Maungdaw, Arakan State: Local people from Myoma Kayoungdan (Sekda para) village blocked traffic police personnel while they tried to extort and harass a religious leader who raiding a motorbike on February 25, said a teacher from Maungdaw.
“Local people blocked the traffic police personnel when the police stopped and tried to take the motorbike and raider – a religious leader - to their station. When the local surrounded the police personnel and the police left the motorbike and raider and escaped from the surrounded area to their place on February 25 evening.”
The bike raider was Moluna Mohamed Hamid hails from Maungdaw south.
“The traffic police personnel from Maungdaw traffic police station are harassing and extorting money from Rohingya community since long while the Rohingya who raided motorbike and now the traffic police started to harass and extort money from Rohingya religious leader,” said a student from Maungdaw.
The traffic police personnel are watching the motorbike raider and stopped the raider from their station. The traffic police personnel searched the raider body and then asking the vehicle paper and driving license. It is only for Rohingya community not for Rakhine community, said an elder from Myoma Kayoungdan village.
“The traffic police station is situated in our village and we are seeing every action from traffic police personnel to Rohingya. The police didn’t do any action against the Rakhine community.”
The traffic police station was controlled by Assistant Inspector Thaung Hay.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
No Rohingya businessmen in Maungdaw trade association
Maungdaw, Arakan State: No Rohingya businessmen are selected as a central executive committee (CEC) in Maungdaw trade association in its annual meeting which held on February 26, said a Rohingya businessman from Maungdaw.
The trade association annual meeting was held in Daywanawdi hall on February 26 and its was organized by Trade Association chairman, U Shwe Tha.
The administration officers who run the trade association was mixed with Rakhine businessmen and Rohingya businessmen since its organized but this year there are no Rohingya administration officers in Trade Association, said a member from Trade Association.
“The meeting organizer didn’t invite all the members of Association and invite from a few from rural areas not from Maungdaw town municipal area.”
“In the meeting, the former CEC didn’t declare Association’s financial statement and future plan.”
There are 5000 Rohingya members and only 300 Rakhine members. In Maungdaw, most of the businessmen are Rohingya and others who need to go to Bangladesh need to be a member of trade association to get a business border trade passport. The CEC of Trade Association requested to the authority – Nasaka and Immigration- to help to collect fund by recommendation of Trade Association and request no to issue border pass without Trade Association’s recommendation, said an Rohingya elder.
“The members need to pay 10,000 Kyat per head to renewal of their memberships and to become a new membership need to pay 40,000 kyat. Most of Association fund came from Rohingya community.”
The Rohingya - former CEC members of Trade Association- were dismissed with allegation of involving political party and selected all CEC members from Rakhine community, said a politician from Maungdaw.
If the Rohingya didn’t a passport to go to Bangladesh for medical treatment, the Trade Association will be paralyzed to establish the Association, said a former CEC member of Association.
The trade association annual meeting was held in Daywanawdi hall on February 26 and its was organized by Trade Association chairman, U Shwe Tha.
The administration officers who run the trade association was mixed with Rakhine businessmen and Rohingya businessmen since its organized but this year there are no Rohingya administration officers in Trade Association, said a member from Trade Association.
“The meeting organizer didn’t invite all the members of Association and invite from a few from rural areas not from Maungdaw town municipal area.”
“In the meeting, the former CEC didn’t declare Association’s financial statement and future plan.”
There are 5000 Rohingya members and only 300 Rakhine members. In Maungdaw, most of the businessmen are Rohingya and others who need to go to Bangladesh need to be a member of trade association to get a business border trade passport. The CEC of Trade Association requested to the authority – Nasaka and Immigration- to help to collect fund by recommendation of Trade Association and request no to issue border pass without Trade Association’s recommendation, said an Rohingya elder.
“The members need to pay 10,000 Kyat per head to renewal of their memberships and to become a new membership need to pay 40,000 kyat. Most of Association fund came from Rohingya community.”
The Rohingya - former CEC members of Trade Association- were dismissed with allegation of involving political party and selected all CEC members from Rakhine community, said a politician from Maungdaw.
If the Rohingya didn’t a passport to go to Bangladesh for medical treatment, the Trade Association will be paralyzed to establish the Association, said a former CEC member of Association.
