Monday 6 August 2012

Bad days in Burma | Gwynne Dyer





At last somebody in an official position has said something. United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay has called for an independent investigation into claims that Burmese security forces are systematically targeting the Rohingya, a Muslim minority community living in the Arakan region. Even the Burmese government says at least 78 Rohingya were murdered; their own community leaders say 650 have been killed.

Nobody disputes the fact that about 100,000 Rohingyas (out of a population of 800,000) are now internal refugees in Burma, while others have fled across the border into Bangladesh. As you would expect, the Buddhist monks of Burma have stood up to be counted. Unfortunately, this time they are standing on the wrong side.

This is perplexing. When the Pope lectures the world about morality, few non-Catholics pay attention. When Ayatollah Khamenei of Iran instructs the world about good and evil, most people who aren’t Shia Muslims just shrug. But Buddhist leaders are given more respect, because most people think that Buddhism really is a religion of tolerance and peace.

When the Dalai Lama speaks out about injustice, people listen. Most of them don’t share his beliefs, and they probably won’t act on his words, but they listen with respect. But he hasn’t said anything at all about what is happening to the Rohingyas ― and neither has any other Buddhist leader of note.

To be fair, the Dalai Lama is Tibetan, not Burmese, but he is not usually so reserved in his judgments. As for Burma’s own Buddhist monks, they have been heroes in that nation’s long struggle against tyranny ― so it’s disorienting to see them behaving like oppressors themselves.

Buddhist monks are standing outside the refugee camps in Arakan, turning away people who are trying to bring food and other aid to the Rohingya. Two important Buddhist organizations in the region, the Young Monks’ Association of Sittwe and the Mrauk U Monks’ Association, have urged locals to have no dealings with them. One pamphlet distributed by the monks says the Rohingya are “cruel by nature.”

And Aung San Suu Kyi, the woman who spent two decades under house arrest for defying the generals ― the woman who may one day be Burma’s first democratically elected prime minister ― has declined to offer any support or comfort to the Rohingyas either.

Recently a foreign journalist asked her whether she regarded Rohingyas as citizens of Burma. “I do not know,” she prevaricated. “We have to be very clear about what the laws of citizenship are and who are entitled to them.”

If she were honest, she would have replied: “Of course the Rohingya are citizens, but I dare not say so. The military are finally giving up power, and I want to win the 2015 election. I won’t win any votes by defending the rights of Burmese Muslims.”

Nelson Mandela, with whom she is often compared, would never have said anything like that, but it's a failure of courage on her part that has nothing to do with her religion. Religious belief and moral behavior don’t automatically go together, and nationalism often trumps both of them. So let’s stop being astonished that Buddhists behave badly and just consider what’s really happening in Burma.

The ancestors of the Rohingya settled in the Arakan region between the 14th and 18th centuries, long before the main wave of Indian immigrants arrived in Burma after it was conquered by the British empire during the 19th century. By the 1930s the new Indian arrivals were a majority in most big Burmese cities, and dominated the commercial sector of the economy. Burmese resentment, naturally, was intense.

The Japanese invasion of Burma during the Second World War drove out most of those Indian immigrants, but the Burmese fear and hatred of “foreigners” in their midst remained, and it then turned against the Rohingya. They were targeted mainly because they were perceived as “foreigners,” but the fact that they were Muslims in an overwhelmingly Buddhist country made them seem even more alien.

The Rohingya of Arakan were poor farmers, just like their Buddhist neighbors, and their right to Burmese citizenship was unquestioned until the Burmese military seized power in 1962. However, the army attacked the Rohingya and drove some 200,000 of them across the border into Bangladesh in 1978, in a campaign marked by widespread killings, mass rape and the destruction of mosques.

The military dictator of the day, Ne Win, revoked the citizenship of all Rohingyas in 1982, and other new laws forbade them to travel without official permission, banned them from owning land, and required newly married couples to sign a commitment to have no more than two children. Another military campaign drove a further quarter-million Rohingyas into Bangladesh in 1990-91. And now this.

On Sunday former general Thein Sein, the transitional president of Burma, replied to U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay: “We will take responsibilities for our ethnic people but it is impossible to accept the illegally entered Rohingyas who are not our ethnicity.” Some other country must take them all, he said.

But the Rohingya did not “enter illegally,” and there are a dozen “ethnicities” in Burma. What drives this policy is fear, greed and ignorance ― exploited, as usual, by politicians pandering to nationalist passions and religious prejudice. Being Buddhist, it turns out, doesn’t stop you from falling for all that. Surprise.

