence in the Rohingya villages. Where is the international community? asked a villager from inside Arakan.
Police arrests with various forms in Maungdaw.

Police officer inspector U aung Kyaw Than and its groups arrested Rohingya with various forms – called for repairing, meeting , listed involved in the demonstration on June 8 and meeting on the road- recently in Maungdaw, according to Maungdaw resident.
Today evening, the police personnel arrested Mohamed – a Rohingya technician- from clock tower junction for calling to repair the police vehicle, but he was sent to the Maungdaw police station with false allegation as he involved in the demonstration on June 8.
Similarly, two Rohingyas from Bomu village were arrested while they are going to their home from another friend home in the same village. The police met them on the road inside the village, but arrested with false allegation that they were doing to set fire the house yesterday.

Nasaka checks Rohingyas’ family list in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burmese border security force (Nasaka) has been going to check the family lists of Rohingya today morning, according to village administration office member from Maungdaw.

The Nasaka has been starting to check the family list of Ward number 2 and 4 where the Nasaka checked the lists with family members and if anyone fail to show on the time of checking, he/she was eased from the list. If every member is present at the time of checking, the authority issued a card masked “Checked”But, in Kyikanpyin and Nwahyondaung village, Nasaka has been checking the family lists but Nasaka has been taking signature from the family head on a blank paper after checked the list.

It is learnt that the medicine of MARTEZA (an NGO) and food items of World Food Program (WFP) were destroyed by the flood of June 26. On that day rain fall very heavily and caused inundated many villagers of Maungdaw north, said a youth from north of Maungdaw.
Situation of Buthidaung:
Two persons were released today morning who were arrested by army yesterday. The released two persons are: a son of Mr. Abu Toyub and another one is Adam Zee from Ward No. 7 of Buthidaung town. But, another two were not released among 4 persons who were arrested yesterday, said a trader from the locality.

Many villagers of Buthidaung south and north were flooded by heavy rain on June 26. The villagers have been suffering from many difficulties and there is no any help from government side.

Besides, the market of Buthidaung town was inundated under the water since Tuesday. The concerned authorities didn’t allow the shopkeepers to move their goods from the shops to other safe places giving the reasons that there should be untoward situation while moving the goods. As result, most of the goods should be rotten for keeping them for three days under the water. However, today at about 2:00 pm the concerned authorities of the market allowed shopkeepers to enter the market to see their goods.

Before, the sectarian violence, the concerned authorities did not allow to buy any one more than two kgs of rice from the market.

It is learnt that over 10,000 people including Rakhines and Rohingyas have been taking shelter in the Buthidaung High School because of flood.

ARAKAN ROHINGYA UNION, ADDRESSES CANADIAN PARLIAMENT AND TESTIFIES BEFORE THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

DR. WAKAR UDDIN, DIRECTROR GENERAL OF ARAKAN ROHINGYA UNION, ADDRESSES CANADIAN PARLIAMENT AND TESTIFIES BEFORE THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

The Canadian Parliament conducted a hearing on Rohingya human rights and political rights, and the current violence in Arakan State , Burma (Myanmar), on June 19, 2012. Prof. Dr. Wakar Uddin, the Director General of Arakan Rohingya Union, addressed the Canadian Parliament on Rohingya human rights and political situation in Burma (Myanmar), and testified in a hearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee, presided by Hon. Scott Reid (Conservative Party), Chairman of the International Human Rights sub-committee. In his address, Dr. Uddin brought a wide range of issues that Rohingya ethnic minority is facing in Arakan State, Burma, to the attention of the committee.

He outlined the Rohingya issues through an audio-visual presentation, beginning with demographic background information on Rohingya, some highlights of the roles of Rohingya in the multi-ethnic political process during the during and post-colonial periods of Burma, how the military dictatorship have systematically revoked the citizenship of Rohingya, the persistent human rights violations and persecution of Rohingya by the Burmese government forces, coordinated ethnic cleansing in Rohingya areas in Arakan, the ultra-nationalist and racist ideology of Rakhine as a confounding factor, implication of Burmanization schemes in ethnic minority areas in Burma, and the current ongoing violence against Rohingya in Arakan.

During hearing, a closed door session, the parliamentarian asked specific questions on various issues that Dr. Uddin had articulated during his address earlier in the parliament. Those specific questions and answers to the questions currently remain classified; therefore they could not be made public. However, in the summary, the committee members from all parties (Conservative Party,Liberal Party, and New Democratic Party), were stunned to hear the magnitude and intensity of the persecution that the Rohingya people are facing. The response from the committee to the Rohingya issue was extraordinary and unanimous. The unequivocal support for the cause of Rohingya political and human rights echoed throughout the room during the hearing in the parliament.

The hypocrisy of Burma’s pro-democracy movement

By Francis Wade
Jun 27, 2012

Much has been made of the recent sectarian unrest in western Burma and its ramifications for the country’s fragile reform process. It’s important to note that the violence and subsequent outpouring of anti-Rohingya anger is not a niche issue confined to a specific locale – instead it should be viewed as something more pervasive among many Burman and Arakanese, both inside Burma and abroad, that threatens to contaminate the wider discourse on how to move the country forward.

