Tuesday 17 September 2013

Myanmar is inhumanly behaving towards the Rohingya Muslims

by Mohamed Ibrahim, Frankfurt

I do not agree with the views of international media and their various news articles, for the last few months, on the conflicts between Rakhine Buddhists and minority Rohingya Muslims. It is true that Rohingyas are majority in Maungdaw and Buthidaung while they are not more than 10% in Mrauk Oo , Minbya, Kyauk Phyu, Myae Bon and Pauk Taw. As such the claim by certain media groups that the Rohingyas that has been oppressed for many decades could attack the overwhelming majority Rakhines who have full support of state apparatus, is totally absurd and is very unfortunate for the suffering Rohingyas. One should ask himself and use commonsense before publishing such destructive news articles.
More than 5000  Rakhine extremist & Buddhists Monk killed more than 300 Rohingyas in Mrauk Oo,Minbya and Kyauk Phyu.
Many Rohingya Organizations around the world are demanding UN intervention to provide UN security forces because they are helpless and do not possess any mean to defend themselves from this well-coordinated plan of genocide launched against them. But the Bhuddist Rakhine and Myanmar government do not agree to any international intervention. They will not even allow international humanitarian organizations because they are afraid of the face of real culprits will be exposed to the worlds society. This clearly shows who is under attack and who are attacking. Buddhist monks in Myanmar declared the sympathizers of Rohingyas would be considered as “national traitors,” according to a report by a humanitarian group.
Can someone imagine how Buddhist monks are supporting the plan of exterminating whole Rohingya ethnic community from Arakan?  If national security forces do not support Rakhine Community how is it possible for them to do so? Surprisingly,  there is no  single picture or video which shows Rakhine Buddhist died or their temple was burned while there are thousands of videos and pictures to substantiate their claims of Rohingyas that they have been raped, killed, looted and houses, properties and mosques are being burned down by Rakhine Extremist.
The president has been very clear that the Arakan issue should not be seen as a religious matter but if anyone is trying to establish it as a religious issue it’s definitely the monks,” if he does not addresses the issue as religious why he allows all Myanmar Monks to demonstrate against the Islam. There is no doubt that Thein Sein government has involved complicity in this heinous crime against Rohingyas as he is the one only president of a country in this modern days who openly called for the segregation of two communities that have lived side by side for centuries. The RNDP and the president Thein Sein are the most active players of this crime of ethnic cleansing. International community must raise their voices against them without further delay. Otherwise the world will witness the worst genocide of the history in Asia.
In an attempt to calm the situation, Myanmar President Thein Sein announced for a state of emergency in several areas and said the confrontations have nothing to do with religious differences but he fully involves in cleansing the Rohingyas and he is still going forward on with his plan that Rohingyas should be kept in refugee camp until resettlement to a third country. It seems that this is a master plan to cleanse Rohingya Arakan, eventually from the whole country.
Few days ago, riot ensued in Bangladesh. It was also pre-planned conspiracy jointly launched by Bangladesh and Myanmar governments. Prime minister of Bangladesh promised that her government would give compensation to the lost properties in the Bangladesh during the riot while Myanmar Government embarked on mass arbitrary arrest of Rohingyas.
A media reported as: ‘Last week  clashes once again highlight the plight of the Rohingya as a minority that has been discriminated against for a very long time. The systematic persecution of this group has been ell organized and its brutality has reached all facets of life. This group had been targeted decades ago with a systematic policy of elimination”.
It must be stopped. Sending extra troops and fortifying security in the Rakhine region is not enough to stop the violence. Without addressing the root cause of the current situation, the problem will continue and so will be the bloodshed’.
Rakhine extremist & Buddhists Monk are burned Rohingya Muslims houses and killed their women and children’s.
There was an agreement between Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Myanmar government to open liaison offices in Myanmar to provide the humanitarian aids for the victims of violence regardless of race and religion but the monks and Buddhists backed by the government protested against the OIC for opening the office in Myanmar. The Buddhists from Rakhine state are blocking the aids for the Rohingya since the Turkish government delegation visited the Refugee camps.
As the situation becomes worse day by day, we would like to request UN, USA, EU, and OIC to advocate for the most oppressed Rohingyas of Myanmar. The world community should give pressure on the Myanmar government to stop the ongoing violence against Rohingya immediately, and restore their citizenship and ethnic rights, and to urgently send an UN enquiry team for the crime against humanity to Arakan State.
I would like to appeal international Community for immediate humanitarian assistance for the displaced Rohingyas who urgently need humanitarian aids, medical supplies and other basic necessities.

Unknown armed group commits robbery in Maungdaw north

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  Unknown armed group in full uniforms and with arms committed robbery against two Rohingya families from Kuyur Kali village under Bawli Bazar ( Kyrin Chaung) police station, Maungdaw north on September 8, at 1:30am midnight,  according to a local leader who denied to be named for security reason. The source told the Kaladanpress that group of 14 armed men forcibly entered the houses after breaking the doors of Shuna Meah(50), son of Abdul Gaffar and Lalu(55), son of Ali Akbar from Kuyur Kali village.

After entering the house, all the family members were confined in a room and were beaten up severely and the armed group robbed all the money and gold ornaments from said two houses. They robbed Kyat worth 30 million, said a close relative of the victims.
“After completing robbery, they fired into air automatically for threatening the villagers who were approaching to the spot hearing the hue and cry of the victims and the robbers disappeared from the scene. Their guns are automatic rifles and speak in fluent Burmese,” according to a village leader who denied to be named.
After hearing the sounds of firing, a group of police from nearby police camp, about 600 kilometer away from the village and asked the villagers about the robbery and went to riverside accompanied by some villagers to search robbers but robbers went to nearby forest. Every night, army patrols in the village, but yesterday night, army did not patrolled in the village, Anwer (not real name), a schoolteacher said from the locality.
“From where robbers get army uniforms, and how did they dare to commit robbery?, if there is no co-operation with local security force.” said  Mahamud, a local businessman.
In similar way, on September 4, in Seail Khali (Kyauk Chaung) village under area No.4 of Maungdaw north, a villager named  Baser (52), son of Amir Hamza was robbed by a group of armed people including some Sakma (Dinet people) from Sombala village. They took away Kyat worth 20 million (cash and gold ornaments) from the house owner.
“It is a new tactic to give trouble to the Rohingya community to flee from their native soil, Arakan state,” said a youth from Maungdaw town preferring not to be named.
Regarding the matter, the victims went to a nearby police camp and appraised the event, and the police officer said that investigate is going on and  will  inform it anything happen about robbery.
People inside and outside of Burma think that, after dissolving the Nasaka, there will be less human rights violations against the Rohingya community, but, in reality, harassment  is increasing day by day, according to villagers inside Arakan (Rakhine) state.

Rohingya are Sons of the Soil of Arakan

by AFK Jilani

Rohingyas are sons of the soil of Arakan. Before the Mongolean invasion in 10th century, Arakan was ruled by Chandra dynasty; both the rulers and the subjects were Indians similar to today’s Rohingyas.”The fact that in the light of racial and linguistic affinity with Wethali people, Rohingyas of Arakan today are to be designated as the descendants of those early Indo-aryan people of Arakan.[Abu Anin, Yangon 2002]

