Rohingya Muslim killed in Buthidaung jail

Buthidaung, Arakan State: A Rohingya Muslim was killed in tortured by the concerned authorities in jail of Buthidaung on September 11, said a businessman on condition of anonymity. 

“He was arrested from Maungdaw Township by the Nasaka personnel over allegation two years ago.” 

The dead body was identified as Moulvi Mohammed Rafique son of Gul Mohamed, hailed from Gudu Sora of Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, Burma. 

According to a reliable source, Rafique had completed his jail term over two years in the Buthidaung jail. 

The source also said, he was severely tortured and beaten up furiously by the concerned authorities in the jail after occurred communal violence between Rakhines and Rohingyas. There were some spots in the dead body’s face and whole body. 

Like Rafique, many Rohingya Muslim prisoners were severely tortured and killed by the concerned authorities and buried without knowledge of their relatives during the communal violence, different sources said. 

However, the dead body was not handed over to his family members by the Burmese authority, but he was buried in a Rohingya cemetery nearby Buthidaung jail, a villager elder told at Kaladanpress. 

The prisoners are now languishing in the critical condition. They are suffering from food, medical assistance and etc. They can’t bathe every day, but they can bathe once in a week and the water is very limited. The prisoners are provided food with Dal very imperfect twice a day, but no curry and no breakfast. So, many prisoners are suffering of skin diseases and food in the jail, said a man not to mention his name. 

The man also said, the Rohingya prisoners had been severely tortured and beaten up by the concerned authorities since a month after arrest in communal violence. During the torturing, the concerned authorities ask, how to feel “Bangli Kala”? They (prisoners) could not talk with each other inside the jail before. Now, they can talk little bit with other there. 

According to police and Hluntin from Maungdaw Township, about 450 prisoners are detained in the jail since (June the riot was occurred in Maungdaw. However, according to SBTO, of Buthidaung, over 880 prisoners are detained in the jail. 

The situation of Maungdaw: 

On September 16 at about 2:00 am, a group of Nasaka personnel (Burma’s border security force) from 3-mile went to Khanda Para (village tract) of Maungdaw township and arrested three Rohingyas from the houses, said a villager. 

The arrested were identified as Younus son of Abdul Karim, Abdul Latif son of Abdur Rahim and Kasim, they belong to Khanda Para village of Maungdaw township, Arakan state, Burma. 

They were arrested by the Nasaka personnel at night without giving any reason. The Nasaka personnel also destroyed Younus’s house. 

According to sources, Nasaka personnel’s’ intention was to loot houses and rape women, but they failed. So, they were arrested by the Nasaka personnel. Now, they are detained in the Nasaka camp in 3-mile. 

Sources also said, many Rohingya Muslims have been arbitrary arrested and harassed by the Nasaka personnel, Hluntin and police over allegation, but the persecution is not stopped after US team and the Foreign Minister of Turkey visited in Arakan State, Burma. The persecution is increasing and the situation is worse day by day.

ICAPP makes clear Dhaka's stand on Rohingya issue

ICAPP vice chairman Abdul Matin Khasru has made clear Bangladesh's stand on the Rohingya issue that Dhaka would not accept any more Rohingya refugee, reports BSS.

"Bangladesh could no longer afford to accept any more Rohingya refugee from Myanmar," Mr Matin, also MP and Awami League law secretary, said while holding meetings with top leaders of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the National League for Democracy (NLD) during their visit to Myanmar from September 11-13.

The delegation held meetings with NLD Chairman and Member of Myanmar Parliament Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar parliament speaker Thura U Shwe Mann and USDP Secretary General U Htay Oo in Myanmar's new capital Nay Pyi Taw.

During the meeting with Suu Kyi, the Special Mission of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) congratulated Aung San Suu Kyi on her party's victory in the last by-elections and especially on her becoming MP of Myanmar. 

During the meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, Mr Matin informed her about Bangladesh's position about preventing the influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. 