Among the key catalysts of anti-Rohingya sentiment are, surprisingly, prominent members of Burma’s pro-democracy movement. The hypocrisy of their attempts to vilify an entire ethnic group – labelling them variously as “terrorists”, “illegal immigrants”, “not worthy of citizenship”, and so on – appears lost on them.

Tin Maung Htoo, director of Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB), was forced by the organisation’s Board to retract a statement in early June in which he said the Rohingya were the remnants of a Mujahideen movement in western Burma that had tried to gain citizenship after their “Jihad” failed (like all the country’s ethnic minorities, there is no fixed date for their arrival, though one study done of dialects in Arakan State back in 1799 references “Rooinga”).

That, and other inflammatory comments posted on the internet, are merely the tip of the iceberg for many of Burma’s “democrats”, whose rhetoric implicitly encourages the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC), based in the UK, states on its website that a special battalion of Burmese troops should be deployed to northern Arakan state “to protect the lives of the minority Buddhist Burmese Araknese who are living in the middle of barbaric so-called Rohingya Bengali Muslims”, whom it claims have massacred “tens of thousands of Burmese Buddhist Arakanese in the past”.

The founders of BDC and CFOB were themselves forced into exile after the Burmese military was given free rein to put down the 1988 student uprising in the name of “protecting the nation”. The fact that these same people have also felt most painfully the scourge of state-sanctioned abuse and statelessness likewise gets lost in the fury.

Calls for the Rohingya to be expelled from Burma on the grounds that they are not citizens have been made by the very same people who were allowed to remain in their countries of asylum for years before citizenship was finally awarded – they assert however that this gesture should not be extended to the Rohingya.


Ko Ko Gyi, a former leader of Burma's prominent 88 Generation Students Group, pictured in Yangon earlier this month. Pic: AP.

Tin Maung Htoo has lauded prominent activist Ko Ko Gyi’s proclamation that the Rohingya are not an ethnic nationality of Burma; but nor is he one of Canada. He and others seem to have a hard time explaining the rationale behind their comments.

What the “anti-Rohingya but pro-democracy lobby” also seem to misunderstand is that they have become effective lackeys of a regime that they have dedicated their lives to reforming or doing away with. A key policy of successive Burmese juntas is the divide and rule of ethnic groups, which has allowed the government to foment unrest, justify heavy-handed control and which has historically provided the excuse for why the country is not ready for democracy.

It is of great irony and great sadness that the country’s civilians, both at home and abroad, have finally lent their hand to this, only months into the transition process and after decades of resisting state propaganda. As far afield as London, the front door of Tun Khin, who heads the Burma Rohingya Organisation UK, has been kicked in, while anti-Rohingya protests have been targeted against Burma Campaign UK and the BBC, often by veterans of Burma’s pro-democracy movement who, exiled from their homeland, have gained citizenship in the UK.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s reaction to the unrest was to call for rule of law to be the decider of the status of Rohingya – a deliberately non-committal and vague standpoint. As Sai Latt notes in Asia Sentinel, “The Rohingya case provides a very clear example why the law itself can be a source of problems. Statelessness, ill treatment, and discrimination against the Rohingyas are not simply the results of a lack of the rule of law. Quite contrary, they are legally produced.”

The hypocrisy underpinning the Rohingya crisis calls into question the notion of equal rights, and indeed democracy, espoused by Burma’s pro-democracy movement; indeed that the gestures accorded to them should not be extended to those of different origin, religion, skin colour, or whatever it is that makes the Rohingya such vile creatures in the eyes of those engaged in their persecution. The inability of many to see the double standards being deployed is perhaps a sign that the mindset of the regime, a master of psychological warfare, lurks within those who have spent years rallying against it, and becomes yet another factor in the sobering realisation that Burma’s transition will be a long and painful process.

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

Breaking News: June 27, 2012

Buthidaung Township:
Yesterday night, 4-Rohingya man was arrested by army personnel of Military Operation Command             (MOC) No.15 of Buthidaung Township over the allegation that they have been involved in political matter. After arrest, they were brought to unknown place. The arrestees are: two sons of Master Abu Tayub, Imam Hussain, and Abin Chay. They all belong to Ward No.7 of Buthidaung Town.  This is the first time arresting occurred in Buthidaung Township, after the sectarian riots have been broken out in Arakan State, said a villager from Buthidaung Township.

