Authority still going set on fire, arrests and kills in Arakan

Kyauktaw, Arakan State:   Authority  force – police with  Rakhine are going set on fire   more than 320 Rohingyas’ houses  from  5 villages and killed more than 20 Rohingyas , said sources from Kyauktaw township.

“The Rakhines and police personnel set on fire yesterday -  gufidaung village at 1;30 pm , Ambawri village at about 3:00pm and Saybirgong village at about 4:pm- where most of the Rohingyas’ houses become ashes and Rohingyas were killed  with poisonous arrows and lethal knives by Rakhine in the present of  police forces.”

Today, early morning, the Rakhines with police forces attacked Ywanya village and set on fire Rohingyas’ houses which was burned and become ashes. The Rakhines were giving us trouble and harassing whole night. We informed to the authority about the situation of our village but there was no help from authority side, said a student from Kyauktaw.
“Rakhine people were attaching again with new systems of Rohingyas’ villages from Kyauktaw, Ponnagyuan and Rathedaung towns on August 5, afternoon, where the Rohingyas are minority in these areas and no UN and INGOs staff in these areas.”
“Despite the villagers informed the military on the time of Rakhine people approaching their villages, but, the military did not respond.”
Similarly, Kyaukpru paiseik (fishing) village was attacked by Rakhines today, according to an elder from Kyaukpru Township.
Kill in Maungdaw and Buthidaung
Kamal Husson, 32, son of Abul Husson  hailed from Durabil village of Zapinenya village tract  was killed by the authority in Buthidaung jail who was arrested during period of riot in Maungdaw. He left  3 young children and his wife.  They have no relatives in the village, said a villager from Durabil.
Besides, Abdul Rahim son of Abdul Kurdus haild from Bagona village was severely beat by Moghs from Ward number 4, in front of Maungdaw general Hospital today in the afternoon while he was going to the marke, said a teacher from Maungdaw.
“At last movement, he managed to escape from Moghs and entered to Myoma Kyayoungdan village, where the villagers informed to the army which was stationed in the area about the event. But, the army didn’t give any heal. Rahim become serious and can’t able to admit the hospital as all the staffs are Moghs. So, Rahim finally died on the hand of Myoma Kyayoungdan villagers.”
“In the evening, the army imposed again curfew in the village for the event, to prevent any unwanted event.”

United Nation and Arakan | Aung Aung Oo

Does United Nation have any power to maintain the World’s peace and security? 

In this Modern World, our human journey become more and more complicated; balance of power has no meaning, we claim ourselves the best creature on Earth but some human are still lower than animals, human wrote thousands of law book to maintain justice but most of them failed to implement, we are proud of globalization, we broadcast human right, international value, and peaceful coexistence among the nations. During two World Wars, millions of human lost their lives, after the war, millions of people were killed in the name of nationalism, cold war, power struggles, and persecution of dictators. Justice, human right, and human value are found in the books in such a eloquence way that pleased human nature but in reality, we, human being, are still killing our human brothers in the name of religion, power, liberation, and national security.

We educate our children that United Nations was formed to maintain international peace and security, we teach at schools that there is international declaration of human rights, we are trying to make our Earth as a safest place for all living things. Our scholars have good intention for globalization but nobody knows when, how and based on which principle can we fulfill our plan. We gather together in such a huge organization, UN, in which many branches are doing their tasks sincerely but still we can not apply justice on Earth, why? Don’t we have enough judges, lawyers, and forces to implement our mission, peace and security for human being? We can’t solve a minor case in time, why? Does UN have power to handle? If UN doesn’t have power, how can we claim that it is formed to maintain World’s peace and security? 

In the recent ethnic violence of Arakan State, the Buddhist Rakhine extremists in collaboration with army, Lon Htin, Nasaka, well equipped local Rakhine militia or police have been killing, many thousands of Rohingya, devastating numerous villages with mosques, burning down thousands of their homes, and looting immeasurable properties and valuables, while forcing scores of starving Rohingya men, women and children .

It has been well documented that, since 1942, about 1.5 million Rohingyas have fled their homeland of Arakan for various destinations for their lives. On the contrary, thousands of Buddhist Rakhines known as Maghs from Bangladesh have been regularly settled in Arakan under state programme particularly from Ne Win’s BSPP (Burma Socialist Party Programme) regime. Some of those Bangladeshi Maghs are in the helm of affairs of the state. Thus the alleged illegal immigration of Rohingyas from Bangladesh is unfounded, politically motivated and preoccupation of Islamophobia. It is a racist and xenophobic design of Rakhines to scapegoat the native Rohingyas enwrapping the infiltration of the

Bengali Rakhine Maghs into Arakan. Their ultimate objective is to create an independent ‘Rakhine Prey” or Rakhine Country in which the Rohingya remain a stumbling block.