Fall into reservoir and die in Kutupalong refugee camp
Ukhiya, Bangladesh: A registered refugee minor girl from Kutupalong official refugee camp fell into a damaged reservoir and died on February 24, said a refugee from the camp.
Jannet Ara, the girl who fell into reservoir and died, at her shack
“The minor girl fell into the reservoir while she was playing with other refugee children, but the reservoir is on the way and nearby school No. 8.It is also refugees walk path.”
The deceased was identified as Jannat Ara (7), MRC# Z 0288 Block-E, daughter of Aman Ullah of Kutupalong official camp.
According to sources, one side of reservoir has been damaged since long time. The neighboring refugees of the reservoir, complained to the Research Training Management and International (RTMI), but the RTMI didn’t pay any attention to repair it.
The damaged reservoir after rescued the refugee girl
Suddenly, Jannat Ara fell and sank into dirty water when some refugees saw and went to the spot.
However, the refugees recovered her and brought to refugee clinic for treatment, but doctors declared, she died.
According to refugees, the doctors of Kutupalong official refugee clinic are neglecting the refugee patients. There was no doctor and staffs in the clinic when the young girl arrived at clinic and not able to check the girl on time.
Friday, 24 February 2012
Rohingya joints European Burma Network (EBN) Meeting
Rohingya attended European Burma Network (EBN) meeting in Brussels, Belgium on February 18-19, according to Tun Khin, the President of Burmese Rohingya Organization, UK (BROUK).
Tun Khin, mentioned human rights violations against Rohingya people and pinpointed the denial of citizenship rights and ethnic rights of Rohingya in Burma. All EBN members have agreed on action plans to raise the plight of Rohingya issues and 1982 citizenship law which was targeted to get rid of Rohingya people.
"I am very glad that BROUK is being a member of EBN where we had a good opportunity to raise our suffering people's situation in International Organisations. Recently releasing of high profile political prisoners have shown that international community pressure is working on Burma. It is high time, international community have to push to the regime to stop human rights violations in ethnic areas particularly in Rohingya areas where Rohingyas are facing serious discrimination," said Tun Khin.
BROUK delegation also briefed current situation of Rohingya people in "Round table discussion on political and human rights situation in Burma" at European Parliament on February 20, organised by Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
“I exposed about discrimination on Rohingya people by the military regime in Arakan at the discussion meeting and CSW east Asia Team Leader Ben Rogers mentioned about his recent visit and situation about Kachin people where Directorate -General for External Policies of the European Union (Asia, Australia and New Zealand) and other staffs from European external service Units were attended at the discussion meeting,” said Tun Khin.
BROUK delegation met on February 21 with Andreas LIST who is Principal administrator of South-East Asia at the European Commission organized by Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
“We had valuable meetings in European and Parliament and European Commission in last two days. I have mentioned that the current changes are not genuine change. If there is genuine change, the regime has to stop ethnic cleansing in ethnic areas including Rohingya areas where basic human rights were denied. It might be just to ease sanctions from the western countries and it will be too early to life sanctions,” said the BROUK President.
“We have mentioned European officials that we just want our lost rights which are ethnic rights and citizenship rights. We want to live in our homeland with dignity and peace. We want to live with our other ethnic brothers and sisters of Burma with harmony and working together to develop our federal union of Burma. We really welcome EU continued efforts for the Human Rights and Democracy for Burma. Please raise with the regime our long time suffering Rohingya people’s issue. Instead of protecting our Rohingya people, the regime is practising more human rights violations in Rohingya areas. So international community have to protect us as we are human beings," said BROUK delegations.
BROUK delegations with European Burma Network (EBN) members after meeting in Brussels
“We also met with European Officials from European Parliament and European Commission in the meeting.”
The Rohingya -- BROUK President Tun Khin (aka) Ziaul Gaffar and its Education and Cultural Secretary Mohamed Siddique -- attended the EBN meeting. The EBN is working for campaign together in Europe and has 15 organisations’ representatives from 10 countries to promote Democracy and Human Rights. BROUK officially become a member of EBN September.
The meeting was facilitated by Jared Genser, the President of Washington based Freedom Now Law firm.
