Rohingya students’ list collects in Maungdaw south

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The village administration officer of Aley Than Kyaw is collecting Rohingya students’ lists  within  Aley Than Kyaw village tract today, said a reliable source from Maungdaw south.
“U Maung Tha Naing – a Rakhine community-, the village administration officer of Aley Than Kyaw village tract called some Rohingya villagers including elders today at about 2:00 pm and held a meeting in the village.”
“In the meeting, the village admin told the villagers to give students’ lists, who had completed matriculation (Standard Ten), but, he didn’t express in detail and reason.”
During the meeting, an elder asked the village admin, “why and for what propose  needs students’ lists, but viallage admin  didn’t reply his question,” according to sources.
As a result, the students are frightened for fear of arrest by the village admin or   Burmese security forces, sources added.
Besides, today, a group of police from Maungdaw town went to the Sommona village – near the three mile Nasaka checked post – and called the village administration officer – Hafez Ahmed. The police officer asked to give the list of Rohingyas from his village who had burned down Rakhine village. But, the village admin refused to give list as there is no evident that his villagers had burned the Rakhine village, according to an elder from the village.
“However, police officer forcibly took signatures from village admin in some blank white papers.”
Similarly, Aung Kyaw Than, a police officer from Maungdaw police station, is using the so called arrest warrant list to Nyoung Chaung (Hadir bill) to extort money. The officer asked kyat 5 million for not arresting the villagers with so called arrest warrant list today, said a villager from Nyoung Chaung village.
According to different sources, if the security forces including Rakhine people harass the Rohingyas by daily basis in various means including arbitrary arrests and torturing . Where is the security of Rohingya community?, asked a Rohingya elder.

Rakhines round up Rohingyas’ village to attack in Akyab

Akyab, Arakan Stae: Hundreds of Rakhine mobs with lethal weapons went to the Rohingya villages – Hoshai  Para, Mowlake (Moulobi Para) and Aung Mingala (Handi Hola, Amla Para)  of Akyab-  the only ward, which  is existed in Akyab town  and tried to attack the villagers by  surrounding today at about 1:00pm , according to a villager from the locality.
Being informed, the army went to the spot, and foiled the Rakhine mobs from attacking the Rohingya village. Most of the Rakhines are holding long swords, knives, and catapults while the Rohingya villagers are armed less.  Villagers don’t know what the role of army is in coming hours. The villagers fear that the real attack will be occurred at night. The tense situation is existent. The attempt is taking place after the meeting of Rathedaung Town on September 25 to 26, the villager more added.
It is learnt that a Rakhine boy, named Aung Naing Oo (13), from urban, an ice-cream seller was missing and the Rakhine mobs alleged that the boy was arrested by Rohingyas and is keeping in the Rohingya village.  The Rakhine mobs asked the Rohingya villagers to hand over the boy to them; otherwise, they will attack the Rohingya villagers. It is created by Rakhines mobs to attack the Rohingyas village like the incident happened on June 3, at Akyab.  However, the missing boy was found by the concerned authority and informed to the mobs. As a result, the allegation was proved that it was false and fabricated. After that the army foiled the Rakhine mobs from attacking the Rohingya villagers, said an elder from the village.
“Why the Central government and State government let them to do such kinds of attacks in Akyab, Taung Gup, and Maungdaw and other Townships in Arakan State. They did not take any action against the culprits, Rakhine mobs, so they are encouraged to commit more crimes against the Rohingya community. It is a method of systematic ethnic cleansing and genocide against the Rohingya community, which had never been used in any country in the world in 21st century.”
Without, international protection, the Rohingya community will not survive in Arakan state as the Rakhines are able to attack to Rohingyas at any time they want. They have no obstacles because police, army, Nasaka and concerned authorities are their yes-men. On recently held meeting, at Rathedaung Township among the Rakhine leaders’ from17-townships, made a secret resolution for Rohingya community. The secret resolution is totally uprooted Rohingya community from Arakan soil , a youth from Rathedaung said.
Some exiled media also made news only asking from RNDP members and Rakhine community. So the information will not be balanced and fair. Media means to find out the real or exact information, said a Rohingya elder who always listen the Radio news program.