According to U Tiger Yawngwe,” There has Muslims settled in North Arakan for centuries for both my father and Prime Minister U Nu to agree. His father was Sao Shwe Thaike, first President of the Union of Burma. He was asked in the then Constituent Assembly about the Muslims of Arakan, he replied, “If the Arakan Muslims are not indigenous to the country, neither am I” we have all come from somewhere else, albeit longtime ago. Former Prime Minister U Nu said very much the same thing.
U Ba Swe, former Prime Minister, defense Minister and the leader of the opposition supported the Rohingyas. The Tatmadaw (army) also supported Rohingyas development in the Mayu Frontier Division. The Rakhine never opposed it. Even a Rakhine by the name of Major [retd] Htun Kyaw Oo wrote three books on Rohingyas. The government of the Union of Burma, the Opposition and the people of Burma supported the Rohingyas.
In 2012 all of a sudden all were changed to protest Rohingyas, branding them as illegal Bengali immigrants from Bangladesh. During Gen. Ne Win era, he had cultured hatred toward Rohingya with the cooperation of Rakhines, such as— U Hla Htun Pru, Bomhu Tha Gyaw, Dr Aye Kyaw etc.
In1959 Rohingyas from 34 villages had been driven out from Arakan by Col. Tin Oo and Bo Htin Gyaw with the order of Bo Ne Win, which angered President Ayub Khan of Pakistan and when he roared Ne Win accepted them back.
Again in 1978 Ne Win had driven out 300,000 Rohingyas with the operation of Naga Min (Red Dragon). With the international community’s pressures U Ne Win took back all the refugees with Hintha Project. It was rather diplomatic success of the then foreign secretary H. E. Tabarak Hussein.
Then U Ne Win drew the 1982 citizenship Act with the cooperation of Rakhine Dr. Aye Kyaw.
In 1988 Bohmu Tha Kyaw (Rakhine),the president of National Unity Party (NUP), proposed eleven point to the government to cleanse Rohingya minority from Arakan as follows:
1. To brand Rohingya as insurgents and not to issue them citizenship cards.
2. To make marriage restriction.
3. Buddhists settlement in Rohingya areas.
4. To make movement restriction.
5. To prevent higher education.
6. No government services for Rohingyas.
7. To confiscate their lands, shops and buildings slowly, and distribute it to Rakhines.
8. To stop mosques building, renovation, repairing and roofing.
9. Try secretly to convert to Buddhist.
10. In cases at the law courts verdict should be in favor of Rakine, if the case is between Rohingyas and Rakhines and the verdict shall be in favor of rich so that the poor would leave with frustration.
11. To kill them slowly and secretly, this is not unknown to the world community.
Since then the Buddhist government of Burma is implementing the proposals of Col. Tha Kyaw as the proposals were passed very secretly.
Strongly replying to Burmese Deputy Home Minister Khin Ye’s stand on the origin of the Rohingyas, Dipu Moni asserted that Rohingyas were one of the many races that make up Myanmar’s total population. She reminded that the Rohingyas have been in Myanmar for centuries and many of them have even hold high posts in the Burmese government. She said Rohingyas who are predominantly Muslims are living in northern Arakan State in western Burma, had national radio programs in their language in Burma.
“Just by excluding from any list will not make them anything other than an ethnic entity of Myanmar,” said the foreign minister of Bangladesh at the meeting of Bali Process in 2011. She stressed the need for a multilateral approach by the countries of the region to solve the Rohingya problem.
Previous repatriation of quite a few hundred thousand  Rohingyas and acceptance of list of further 28,000 Rohingyas proved that they were very much part of the population of Myanmar, she said. Though she was very active for Rohingya cause now it seems she received no green signal from the government. If they stand strong they could save many lives and properties of human beings. If they remained mum the entire Muslim population of Arakan will be vanished from the surface of Arakan.

Monday 29 July 2013

Burmese frigate in Naaf River, at Maungdaw

Teknaf, Arakan State: Burmese Navy warship 554 and other two deployed in Naaf River along Bangladesh-Burma border, at Maungdow Town, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) sources said.

Burmese warship 554 stationed at PoungZarr (Ashika para) , Maungdaw

Three Burmese naval force frigate installed in the Naaf River along the Bangladesh-Burma border will be there for nearly one month. It is there to oversee a smooth to move of Nasaka, the previous Burma border security force (Nasaka), with ‘Armed battalion police’ (ABP), BGB sources claimed.
Lt. Colonel Jahid Hassan, Commanding Officer of 42- BGB Battalion Teknaf had protested the deployment, but later learnt that Burma authority had already sent message to Chittagong about the frigate, the Commander said
“However, Bangladesh navy and Coast Guard patrolling around the Saint Martin’s Island and  border areas and also BGB stationed in Teknaf are monitoring the situation,” Colonel Jahid said.
Officials of Border Guard Bangladesh however denied any tension on the border leading to the deployment of the Burmese navy warship 554.
“The warships were sent for border protection duties for an interim period before a new force is deployed on the border.”
The ship  554 was now at Poung Zarr (Ashika para),and other two ships were at Alay than Kyaw and Kyauk pundhu ( Sitar Pawrika) since July 13.
“In Burma, Armed battalion police has already taken charges as successor to Nasaka (Burma border security force).”
“The force is under the Command of one Colonel, stationed at former Nasaka headquartered, Kawar Bill village of Maungdaw north.”
Former Nasaka force carried out their duty along the Burma-Bangladesh border since1993 and earned bad names of ---kidnapping, torturing and killing--- Bangladeshi fishermen, BGB sources.
Burma made the re-deployment of the new border security force along its frontiers on July 15. The new troops are deployed as the President of Burma abolished Nasaka forces on July 12, through a state order.

Rohingya’s fate behind the facade

U Kyaw Min

So purported high birth rate and infiltration of Bengalis into Myanmar's Rakhine State are popular topics among the Rohingyas's adversaries. These are not correct assessment, but illusion. There, in Myanmar side, police, military, paramilitary (Hlun Htinn), immigration and NaSaKa (border immigration special task force) are heavily stationed. NaSaKa forces have tight grasp on the population (Rohingya) of north Arakan. They have been on patrolling duty in every village day and night for the last twenty years. Again there are six monthly checking of family members and house hold animals. Legal and administrative actions are taken for any discrepancy on records. Guests cannot stay for the night without reporting to the local authority. Further there are double fences of barbed wire along the whole border. In this situation, how can a Bengali enter into Myanmar? For a native Rohingya who for some unavoidable reasons crossed the border into Bangladesh the chance to come back is nil. Once he comes back he is subjected to extortion and long term jail. It is quite unthinkable for a foreigner to come into Arakan illegally. This accuse of illegal immigration is sheer a pretext to suppress this Rohingya people.