At the meeting the speakers had briefed the following topics --- Soe Aung, the representative of Forum for Democracy in Burma, briefed current situation and change in Burma; Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, Karen National Union representative, updated situation about KNU; Tun Khin the President, Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, briefed current situation of Rohingya people of Arakan; Ben Rogers, East Asia Team Leader ,Christian Solidarity Worldwide, briefed recent visit to Burma and Kachin State; Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, the Campaign Officer, Buma Campaign UK, briefed update and perspective of 88 Generation Students and Neil, the Head of EU policy and Development, Open Society Institute-Brussels, briefed current Burma discussion within European Union.
“We also met with European Officials from European Parliament and European Commission in the meeting.”
The Rohingya -- BROUK President Tun Khin (aka) Ziaul Gaffar and its Education and Cultural Secretary Mohamed Siddique -- attended the EBN meeting. The EBN is working for campaign together in Europe and has 15 organisations’ representatives from 10 countries to promote Democracy and Human Rights. BROUK officially become a member of EBN September.
The meeting was facilitated by Jared Genser, the President of Washington based Freedom Now Law firm.
At the meeting the speakers had briefed the following topics --- Soe Aung, the representative of Forum for Democracy in Burma, briefed current situation and change in Burma; Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, Karen National Union representative, updated situation about KNU; Tun Khin the President, Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, briefed current situation of Rohingya people of Arakan; Ben Rogers, East Asia Team Leader ,Christian Solidarity Worldwide, briefed recent visit to Burma and Kachin State; Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, the Campaign Officer, Buma Campaign UK, briefed update and perspective of 88 Generation Students and Neil, the Head of EU policy and Development, Open Society Institute-Brussels, briefed current Burma discussion within European Union.
Mohamed Siddique , Tun Khin and European Commission Principal Adminstrator South-East Asia ,European External Action Service
Tun Khin, mentioned human rights violations against Rohingya people and pinpointed the denial of citizenship rights and ethnic rights of Rohingya in Burma. All EBN members have agreed on action plans to raise the plight of Rohingya issues and 1982 citizenship law which was targeted to get rid of Rohingya people.
"I am very glad that BROUK is being a member of EBN where we had a good opportunity to raise our suffering people's situation in International Organisations. Recently releasing of high profile political prisoners have shown that international community pressure is working on Burma. It is high time, international community have to push to the regime to stop human rights violations in ethnic areas particularly in Rohingya areas where Rohingyas are facing serious discrimination," said Tun Khin.
BROUK delegation also briefed current situation of Rohingya people in "Round table discussion on political and human rights situation in Burma" at European Parliament on February 20, organised by Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
“I exposed about discrimination on Rohingya people by the military regime in Arakan at the discussion meeting and CSW east Asia Team Leader Ben Rogers mentioned about his recent visit and situation about Kachin people where Directorate -General for External Policies of the European Union (Asia, Australia and New Zealand) and other staffs from European external service Units were attended at the discussion meeting,” said Tun Khin.
CSW East Asia Team Leader Ben Rogers , CSW EU Liason Office Sofia and Tun Khin, the President of BROUK at European Parliament
BROUK delegation met on February 21 with Andreas LIST who is Principal administrator of South-East Asia at the European Commission organized by Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
“We had valuable meetings in European and Parliament and European Commission in last two days. I have mentioned that the current changes are not genuine change. If there is genuine change, the regime has to stop ethnic cleansing in ethnic areas including Rohingya areas where basic human rights were denied. It might be just to ease sanctions from the western countries and it will be too early to life sanctions,” said the BROUK President.
“We have mentioned European officials that we just want our lost rights which are ethnic rights and citizenship rights. We want to live in our homeland with dignity and peace. We want to live with our other ethnic brothers and sisters of Burma with harmony and working together to develop our federal union of Burma. We really welcome EU continued efforts for the Human Rights and Democracy for Burma. Please raise with the regime our long time suffering Rohingya people’s issue. Instead of protecting our Rohingya people, the regime is practising more human rights violations in Rohingya areas. So international community have to protect us as we are human beings," said BROUK delegations.
Authority warns administration office of Muslim religious gathering center in Maungdaw
Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Maungdaw township authority had given warning to trustees from administration office of Muslim religious gathering center (Tabaleak Markaz) in Maungdaw in the evening of February 19, said an elder from Maungdaw.
