Rohingya, Dictators, and Democracy in Myanmar | Zaw Lwin Oo

First of all, please accept my apology for my English’s weak points, and request you to be patient in reading as I am not a professional writer, nor a politician.

In Myanmar, whenever government face any political failure, she gear up pressure of persecution on Rohingya people or Islam. To do this systematically, the government gives training all of her servants including police, immigrations, officers, educators and religious monks against Islam and Muslims. Christians are also persecuted but not much like Muslims. There was an anti-Chinese riot in 1967, killed many Chinese and looted their properties, later, Burmese Buddhists look Chinese as pro-Buddhist partners, and they believe that they can make Chinese to be Theravada Buddhists easily.

Muslims dedicatedly and sincerely worked for Myanmar during the Dynasties periods, colonial periods, and parliament democratic periods but in the Socialist government period, the government started to restrict Muslims rights, and cleared Muslim history especially primary sources such as ancient monuments, books, peoples who were educated. The government has been using “divide and rule policy” to make Muslims as dangerous threat for the country. Immigration’s slogan is “The earth cannot swallow population, people can swallow Myanmar population”, it applies for the Muslims only. In the government schools, Buddhist worship-rooms are installed and every morning before students start the lessons they should recite Buddhist religious saying including the Muslims students, whoever doesn’t like to recite got punishment.

After 1988 demonstrations, the government has been encouraging to do Buddhist activities in every street, every quarter, and every office. As the same time, she has been warning the danger of Islam and Muslims. She uses Immigration law as the main persecution tool. It is very easy to clear all evidences of Muslims but in Arakan State, it is very difficult because there are a lot of historical monuments, records, and primary sources. So her main priority target became Arakanese Muslims called Rohingya. Firstly, she destroyed and cleared all historical monuments which proved that Rohingya are original inhabitants of Myanmar. There are still thousands of historical facts that affirmed Rohingya’s existence before British occupied Myanmar in 1826-1885. If you study Random House’s Compact Atlas of World History, page 60 and 61, you could find map of Islamic State in the Arakan. Thousands of historians wrote including Myanmar historian about Rohingya and Muslims but the government is still denying Rohingya’s existence. It is like a person who feels sun’s light and heat, then denies the existence of Sun.

How did government clear the evidences of ancient monuments of Muslims?

The Arakanese Kings with Muslim names and titles

According to former Chairman of Historical Commission, Burma, Lt. Col. Ba Shin’s “Coming of Islam to Burma 1700 AD”, Min Sawmon as Solaiman Shah, the founder of Mrauk-U dynasty and his successor were greatly influenced by Islamic culture. The practice of adopting a Muslim name or title by the Arakanese kings continued for more than two hundred years (1430 – 1638). This titles which appeared in Arabic script / Persian Kufic on their coins is given below:

No. Names of the Kings Muslim Names Reigning Period

1. Narameikhla (a) Sawmon Solaiman Shah 1430-1434 AD.

2. Meng Khari (a) Naranu Ali Khan 1434-1459

3. Ba Saw Pru Kalima Shah 1459-1482

4. Dawlya Mathu Shah 1482-1492

5. Ba Saw Nyo Mohammed Shah 1492-1493

6. Ran Aung Noori Shah 1493-1494

7. Salimgathu Sheikh Abdullah Shah 1494-1501

8. Meng Raza Ilias Shah - I 1501-1513

9. Kasabadi Ilias Shah -II 1513-1515

10. Meng Saw Oo Jalal Shah 1515

11. Thatsa Ali Shah 1515-1521

12. Min Khaung Raza El-Shah Azad 1521-1531

13. Min Bin (a) Min Pa Gri Zabuk Shah 1531-1553

14. Min Dikha Daud Khan 1553-1555

15. Min Phalaung Sikendar Shah 1571-1591

16. Min Razagri Salim Shah - I 1593-1612

17. Min Khamaung Hussain Shah 1612-1622

18. Thiri Thudama Salim Shah - II 1622-1637


Ref:( Lt. Col. Ba Shin, Coming of Islam to Burma 1700 AD, op. cit., P.5; Dr. Qanungo, A History of Chittagong, Vo. 1, op. cit., P. 233, 239, 250 & 271; Moshe Yegar, The Muslims of Burma, 1972, op. cit., P.19; Siddiq Khan, op. cit., PP. 248-249; Harvey, op. cit., P140; D.G.E Hall, op. cit., P.330; ABM Habibullah, Arakan in Pre-Mughal History of Bengal, JASB, 1945, PP. 34-35)

Iran urges UN action on Myanmar plight

Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaie urged UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon to interfere promptly in efforts to bring an end to ethnic cleansing of minority Muslims in Myanmar, Press TV reported.

"The United Nations must take urgent measures to preserve the spirit of the [UN] Charter and protect the fundamental rights of the Muslim people in Myanmar by calling upon the Government in Myanmar to put an end to the crackdown against Muslims," Khazaie said in a formal letter to the UN Secretary General.