"They are neither recognised by Myanmar nor Bangladesh as their citizens and they are now stateless in the world of God", he said. 

Mr Matin appreciated the actions and measures being taken by Myanmar in the Rakhine state and also Kyi's statement regarding the need for reviewing the Myanmar Citizenship Law of 1982. 

He hoped that the untold miseries of these stateless people of the Rakhine state would lessen to a great extent on review of the citizenship law and action taken thereafter,. 

He conveyed greetings of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and invited her (Suu Kyi) on behalf of the Bangladesh premier to visit Bangladesh.

Suu Kyi also stated that she was very concerned about the situation in the Rakhine state, especially because it had been happening from time to time. 

She felt the need for looking at such untoward events pragmatically and for taking practical measures including the need for justice being done to all. 

Mentioning the porous border between Myanmar and Bangladesh, she stressed the need for ensuring more vigilance and security at the borders to prevent cross-border movement.

Humanitarian mission for Rohingya ‘not enough’

The humanitarian mission to Myanmar should be further empowered by having the Indonesian government exert political pressure on Myanmar in order to ensure the protection of the Rohingya Muslims, lawyers have said.

“We are sending them logistical aid, treating them as though they were victims of natural disasters, when what they need most is legal status, adequate livelihoods and a stable future,” Mahendradatta, one of a team of Muslim lawyers, said in Jakarta on Saturday.

“The most significant problem is their legal status, and Indonesia’s government should put more pressure on the Myanmar government to grant them citizenship,” he added.

According to data from the Foreign Ministry, 394 Rohingya have sought refugee status in Indonesia, with 124 of them ready to settle in other third countries. 

The remaining 270 displaced persons are being sheltered at a number of refugee camps in the country.

According to Mahendradatta, the Indonesian government cannot offer them citizenship because the law does not allow refugees to apply for citizenship.

“These people have no legal status. They can’t get jobs. They can’t own land. It is as if they were living dead,” Mahendradatta said.

“The only way is to force the Myanmar government to give them legal status, and to ensure their security as citizens,” he added.

Meanwhile, some of the Rohingya refugees who are in Indonesia have expressed their refusal to return home, fearing the ongoing dispute between the Muslims and the Buddhist majority.

Farouk Husein, 32, arrived in Medan, North Sumatra, in December 2010 after traveling for months, having escaped from Rakhine state.

He and his children fled first to Bangladesh, then moved to Thailand and ended up arriving in Indonesia, where they are waiting to move on again to seek asylum.

“We are heartened by the fact that Indonesians have welcomed us so warmly, and we have been given security and aid. But, please don’t send us home. We are in the process of seeking asylum in another country,” Husein told The Jakarta Post.

“I would rather kill myself than return home and face that torture again,” he added.

Husein is one of 173 Rohingya refugees who are living in Medan. He said that his brother had been killed in a clash between Muslims and Buddhists in 1992.

“Some of our people were killed when they tried to get away; but when I fled to Bangladesh, they just let us go. It’s as if they no longer want us there in the country,” said Husein.

Muhammad Kasim, 35, a Rakhine Muslim who has been in Medan since 2010, said he had left Myanmar to seek a better future.

“We were living like animals. We had no legal status. We had identity cards but it was written on them that we were only living in Myanmar temporarily, even though we were born there,” Kasim said.

Last week, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) signed a cooperation agreement with the Myanmarese Red Cross to provide financial and technical assistance for short- and long-term programs.

The PMI, chaired by former vice president Jusuf Kalla, had also sent personnel and humanitarian aid, comprising eight staff, 500 sanitary kits, 3,000 blankets and 10,000 sarongs, valued at more than US$100 million. (nad)

Asean solution for Rohingya plight

WHY is Asean silent on the issue of Rohingya Muslims, who have been suffering for centuries under the Myanmar army junta? Recently, they were told to leave the country to a third world nation willing to receive them. This is cruelty towards their own people and it seems that the world is just watching the injustice done to them, without any assistance, support or solution.

