The Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (Brouk) has appealed to world
leaders at the 67th UN General Assembly meeting in New York to put
pressure on President Thein Sein following his proposal to remove all
Rohingya people from Burma and place them in refugee camps or third
countries.
Rohingya refugee women stand by their homes
in Cox's Bazaar District, Bangladesh, on June 7, 2011. Conditions in
the makeshift refugee camp site are difficult. In addition to high rates
of malnutrition, residents deal with crowding and poor sanitation.
Photo: U.S.State DepartmentIt called on world bodies to ensure the
Burmese government provides human rights and security to Rohingyas
living in Burma.
After President Thein Sein's proposal, Brouk said it has received
reports that there have been mass arrests of Rohingya people who are now
kept in detention camps without trial, adequate food or medical services.
More than 100,000 people were internally displaced in Rakhine State, and
for a significant period the vast majority was not receiving assistance
because they were ethnic Rohingya, Brouk said in a statement issued on
Wednesday.
“Unacceptable restrictions still remain, and the government is also
failing to provide sufficient security for aid workers assisting
Rohingya who have been threatened,” it said. “Local authorities are
refusing to allow many Rohingya people back to some villages, shops and
homes in a policy that appears designed to ‘cleanse’ these areas of
Rohingya people.
“There are some reports of mass graves in Maungdaw and Buthidaung
Townships, Arakan State,” it said. “It is clear that what has taken
place is very serious indeed. The United Nations, Organisation of
Islamic Co-operation, and many individual governments, have all called
for an independent investigation into what has and continues to take
place.”
It said the Burmese government has allowed some diplomats to visit the
area, but these visits faced severe restrictions, and there have been
reports that Rohingya community leaders have been detained before hand
to prevent them from meeting diplomats.
“The government of Burma has established its own investigation, but
there are no Rohingya members of the investigation, and some members
have masterminded recent violence in Arakan and stated that they think
all Rohingya should be expelled from Burma,” said the statement.
“Following restrictions placed upon the OIC and other investigators, and
the failure of the government of Burma to establish a credible
independent investigation, it has become clear that for an independent
investigation to take place, it will have to be under the support of the
United Nations, and with a strong mandate from the United Nations
General Assembly,” said Brouk, which said it is “too early” to remove
sanctions against Burma.
“There are serious human rights violations going on in ethnic areas
which are worse than under the previous dictator Than Shwe,” it said.
“The world leaders must not ignore ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims
and other ethnic groups such as Kachin and Chin Christians. It is too
early to remove sanctions as Thein Sein's government is practicing
ethnic cleansing on ethnic areas.”
Brouk President Tun Khin said, “We appeal to world leaders to put
pressure on President Thein Sein to provide safety and security and to restore Rohingya ethnic rights and citizenship rights.
“We also appeal to world leaders to ensure strong wording in the UN
General Assembly Resolution on Burma, including reform of the 1982
Citizenship Law and the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry into what has taken place in Arakan State.”