No security of life, Rakhine frequently attack Rohingya villages

Maungdaw, Arakan State: A group of the Rakine mob attacked with lethal weapons and took away a Rohingya youth, aged 20 from Mraung village nearby Kilaidaung east village of Maungdaw Town today, at about 1:00 pm. according to an elder from Maungdaw south.
“After the incident, the Rohingya villagers again chased the Rakhine mob and made free the said Rohingya youth.”
“Rakhine who are settler in village near by Rohingya villages, frequently harass Rohingya villages. The Rohingya villagers complained to the authority about the nmatter, but the authority didn’t take any action against the Rakhine villagers.”
“Meanwhile, a group of army arrived on the spot and controlled the situation.”
The Rohingyas and Rakhine women were ran away from Myoma Khayoungdan village market while a group of Burma border security force (Nasaka) arrived and took position at the market in evening. Seeing the situation,the Nasaka immediately control the situation and told the villagers stay as normal, according to a trader from market.
Similarly, a group of local Rakhine numbering around 200 were gathering with lethal weapons in front of the District Admins office of Maungdaw Town, today at about 2:00 pm and tried to attempt to start a strike against the Rohingya people after the meeting of  Rathedaung township held on September 25 and 26. This action is also connected with Sittwe events, said a youths from Maungdaw Town, according to an elder from village.
Being information, the police personnel of Maungdaw police station, came to the spot and tried to foil the gathering, so the Rakhine people were fleeing to avoid arrest of police, but they made hue and cry while they were running away. It made, the local Rohingya people that the Rakhine people were coming to attack Rohingya villages. As a result, Rohingya villagers who were in the market and on the road were also running to their homes to avoid the untoward situation.  This was spread to the town and the Rohingya people are disappointing.  Villagers fear that there will be untoward situation at night, said an elder.

Rohingya community facing more harassment in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Two army personnel accompanied by five Rakhine youths took away five cattle of Maulvi Hamid Hussain (42), son of Mohamed Sharif, hailed from Zawmatet Village of Maungdaw Township while the cattle were grazing in a field nearby army out-post, on September 26,  said a relative of the owner.
Being informed, the owner of the cattle (buffaloes) went to the army camp to choose his cattle. When he was reached at the camp, he was tortured by the army and took Kyat 450,000 and released his cattle.
Besides, a Rohingya youth named Mohamed (28), son of Ahmed Sha, hailed from Shwe Zaar village of Maungdaw Town was arrested by the Nasaka of Shwe Zaar Naska out-post camp while going to market and was released after taking money, on September 27, according to a relative of the victim.
In addition, on September 26, Boshi Ullah (22), son of Siddique, hailed from Tharay Kondan village of Maungdaw south was arrested by police when he was going to Maungdaw market to buy goods for his home. After arrest, he was detained in police custody with other 10 Rohingya youths, said a friend of the victim.

U.N. chief urges careful handling of Myanmar Rohingyas issue

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS | Sat Sep 29, 2012

(Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the world's largest Islamic body on Saturday to "treat carefully" the issue of the stateless Muslim Rohingyas in Myanmar because it could affect the reform process underway in the country, also known as Burma.

Over the past year, Myanmar has introduced the most sweeping reforms in the former British colony since a 1962 military coup. A semi-civilian government, stacked with former generals, has allowed elections, eased rules on protests and freed dissidents.

But an outbreak of violence in June between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and the Rohingyas killed 80 people and displaced thousands. At least 800,000 Rohingyas are not recognized as one of the country's many ethnic and religious groups.

Rights groups accused Myanmar security forces of killing, raping and arresting Rohingyas after the riots. Myanmar has said it exercised "maximum restraint" in quelling the riots.

Ban discussed the issue in separate meeting with Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and Myanmar President Thein Sein on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly of world leaders.

During his meeting with Ihsanoglu, Ban "indicated the importance of the situation in Rakhine being treated carefully because of the potential wider implications of the Rakhine issue on the overall reform process in Myanmar," his spokesman said.

An OIC committee set up to deal with the Rohingya issue met for the first time in New York this week and called for them to be given rights as citizens in Myanmar. Ihsanoglu said he wanted to visit Myanmar when the government was ready to "to remedy the fundamental rights issues of the Rohingya Muslims."

Myanmar's president is in a tight spot. Concessions towards the Rohingyas could prove unpopular among the general public, but perceived ill-treatment risks angering Western countries that have eased sanctions in response to human rights reforms.

Thein Sein said in June the government was only responsible for third-generation Rohingyas whose families had arrived before independence in 1948 and that it was impossible to accept those who had "illegally entered" Myanmar.

Ban and Thein Sein "discussed the recent outbreak of violence in Rakhine state and the immediate and long-term perspectives to promote inter-communal harmony and address the root causes of the tension there, including developmental efforts," Ban's spokesman said in a statement.

"The President confirmed the country would address the long-term ramifications of this question," the spokesman said.