“We all Rohingya gathered in the religious gathering center (Tabaleak Markaz) and pray for peace and listened to religious sermons, where huge Rohingya gathered in the event.”
“The Rohingya who gathered in the event are mostly farmers, religious leaders, businessmen and elders from Maungdaw Townships.”
We informed to the authority about the event, but the authority called the administration officers when the authority saw a huge Rohingya devotees in the event, said a devotee from the gathering center.
The Township administration officer warned the religious gathering center’s trustees not to do like this gathering event in the future and took bond sign, said a member of village administration office.
“The township officer also warned to the village administration officer of Myoma Kayoundan (Seikda para) not to allow like this event in the future.”
Religious persecution is still going on in the northern Arakan State after President Thein Sein’s government took office where the government declared its move towards democracy, said a politician from Maungdaw.
“We all Rohingya gathered in the religious gathering center (Tabaleak Markaz) and pray for peace and listened to religious sermons, where huge Rohingya gathered in the event.”
“The Rohingya who gathered in the event are mostly farmers, religious leaders, businessmen and elders from Maungdaw Townships.”
We informed to the authority about the event, but the authority called the administration officers when the authority saw a huge Rohingya devotees in the event, said a devotee from the gathering center.
The Township administration officer warned the religious gathering center’s trustees not to do like this gathering event in the future and took bond sign, said a member of village administration office.
“The township officer also warned to the village administration officer of Myoma Kayoundan (Seikda para) not to allow like this event in the future.”
Religious persecution is still going on in the northern Arakan State after President Thein Sein’s government took office where the government declared its move towards democracy, said a politician from Maungdaw.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Visitor arrests in Nayapara refugee camp
Teknaf, Bangladesh: Two visitors who visited their relatives in the camp were arrested by the camp police of Nayapara official recognize refugee camp on February 18, said a relative of the victims.
“They were arrested when went out from the camp and on the road of Teknaf-Cox’s Bazar high way near the camp at about 6:00 pm when they went out from the camp.”
The arrested visitors were identified as Mohamed Rafique (18) and Jamil Ahamed (20) hailed from Maungdaw Township, Arakan State.
They came to Bangladesh from Burma to see their relatives at the Nayapara camp after long time without border pass.
Nurul Islam, the camp police inspector informed to the acting Camp-in-Charge about the visitors.
Their relatives of the visitors requested to the police inspector Nurul Islam and the acting Camp-in-Charge, Jalal Uddin of Kutupalong official camp for their release, but the inspector and camp-in-charge did not take any interest. However, the camp-in-charge was bribed Taka 20,000 for their release, said a source who refused his name.
“But, the police inspector also took Taka 7,500 from the visitors and the visitors were detained in the police camp for one night and one day. They were also beaten severely.”
On February 19, at about 11: 00 pm, they were handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) of Dum Dum Meah check-post and they were pushed back to Burma at night.
Nevertheless, the camp authorities took huge money from them and gave statement in local newspaper that they are the human traffickers, according to sources.
The inspector Nurul Islam has been harassing the official refugees such as arbitrary arrest, seizing mobiles and computers from the refugees and also restricted the movement of the refugees since he was appointed at the refugee camp.
“They were arrested when went out from the camp and on the road of Teknaf-Cox’s Bazar high way near the camp at about 6:00 pm when they went out from the camp.”
The arrested visitors were identified as Mohamed Rafique (18) and Jamil Ahamed (20) hailed from Maungdaw Township, Arakan State.
They came to Bangladesh from Burma to see their relatives at the Nayapara camp after long time without border pass.
Nurul Islam, the camp police inspector informed to the acting Camp-in-Charge about the visitors.
Their relatives of the visitors requested to the police inspector Nurul Islam and the acting Camp-in-Charge, Jalal Uddin of Kutupalong official camp for their release, but the inspector and camp-in-charge did not take any interest. However, the camp-in-charge was bribed Taka 20,000 for their release, said a source who refused his name.
“But, the police inspector also took Taka 7,500 from the visitors and the visitors were detained in the police camp for one night and one day. They were also beaten severely.”
On February 19, at about 11: 00 pm, they were handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) of Dum Dum Meah check-post and they were pushed back to Burma at night.