A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to UN's High Commissionaire for Human Rights Navi Pillay as well as Director of the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs Valeri Amos.

"Recent crackdown by Myanmar security forces against Muslim minority in Rohingya province has resulted in human losses and suffering of hundreds of innocent civilians, destruction of mosques and homes and eviction of people from their homeland, which constitutes violations of their fundamental rights," the letter said.

"We believe that ethnic and religious cleansing against Muslims under whatever pretext is unjustifiable and inexcusable under recognized international law," it said.

It has further described as highly "disturbing" remarks by Myanmar authorities suggesting attempts to strip the nation's Muslim minority of their citizenship rights despite "the fact that Muslim people in Rohingya have been living there for centuries."

Khazaie's letter also calls on Secretary General to "interfere expeditiously and outspokenly, as you did with other similar situations and to take every appropriate measure in order to halt the current situation and to prevent further similar tragedy to happen against Muslim people of Myanmar."

Moreover, the document cautioned that inaction by the international community toward the ongoing human rights violations by the Myanmar Government "would contribute to the grave violations of fundamental rights of Muslim inhabitants as well as the international law and make an appalling precedent in international relations."

The letter finally called on the Myanmar Government to address the concerns of its Muslim citizens and the international community "in a positive and constructive manner" and allow Rohingya Muslims to "return to their homeland in honor, safety and dignity."

As the result of violence perpetrated against Rohingya Muslims by radical Buddhists and police forces in Myanmar, over 650 Muslims have so far been killed in the country and another 1,200 reported missing.

Last week Friday, Myanmar's President Thein Sein declared that Rohingya Muslims must be expelled from the country and sent to refugee camps run by the United Nations.

The government of Myanmar refuses to recognize Rohingyas, who it claims are not natives and classifies as illegal migrants, although Rohingyas are believed to be Muslim descendants of Persian, Turkish, Bengali, and Pathan origin that migrated to Myanmar as early as the 8th century.

No congregational prayers in Mosques of Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The concerned authorities of Maungdaw – U Aung Myint Soe, the District administration officer and U Kyi San, the Township administration officer — ordered to security forces and villages admin officers of Rohingya community, not to enter to the Mosques for congregational prayers since June 15, according to a religious leader from Maungdaw.

“The authority, especially U Aung Myint Soe, the District administration officer ordered to lock all the Mosques and no one was allowed to enter for praying.”

“No congregational prayers in Mosques for daily five times prayer, especially Friday and Ramadan especial prayer (Tarave).”
Hafez Jafor from Ali Para Mosque and Moulana Mohamed Yunus from Kanree graveyard Mosque of Ward number 2 were arrested from the Mosque compound at about 12:00pm by police officer Aung Kyaw Than, according to an elder from Ward number 2 of Maungdaw.
“Besides, Moulana Mohamed Amin and Moulana Sami Uddin from Ferry point (ghat) Mosque of Maung Ni village are arrested by said police officer at about 12:30pm today.”
“The police officer along with police personnel tortured all the four religious leaders on the road and beat after pulling their beard. When the religious leaders called to Allah for mercy, at that time, police personnel put slippers into their mouths,” said an eyewitness from Maung Ni Village.

No permission to carry rice from market

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Maungdaw District administration officer, U Aung Myint Soe and a monk – Ven. Yanmanisara- had given direction to the security force and Rakhine community to stop carrying rice from market by Rohingyas, said a village admin officer from Maungdaw.

“The Maungdaw District administration officer, U Aung Myint Soe and Township administrator officer, U Kyi San, called all Rohingya shop owners from outside of Maungdaw Municipal market to open their shops since July 15 through Village admin officers and also given the ensure of security. But, when Rohingya shop owners opened  their shops, they realized  that there is no security for them.”

“Rakhine youths and monks are taking photographs when the Rohingya shop owners are coming to the shops or while returning home with some foodstuffs for their home. After taking photographs, the Rakhine youths and monks loot the goods from Rohingyas. There is no sign of security for Rohingyas which the Maungdaw concerned authority had  already given them.”
Four sacks of rice were seized from four Rohingya youths by police officer Aye Htun Sein yesterday evening at Ali Para of Ward number 2 and the police officer kept the four rice sacks in the electric generator compound of Maungdaw stationed near clock tower junction, said a young boy who lost his rice sack.
“We are going through the Rohingya village for fear of seizing, but at last, we lost everything. In our home, we have no foods for our families, after losing the rice sacks, we will be starving.”
The Rohingya community has been getting rice in their village through the security forces that brings rice sacks and sell in the village with profit, but, now the monks  gives  advice not to sell or to buy any foodstuffs from Rohingya. So, Rohingya become very difficult to get foodstuffs for their survival, said a village admin officer.
“The police personnel and Rakhines loot the foodstuffs from Rohingya stores during the riots period and kept most of foodstuffs in the electric generator compound of Maungdaw and other were sent to the monasteries where fake Rakhine refugees have been taking shelter for only relief distribution period and back to their destination (Home). Now, they are selling foodstuffs to Rohingya with money ( with high prices).”
“The monks from Maungdaw denied receiving relief goods from INGOs at their fake refugees centers because the INGOs will distribute to Rakhines and Rohingyas. The Rohingyas will survive their struggle without taking risk to carry foodsstuff from market. The INGOs will realize what is going on in the Maungdaw. The Rakhine monks know, they will receive relief goods from local donors from Burma which will only distribute to the Rakhine community who are not real refugees. To show international community, they make drama of refugees and telling everybody that they stay in the camps for fear of attack of Rohingya community. In reality, the Rohingya community is the refugees in Maungdaw, not in the camps as the government is not set up the camps for Rohingya. The Rohingyas are Internal displace people (IDPs) who are sheltering with their relatives or other villages. No one gives them any relief goods. The Rohingya IDPs struggle for their survival by them.”