Serious human rights challenges remain in Myanmar, says UN expert | UN News Centre


Press Conference in Yangon International Airport on Aug 04,2012


5 August 2012 –

Myanmar needs to tackle serious human rights challenges for democratic transition and national reconciliation to succeed, an independent United Nations human rights expert said at the end of a six-day visit to the country.

Tomás Ojea Quintana, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, noted a number of positive developments during his 30 July to 4 August visit, including the increasing engagement of civil society, political parties and other stakeholders in the reform process, greater openness in discussing human rights issues, and efforts towards building a society based on the rule of law.

At the same time, he highlighted a number of key human rights concerns, including the situation in Rakhine state and the related detention of UN staff members, the continued detention of prisoners of conscience, and the situation in Kachin state.

Clashes between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Rakhine state reportedly killed at least 78 people and displaced thousands in June.

“The human rights situation in Rakhine state is serious,” said Mr. Ojea Quintana, who witnessed the suffering of people who have lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of the violence.

In a statement issued yesterday, the expert called for a credible, independent investigation into allegations of serious human rights violations committed by State actors in Rakhine, including the excessive use of force by security and police personnel, arbitrary arrest and detention, killings, the denial of due process guarantees and the use of torture in places of detention.

“It is of fundamental importance to clearly establish what has happened in Rakhine state and to ensure accountability. Reconciliation will not be possible without this, and exaggerations and distortions will fill the vacuum to further fuel distrust and tensions between communities,” he said on Saturday prior to leaving the country.

Urgent attention was also required to address the immediate humanitarian needs of the displaced, particularly in the larger camps, he said, urging the international community to respond to Myanmar authorities' appeal for increased assistance.

He also stressed the need for the Government to develop a longer-term strategy for rehabilitation and reconciliation – one that is based on integration and not separation of the Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya communities.

Mr. Ojea Quintana also met prisoners of conscience at Insein Prison and called for the release of all remaining prisoners of conscience without conditions or delay. He commended the President for releasing a number of other prisoners of conscience, including Phyo Wai Aung who was released during his visit.

He interviewed six UN staff members, in Insein and Buthidaung prisons, who have been detained in connection with the events in Rakhine State, adding that he had also received information that a number of staff of international non-governmental organizations had been similarly detained.

“Based on my interviews, I have serious concerns about the treatment of these individuals during detention,” said the Special Rapporteur, who called for their immediate release, adding that the charges against them are “unfounded” and that their due process rights have been denied.

Welcoming the ceasefire agreements reached with 10 ethnic armed groups, and the ongoing dialogue in this regard, Mr. Ojea Quintana said that efforts towards finding a durable political solutions to the conflicts should be accelerated and should address long-standing grievances and deep-rooted concerns amongst ethnic groups.

“Yet, as a result of ongoing conflict, particularly in Kachin State, I continue to receive allegations of serious human rights violations committed, including attacks against civilian populations, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, internal displacement, and torture. Furthermore, I received allegations of the use of landmines, the recruitment of child soldiers, as well as forced labour and portering committed by all parties to the conflict,” he said.

He reiterated the need to address these allegations as a matter of priority, as well as grievances from decades of human rights violations.

The Special Rapporteur called on Myanmar to ensure that a human rights-based approach is firmly embedded in its economic and social development, especially given the increase of foreign investment.

During his visit, Mr. Ojea Quintana met a number of high-level Government officials, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Vice-Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw (lower house) and members of several parliamentary committees, the National Human Rights Commission, local authorities in Rakhine State, and civil society. He also met pro-democracy leader and Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Independent experts, or special rapporteurs, are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

Moghs and Police again set on fire Rohingya houses in Kyacktaw

Kyacktaw, Arakan State: A group Moghs and police personnel set on fire more than 100 Rohingya houses in Kyacktaw Township, today, according to an elder from Kyacktaw.

“The Moghs and police personnel came to our village –Gufedaung – at about 1:30 and the Moghs set on fire the houses. We called the authority and informed to the authority, but the authority not arrive on times at the spot.”
Similarly, the Mogh and police personnel set on fire on Ambawri village at about 3:00pm where around 50 houses were burned down, said a villagers on phone.
“Most of villagers flee from their village for fear of arrest, torture and kill. Most of the villagers are staying near the river and waiting for help.”
Besides, the Moghs and police personnel set on fire Saybirgong village at about 4:pm where the army arrive on time save the village, said  a villager.
“Our village lost some houses, but after arriving army personnel who are taking the security of village, save the lives of villagers of their properties.”
In Kyacktaw Township, there are 14 Rohingya villages in the town and most of villagers are farmers, fisher men and daily labor. These Rohingya are minority in this town and if the authorities are not protect them, their future are not known what will be happen, said an elder from Kyacktaw who living in Bangkok..