Last week Aung Min, a minister in President Thein Sein's office and the government's top negotiator in peace talks with at least 10 ethnic minority rebel groups, said the government had set up an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the violence between the Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingyas.

The commission would look at how further violence could be prevented, which includes examining the status of the ethnic minorities, he said. It is due to report on due November 16.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Nowhere to Go

Nowhere to Go 

The Rohingya are a stateless people described by the UN as one of the world's most persecuted minorities.

They are reviled in Myanmar, the country many Rohingya call home, and unwelcome in neighbouring Bangladesh, where tens of thousands live in refugee camps.

And now they could be facing their worst crisis yet.

Violent ethnic clashes in Myanmar's Rakhine state have led to calls for their expulsion from the country. Boatloads of Rohingya refugees have been denied entry into Bangladesh. Those already there live on the fringes of society, undocumented and at risk of exploitation.

In late May, news broke of the brutal rape and murder of a Buddhist woman in Myanmar's Rakhine state. It was, by all accounts, a horrific crime.

What made it worse for some was that the alleged perpetrators were men from the Muslim Rohingya minority.

Five days later a crowd attacked a bus and killed nine Muslims in what appeared to be a retaliatory attack. The clashes erupted suddenly, and ferociously.

Rakhine state has since become the scene of more violence. Entire villages have been burnt down and people driven from their homes. Both sides accuse each other of atrocities and the Myanmar government has declared a state of emergency in the region.

Tens of thousands of Rohingya people now live in refugee camps, with their movements being restricted.In Myanmar they are not recognised as citizens and their access to opportunities are severely curtailed.

In the aftermath of the Rakhine riots, human rights observers fear they might become the target of more discrimination.

Myanmar does not want them. But neither does neighbouring Bangladesh, the country with the second-largest concentration of the Rohingya.

So where do the Rohingya really belong? 101 East looks at who should take responsibility 

for the community.

Breaking News : Rohingya Boys injuired in Min Bya Township by Rakhine Extremists

Breaking News ,29-9-2012, Min Bya. 

Three Rohingya boys of Thayet Aout (Nuwar Para) Village, Nargara Tract, Min Bya Township were seriously injured by the shooting of Rakhine terrorists in this morning. The boys were shot while they were watching their cattle in the pasture between paddy field and forest nearby the village. Their names are; 

1. Noor Alam son of U Siddique, 18-years 

2. Sayed Alam son of U Siddique, 16-years 

3. Ali Johar son of shabbier Ahmed, 14-years 

The terrorist group, including some Myanmargyi (Baruwa), total 15-members captured the boys systematically and shot them in cool blood. Villagers have informed to police and military to see the casualty and to help for admission to hospital, but they haven’t arrived till, 10:00 PM. 

The boys are in the very serious condition and their every body has already pinned with at least five arrows.

Aung San Suu Kyi misses an opportunity on Rohingyas

Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi tours the Nobel Peace center in Oslo on June 16, 2012. Suu Kyi on June 16 pledged to keep up her struggle for democracy as she finally delivered her Nobel Peace Prize speech, 21 years after winning the award while under house arrest. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images)Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi has been an international symbol of courage. So why isn't she speaking out for the nation's most persecuted minority?

One by one, the members of a large group of students approached a microphone to tell Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi that she had been an inspiration to them. “I’m very proud to say you have been our hope,” said a Pakistani student. “It is a great honor for me to hear my personal hero speak,” said another.

The forum at Harvard’s Kennedy School Thursday evening was little shy of a lovefest for the elegant and charismatic opposition leader from Myanmar (also known as Burma) who has charmed her way across the United States during a 17-day tour. Until someone mentioned the “R” word.

Thanking Suu Kyi for “being our inspiration,” a student from Thailand said: “You have been quite reluctant to speak up against the human rights violations in Rakhine State against the Rohingya … Can you explain why you have been so reluctant?”

The mood in the room suddenly shifted. Suu Kyi’s tone and expression changed. With an edge in her voice, she answered: “You must not forget that there have been human rights violations on both sides of the communal divide. It’s not a matter of condemning one community or the other. I condemn all human rights violations.”

The Rohingya are a group of about 800,000 Muslim ethnic Bengalis who live in western Myanmar’s Rakhine State, which borders Bangladesh. The government has denied them the most basic rights, including citizenship, for decades. They need permission to marry, travel and work. Last June, violence in Rakhine State left hundreds of Rohingyas dead, thousands of properties destroyed and about 100,000 people displaced, according to activists.

The United Nations calls the Rohingya one of the world’s most persecuted groups.