Control on selling meat in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The concerned authority of Maungdaw pushed the sole agent of butchery- Maung Maung Sein, a Rohingya community – to make difficult to sell meat in the village. The agent with police personnel arrested four Rohingyas from Ward number 5 yesterday and sent to the police station for slaughtering animals, said a villager from Ward number 5.

Similarly, the agent, Maung Maung Sein went to Pandawpin (Nawbolna) village where the butchers ran away when they saw police with agent was coming. The agent and police personnel seized all the remaining meat and arrested two persons who are sitting near a shop, said a villager.

The agent asked to butchers to pay him 50,000 kyat where he collected only 20,000 kyat before to sell meat at the villages. The butcher from Nyung Chaung village refused yesterday to sell meat with high price to the agent. So, the villagers were not able to get meat for their first day of Ramadan (fasting) month.
It is also one kind of plan from authority to drive Rohingya for their struggle to survive and hoping will leave  from their homeland to Bangladesh while  getting difficult to survive.

Collaborator gives trouble Rohingya to stay in village

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  Two collaborators with Burma border security force (Nasaka) are giving trouble to the Rohingya community of Paungzarr village, said a villager from Paungzarr village.

“Ayas, 32, son of Dil Mohamed and Shamshu,24, son of Abu Siddique are the two collaborators who are giving trouble to  the villagers to extort money from them with false allegations.”

“The collaborators made a list of 25 villagers of Paungzarr who are well- to- do family members and asking everyone to pay 1.5 million kyat if they want to stay in the village.”
Some are ready to pay the money to the collaborator, Ayas, the money for safety of his family and some are not willing to pay, said a victim from this group.
“Ayas is a notorious guy who is working for Tactical Operation Command (TOC) Commander, making trouble to the Rohingya community to extort money for him and for commander.”
Now, he is working for Nasaka area commander number 6, giving the list to the commander and harassing the Rohingya community.

Report denounces Myanmar attacks on Rohingya

Amnesty denounces security forces and local Buddhists for state-sponsored attacks on Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state.


Human Rights group Amnesty International has accused security forces and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists of carrying out fresh, targeted attacks against Rohingya, the Muslim minority group in Myanmar.

Violence in the last six weeks has been "primarily one-sided, with Muslims generally and Rohingya specifically the targets and victims,'' Benjamin Zawacki, a Bangkok-based researcher for Amnesty, said on Friday.

"Some of this is by the security forces' own hands, some by Rakhine Buddhists with the security forces turning a blind eye in some cases,'' he said.

The violence, which reached its bloodiest point in June, constituted some of the country's deadliest sectarian bloodshed in years and raised international concerns about the Rohingya's fate inside Myanmar.

Following a series of isolated killings starting in late May that left victims on both sides, bloody skirmishes quickly spread across much of Myanmar's coastal Rakhine state.

The government declared a state of emergency on June 10, deploying troops to quell the unrest and protect both mosques and monasteries.

The worst of the violence subsided two weeks later, and authorities said at least 78 people were killed and thousands of homes were burned down or destroyed, with damages roughly split evenly between Buddhists and Muslims.

Refugee problem

Thein Sein, Myanmar's president, said earlier this month that the solution to ethnic enmity in Rakhine state was to either send the Rohingya to a third country or have the United Nations refugee agency look after them.

UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres said, however, that it was not his agency's job to resettle the Rohingya.

One month after sectarian violence swept across northwestern Myanmar, Rohingya refugees are now fleeing to Bangladesh by the boatload, in a bid to escape the violence.

Despite their plight, Bangladesh is stepping up its efforts to stop refugees from crossing over.
Amnesty called on Myanmar to accept the Rohingya as citizens, something the government has staunchly opposed because it does not consider them an ethnic group native to Myanmar.

"Under international human rights law and standards, no one may be left or rendered stateless,'' Amnesty's Zawacki said.
"For too long Myanmar's human rights record has been marred by the continued denial of citizenship for Rohingya and a host of discriminatory practices against them.''