Police still harass Rohingya in Maungdaw



“The Police personnel – Sub Inspector Aye Tun Sein, Sub Inspector Hla thein and Then Htun – are stationed at clock tower and harassing all Rohingya who are passing the clock tower junction.”
The police personnel from clock tower junction looted – money and goldsmith shop voucher- Mohamed Shafi hailed from Pandawpin villager when he went to the goldsmith shop to take the gold ornament today, said a trader from Maungdaw.
“The police personnel went to Ward number 2, Fayazi para and arrested Moulana Assad Ullah from his house and forcefully toke Kyat 500,000 and released on August 3.”
Similarly, Hla Myintand its surveillance team arrested Moulana Iddris and other two young Rohingyas from Fayazi para of Ward number 2 and sent then to the Police custody of Maungdaw police station on August 4, said a villager from Clock tower junction.

Attack against Muslims resurfaces in Rakhine State, killing at least 6 people


Communal attacks in Rakhine State resurface on 5 August, with Rakhine people burning more than 200 houses of Muslim residents in three villages in Kyauk Taw Township and killing at least six people, following the visit of the Vice President Sai Mauk Kham to Kyauk Taw on 4 August.

The incident in Gut Pi Taung village in Kyauk Taw Township occurred in the afternoon when a crowd of at least 500 Rakhine people appeared.

“Our houses are on fire. We are now running away from the place as they are also endangering our lives” said U Aung Myint, a Muslim resident in Gut Pi Taung.

Similarly, two other Muslim villages, Apuak Wa and Shwe Hlaing, were also attacked by Rakhine people.

In Apauk Wa, 32 out of 50 houses were burned down by the Rakhine people and four Muslims were killed until Military forces came to intervene. Over 50 houses in Apauk Wa village was burned down by the Rakhine people earlier in June when the first wave of incidents occurred.

Houses in Shwe Hlaing village are still on fire by the evening and the number of burned houses is yet to be confirmed.

Muslim residences reported that security forces, present in the scene, failed to intervene during the attacks.



“Rakhines are killing us. We asked for help from police who are just outside the village but they refused to stop them” said U Kyaw Thein, a Muslim resident in Shwe Hlaing village.
Meanwhile in Paik The village, two people, who happened to be outside the village, were killed by the Rakhine people surrounding the location.

People who are providing assistance to those villages mentioned that the situation is critical as the people there are already staying with minimal level of food supply.
“We try to send some money there so that they can buy food through military personnel. The situation is already vulnerable and this incident can add many challenges to their lives,” said a 28-year-old Muslim in Yangon.

Earlier reports indicate that even though Kyauk Taw was exempted to an extent from the conflict in June, people in those villages are confined to their houses and movement is limited by the Rakhine people who are wandering around to stop channels of food and other supplies.

Rakhine Extremists Are Up Again: Rohingyas’ Villages Burned in Kyawk Taw


Kyawk Taw, Arakan 
5th August 2012

This afternoon, armed Rakhine extremists in Kyawk Taw township of Arakan torched the houses of Rohingyas in five villages such as GopPi Taung, Appok Wak and Shwe Hlaing and other two. 

Here how it happened. We are informed that “this afternoon at 1:30 pm, hundreds of Rakhine extremists came to GopPi Taung village and started to torch the houses of Rohingyas. There were 100 houses in the village. Even though the concerned authorities were informed immediately after Rakhine extremist had started firing Rohingyas’ houses, their reply was just this “We are coming.” Most of the people in the burned villages are poor farmers and daily labors.

Again at 3pm, there were more 50 Rohingyas’ houses burned in Appok Wak village. Besides, Rohingyas have been trying to escape the dangers posed by Rakhine hooligans and running towards the safe places” a local from Kyawk Taw reported on the condition of anonymity. There were 46 Rohingyas’ houses burned in the same village in last June. There were around 200 houses in this village after that.

Besides, at 4pm, Rakhine extremists came to Shwe Hlaing village which has more 130 houses and torched many houses of Rohingyas. According to the latest report, around 500 houses of Rohingyas’ houses have already been burned by Rakhine hoodlums in all villages mentioned above. Around 50 Rohingyas were killed and one village is still on fire. Military and Hluntin (Security Guards) got to the places of incident. They have been doing nothing to prevent the Rakhines from their malevolent deeds but looking on.

About Me

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Maung daw, Arakan state, Myanmar (Burma)
I am an independent man who voted to humanitarian aid.