Given Suu Kyi’s reputation as an international symbol of courage, determination and respect for human rights, one would be forgiven for assuming that she would leap at the chance to defend a group of people so badly persecuted in her own homeland. But she didn't.

Her stance on the Rohingyas oscillates between silence and a cautious, neutral statement that “both sides,” meaning both Muslims and Buddhists in Rakhine, have faced persecution.

The plight of the Rohingyas has been so bad for so long that most political analysts and longtime Myanmar watchers assume that Suu Kyi, the champion of human rights, recognizes their struggle and just can’t be vocal about it. Now she's a politician, the thinking goes, her hands are tied.

Myanmar will hold general elections in 2015, and Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party hope to win enough seats in parliament to amend the country’s constitution. The NLD will need the support of the Myanmar people, who largely hold great antipathy toward the dark-skinned, poor Rohingyas they often call terrorists and infiltrators.

“Politically Aung San Suu Kyi has absolutely nothing to gain from opening her mouth on [the Rohingyas],” Burmese commentator Maung Zarni told Daily Beast columnist Peter Popham. “She is no longer a political dissident. She’s a politician, and her eyes are fixed on the prize, which is the 2015 majority Buddhist vote.”

The executive director of Amnesty International USA, which has documented abuses against the Rohingya and also hosted Suu Kyi during her US visit, said there is an “expectation of leadership” from Suu Kyi on the issue but gave a slightly more forgiving response to the Nobel laureate’s current stance.

“I don’t know that she has landed on a fully considered, long-term approach to the issue,” Suzanne Nossel said in an interview. “I think her comments reflect a measure of tentativeness. A sense that she is analyzing and trying to be very careful.”

“Clearly the issue is hotly politicized in Burma, and she is newly launched on the political scene and is trying to navigate carefully,” Nossel said.

Becoming a larger voice in Myanmar’s parliament is a laudable goal, and changing the constitution, which was passed during the junta-era by a sham vote, is crucial if the country wants true, lasting reform.

But Suu Kyi’s stance on the Rohingyas raises many questions.

Is her reluctance — or perhaps more accurately, refusal — to come out in support of the ethnic group worth the goal of taking a majority in Parliament?

Or is her sacrifice of principles a slap in the face to those who worked for her release from house arrest and election?

Can Suu Kyi continue to stand as a symbol of courage and humanity’s highest ideals, on par with Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, if she remains silent on such an important issue?

And finally, what is the point of Suu Kyi being released from house arrest, elected to parliament, adorned with accolades and awards and viewed as a global inspiration, if not to stand up for those who need her most?

Back at the Kennedy School, the student who mentioned the “R” word quickly retreated from the microphone and the Lady moved on to the next question.

But something in the air was lost.

Who will save the Rohingyas of Arakan, Burma? | Faroque Shah

Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a South East Asian country with a population of 60 millions. It has many ethnicities, races and religions – Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Animism. Today the country is known more for its ultra-racist policy towards Muslim Rohingya, Christian Chin and Karen minorities than anything else. It attained independence from the Great Britain on January 4, 1948. Its two neighbors then India and Pakistan attained their independence from Britain on August 15 and 14, 1947, respectively. Both those countries are nuclear power states with nuclear powers. 

Burma, on the other hand, since its independence has been engaged in long war with its minorities, such as Shan, Kachin, Karen, Mon, Chin and others, simply because its new leaders in the aftermath of assassination of General Aung San did not fulfill the promises made regarding the minorities rights at the Panglong Conference. Although, the Muslims minority Rohingya was left out in this historic conference, their interest was served by U Abdu Razzak, a teacher of General Aung San, who attended it. Aung San promised him that in the independent Burma, Muslims would have the same rights as Burmese Buddhists. 

Today the western state of Arakan (Rakhine) is part of Myanmar. But it was a separate independent country lived by two peoples – Rakhine Moghs and Muslims Rohingya - up till 1784. In 1404, nearly 600 years back, the Burmese King Minnyay Kyawzwa invaded Arakan. The Arakanese King Narameikh Hla (Mogh) fled Myohaung (Mrohaung), the capital city and escaped to Gauda (Gaur), the capital of Muslim Bengal in India. The Muslim ruler Sultan Giazuddin Azam Shah gave him shelter as an adopted son for 23 years. There he was trained in the Indian armies. Later the Muslim Sultan sends a force of 40,000 soldiers under the leadership of General Sindi Khan to restore his throne. They were able to dethrone the Burmese king. Upon ascension to the throne of Arakan, Narameikh Hla assumed the title of Min Suleman Shah. 