According to several human rights groups thousands of unarmed Muslims may already have been killed in the apartheid state of Myanmar. Many Rohingya young men, picked up by the government forces, have simply disappeared, and are now feared death. Many victims – old and young, afraid of being ambushed and tortured to death by the racist Rakhine extremists. Dictators of Myanmar, and Rakhine racists do not care the Universal Declaration of Human Right.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent highest staff of UN, Mr. Tomás Ojea Quintana to investigate the case, after his return situation of Arakan State became worse, thousands of houses were burnt, and hundreds of Rohingyas were killed. Nobody knows what is going on in the Arakan State because there is no reliable media in the Arakan State. Local activists estimate nearly 20,000 Rohingyas were killed so far, and more than 140000 of Rohingyas became homeless, and starving without shelters. UNHCR, and other NGOs can hardly get information of Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, and Sittwe but no one knows what is going on in the other 14 townships of Arakan State, it is very difficult to get information for the communication barrier.

Rakhine racists and authority are trying to make almost all the townships as non Muslim places, in every second, Rohingyas are killing everywhere in the whole Arakan State. How many thousands of Rohingyas must give their lives to take action against this genocide? Do we need to be the second Rwanda? Why are international communities and UN waiting for more killing and burning of Rohingya? How long do the Rohingya people need to suffer? When will UN decide a clear cut solution? Does UN have power to solve the problem? Rohingyas’ persecution is not new, Rohingya have been under persecution since 1960s, thousands of files were composed regarding Rohingyas by UN, human right watch, and many organizations but still the case is unsolved, why? Is it concern with Rohingyas’ faith, Islam? For Myanmar Government and Rakhine racists , if Rohingya people believe in Buddhism like Marma, Sakmak, and Indian Hindu, they will deserve full right. Marma, Sakmak, and Indian Hindu are identical in terms of language, culture, complexion, and food.  

I would like to request U.N, international community, OIC, EU, ASEAN, USA, UK , China, and Myanmar’s neighbours to do away with the policy of apartheid against the Rohingyas in Myanmar. I beg you to send independent news media to monitor the actual situation in Arakan. I humbly request you for necessary humanitarian assistance to the victims and displaced people as soon as possible before most of the Rohingyas die. I beg you to take immediate action against Rohingya genocide.

Number of Rohingyas Killed and Four Villages Burned in Kyauktaw Yesterday

Four Rohingya villages were burned by Rakhine extremists down as the violence against Rohingyas resurfaced in Kyauktaw yesterday. “Details about the burned villages and some Rohingyas killed are given below.

The 12-year-old under-aged girl, Noorjanat D/o Shwe Hla, from Apauk village was slaughtered like an animal by Rakhine Inhumane Hooligans using sharp knives. The rest of the people from the village were killed using spears and bayonets simultaneously setting fire to their houses. Some people who could escape the carnage of Rakhines took shelter at a graveyard near to Kaladan River. Some people had to dive into Kaladan to escape the massacres of Rakhines. 

The concerned villagers informed the authorities in advance about the threats and attacks of Rakhine extremists. In Kyawk Taw, there were at least 23 Rohingya villages. There were a few Rohingyas’ villages burned in Kyawk Taw by Rakhine extremists earlier. And there was a temporary calmness after the visit of domestic officials to the affected areas. But this time, it is a deliberate attempt to cleanse Rohingyas and they are committing genocides ignoring International calls to stop the violence against them and Rohingyas’ outcry. Coincidentally, this time, it is happening after the visit of Vice-President Dr. Sai Maung Kham and the press release of Mr. Tomas Ojea Quintana. 

The worst thing is that a website, namely, “drlunswe.blogger.com” is spreading the news which is contrary to the reality on the ground. It is propagating that Rohingyas are burning Rakhines’ villages to further instigate violence all over the country. In short, they are portraying mass murderer criminals as victims and the real victims as criminals. Please save Rohingyas from the hands of evils before they are exterminated” Myo Thant from Buthidaung cried out. 

As of today, ”other two villages, namely Ambaari and Haair Para, in Kyawk Taw were burned again. And hundreds of Rohingyas composed of old people and children were massacred. Military and Hluntin (Security Guards) themselves are cooperating with Rakhine murderers in torching Rohingyas’ villages using Fire-Bombs with their guns. At the same time, they blocked all the exits and escape paths so that no Rohingya can go out of burning houses. As a result of this merciless and heartless deed, hundreds of Rohingyas’ children, elderly people, disabled people and who could not go out of their villages were burned alive. Therefore, exact number of Rohingyas killed cannot be confirmed yet” Maung Maung reported from Buthidaung. 