Finally immigration Minister U Khin Yi explained during the second session of first parliament that people from Myanmar would go to Bangladesh to earn a living. He pointed out another fact there are 7000, Black list babies in Maung Daw Township alone. Who are these babies? Their fathers are out of the country at the time of their birth and then they remained unregistered. Their fathers cannot come back to their own home where they can face long term jail and extortion. In such a harsh situation how foreigners can can illegally enter into Rakhine?
It is a wonder some Myanmar popular politicians compare Bangla-Myanmar border with Mexico–American border. Let us first consider the point that Arakan is the poorest state in one of the poorest countries in the world. Bangladesh GDP is higher than Myanmar. Here no job opportunity for fresh Bengalis. Rakhine state economy is in the hand of Rakhine people. Do they welcome the illegal immigrants? Again amidst the heavy security installation how can the Bangla-Myanmar border be a porous border as some democracy icons try to say?
Real fact is there is no immigration but emigration. To come in is very difficult but to go out is highly encouraged under depopulation policy. Thus more than one million Rohingyas are living as Diaspora in foreign countries. This people are similar to none in the world. They preserved their own identity everywhere. They are a distinct community where ever they live. Experts of anthropology and sociology can easily distinguish them as a peculiar community. Alleging them to be Bengali is a bias branding, out of sheer whim and envy.
People want to put Rohingya at the mercy of Rakhine. They keep more concern to Rakhine's feeling and aspiration which is to kick out all Rohingyas out of Rakhine. Is it a correct concept? Government has an obligation to protect its citizens disregard of race and religion. Government should not encourage one race to suppress another. Polarizing and disparaging the Rohingyas are obvious. Media have been casting doubt on their ethnicity regularly – in some cases – explicitly calling for "ethnic cleansing". Apartheid like campaign is ongoing. Two child policy on Rohingya is very heartening to the adversaries. One is highly condemned when his or her comment on this is not infavour of this forced two child policy.
What happening in Rakhine state is not a communal riot. Just one sided looting, arsoning, killing and burning down. A privileged community enjoying the favour of central government is determined to kick out all Rohingyas from Arakan, and is crying aloud for it. Their plan to drive out all Rohingyas from downtown areas is successful as the Rohingyas are put in camps in the extreme edge of the towns. Any understanding or reconciliation with this chauvinistic group is unprobable without fair and active involvement of the central government. This group’s slogan is “no buying, no selling, no social contact and no friendship with Rohingya”. One of their Pyithu Hluttaw member, U Maung Nyo from Sittwe constituency on 22nd February 2013 motioned a question in parliament where he branded the Rohingyas as foreign illegal Bengalis who are a danger for national ethnic Rakhine. But British records said Sittwe was exclusively a Muslim enclave when British first occupied it. Such hate based discriminatory rhetoric in parliament is very contagious; it can breed hatred and unfair consequences. To some of our own nationals, we should not call "dangerous element from foreign country. i.e. a Taing Tabatha – Lumyo Cha Bengali" whatever the leveling and branding, this Bengalis are there, for many many centuries according to authentic historical records.
We are talking of rule of law. But how can it be achieved? There should be some practical steps based on fair treatment of all citizens. We should stop race based, class based, polarity based rhetoric either in parliament or outside. Then we can establish harmonious stable society. So called Bengalis in Rakhine are not immigrants but – historic native settlers. Unless we can recognize it, there cannot be stability. Those with superiority conscience will try to assault on those who are labeled as foreigners. State policy on social, economic, political sphere should be pragmatically based on equality of all citizens. So called Bengali demography in Rakhine state in the west have some differences with the demography of border people in the east which we must understand. We cannot judge the two with the same prism. Arakan and Bengal had been under the same rules for many many centuries. So there had been some socio-political connectivity between the two. There are millions of Rakhine or Rakhine affiliated peoples in Bengal whereas the same is true in case of Bengalis in Arakan. Historically millions of Bengali affiliated peoples have settled in Rakhine state whose presence was highly welcomed by Rakhine kings. This group of people whom we called today Rohingya was the protectors of Rakhine Kingdom.
Recently our president and the immigration minister said their scrutiny proved that there were no illegally entered Bengalis. So what is the credibility of presently ongoing checking or inquiry in north Arakan in the name of finding out illegal entrants. Why everyone is required to give finger prints and photographs? Is everyone in north Arakan foreigner? People are forced, beaten and rounded up for their finger prints on computer scan. All these things made people worrisome and harassed. Sporadic arrest and torturing have been on continuation since last year.
In British and parliamentary periods all citizens so called indigenous or otherwise were equal. Their ID cards were the same. Citizens were not classified as ethnic and non-ethnic. There were no polarization and apartheid like discrimination. So we never heard of communal instability and violence in post independence period.
When marginalization, dehumanization, classification, discrimination and polarization, and Jim Crow laws and directions were introduced at a time, gradually instability grew up. Finally we saw the ethnic cleansing like violence and terrorism in Arakan which the world practically witnessed last year. HRW report early this year is a clear witness of this horrendous ethnic cleaning.
Local media have aired false propaganda and spread bias racist news which have worsen the situation. Rakhine people are so encouraged and emboldened that they cry for deportation and segregation of Rohingya. Government has to exercise every unjust and unfair policy to please the Rakhine. It is one year now, more than one hundred thousand displaced persons are not yet rehabilitated only because it is presumably the main cause of the violence to deprive this Rohingyas of their properties specially in the down towns.
In case of Rakhine brutality and terrified attack on Rohingya, the security apparatus remained silent, in some cases they were accomplices, but when Rohingya resisted forced evacuation from their original homesteads the security forces shot at the villagers on 4th June in Yinthae village, Mrauk-U. Four women died on the spot and many were injured. Here we can imagine the partiality and double standard of actions from the side of the security forces. Rohingyas are being subjected to extortion, arbitrary arrest and imprisonment under various false cases.
Myanmar formerly was Burma. It is their right to choose whatever name they like. Is it just that Rohingyas are denied that right of choice? Why are they forced to give fingerprints on computer scan, to use it for multiple purposes, including making them Bengali? Democracy icons should not stay silent on this Rohingya crisis. They should high light what is fair and true from historical and legal perspective. Their comment should not be biased. On the other side silence means agreeing to what is happening in the conflict area of Arakan.
The truth is Aung San-Atlee agreement on 27 January 1947 had clear provisions for Rohingya’s full citizenship. Myanmar constitution of 1947 section 11 and 1948 citizenship law section 4 (a,b) had fully guaranteed full citizenship to Rohingyas, which was honored by post independence parliamentary government. This 1948 citizenship law also affirmed full citizenship can never be revoked. Here the root cause of Rohingya crisis is the 1982 new citizenship law which is arbitrary and retrospective to strip of Rohingya's citizenship. This new law is said to be a good one even by some opposition groups. This reflects in Myanmar, democracy means dictatorship of majority. Minority life is not secure. How can a law under dictatorship, deliberately enacted to suppress an intended community be a fair one in a democratic society we have been struggling to establish.
Some try to compare Rohingya with Myanmar workers in Thailand. In Arakan, Rohingyas are not fresh job seekers from Bangladesh. They are there from the beginning of history, records of which are authentic and ample.
To mention a few; a report on British census of 1872 says;
There is one more race which has been so long in the country that it may be called indigenous and that is the Arakanese Mussalman. They are descendants, partly of voluntary immigrants at different periods from the neighboring province of Chittagong, and partly of captives carried off in the wars between the Burmese (Here Rakhine is taken as Burmese) and their neighbor. There are some 64,000 of them in Arakan, differing from the Arakanese but little, except in their religion and social customs which their religion directs.
Again James Baxter head of the 1941 inquiry commission on Indian immigration writes:
There was an Arakanese Muslim Community settled so long in Akyab (Sittwe) district that it had for all intents and purposes to be regarded as an indigenous race. There are also a few Mohamadan, "Kamans" in Arakan. (Report by Baxter 1941, Gov: print Burma, Rangoon)
The First British administrator of Arakan Charles Paton took a population census in 1826. There the Muslim population was one third of the total. Today the Muslim (or) Rohingya population is one third of total population too. Hence the notion that Rohingya population is terribly increasing due to illegal immigrants, does not seem logical and practical. Present Rohingyas are Myanmar (Rakhine) indigenous. Here the view that indigenous Rakhine people deserve more privileges than the Bengalis, who are not indigenous, is a negative one. These view holders say indigenous right is more important than Human Rights. Is it democracy?

Francis Buchanan a British diplomat in 1790s in Ava, in his article, "Comparative vocabularies of some of the languages spoken in the Burma Empire" write:
"I shall now add three dialects, spoken in the Burma Empire, but evidently derived from the language of Hindu nation.
The first is that spoken by the Mohammedans who have been long settled in Arakan who call themselves Rooinga or natives of Arakan." (See: Asiatic Researches, vol.5, 1799)
From above original and authentic records we can see Muslims or Rohingyas in Arakan are not illegal immigrants from Bangladesh as it is intensely highlighted in Myanmar media, but are there for many centuries. Their root can be traced from time immemorial. Rohingya is an antiquity in Arakan. Since Rohingya issue become stalemate, third party should decide it. To clear Rohingya's ethnicity an independent inquiry commission is an urgent need of time.
Inquiries after inquiry, checking after checking of population have been carried out since Burmese independence. The sole objective of this was to expel out the non Myanmar non Buddhist population. In course of time hundreds of thousands of Muslims had been driven into Pakistan then. The last inquiry was Dragon operation in 1978 which drove away nearly three hundred thousand Rohingyas (or) Muslims, Most of whom were later repatriated and rehabilitated in their original places. All this discriminatory state mechanism to harass the Rohingya did not bring any good result. Rohingyas are still there, though highly marginalized and impoverished.
So my request here to all concerned is to abandon the discriminatory racial policy. Untold injustice done on this vulnerable community will take volumes to narrate. Jim Crow laws and instructions have been introduced since some decades ago. Consequently, Rohingya became literally lifeless and miserably vulnerable. Enough is enough. We expected justice in ongoing democracy transformation period. But we find adverse of what we expected. Let us reverse our mindset and have a better harmonious, prosperous society based on justice and equality. I hope all economic, social, political restrictions presently imposed on Rohingya would be withdrawn so as they have an access to normal livelihood. Disgust, hatred and discrimination based on religion is not a democratize norm. In Myanmar, Buddhist Rohingya-Bruwa (a.k.a) Myanmargyi- is enjoying full indigenous rights despite their similarity with Muslim Rohingya in complexions, language and culture. It in because they are Buddhist.
Lastly I implore international community to consider the refugee issue more seriously where as to raise the question why are this people abandoning their native land? What wrong is happening there? Let us seriously engage in dialogue to restore this people their right. Let there be peace, stability, rule of law and security for this people in their own province of Rakhine state. The critical question is from which quarter this dialogue will start? Who will initiate it first? Rohingyas are waiting to see this initiative.