In 1784, when the kingdom was again annexed by the Burmese King Bowdaw Paya, under his directives all the old Muslims monuments and mosques (including the historic Sindi Khan Mosque) were destroyed. Even Rakhine's big statue of Maha Myatmuni was taken away to Mandalay, Amrapura by Arakanese slaves. Afraid of their lives, most Arakanese – Muslim Rohingyas and Magh Rakhines fled to Bengal or today’s Bangladesh (then part of British India) to escape persecutions from the new Burmese king. Even the Arakanese king Sanda Thadita, a Muslim, escaped Arakan with his forces and Ministers, to Bengal. This was a natural reaction to save their lives, as we can witness in our time with fleeing refugees from places like war-torn Iraq, Afganistan and Syria. 

Unfortunately, today the Burmese regime say that Muslims of Arakan have infiltrated from Bangladesh and that they are not citizens of Myanmar and thus, should be put either in camps and sent to the third countries. The UNHCR’s chief responded that his agency won’t take the Rohingyas as refugees as they are citizens of Myanmar. Similarly, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the Rohingyas are internally displaced people in their own country. 

The 1982 Citizenship Law of Burma, formulated by military dictator Ne Win, denies Muslim Rohingyas their citizenship rights, and deliberately violates several International Human Rights Laws. In his statement in the Parliament in July 2012, U Shwe Maung alias Abdu Razzak, a Muslim elected member of Parliament, declared that Muslims have historical back ground of 1000 years in Burma and if the present Bangladesh government could recognize the Moghs as citizens of Bangladesh who are settled in their country why the Myanmar government should deny the same right to Muslims of this country. He said, “I am astonished to hear often that the Bangalis have entered Arakan yesterday or after independence (1948) and in the British period (post-1826).” “If you study the history of Arakan and its people, you will find history of Rohingya in Arakan. At least, you have to recognize us as citizens of Myanmar,” he said. 

The recent violence that spread like wild fires in all parts of Arakan, including Sittwe, once again underscored the true picture of systemic racist policy of the Burmese regime where it uses Buddhist Moghs as instruments to kill and drive out the Rohingya Muslims from its own land. Rohingyas are subjected to systematic human rights violations, forced deportation, mass shooting and gang rape of Muslims women, and arbitrary arrest by the racist Burmese and Rakhine Buddhist Moghs. Under the pretext of preserving peace and security, the racist government used NASAKA and Lon Htain (Border Security and riot police forces consisting of all Moghs) where Muslim Rohingyas are locked inside houses like cattle and the Rakhine Moghs are allowed to move freely wherever they want. By so doing, they make a mockery of the curfew and show that such restrictive laws are not for Rakhine but for Rohingya only. 

Rohingyas are restricted from moving from village to village and marriages are banned under strict laws. In a RNDP (Rakhine National Democratic Party) statement, forwarded to Napyaytaw, it says, "these kalas’ (referring to the Rohingyas) childbirth is not only dangerous to Arakan state it is also dangerous for the entire country, Myanmar.” 

It is simply awful to see their hatred and bigotry against the Rohinya people and Islam. They burned most of the big and small Mosques in Sittwe. In the Muslim majority areas of Maungdaw and Buthidaung, they closed all mosques. At other places they destroyed many mosques. The authorities never prevent the culprits from doing such destructions of Muslim houses of worship. Wherever securities forces enter a village they first arrest young boys for no reasons and attempt to loot their homes and businesses, and shoot and assault women folks. Many of our women lost their lives in defense of their modesty. Many innocent young boys are reported to have died in prisons due to atrocities and tortures that they had suffered. 

Since 1962 some 19 joint operations were conducted to drive out the Rohingya Muslims, as a result of which nearly 1.5 million Rohingya were forced to leave the country. In 1942, during Japanese occupation, the joint Burmese and Rakhine forces massacred more than a hundred thousand Rohingyas in Kyaktaw, Myohoung, Kyataw, Rambraye and Paktaw where 350 villages were burned down. 

In this latest violence in Sittwe many Muslims were burned to death. It is therefore hilarious to hear President Thein Sein declaring lately that there was no case of racial violence, nor any religious and racial discrimination against the Rohingya, and that it was simply sectarian violence. He also does not want any international agency or human rights organizations to inquire and interfere in Myanmar’s internal problems. 