Nevertheless, the camp authorities took huge money from them and gave statement in local newspaper that they are the human traffickers, according to sources.
The inspector Nurul Islam has been harassing the official refugees such as arbitrary arrest, seizing mobiles and computers from the refugees and also restricted the movement of the refugees since he was appointed at the refugee camp.
Burmese envoy meets with Rohingya in Jeddah
Chittagong, Bangladesh: Burmese envoy to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia met with Rohingya during his visited to Jeddah on February 17, according to an elder from Rohingya community from Jeddah.
Burmese envoy U Khin Zaw Win with Rohingya from Jeddah
“U Khin Zaw Win, the Burmese envoy had a fruitful discussion with Rohingya politicians, businessmen, overseas workers and elders at a lunch party hosted by Rohingyas at Lasani Hotel in Jeddah.”
“The Ambassador and his team, Mohamed Rafique, the chairman of Rohingya League for Democracy (Burma), RLDB – a political party based in Jeddah - and some RLDB’s CEC members, Rohingya businessmen, Rohingya elders and Burmese expatriate workers from Jeddah region were attended in the lunch party program,” according to RLDB information desk.
The lunch party was organized by RLDB and the keynote speech was delivered by Mohamed Younous, the owner of Alabeer cold store, the RLDB information desk said.
“U Khin Zaw Win, the Burmese envoy had a fruitful discussion with Rohingya politicians, businessmen, overseas workers and elders at a lunch party hosted by Rohingyas at Lasani Hotel in Jeddah.”
“The Ambassador and his team, Mohamed Rafique, the chairman of Rohingya League for Democracy (Burma), RLDB – a political party based in Jeddah - and some RLDB’s CEC members, Rohingya businessmen, Rohingya elders and Burmese expatriate workers from Jeddah region were attended in the lunch party program,” according to RLDB information desk.
The lunch party was organized by RLDB and the keynote speech was delivered by Mohamed Younous, the owner of Alabeer cold store, the RLDB information desk said.
Burmese envoy U Khin Zaw Win, Mohamed Rafiqur (chirman RLDB), Mohamed Yousuf (Alabeer cold store) and Mostafa in lunch party at Lasani Hotel in Jeddah.
The discussions were mainly for “registering Rohingyas from Saudi Arabia and subsequently issuing them with Burmese passports, repatriation of Rohingyas prisoners from Saudi Arabian prisons to their home country (Burma), establishing a Burmese school in Jeddah and assuring lost rights of Rohingyas in Burma and abroad” a Rohingya who had joined the lunch party said on condition of anonymity.
“Rohingya prisoners’ information are collecting and checking their identity in the prisons of Jeddah and Makkah to verify as a Burmese after the discussion meeting with Burmese envoy.”
The military junta always denied and discriminated Rohingya citizen rights and other social rights; during 2009, Rohingyas were as ugly as ogres, said U Ye Myint Aung, the Burmese consular to Hong Kong, proving Burmese regime discrimination against Rohingyas while the worldwide watched the Rohingya boatpeople and the current Burmese parliament (Hluttaw) convened in last September, the immigration minister U Khin Yee, also said Rohingyas were illegal Bangali immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh despite well existence of historical evidences supporting Rohingyas being ancient citizens of Arakan. But, now the Burmese envoy from Saudi Arabia is showing green signal to Rohingya. How long it will give these signal and will Rohingya get indigenous and birth rights in Burma which the Rohingya have lost for half a century in Arakan and now they are scattered in many countries living as refugees?, said a Rohingya politician from Makkah.
First secretary and embassy staffs from Burmese Embassy in Saudi Arabaia at Lasani Hotel in Jeddah
This olive branch from President Thein Sein’s government is probably the result of the recent mounting criticisms from international leaders; British foreign secretary William Hague and UN Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana about regime’s maltreatments on Rohingyas. International community has always reiterated the importance of National Reconciliation in Burma reforms for genuine democracy and now it is the sign that Burmese leaders have been successfully convinced and now taking serious steps towards achieving it.
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About Me
- The Voice Of Rohingya
- Maung daw, Arakan state, Myanmar (Burma)
- I am an independent man who voted to humanitarian aid.