Police become goon in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The police personnel from Maungdaw are behaving as goon in Maungdaw since the police force was replacing for Burma border security force (Nasaka), said a village admin officer from Maungdaw.

“Police personnel - stationed in front of Myoma monastery (old Muslim religious center –Marcus) - beat rickshaw pullers who passed them with any reason on July 24.”
The rickshaw pullers complained to concern community leaders and village admin officer and organized to make counter attacked the police personnel, but the community leader said they will handle the problem, said an elder from Myoma Khayoundan village.
“Rohingya community leaders and village admin official complained to the army security post in high school and the army officer called district police officer where the army officer asked to pull out the police personnel from Myoma monastery.”
Most the rickshaw pullers are Rohingya community in Maungdaw and all the security force behave them not a human being whenever they wish they beat them, not paying the fare of rickshaw riding charge, said a student from Maungdaw.
Similarly, the police personnel from Kalizabanga village outpost extort 300,000 kyat from Younous – a Rohingya from Habib village for receiving gust in his house on July 25 night, but he tried to register at village admin office where the office was not willing to receive the registration of gust as the new village admin had just received the appointment letter from concerned authority, said an elder from the village.
Besides, Zaw Zaw and another one police personnel extort 50,000 kyat from Rawmis Ahmed of Chein Kharli village for using betel nut cutter where he used to sell  quid of betel  on July 23, said a shopkeeper from said village.

Hluntin extorts Kyat 50,000 from villager in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  Hluntin (riot police) extorted Kyat 50,000 from a Rohingya villager on July 23, over the allegation from that he had married without permission from the concerned authority, according to a police aide who denied to be named.

“The victim is identified as Nurul Amin (33), son of Abu Mosa, hailed from Ngakura, Maungdaw north.”
The victim was arrested by Hluntin in the morning from his house and brought to the camp and detained there. However, in the evening, he was released after taking Kyat 50,000 from him.
After dissolving the Burma border security force (Nasaka) recently, most of the people believe that there will be less harassment against the Rohingya community. But policemen and Para police (Hluntin) are arbitrary arresting and harassing the Rohingya people as Nasaka did before, said a local villager on condition of anonymity.
Former Nasaka be made of--- army, police, immigration, custom, Hluntin and Sarapa (Military Intelligence). After dissolving the Nasaka, Immigration, custom and Sarapa are not seen in the camp, but police, Hluntin and army are present in the camp,  and also some of  new recruits of Hluntins are present in the camp, said a Nasaka aide from north of Maungdaw.
“Some people believe that harassment will be decreased after the central government dissolved the Burma border security force (Nasaka), but the harassment will be increased in future because “old bottle new wine. There will be no change,” a village admin officer said on condition of anonymity.
“It is the policy of military backed quasi-civilian government to show the world community to pursue the international companies to invest in Burma and to get aid from western world.  However, President Thein Sein is promising that human rights violation will be no more in the country in future, said a businessman from Maungdaw town.
Besides, the Burmese government is trying to make up another border security force accompanied by BCP (Burmese Communist Party) and ALP (Arakan Liberation Party) ex-members, regarding this, recently, U Kyaw Maung, leader of BCP was sent to Kyauk Taw Town where ALP office is present, according to reliable source.

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Authority uses new tactic in Arakan State

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The authority from Arakan State used new tactic after dissolving the Burma border security force (Nasaka), but policemen and Para police (Hluntin) are arbitrary arresting and harassing the Rohingya people in Maungdaw south, said a local elder on condition of anonymity.
Four Rohingya were arrested from Donkhali village by police and Hluntin personnel from Bodawpara police outpost, over the allegation that they were using Bangladeshi mobile phone on July 18, according to villagers.
However, the four Rohingya - Amir Hussain (17), son of Eliyas, Sadek (20), son of Kobir, and another two – released after taking Kyat 400,000. There was no file for arrested and detained in the police out post. The police and Hluntin used this method for extorting money from Rohingya community in northern Arakan, said an aide of police outpost.
“We believe that the harassment will be decreased after central government dissolved Burma border security force (Nasaka), but the harassment will be increased in northern Arakan State in future,” a village admin officer said on condition of anonymity,
“It is the policy of quasi-government, but the president Thein Sein is promising human rights violation will no more in the country and requesting the international community to invest in the country.”

Maungdaw emergency act 144 exclude Rakhine community

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  Maungdaw recently announced emergency act 144 didn’t control Rakhine community who gather more than thousand in monastery for celebrating full moon Wasoe, said an officer from Maungdaw who didn’t want to mention his name.

“But, the authority –U Aung Myint Soe, district administration officer and U Kyi San, township administration – ordered the security force to watch religious building –Mosques and Madaras -  if anyone enter the building. This is also the holy month of Muslim like Buddhist full moon Wasoe.”
“The emergency act 144 is only to control the Rohingya Muslim in northern Arakan to oppress them whenever the authority wish with this act.”
President U Thein Sein  meeting with – Foreign minister and Union Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister U Khin Yi for Immigration, Union Minister Lt-Gen Thet Naing Win for border affair, Union ministers, the chairman of Pyithu Hluttaw Fundamental Rights of Citizens, Democracy and Human Rights, the region chief minister, the secretary of Rakhine State Investigation Commission, the patron, the chairman, the chairman of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission- at Rangoon Region Government Office today afternoon, where he expressed a conflict between the two communities could turn into regional and international issues in an attempt to bring it to the UN, and if it happened, it could harm the image of the country and its reforms.
“The constitution of the country includes provisions to give protection to the four major religions including Islam and Myanmar does not accept racial discrimination.”
Shan Chief Minister U San Aung Mat ordered to reopen and pray in Lasho central Juma Mosque on July 20, according to Seven days news.
According to President U Thein Sein said no discrimination on religious as per constitution and his speech, why the authority still control Mosques and Madaras in northern Arakan, it is not in Burma, the law and constitution are not same for this areas, the people have no rights same as other States, said a student from Maungdaw. 

Rakhines attack Muslim religious leaders in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: A respected religious leader (Maulana) of Rohingya community was catapulted which made serious injured by Rakhine teachers of Aley Than Kyaw high school on July 17, at about 6:00 pm while he was going to Aley Than Kyaw for medical treatment from his village, said a local elder on condition of anonymity.
“Molouna Jubair(40) son of Moulvi Saley accompanied by another religious teacher - Moulvi Azizur Rahman (30), son of Nazi - both hailed from Udaung village, Maungdaw south with a motorbike went to Aley Than Kyaw from Udaung village for medical treatment.”
Molouna Jubair has been suffering from fever and cough for a week. So, he called another religious teacher and went to a doctor named Mamun Rashid of Aley Than Kyaw for medical treatment, according to villagers.
A Rakhine teacher from inside the school’s boundary catapulted to two Moulanas on motorbike and Moulana  Jubair was hit in his head and  got serious injury when they were returning to their village near the school boundary, the villagers said.
After incident, some villagers rushed to the spot and took him to the hospital for treatment. Maulana called the school committee members--- Yayah, Azam Ullah and Abul Hashim and appraised the matter to them. Abdul Awal, a Rohingya village members went to the police station and filed the accident and the police officer joint to the hospital to investigate the accident, according to school committee.
But, the school committee members called the said Rakhine teachers including the headmaster, but Rakhine group denied the accident. Later, U Maung, the headmaster told the victim that “You are not catapulted by the teachers, but they catapulted to the tree.”
Hearing the saying, the victim strongly condemned the headmaster and saying that they (teachers) catapulted to us after following (chasing).
After a few moments, the headmaster wanted to beg for his (Maulana’s) pardon before arrival of police, but the culprit (Rakhine teacher) was not present at the moment.
Police officer told the victims that to solve the problem peacefully, if it was not solved, it will become a big issue, said an aide of police.
A villager said, “He is a great and respected religious leader in our village, why the Rakhine teacher catapulted him, if any Rohingya hits a monk or Rakhine, he/she will be punished.”