Elsewhere “in Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 of Maung Daw, Police and other departments, in the name guest-list checking or census check, are looting Rohingyas’ properties, gang-raping their girls now and at this moment time” Rahim from Maung Daw reporting. Therefore, on behalf of all Rohingyas who are, living under severe persecutions, being massacred and whose under-aged girls are being raped and properties are being looted, we would like to plead International Community and the people who care about humanity to not let Rohingyas face the same fate of Jews at the hands of Nazi Germans and Bosnians at the hands of Serbians and save them from Neo-Nazi Racist Section of Rakhine Society and fascist Burmese regime before it is too late.

Updated news of Kyauktaw, Arakan

Over 3200 displaced in Kyawktaw (Rakhine State) without anything to eat.The riot in Kyawktaw that occurred on 5-6 August has displaced more than 3200 people, who are currently confined to the nearby places where they escaped to. 

The victims, who were driven out of their villages, are now staying in open spaces without anything to eat. Few people are accommodated in crowded public places." we have nothing to eat, what is worse that we cannot move anywhere to seek food" said U Thein Myint, one of the victims from Apauk WA, whose houses were burned down. 

The latest figures indicate that 50 houses were set fire in Apauk WA, 135 houses in Shwe Haling, 116 houses and one mosque in Gut Pi taung, and 105 houses one mosque in Ywar Nyar.At least 10-15 Muslims were killed in incidents, with several others injured and missing.

The victims said security forces told them that they will be moved to safe locations but timing remains unmentioned. "There is some Muslim villages close by, but they cannot come to provide food to us. They are blocked by Rakhine Mg Tin, another victim, added. 

Most of the victims said they are hopeful that an independent and neutral body, such as United Nations and INGOs, could intervene in time to stop potential suffering.

Bangladesh’s lose – lose strategy on the Rohingya

Rohingya women stand in front of their makeshift home in an unregistered Rohingya refugee camp in Teknaf on 17 June 2012. (Reuters)

If officials from Bangladesh’s NGO Affairs Bureau and Foreign Ministry were to have a meeting tomorrow about how to deal with the current crisis with the Rohingya, and set the criteria that they wanted to cause maximum damage to Bangladesh’s international reputation, cause maximum suffering for the Rohingya, break international law, cause Bangladeshi citizens to miss out on development opportunities, and be completely ineffective at developing a long term strategy dealing with the root cause of the problem, they wouldn’t have to change a single policy that Bangladesh is already following today.

What is surprising is that despite this policy failing for the past twenty years and beyond, rather than reassessing the policy and changing direction, Bangladesh’s response to the current crisis has been to adopt an even more extreme and hard-line version of its failed policies. Last week’s order to three international aid agencies, MSF, Action Against Hunger and Muslim Aid, to stop proving aid to Rohingya refugees, in the full knowledge of the suffering and possible deaths that such an order will cause, will not solve any of the problems Bangladesh faces with Rohingya refugees.

Rohingya people are not going to Bangladesh because they are drawn by the prospect of luxury refugee camps. Rohingya people flee to Bangladesh because for decades in Burma they have faced severe human rights abuses at the hands of one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world. And more people are fleeing now because the military-backed government, facing the prospect of having its political party wiped out by the National League for Democracy at the next elections, is playing the nationalist card in order to try to build support, and is targeting the Rohingya as an unpopular Muslim ethnic minority.

The root cause of Rohingya refugees arriving in Bangladesh is the persecution they face, and also the long-term refusal of the government to allow international agencies full and free access to assist the Rohingya. Preventing refugees in Bangladesh from receiving aid doesn’t address this problem. Devoting significant military police and security resources to trying to turn back refugees doesn’t solve this problem. What is needed is a political solution.

Bangladesh could win significant international plaudits and favours by allowing Rohingya refugees’ entry to Bangladesh, and negotiating a fully-fledged international aid operation, funded internationally, to assist those refugees. It could use the goodwill created by such a gesture to secure humanitarian and development funding for the whole border region, transforming the lives of local Bangladeshi citizens. There would be no significant cost to the government of Bangladesh, and there would be significant benefits for Bangladeshi people and the reputation of Bangladesh.

At the same time Bangladesh should begin a diplomatic initiative to tackle the root causes of the problem, which is Burma’s treatment of the Rohingya. It could mobilise support from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, which includes the governments of Indian and Sri-Lanka, both close to Burma’s military-backed government. The current high profile of the Rohingya issue gives Bangladesh the opportunity to enlist the support of not just western countries, but a much broader alliance in international forums such as the Human Rights Council and United Nations General Assembly, which can be used to apply pressure on the government of Burma to stop persecution of the Rohingya and reform the laws which render them stateless.

There is no quick fix or easy solution to the refugee crisis or the political problems at its root cause, which makes it all the more important that Bangladesh change policy now to try to find a more moral and humanitarian, and more effective strategy, to address this crisis. Bangladesh has so far followed a lose-lose policy on the Rohingya. It loses, the Rohingya lose. It’s time for a win-win policy.