If these be the case, who will save these oppressed Rohingyas from this racist Budhist Moghs and Burmese culprits? As I write, there are fresh reports of attacks on Muslims in Kyauk Phyu, Kyaktaw and Rambree. Recently, President Thein Sein admitted that monks and Rakhine politicians were kindling hatred of Rohingyas. And reports are coming that Rakhine Buddhists are hoarding lethal weapons and long swords in the monasteries. They are also blocking the access of aid packages from the international relief organizations to reach the starving Rohingyas. Their slogan is “Rohingya NO", “Arakan is for Rakhine and not for Rohingya” and “drive or kill the Kala (Rohingya)”. 

Myanmar is a member of the ASEAN group. Is it too much to ask the ASEAN leaders to stop this massacre? How about the OIC? Can their leaders find some magic power to save the oppressed Rohinagyas? If not, who will save these Rohingyas from Buddhist extermination? 

Faroque Shah M. Yusoof is graduated on the History of Burma and from Rangoon University.

The Bitter Truth: Who’s sneaking into Arakan, Rakhine or Rohingya? Part (1)| M.S. Anwar

They have said much and lied a lot about Rohingyas of Arakan to portray them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Many stories have been created on Rakhines to depict them as natives. Recently, an ethnic cleansing against Rohingyas was triggered and is still going on. How and why has all that been systematically done? Who have been behind this? To what extent are they true? Let some bitter truths be exposed. 

Brief History of Rohingyas and Rakhines 

According to the available historical records and many historians, the earliest inhabitants of Arakan were a pro-Australoid people called Negritos from the Neolithic period. They were known as Rakkhasha (cannibals). They were dark-skinned people much like Africans and many Rohingyas of today. They did not look like Mongoloid Rakhines or Maghs of today who falsely claim to be of their descendants. The second earliest people of Arakan were Indo-Aryans (i.e. Indians) followed by Mro and Chakmas. Their settlements dated back to B.C. 3323. Most of the earliest Kingdoms in Arakan history were Indian Kingdoms namely Dhannyavadi Kingdoms and Vaishali (Vesali) Kingdom. These earliest Indians, that is to say the forefathers of Rohingyas, were the followers of Hinduism, Buddhism and Animism. With the advent of some Arabs as traders and Islamic propagators to Arakan in 788 AD, most of local Indians converted into Islam. It is very important to note that it was Islam that came to Arakan in 788 AD, not Muslims. Yet, the indigenous Indians who had converted into Islam known as Rohingyas today later came to mix with foreigners as their settlements continued throughout its historical periods. Usage of the term “Rohingya” in form of “Rooinga” can be found as early as 17th century. 

Another Arakanese community known as Rakhines today was the last significant people of single Mongoloid stock to arrive in Arakan with the Mongolian invasion in 957 AD. Later, a new civilization took place as they came to mix local Indians and formed into Indo-Mongoloid people, while many remained purely of Mongoloid origin. And they re-established Buddhism in Arakan but in the form of Theraveda this time. With the continual invasions by the kings of Tibeto-Burman people of Mongoloid stock from Upper and Lower Burma, the people of Arakan were gradually formed to be of more Mongoloid origin and Indian-Originated people consequently decreased or were outnumbered. Therefore, the later Kingdoms of Arakan such as in Lemro and Mrauk-U Periods were rather Indo-Mongoloid or Mongoloid Kingdoms than Indian Kingdoms. However, Muslims (of both Indigenous Indian Origins and foreigners settled in Arakan) played many at times as phenomenon Kingmakers and other very important roles during Mongoloid Arakanese Kingdoms. 

Migration is a Human Nature 

Despite being the sons of Indigenous Negritos and Indo-Aryans, today Rohingyas are being labeled as Bengalis and recent illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh. It is perhaps because they look similar to Bengalis in appearance. In fact, Rohingyas, Bengalis, Indians of today’s India and Pakistanis etc are generally referred as South-Asians or Indians. They are of single roots. Yet, Rohingyas are linguistically and culturally different from Bengalis. 

Though the migration of the people, during British colonial period and at the earlier periods, from the then India to Arakan and vice versa can’t be denied, it stopped after Burma gained Independence from British. Yet, a certain self-proclaimed Rakhine historian, Dr. Aye Chan who has screwed Arakan history up and turned it into myths, has been making too much noise on Cross Border Migration from 1824 to the time of Burma independence. He always only points out to the fact that there were some seasonal Bengali farmers and workers who used to come to and stay in Arakan for temporary basis. To him, Rakhines in both sides of the countries were too lazy to move out of their houses and to migrate to some places of better income. (It will really be dismal and illogical to allege that only Bengalis emigrated into Arakan, not Rakhines living in Bangladesh side for centuries. It is to everyone’s knowledge that there are more than one million Rakhines living in Bangladesh). And Migration is a nature of human beings! 