Authority impose the emergency act 144 again in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The high officials of Maungdaw district announced again imposing of emergency act 144 in the areas today, according to an official from Maungdaw.

“The authority – district administration officer and township administration officer – announced in Maungdaw about imposing of emergency act 144, after dissolving Burma border security force (Nasaka), as most of Rohingya from rural areas traveled to Maungdaw town for their household shopping and their personnel matters which was not able before for blockage  and harassment of Nasaka.”
The Rohingya people traveled to Maungdaw mean, to gather and see relatives in Maungdaw which was not able since July 2012 for blocking of security force especially Nasaka. The gathering of Rohingya in Maungdaw become eyesore for high officials who try to show the emergency act 144 which mean not more than 5 persons gather one place, said a politician from Maungdaw.
“The authority announced the emergency act 144 which was only for Rohingya community, not for other Buddhist community – Rakhine. The authority also declared that no one will enter and pray inside Mosques – Mosques and Madarasa remained closed- for Rohingya Muslim. This month is the holy month -fasting month- , but the authority didn’t allow the Rohingya community to pray in the religious places.”
Thein Sein government allowed Muslim from Mektila  to pray inside the Mosques which were closed after conflict and  other areas, all the Mosques are  opened for Muslim , but in Maungdaw where most of the people are Muslim, are not allowed to enter the Mosques for pray. The Law for freedom of religious is difference between northern Arakan and other areas in Burma, the politician said.

Wednesday 17 July 2013

Authority impose the emergency act 144 again in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The high officials of Maungdaw district announced again imposing of emergency act 144 in the areas today, according to an official from Maungdaw.

“The authority – district administration officer and township administration officer – announced in Maungdaw about imposing of emergency act 144, after dissolving Burma border security force (Nasaka), as most of Rohingya from rural areas traveled to Maungdaw town for their household shopping and their personnel matters which was not able before for blockage  and harassment of Nasaka.”
The Rohingya people traveled to Maungdaw mean, to gather and see relatives in Maungdaw which was not able since July 2012 for blocking of security force especially Nasaka. The gathering of Rohingya in Maungdaw become eyesore for high officials who try to show the emergency act 144 which mean not more than 5 persons gather one place, said a politician from Maungdaw.
“The authority announced the emergency act 144 which was only for Rohingya community, not for other Buddhist community – Rakhine. The authority also declared that no one will enter and pray inside Mosques – Mosques and Madarasa remained closed- for Rohingya Muslim. This month is the holy month -fasting month- , but the authority didn’t allow the Rohingya community to pray in the religious places.”
Thein Sein government allowed Muslim from Mektila  to pray inside the Mosques which were closed after conflict and  other areas, all the Mosques are  opened for Muslim , but in Maungdaw where most of the people are Muslim, are not allowed to enter the Mosques for pray. The Law for freedom of religious is difference between northern Arakan and other areas in Burma, the politician said.

Three warships anchor in Naf River



Maungdaw, Arakan State: Three Burmese warships anchored along the Naf River bank of Burma side, said a village admin officer from Maungdaw.

“The three warships were anchored at Poung Zarr (Ashika para), Alay than Kyaw and Kyauk pundhu ( Sitar Pawrika) since July 13 night and the marine force were shopping in poungzarr village market on July 14 morning. The marine force are still not moving in the areas and just stand by position.”
The Rohingya community who were happy while they heard the announcement Burma president ordered which dissolved Nasaka . But when they saw the warships anchored in three places, the happiness disappeared from them. They become fear after seeing warships, said a school teacher from Maungdaw.
“What plan of government towards us is still unclear, but we are seeing reinforcement in our place. The government is still not declared the reason of Burma border security force (Nasaka) dissolution. There is some rumors of Rohingya youths taking military training inside Arakan which was deny by Arakan state government and former Nasaka director. Now, the reinforcement is proofed the government is taking serious on these rumors.”
The Rohingya community are suffering human rights violation more and more since long and they are not defended for their own safety, may now they will hold arms to protect their lives and rights.  But, it is not cleared, the Rohingya youths really getting military training for their safety and to protect their lives. It is rights for us, to hold the arms to protect our community, said a politician from Maungdaw.
“No one can oppress and harass, if the people become unity and protecting themselves

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Villagers tortured for denying order of Nasaka

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Five Rohingya villagers including three women from Maungdaw north were severely tortured by the Burma border security force (Nasaka) on July 11, for denying the order of Nasaka, said a local elder preferring not be named.
“A group of Nasaka personnel from Nasaka Headquarters, Kawar Bill of Maungdaw north went to the Wabeg village on July 11 and asked the villagers to participate in the registration of villagers – computerized Photograph and signature. But, Nasaka forced the Rohingya villagers to sign in a computerized document to confess as Bengali in place of Rohingya.”
Therefore; Rohingya villagers were not willing to take part in the census – computerized photograph and signature with complete data - taking by Nasaka and immigration. The Rohingya fled from their villages to avoid harassment by the security forces, according to a businessman from the locality.
As a result, Nasaka personnel picked up five villagers including three women from Wabeg village, dragging them into a river and put their heads under water till they became senseless. Of them, one woman has a three-month-old baby. At present, the baby is serious position. They are very poor villagers with fasting. Their Sabbaths (fasting) were destroyed by swallowing water while their heads were beneath the water, said a relative one of the victims.
The five victims are identified as---Ms Hafeza Khatun (30) along with her three months old baby,  wife of Osman; Ms Gulbano (35), wife of Shoffi; Ms Culzar (40), Daughter of Hassan; Sayed Ahmed (60), son of Eman Hussain; and Mohamed Hashim (50), son of Kala Meah. They all belong to Wabeg village of Maungdaw north, the relative more added.
 The concerned authorities forced Rohingya villagers from northern Arakan to get signatures in a computerized document. The rights to say and rights to do of human rights was not apply to Rohingya community in northern Arakan where the concerned authority forced them to get their plan – digital signature and Photograph with Bengali race-  which was not known to the international community. It need to pressure to the Burmese government by international community, said a Rohingya leader from inside Arakan who denied to be named.
The Nasaka and immigration, daily go to the Rohingya villages of Maungaw and Buthidaung Townships and try to sign in a computerized document to confess as “Bengali” in place of “Rohingya”. Villagers are unbearable about the harassment by the security forces, the leader more added.
The Nasaka was dissolved by president Thein Sein on July 12 night with state ordered.

Monday 24 June 2013

Four Rohingya killed in Buthidaung

Buthidaung, Arakan State: Four Rohingya villagers were brutally killed by a group of Natala villagers on June 16, said an elder from the village on condition of anonymity. 
The deceased have been identified as Mohamed Habib (47), son of Nazir Ahamed, Mohamed Yasin (17), son of Mohamed Habib, Abdul Goni (18), son of Mohamed Yousuf and another one ( not available ).  They all hailed from Singdi Parang village tract of Buthidaung south.
The deceased Rohingya went to the forest to collect firewood and vegetables in morning of June 16, but they didn’t back to their home in the evening of that day, according to sources
A group of victims’ relatives went to different areas of mountains side to look for their love one whereabouts in the morning of June 17. But, they didn’t get any information, sources said.
However, on June 19, the relatives got information from some sources that they were killed by a group of Natala villagers in the Mountain-pass -- people cross from Buthidaung to Maungdaw-- which is called Singdi Parang-Gudusara Dala, the younger brother of victim Mohamed Habib said.
Later, the relatives of the victims went to the spot and saw the dead bodies in the forest. After that, some of the relatives went to the Nasaka camp and gave complaint to the concerned authorities regarding the murdering.
The relatives tried to get permission from the authorities to bring dead bodies to their homes but the authorities refused it, said an aide of Nasaka.
A local youth said, “It is a big human rights violation that the Nasaks doesn’t allow the relatives to carry the dead bodies to their homes for funeral.”