In June 2012, over 2000 people were displaced in sectarian violence in Myanmar, in which most victims were Muslims. The government promised a full investigation. Representatives from different religions and minorities condemned the atrocities inflicted on the Rohingya Muslims which is a serious human rights violation that the United Nations should stop immediately. 

In June 2012, 11 innocent Muslims were killed by the Burmese Army and the Buddhist mobs after bringing them down from a bus. A vehement protest was carried out in the Muslim majority province of Arakan, but the protesters fell victims to the tyranny of the mob and the army. People were reported killed and millions of homes destroyed in fires as Rohingyas and Buddhist-ethnic Arakanese clashed in western Myanmar.

Myanmar has a Buddhist majority. The Muslim minority in Myanmar are mostly the Rohingyas and the descendants of Muslim immigrants from India (including what is now Bangladesh) and China, as well as descendants of earlier Arab and Persian settlers. Indian Muslim were brought to Burma by the British to aid them in clerical work and business. After independence, many Muslims remained in the country. 

Over the years, thousands of Rohingyas have fled to Thailand. According to reports, there are roughly 111,000 refugees housed in 9 camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. In February 2009, there was evidence of refugees being towed to sea and abandoned and other reports of brutality by the Thai military in which Thailand's then prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that there were "some instances" in which Rohingyas were pushed out to sea.

Will the present generation see the light of day? They are part of mankind, why then are we responding apathetically towards them? Asean must respond immediately to solve their issues. Please be sympathetic and empathetic towards the Rohingyas.

Latest information of northern Arakan

Persecution increased after Major General Maung Oo’s visit:

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  After ex-Western Command Commander Major General Maung Oo’s visit to the north Arakan, the persecutions are increased against the Rohingya community in Maungdaw Township, said a local trader on condition of anonymity.
“General Maung Oo is also the present USDP secretary of Arakan State and accompanied by upper house Parliament member U Aung Zaw Win of Maungdaw constituency, U Shwe Maung, the upper house parliament member of Buthidaung constituency and others parliament members from Rangoon visited to the northern Arakan (Maungdaw) on September 12. After their departure, the security forces such as— Nasaka, police, Hluntin and army increased arresting the Rohingya people with false and fabricated cases against the Rohingya people, tortured and some were released after taking money.”
The followings are some of the arrestees identified as —-Mohamed Alam (35), son of Shaffi Rahaman, hailed from Mangala ( Tharat Oo) village was arrested by the Nasaka of Kular Bill Nasaka out-post under e tNasaka area No.5 , today at around 12:00 noon, from his house and tortured severely. The Nasaka also took away his motorbike. After arrest, he was brought to Nasaka Headquarters where he was detained. Villagers believe that he will be killed.  Now he is living in Maungdaw Town. He is a wealthy man, said a close relative of the victim.
From Nari Bill village, under the Nasaka area No.6 Of Maungdaw Township,  Mohamed Noor (17), son of Abu Sidique   was arrested yesterday by the Nasaka of Nari Bill out-post camp at about 6:00 pm while he was on the way to home after fishing from his fishing project. However, he was released after paying Kyat 300,000. He paid this money after selling his house compound. Besides, Ahmed Hussain ( 40), son of Osiur Rahman, hailed from the same village was also arrested by the same Nasaka yesterday while he was watching his fishing project. He was also released after taking Kyat 100,000. From the same village, the Nasaka more arrested Abdullah(22), son of Hussain, and Akter Hussain( 25), son of Mohamed Shoffi while he was going to the market of Kyauk Hla Gaar market from his village at about 12:00  noon. They are detained in the camp and asked Kyat 50,000 per each to be released, according to a local businessman who denied to be named.
In addition, the Nasaka (Burma’s border security force) of Konsi Pyin village Nasaka camp arrested 14-villager yesterday night from Konsi Pyuin Village of Maungdaw Township without any allegation and were released after taking money. The victims were identified as— Moulvi Abu Sidique (55), son of Zabber, Abu Bakker( 33), son of Jabber, Rashid Ahmed (25), son of Monzor, Dil Mohamed (28), son of Khalu, Nezamuddin (40), son of Olison, Abul Shama ( 55), son of Mohamed Hussain, Sayead Alam ( 35), son of Mohamed Kasim, Bodar Alam ( 65), son of Dor besh Ali, Abul Bosher ( 25), son of Affalatun,  moulvi nurul amin(55), son of Asharaf Ali,  Jarmuluk (58), son of Jabber, and Hussain Ahmed ( 30), son of  Mohamed Hussain. They were released after taking Kyat 20,000 to 30,000 per each. Another two youths from this village namely Shaker (12), son of Mohamed Alam and Akram (15), son of Kalam Kader were severely beaten up by the Nasaka for flashing their  torchlights  to  them while the Nasaka were approaching the local sentry post at mid -night., said a local villager from Konsi Pyin village preferring not to be named.
Moreover, a group of Nasaka personnel of Fadensa (Padang) Nasaka camp went to Du Yaung Pyin Gyi (Shaira Para) at about 10:00 am, to arrest Imam Hussain (30), son of Modon Ali, but they failed. So, the Nasaka arrested his mother and brought to the the Nasaka camp yesterday, said a youth from the locality.
Robbery by Hluntin and Natala villagers:
On September 14, a group of Hluntin accompanied by some Natala villlagers went to The Baggona village tract of Maungdaw south at around midnight and tried to attempt robbery against the villages.  But villagers made hue and cry and also rushed to the spot. So they were unable to commit robbery.  Meanwhile, nearby security force (army) also came to the spot and fired to the robbers. So, one of the Natala villagers was hit on his head and immediately sent to Buthidaung General hospital for proper treatment, said a local elder on condition of anonymity.
Buthidaung Township:
On September 14, the major General Maung Oo accompanied by others went to Buthidaung Town to see the prison situation of Buthidaung Town. According to police and Hluntin from Maungdaw Township, about 450 prisoners are detained in the jail since (June the riot was occurred in Maungdaw.  However, according to SBTO, of Buthidaung, over 880 prisoners are detained in the jail. After seeing the jail, they will go to Rathedaung Township to see the relocated Rohingya villagers. There are no NGOs and other relief organizations visit in these areas.  As a result, most of the refugees are suffering from acute food, shelter and medicine crisis, said two local elders. one from Buthidaung and another one from Rathedaung.
Rathedaung Township:
In Rathedaung Township, there are 24 villages, of them most of the villages were burned down by the Mogh mobs with the help of security forces. They have no food, no medicine and no shelter in the rainy season.  In Raja Bill village, there are about 550 houses and the army gives security to the village, but armies do not allow to the villagers to get out of the village to buy anything. For instance, recently, a village youth was severely tortured by the army because he went to another house in the village to take medicine for his younger sister who has been suffering from fever since long. There is another strange thing is happening, that is all the male villagers are brought to a nearby Rakhine village two times per week and give them lecture. Regarding this, villagers think that there will be something behind this. So villagers are living with constant fear of something will be happened soon, said a village elder from the village.

Over 200 Rohingyas arrested along the Burma-Bangladesh border

Cox’s Bazar: Bangladesh: The authorities of Bangladesh had been arresting more than 200 Rohingyas in special drives alongthe Bangladesh-Burma border since started the month of September 2012, said a reliable source from Cox’s Bazar.

 “Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coastguards and police arrested more than 200 Rohingya Muslims in different drives along the border.”

 On September 14, sixteen Rohingyas were arrested from Shapuri Dip under the Teknaf police station by BGB. Later, they were pushed back to Burma.