Ascendance of Gen. Ne Win to the Power and New Rakhine Settlements 

To Rohingyas’ misfortune, their most tragic history began with the ascendance of an evil dictator, Gen. Ne Win, to the power in 1962. He started systematic persecutions against Rohingyas both physically and mentally. In collaboration with Rakhine extremists of the time such as U Kyaw Aye, the chairman of MaSaLa (Burmese Way of Socialist) Party, Rakhine state, he began to wipe out Rohingyas’ (collective) historical monuments such as ancient Mosques, tombs, graves etc. He banned any Rohingyas’ traditional festivals, shows and any other celebration. As a result, many Rohingyas started to leave Arakan. And he brought in thousands of Bangladeshi Rakhines to replace those leaving Rohingyas. He confiscated Rohingyas’ lands and properties and gave away to the newly brought Rakhines. The following are the few examples of Bangladeshi Rakhines brought in by Ne Win, holding authoritarian power and higher occupations in the current Burmese Pseudo Civilian Government. 

1. Tuan Hla Sein S/o Than Phru, Secretary of the Ruling Party [Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP)] Maung Daw, originally from Zaadir Faar, Nilah, Bangladesh, settled in Arakan in 1975. 

2. Sara U Tha Khin, a former High School of Maung Daw and the current Southern Maung Daw Representative to the Parliament, originally from Zaadir Faar, Nilah, Bangladesh, settled in Arakan in 1950. 

3. Mra Aung, the current Representative to the State Parliament and Economic Minister of Rakhine State, originally from Rangamati, Bangladesh, settled in Arakan in 1955. 

4. U Tuan, the current chairman of the village Bagonna, sothern Maung Daw, originally from Barisal, Bangladesh, settled in Arakan in 1982. 

5. Allu Maung S/o Wan Maung, the former chairman of the village Bagonna, sothern Maung Daw, originally from Bangladesh, settled in Arakan in 1982. 

Besides, many Rakhine villages in southern Maung Daw such as Kanthaya, Baudi Gung etc were established in 1982 with Bangladeshi Rakhine settlers. Rohingyas’ lands were confiscated during the period and given away to these new settlers. All the Rakhine dwellers in these villages are solely Bangladeshi Rakhines. And Dr. Aye Maung, the chairman of Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) and one of the main culprits behind ongoing Rohingya genocides, was born in Bangladesh from Bangladeshi Rakhine parents who settled in Arakan in late 1950s. On top of that, Dr. Aye Chan was a son of Bangladeshi Barua called Kala Sand. These are the few examples some well-known recent Rakhine settlers in Arakan. There are thousands of Rakhines who settled in Arakan during British colony and afterwards, who multiplied into millions today. 

Mohammed Sheikh Anwar is an activist studying Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies at Westminster International College, Malaysia

BURMA TASK FORCE NEW YORK HELD PROTEST RALLY AGAINST PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN

Burrma Task Force USA, (BTF---www.burmamuslims.org) a national alliance of Muslim organizations of the US that includes Rohingya groups protested against the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya and against President Thein Sein's inaction in securing justice for the persecuted minority during his speech at the Asia Society on September 27, 2012

President Thein Sein seemed spooked and flustered when he found his entourage surrounded by the protesters chanting against the ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas when he stepped out of his car. He was quickly ushered away from the peaceful protesters by his security detail.

Rohingya Muslims of Burma have been subjected to repeated waves of ethnic cleansing during the last six decades. Hundreds of thousands of have been forced to flee the country. The recent wave of ethnic cleansing started this June that resulted in mass murder, mass rapes and mass displacement. A 1982 law has taken away the citizenship rights of Rohingya Muslims who have lived in Burma for centuries.

"The military junta has brainwashed generations of Burmese to hold the darker skinned Rohingya in contempt. It is the only genocide in the world where the twin evils of racism and religious bigotry are at work. We will continue our campaign against the government of Burma till it restores the citizenship rights of Rohingya, rehabilitate the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees, bring the perpetrators to justice and institute anti-racism curriculum in Burmese schools," said Habeeb Ahmed, a board member of BTF-New York.

The protesters were addressed by Rohingya leaders including Yosef Mohideen. Other leaders who spoke included Habeeb Ahmed, the human rights commissioner of Nassau County of New York, Mahtab Ahmed of Human Rights and Development for Bangladesh, Shah Jahan of Council of American Islamic Relations - New York and Dr. Shaik Ubaid, the convener of Burma Task Force New York.