Heavy downpours at Buthidaung Township yesterday, the following villages such as—U Hla Pay, longa Daung, Sindaung and Alay Chaung— went under water and villagers have been facing many difficulties. There is no report about death, but the water is still remaining. While the monsoon shower kept many villagers stranded at home throughout the day since early morning.
Maungdaw Township:  
Today, Nasaka (Burma’s border security force) is seizing family lists of villagers of Myothu Gyi under the Maungdaw Township, reason is unknown, according to villagers.
Maungdaw north and south were flooded by heavy rain yesterday. Many villagers have been inundated and are facing many difficulties. Mean while, the army chased the villagers to arrest, so the villagers have to flee their villages to avoid arbitrary arrest leaving their women and daughters in the homes.
Yesterday, army accompanied by a group of Rakhines went to Oo Daung village – of Maungdaw south in the evening and arrested five villagers and the villagers fled from the village. They looted rice, gold, clothes and money etc.
Army and Natalia villagers went to Khorja Bill two days ago and an arrested 40 villagers (already released by Kaladan Press) and brought them to the mosque of the village and tortured them severely.  In front of the arrestees, the army ransacked the mosque and tear of the Holy Quran. After that, they were put in a truck and covered it with a plastic sheet to avoid from public. Nobody knows their whereabouts.  They also tortured the females in the village as their husbands were not present. At present, the women and girls are staying in the village in a panic-stricken position. They also looted goods from the village.
Yesterday, in the evening, the army arbitrary fired to the villagers of Khonsara and Whycha villages of Maungdaw south, as a result, villagers ran away where they think to be saved, but some villagers jumped into the river. Meanwhile, the water current was very strong as the rain fell very heavily, so the villagers who jumped into river were washed away.  Today, the villagers found 10 dead bodies in the river that are floating.
Rakhines are backed by police, Hluntin, and Nasaka, but Rohingyas are only defenders while their houses were torched by Rakhine mobs in front of the security forces.  Seeing the burning their houses, Rohingya villagers came forward to extinguish the burning houses, but the security forces fired to the villagers, so the villagers are unable to put out the fire and were killed  and  wounded  by the firing of security forces. So, it is not a sectarian riots between Rakhines and Rohingyas, it is a preplanned action against the Rohingya community by government.
A village elder said,” The fake sectarian violence is still going on in Arakan State. It is really happened between government and unarmed Rohingya community. We are innocent, but the authorities give us pressure. ”

Massacre of Rohingyas in Myanmar

The Rohingyas in the western Myanmar state of Rakhine, formerly known as Arakan, have again been subjected to a major massacre. The Rohingyas happen to be a Muslim minority living in the Buddhist majority country. They have been victims of discrimination for many decades, particularly under the military junta, which ruled the country on the motto of nationalism. Interestingly, one should point out here, that Muslims of Arakan known as Mujahidin, constituted one of the three major forces that fought for the country’s independence in the 1940s.

This is not the first time that Rohingyas have been targeted. According to Medecins Sans Frontieres, approximately 200,000 Rohingyas were expelled to neighboring Bangladesh in 1978, but almost all of them were forcibly repatriated back: about 10,000 died in the process and another 10,000 remained in Bangladesh. In 1982 Myanmar passed a law declaring most Rohingyas non-citizens. In 1991, again about 250,000 were pushed to Bangladesh. In September 1992 the government of Bangladesh closed down registration of new refugees, and immediately resorted to another round of repatriation. However, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and a number of other international humanitarian bodies strongly protested against the measure. Since then the UNHCR has negotiated with the government of Myanmar to repatriate back the refugees but it has succeeded only partially. Occasionally many of the repatriated refugees would return to Bangladesh. During this period many Rohingyas also migrated to a number of Southeast Asian and West Asian and North African (WANA) countries. But generally speaking, Rohingyas remain stateless people and according to one UN report they are “one of the world’s most persecuted minorities.”

The current influx of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh began when a rumor was spread that a Buddhist Rakhine woman was raped and murdered by three Rohingyas and a number of Rakhines attacked a bus carrying Muslim passengers in early June. Violence  spread rapidly and hundreds and thousands of Rohingyas began to flee. Rakhine thugs seem to enjoy the tacit support of the law enforcement agencies. The Myanmar government has banned the media in the area. Neighboring Bangladesh also took a stubborn stand by not only preventing the refugees from entering the country, but also by not allowing the media to interview the refugees. The upshot of it all is a humanitarian disaster.

According to one analysis the origin of the current conflict may lie much deeper in the geo-politics of the area. China reportedly has invested heavily in the area and enemies of China are trying to destabilize the situation in order to weaken the country’s economic role in Myanmar. This is part of a larger agenda to thwart China’s economic ascendancy. (see landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2012/06/new-front-myanmers-role-in-geopolitics.html)

What is shocking in this whole episode is the stand taken by the country’s Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. She doesn’t seem to have been moved at all by this unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Another shocking phenomenon is the statement by the US Charge d’ Affairs in Myanmar who praised the government’s role in the crisis. Has the international community lost its conscience?

What should be done to overcome the crisis? Violence should stop immediately. The state government in Rakhine and the central government under Thein Sein have a big role to play in this.  The law should be applied without bias and wrongdoers should be punished, regardless of their ethnicity or religion. At the same time, Thein Sein should initiate measures to grant citizenship to the Rohingyas.

Myanmar’s fellow ASEAN states should quietly encourage Thein Sein to move in this direction.

Dr. Abdullah  Ahsan,

Vice-President,

International Movement for Just World (JUST).

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.