 Besides, BGB also arrested eight Rohingyas from the border point of Taungbro and Gumdum yesterday while they were entering the Bangladesh, said an aide of BGB.

According to sources, “the drive will be remaining continue by the government of Bangladesh as they have information that huge number of Burmese citizens are living in different areas of the district.”

 Sources also said, Rohingyas are Muslim, they come to Bangladesh from Burma as they were persecuted such as— rape, killings, arbitrary arrest, torturing, extortion money, harassment, looting, burned down their houses—- and etc. by the police, Hluntin ( riot police), Nasaka (Burma’s border security force, army  along with Moghs (Rakhines).

 The US has urged the government of Bangladesh to provide humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas like basic essential services — food, sanitation and healthcare — who have already taken shelter in Bangladesh from the neighboring Arakan State, Burma, US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan W Mozena told a press conference at American Centre here on Thursday afternoon.

 Mr. Mozena also asked the Bangladesh government to keep the country’s border open to Rohingyas so that they can take shelter here and voluntarily and safely return home.

Burma’s Rohingya Crisis By Iqbal Ahmed

Aung San Suu Kyi’s plate seems to be full. She had fought for years for democracy against the military junta. Vindicated, she entered Burma’s parliament to build a coalition by representing her party, the National Democratic League (NLD), after winning a by-election. She tended to a steady stream of foreign dignitaries who visited Burma right after the military government granted her freedom. Then for the first time in years she set foot outside Burma to visit foreign countries and open paths for diplomatic relationships.

While all this was going on, there was trouble brewing at home – an ethnic clash between the Buddhists and the Rohingya Muslims.

On June 2nd, in the Western state of Rakhina ethnic Buddhists killed as many as ten Rohingya Muslims, in retaliation for the rape and murder of a Buddhist woman by three Muslim men. The events that followed saw scores of burnt houses, killings, and Rohingya Muslims fleeing into neighboring Bangladesh.

The ethnic divide between the Buddhists and the Rohingya Muslims is troubling. The Rohingyas, particularly, are caught in a political, economic, and social limbo between Bangladesh and Burma. There are about 26,000 Rohingya Muslims living in Bangladesh, 22,000 with legal refugee status. The future of the rest is unknown if and when Burma decides to grant legal refugees a resident status. For now, the 26,000 Rohingya Muslims continue to live in a squalid condition in Bangladesh.

For most part of her adult life Ms. Suu Kyi stood for human rights. Can she resolve the long-standing ethnic tension in Burma, which requires a unity and solidarity among the politicians, the religious leaders, and the military leaders?

A coalition of Thein Sein’s government and Ms. Suu Kyi’s party should try to engage with their Bangladeshi counterpart to discuss the future of the refugees and find a way to transform “reckless optimism” and “healthy skepticism” into achievable solutions to the ethnic crisis.

Engaging the Association of South Asian Nations (ASEAN) to handle this crisis could become a crucial part of Ms. Suu Kyi’s democratic campaign against human rights violations. So far, ASEAN’s policy of addressing the human rights issue remains as a “principle of non-interference in domestic affairs.” ASEAN nations have done little to address human rights violation of an estimated 1 million Rohingya Muslims.

Its charter on human rights issues remains tacit. In recognizing Burma’s ethnic strife, Ms. Suu Kyi has noted the need to repair this ongoing problem; however, she has also indicated that the ethnic problem “should not be allowed to get in the way of restoring democracy.”

The ethnic crisis in Burma deserves a concerted effort from Thein Sein’s government and Ms. Suu Kyi’s party as part of the democratic reform in Burma. Democratic reform in Burma requires a solution to the ethnic crisis that has engulfed the country for years. Her engagement with the political and religious leaders of the Buddhists of the Rakhina State and the Rohingya Muslims to work out a permanent solution to this decades-long crisis could be paramount. She could also urge the foreign leaders to cooperate with ASEAN through bi-lateral engagements. They will be unlikely to ignore her.