In his speech Dr. Ubaid made the following demands:

1) To fully cooperate with the international community to immediately cease the arrest of Rohingya men. There have been hundreds of arbitrary arrests, and now Burmese/Rakhine court is involved in its issuing arrest warrants only against Rohingya victims and no arrests of Rakhine vigilantes have been made.

2) To give the international media and humanitarian organizations unconditional access to the Northern Arakan State to provide food and shelter to prevent starvation and disease outbreak during the current monsoon season.

3) To provide complete protection to the Rohingya residences from the Rakhine incendiaries and attacks

4) To move swiftly to start rebuilding all the properties that were burned down or destroyed

5) To dissolve the government's Commission of Inquiry that includes alleged Rakhine masterminds of the recent violence against Rohingya. No Rohingya is allowed in the commission.

6) To accept an independent Commission of Inquiry from the international community

7) To repeal the Military's 1982 citizenship law, and reconstitute a new citizenship law conforming to international standards.

We hope that you will take the above-mentioned steps in a timely fashion so that, Burma can reenter the communities of nation and take its deserved place.

Burma task Force has held rallies over the last week in multiple cities across the US and Canada on the occasion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's visit showing solidarity with her struggle and asking her to speak up on the persecution of the Rohingya community. More rallies are planned in the coming days including in Boston, Detroit, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Breaking News: New Bids to Recreate Violence against Rohingyas Failed

URGENT – BREAKING NEWS 

Friday, 28^th September 2012

Sittwe, Arakan- This afternoon, around 200 Rakhine extremists surrounded Aung Mingalar Quarter trying to attack Rohingyas in the area and torch their houses as if making them (Rohingyas) die with starvation by cutting their ways of access to foods and medicines and pressuring them to leave their houses are not enough and satisfactory( for Rakhine Extremists). There were no security forces in placed to protect Rohingyas’ lives.

“There were around 3000 Rakhines together with extremist Rakhine Monks with Lethal weapons gathered and surrounded Rohingyas’ areas for hours in an attempt to recreate violence against the already crippled Rohingya community in Sittwe. They demanded all Rohingyas to come out of their houses; otherwise they would kill each and every Rohingya in the area. They have been plotting to kill remaining Rohingyas for a few days.

Some of villages surrounded by the Rakhine extremists with their Monks are:

1)         Hoshai Para

2)         Mowlake (Moulvi Para)

3)         Aung Mingalar (Handi Hola, Amla Para)

Rakhine Extremist Mobs started gathering this afternoon at Uttama Park.  Despite presence of authority in the area, Rakhine Mob could proceed with hand-made guns and knives etc and surround the remaining Rohingya areas in the town of Sittwe. Fortunately for Rohingyas this time, Military took action rather quickly to prevent the attacks of Rakhine extremists. Military in the area declared “we have got the shooting order and will shoot at anyone no matter which party start the violence” said Maung Oo from Sittwe. Therefore, Rakhines could not proceed and their plot to kill Rohingyas in Sittwe failed according to the latest report. However, Rakhine extremists did smash some military trucks.

“Later, when asked by the authority why they wanted to create the violence again, the Monks vehemently replied “we wanted to kill them because a 14-year-old Rakhine boy was missing and he was killed by those Bengali Kulars.” Yet, when authority investigated about the boy, he was found sleeping in his house” reported by a local of Aung Mingalar Quarter on the condition of anonymity.

Maung Daw, Arakan- This morning, a Rohingya from Bomu Para was severely Rakhine hooligans without any reason.

“This afternoon in Maung Daw, too, Rakhine Extremists were entering Rohingyas areas in the downtown region such as Quarter 3, Quarter 4, Quarter 5 and Dil Para with Knives, hand-made guns and other guns provided by the authority. Besides, some Rakhine hooligans were seen roaming around Quarter 2 in Maung Daw. Rakhines along with NaSaKa were shouting slogans against Rohingyas in Maung Daw. In Maung Daw as well, the military took similar action as they did in Sittwe. But it was very difficult for the military to control the situation. So far, no burning or dead casualties are recorded yet” reported A. Faiz from Maung Daw.

The new attempt to commit genocide against Rohingyas is the direct result of the recent conference held by Rakhine extremists in Rathedaung. It is also an attempt by Rakhine extremists to kill Rohingyas as many as possible in the time they have because as they are losing the debate going on in Nay Pyi Daw regarding the history of Arakan. It is also because they can’t fool people any longer with their made-up stories of Arakan.

I suspect whether it is another attempt by Rakhine extremists to extend the period of Martial Law declared in the region similar to what they did last time by targeting Rohingyas in Kyauk Taw township! 

Compiled by M.S. Anwar