“The Natala villagers of Singdi Parang, frequently disturb and threat to kill the Rohingya villagers if Rohingya villagers go to the forest for collecting firewood and others, said  Rafique from Singdi Parang village.
“Habib and his son Yasin are daily workers; they support their family members by selling firewood after collecting firewood from forest. Others two are also daily workers.”
The President Sein Thein is systematically killing Rohingya people by bluffing the world community that showing as a reformist for the democracy in Burma. Thousands of Rohingyas have been displaced by the government and hundreds of innocent Rohingya people have also been killed by Natala villagers and concerned authorities, said a local trader from Buthidaung.

Friday 21 June 2013

No rule of law for Rohingya in Maungdaw


Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Burmese authority in Maungdaw didn’t allow Rohingya community to adopt the law for their life and property, according to a politician from Maungdaw.
“A Rohingya shop owner want to file a case of robbery- for his electronic goods shop- in Maungdaw police station, but the police officer didn’t accepted his diary of robbery file and arrested him for his report, detained in the police station.”
Hafez Hussion (42), son of Jamal (former land survey officer) hailed from Ward No. 5, was the Rohingya electronic shop owner who lost Kyat 5 million from his shop which was robbed on June 18 night at about 1:45am. The shop is stationed on harbor road under Ward No. 1 and some source said it was robbed by a group of Rakhine youth, according to an elder from Ward No. 1.
“Hafez tried to find out the shop burglar through the law and informed to the concerned authorities – district police office and township police office- for justice, but police arrested him for filing the case against Rakhine youth.”
Hafez is a Rohingya Muslim, living in Maungdaw, a border town- under control of Buddhist officer-where the law and order are in the hand of them. Whatever the Buddhist officers want or wish, it will be law and the Muslim have to follow it, said a student from Maungdaw.
“Here is no security of properties and life of Rohingya community. The concerned authorities killed Rohingya people like animals and taking properties of Rohingyas in illegal ways by using power

More dead bodies recovered in Bay of Bengal

 Three more dead bodies were recovered in the Bay of Bengal near Teknaf upazila, yesterday, said police from Teknaf.

Rohingya woman dead body was found at Naf river Bank
“The coast guard and police of Teknaf recovered three bodies— one man, one woman (25) and one girl (7).  Within two days – June 16 and 17-, they recovered six bodies from the Bay of Bengal, but, more boat-people have been missing.”
The small wooden boat was sunk in the Bay of Bengal on June 16, with 28 voyagers not far from the coastline. Loading with passengers, it went to a big trawler, which was anchoring in the Bay of Bengal to get on the passengers. But it was sunk by the rough waves when the boat was returning to the coast again, as it was unable to get on the passengers to the big trawler. The big trawler had already left for Malaysia from the place before the arrival of the small boat, according to the local people.

Rohingya young girl  dead body was found on Naf river bank
The sources said, five small boats were going to the big trawler with passengers, but three boats were able to get on passengers to the big trawler, but two boats were failed as the big trawler had left before that arrival.
A local fisherman Lal Meah from Teknaf said, most of the people (voyagers) are Rohingya Muslims including some Bengalis. At the movement, the weather is bad because of rainy season.
The three dead bodies were brought to the Teknaf police station for more inquiry. However, the bodies were not identified.
“The dead bodies are Rohingya Muslims,” said a local people named Abdu Salam of Teknaf.

Nasaka attempts to kill a villager

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma border security force (Nasaka) attempted to kill a Rohingya villager on June 17 at night in Maungdaw south, said an elder from the village on condition of anonymity.
“A group of Nasaka personnel from Nasaka area number 7 went to Molana Mohamed Jalal (40), son of Nazir Ahmed home from Aley Than  Kyaw village, Maungdaw south on June 17 at midnight where they tried to enter the home after breaking the door.”
Meanwhile, the owner of the house woke up and saw some of the men with arms, speaking Burmese language. So, the Molana screamed for help from the villagers, said a Nasak aide preferring not to be named.
Hearing the screams of the house owner, villagers rushed to the spot. But, Nasaka fired into air while villagers were approaching to the spot, according to sources.
After that, Jalal was dragged out from the house and severely beaten up on the spot. The victim was going into unconscious state after severely bleeding from his mouth. Later, he was brought to the local Nasaka camp where he was detained, said a relative not to mention his name.
Till writing repot, his fate is not known to his relatives and they are not allowed to visit him.
The Nasaka went to his house to commit robbery. He was severely tortured because he cried as “some of robbers enter his home and seek help from neighboring villagers.” As a result, the Nasaka personnel were very angry as they were unable to commit robbery, a close relative of the victim said.
A former administrator said, “Every night Nasaka personnel go to the Rohingya villages and try to harass the villagers by false allegations

No security in Rohingyas’ properties

Maungdaw, Arakan State: There is no security in Rohingya’s properties whether it is moveable or unmovable, in Arakan state. Three cows were picked up by Natala villagers and handed over to their boss Nasaka of Maungdaw south, said a local trader on condition of anonymity.
“The cows were picked up by the Natala villagers of Sommona village from the field on June 15, while grazing nearby forest.”
Natala villagers frequently picked up the cows of Rohingyas with the help of local Nasaka and extort money. The Natala villagers are being used as pawns by local Nasaka to harass the local Rohingya people in many ways, said a local elder preferring not to be named.
Regarding the crimes committed by Natala villagers, the local Rohingya people complained to the concerned local Nasaka (Burma’s border security force) authority, but the Nasaka did not take any action against the Natala villagers. Let them free hand to commit crimes against the Rohingya community. As a result, the Natala villagers are encouraged to make more assault against the Rohingyas, said a youth from the locality.
The owner of the cows was identified as— Fazal Korim (50), son of Muzher, hailed from Khonzar Bill village under the Aley Than Kyaw village tract of Maungdaw Township.
According to sources, some cow boys immediately went to village and informed to the owner of the cows regarding the matter.
Later, Fazal went to the Nasaka camp of Sommona under the Nasaka area No. 7 and complained about the abduction of the cows. But, the Nasaka asked him that “Why you came here to complain about the cows,” and then he was arrested and severely tortured on the spot. However, Later, Fazal including the cows were released after taking Kyat 40,000, on that day in the evening, a close relative of the victim said quoting the owner of the cows.
According to villagers, mostly cows are not being sent to nearby forest for grazing by owners because of picked up by the Natala villagers. So, the farmers are facing many difficulties to maintain their cows.
When asked one of the Nasakas about the pick-up of the cows by the Natala villagers, “he told that regarding this, we have no information

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Two bodies recovered from Bay of Teknaf

Two bodies were recovered from river bank under Sabrong union of Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar, 0n June 16, according to BGB officials.

The 42 Battalion, Commanding officer of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) from Teknaf, Lt Col Jahid Hossain said a small wooden boat with 28 Malaysia-bound job-seekers - Rohingyas and Bengalis- was drowned in the Bay of Bengal near Katabonia beach of Teknaf upazila at about 2:00am, on June 16.
Twenty-six persons could reach the coast by swimming, and the bodies of the rest two females were recovered in the afternoon.
A woman body was recovered from the Bay of Bengal nearby Mondar Dill under Saprang union, said Lt Mamon, Teknaf coast guard.
Local people saw two dead bodies on the Katabonia and Moheskhalia Para beach on June 16 afternoon. They also said that there were three women and three children.
Police arrested two agents from Teknaf for human trafficking after recovering the dead bodies.
The BGB and Cox’s Bazar police, meanwhile, rescued 77 Malaysia-bound job-seekers in separate raids during the last one week.

99 Burmese nationals pushed back

Teknaf, Bangladesh: The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained 99 Burmese nationals including women and children in two drives in Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar border areas and pushed  back them to Burma on June 16, according to BGB official.
According to BGB sources, the law enforcers arrested the Burmese nationals while they were entering Bangladesh territory under Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar district and Ghundum and Tumbro border points under Bandarban hill district.
The commanding officer of 42 Battalion Border Guards Bangladesh, Teknaf, Lt Col Zahid Hasan said, 67 Burmese nationals were detained during their illegal entry through Naf River at between 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm on June 16.
In another drive, Border Guard personnel arrested 32 Rohingyas including women and children while illegal entering by a wooden boat to Bangladesh at Sabrong union of Teknaf upazila.
Besides, the Rohingya - facing so many discriminations which may be danger for their lives- are trying to escape from their home land to neighboring Muslim country- Bangladesh- to save their lives, but always block to enter these people and pushed back always which may be danger for them when back to their home land, said a politician.
“There are Rohingya community cross every day for their health, escaping from arrest which authority falsely imposed to them.”

Friday 14 June 2013

Rohingya villagers held a Natala villager

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Rohingya villagers from Du Cheradan ( Kilaidaung) village had held U Aung Than, son of U Shwe Lon – a Rakhine -, hailed from Kharay Myin model village in Maungdaw south while a group of Rakhine model villagers came to Rohingya village - Du Cheradan ( Kilaidaung) - to torch the houses, according to a local villager who denied to be named.

On June 10, at about 10:00 pm, U Aung Than accompanied by another 8- Rakhine villager went to the Kilai Daung (Dou Chee Yartan) village to torch the Rohingya houses, but the villagers came to know and chased them, but, U Aung Than was held by the villagers. However, the other Rakhines managed to flee, said the local villager.
After arrest, the Rohingya villagers handed over him to the local Nasaka –Burma border security force- personnel to avoid further problem in the village. The authority said they will call Rohingya villagers next for investigation. But, released him after Rohingya villagers returned to their village.
But, a Rakhine said a group of Muslim men tortured and arrested U Aung Than near his village while he was looking for frogs with other 8 villagers in the flooded land.
“We have being kept in village since last year June, and the 144 section is imposed only for the Rohingya community. In these situation, Rohingya villagers are not able to go out of their villages at night. How did they arrest the U Aung Than out of their village? , said a local trader.
U Aung Than was sent to village clinic by his family members and the authority has begun investigation into the matter. The authority   prohibited the villagers not to disclose about the incident.
A Rohingya village elder said, “This kinds of event, we frequently face in the village. Regarding this, we appraise to the local Nasaka, but they don’t take any heed.”
There is no law and no protection for Rohingya community in Arakan, said another local businessman on condition of anonymity.
The main problem is that the Natala villagers are encouraged by the local Nasaka security force to do anything against the Rohingya community. It is their policy to give harassment to the Rohingya people through the Natala villagers, the businessman, more added.

Nasaka seizes two cows from villager in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  Nasaka (Burma border security force) seized two cows from a Rohingya villager under the Maungdaw Township on June 11, giving reason that someone has to get money from the villager, said a close relative of the victim.
A group of Nasaka from Aung Mingala Nasaka out-posts camp of Maungdaw north went to Maung Nama village and took away two cows from the cow shed of Rashid Ahmed (50), son of Abdu Rashid on June 11 at about 3:00pm and informing the owner to choose the cows from Nasaka out post, the relative more added.  
Mohamed Zubair,  a Nasaka agent of Aung Mingala Nasaka out-post camp created this plan to extort money from the victim Rashid Ahmed  as he has the enmity with him, an elder from the village said on condition of anonymity.
However, the Nasaka handed over the cows to the owner after taking money on June 12 at evening. But it is not known immediately, how much money, the owner paid to the Nasaka officer, a businessman from the village said.

Thursday 13 June 2013

30 more Rohingyas arrested along the Burma-Bangladesh border

Thirty more Rohingyas were arrested by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) along the Burma-Bangladesh border yesterday, Jafar said from border area. 
 “They were arrested from different areas of Teknaf and Gudum by a BGB team of Battalion No. 42 and 17 after being conducted operation on Monday.”
According to official, BGB arrested twenty-four Rohingyas at Gumdum under the Bandarban district while they were trying to enter the Bangladesh from Arakan State, Burma.
After the arrest, they were pushed back again to Burma through the point of Gumdum, official said.
Meanwhile, a BGB team of Teknaf Battalion No. 42 arrested another six Rohingyas at Teknaf border while they were trying to penetrate to Bangladesh by crossing the Naff River, said a BGB source.
Rohingya Muslims frequently cross the Burma-Bangladesh border because of seeking shelter in Bangladesh as a neighboring country. In Arakan State, Burma, there is no life security of Rohingyas. The people are facing food shortage, movement restriction, and no access to do any work to support their family members. Meanwhile, the authorities concerned make arbitrary arrest, torture, detain and extort money from the villagers, and elder said from Maungdaw preferring not to be named.

Monday 10 June 2013

Ethnic Cleansing on Rohingyas in Burma exposes at Geneva

The Persecutions of Rohingya Muslims in Burma which highlighted at Geneva UN Human Rights Council ,Room XXVII, Palais de Nations on June 6, according to Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK) information.


“The event was organized Human Rights Watch and more than 20 missions from different counties including US Mission, UK Mission and OIC mission.”
In the event, Chris Lewa, the Director of Arakan Project, highlighted   Northern Arakan State situation details; Melanie Teff from Refugees International raised about Humanitarian aid issues and Tun Khin President BROUK pinpointed about 1982 citizenship law and international community urgent action needed. At end of event, Josh Lyon, Human Rights Watch Satellite Imagery Analyst, showed power point presentation with the pictures of How Rohingya and Kaman Muslim systematically targeted.
“Lobbying about 20 important missions to support international independent investigation on Arakan violence in this event was very helpful for us,” said the BROUK president Tun Khin.

“There is no plan and no discuss about safe return of Rohingyas IDPs to their original place since 2012 June and facing Humanitarian aid blocking to these people –Rohingya by authority and local Rakhine extremists.”
“The 1982 citizenship law -denied Rohingyas of their bona fide citizenship rights has been strongly criticized by the international rights advocacy groups abroad. But, President Then Sein Government is still trying to implement it by force; ignoring international outcries.”
“More than 35,000 Rohingya boatpeople have left the country for unbearable situation, created by Burmese Government and allowing hatred speeches against Rohingyas and other Muslims minority in Burma which seen the government is not protecting Muslims in Burma and instigating to eliminate Muslims from Burma.”

The BROUK president urged the missions, to discuss the immediate intervention to stop the crimes against humanities by the Burmese government and to send UN Observers to the effected Arakan region to to protect the lives property, honour and dignity of the vulnerable and helpless Rohingyas and other Muslims communities in their segregated displacement camps and villages and requested to form UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violence and to bring those found responsible to justice.
On June 6, evening Joint Lobby group held a press conference in Geneva Press Club.
Moreover, the BROUK President was invited to speak at UN Panel Discussion on the problem of Statelessness and it’s sever impact on Human Rights on June 7 and  Mark Manly, the Head of the Statelessness Unit, UNHCR; Lilianna Gamboa Coordinator of Open Society Justice Initiative and Zahara Albarazi Researcher from Tilburg University were giving the speech at joined the penal. The event was moderated by Deputy Chief of Mission to the UN in Geneva.
“Incompatibility of the 1982 Burmese Citizenship Law with International Human Rights Law,” BROUK President highlighted at the panel discussion.

He also mentioned about Rohingya existence in Burma since early 7th Century A.D and how Rohingya ethnicity and citizenship rights were stripped of by the previous Military governments and by the current President Thein Sein’s quasi civilian government. Burmese Government.
The intention of all Rohingyas to live peacefully in their home land along side with other ethnic people as dignified citizens of Burma with their ethnic Rights and citizenship rights restored.

Burma warship arrives in Bangladesh

A Burma navy ship, UMS Mahar Thihathura, arrived in Chittagong port on June 7, on a four-day goodwill visit to Bangladesh, said a press release from naval office.

Responding to an invitation of Bangladesh Navy, it the first-ever visit of any Burmese warship to Bangladesh, the statement added.
A team of Bangladesh Navy led by Captain Golam Sadek, chief staff officer to Commodore Commanding Chittagong, received the warship with 121 personnel on board including 15 officials of Burmese Navy.
During the visit, the officials and sailors of the Burmese ship will pay visits to different Bangladesh Navy ships and establishments and will also take part in games and cultural programs, the press release more added.
According to sources, the ship will leave on June 11, as per its schedule.
According to local people, Bangladesh wants to increase relationship between two countries as neighboring country.

Saturday 8 June 2013

Thai should end inhumane detention of Rohingya: HRW

The Thai government should immediately end the detention under inhumane conditions of more than 1,700 ethnic Rohingya from Burma, New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on June 3.

Rohingya asylum seekers should be transferred from overcrowded cells in immigration detention centers to get screening and protection from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the HRW statement said after broadcasting of ITN Channel 4 News on May 31.
The ITN Channel 4 News had broadcasted on the air about shocking video footage of Rohingya locked up in an overcrowded immigration facility in Thailand’s Phang Nga province.
“Thailand should respect the basic rights of Rohingya ‘boat people’ and stop detaining them in horrific conditions,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
“The government should immediately allow them to pursue their asylum claims with the UN refugee agency.”
Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution. While Thailand is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, under customary international law, the Thai government has an obligation of “non-refoulement” – not to return anyone to places where their life or freedom would be at risk.
UNHCR’s Guidelines on Applicable Criteria and Standards Relating to the Detention of Asylum Seekers reaffirms the basic human right to seek asylum and state that “[a]s a general rule, asylum seekers should not be detained.” The UNHCR Guidelines also note that detention should not be used as a punitive or disciplinary measure, and that detention should not be used as a means of discouraging refugees from applying for asylum.
“Thai authorities should provide temporary protection to Rohingya and scrap the ‘help on’ policy that places these asylum seekers in harm’s way,” Adams said.
“The government should help Rohingya who escape from oppression and hardship in Burma – not worsen their plight.”

Village uproots for authority forced to registered as Bengali in registration program

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Kyikanpyin (Kawabil) village had become uprooted after authority enforced the Rohingya villagers to registered as Bengali in the place of Rohingya –under race column – in government registration program - digital Photograph and signature – since June 3,  according to a local elder who denied to be named.

“More than 200 security forces – Burma border security force (Nasaka), Army, police and Hluntin – surrounded the village to stop fleeing the villagers from the village, to force the villagers to join the government registration program. But, most of the villagers –mostly male villagers- flee from their village leaving their all properties.”
The village had become a war field area as the security forces destroyed all the properties of Rohingya and took the valuables things from Rohingya home. The forces destroy mostly the kitten wares and grain stock, said a school teacher from Maungdaw.
“The forces stationed in the village like their outpost station in the war and the villagers are not able to return to their village. The villagers lived in the jungle, paddy fields and nearby villages. Some family members were divided from family groups. Some stayed in the village –mostly old men, females and children- are like hostage under forces.”
At this situation, the Nasaka personnel forcibly took female villagers and old people from the homes and forced to get into trucks and carried to the Nasaka headquarters of Kawar Bill where the Nasaka compelled them to say “Bengali” in place of “Rohingya” in survey form and took photographs and computerized. After completing the work, villagers were sent to their village, said a local businessman on condition of anonymity.
The government and State authorities are trying to stamp the Rohingya as Bengali to use in coming all Burma population census to show  the international observer that the areas were not secure, so the authority took advance census where the people said themselves as Bengali, said a politician from Maungdaw.
“This is first times in Maungdaw , authority forced and surround the village  like war time to join their registration program. It is totally violation of Human Rights to convince, 
some things by forced without willing of someone.”
The Nasaka personnel apparently detained the Rohingya villagers in connection to a protest over a government registration program that required them to state their identities as “Bengali”.

Tuesday 4 June 2013

A New Wave Of Buddhist Massacre In Myanmar, Maung Daw

Last Friday, May 3, 2013, the Rohingya elders and religious intelligent were strongly threatened in several meetings summoned by high-ranking officials from Military department. ''Any of the information about the absence of any of you from respective area during these days, and any of the attempt against the government as well as the involvement in the newly 'jihad' reportedly being organized in Bangladesh, will be liable to be shot death, so beware!

        The government has also increased security measures and deployed special intelligent agency to inspect anyone at the Rohingya predominant area. A point here deserving of attention is that the government formed people's Militia with modern weapons in all village tracts of Arakan. According to the Eleven, the Burmese 1st domestic Media Group ''Myanmar has beefed up security measures and tightened...'' and ''We have been reported the terrorists are trying to enter the country and attempt bombing. So, we have ordered to set up security measures. We must be always alert as they may wait for the chance to attack. Security has been tightened at the border check points, ''Ref; Min Aung Lt.Col. from Headquarter of Myanmar Police Force. The Burmese government through unofficial print and online media, is now believed to be rhetorically trying to have a chance to carry out another massacre under the cover of State security and stability through mass arrest extrajudicial killing of innocent Rohingyas, and restriction on movement and other human rights abuse.
        As the media turned the baseless accusation to helpless Rohingya citing, ''the Muslim living in Myanmar, espicially hardcore members are campaigning for enlisting their conspiracy'' and ''The main targeted areas are Maungdaw Township and Buthidaung Township where Bengali(refering to Rohingya) migrants account for 90 percent of the total population ''they added. Now, Rohingyas are likely being targeted by the authorities as it happened before.
        According to Mr. AKF Jelani, an exiled Rohingya activist and former candidate for MP from NLD in 1990, ''From May 1994, North Arakan had become a new killing Field. At SLORC death camps of Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships, Rohingyas were tortured, shot and slaughtered, more chilling is that the people were to dig their own grave before being killed or buried alive. Alleging as RSO sympathizers, Rohingyas were taken late at night from their homes and were tortured to death and buried alive, ''he mentioned more 'under the pretext of looking for insurgents, random killing in the villages is a regular routine action of the SLORC/SPDC brute forces''.

Innocent Religeo Escaped From Death, Maung Daw



        Fakira Bazar, MDW North: Molvi Noor Mohammed 49 s/o Sultan Ahmad had supposedly fled the country to escape from possible death sentence by the Burmese racist authority. For this possible penalty, no reason has yet been ascertained. Reportedly due to his alleged involvement in Rohingya political parties in Bangladesh.
        On 1st May, 2013 at about 8:00 PM, more than 30 Nasaka personals from the Region no (5), Kha Maung Seik had besieged his home. In searching for him as a highly wanted criminal, they virtually left no stone unturned in the home but as he already went selling wood to Maungdaw, he has not been arrested. Frankly, no violence during the operation as usually carried out by them has been reported.
        Molvi Noor Mohammed (religious intellectual) is nothing more than a poor old man. He used to teach in Madrasa (Islamic school) run by local charity from which he earned a meager income of 50000Ks and that was regarded his only livelihood. But unfortunately, since last year June's State-sponsored ethnic cleansing in Arakan province, he and the teachers like him and nearly the entire Rohingya community became an easy prey of starvation due to government’s restriction on movement, arbitrary taxation, extortion under no criminal offence, and artificial price hike of foods which has been greedily sold by local Rakhine businessmen to Rohingyas, as well as the government put strong restriction on any Islamic services. As a consequence, he began selling wood though that did not cover the necessity of his family. Rohingyas in northern Rakhine State (NRS) live in fear of being arrested with no legal charge, "everyone would be caught sooner or later" said a school teacher from NRS anonymously.

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