UN Special Rapporteur visit to assess human rights situation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GENEVA – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, will undertake an official visit to the country from 11 to 16 February 2013, which will include gathering information on the current situation in Kachin State and Rakhine State. The rights expert visits the country at the invitation of the Government.

“As Myanmar continues to undergo wide-ranging reforms, it is important to assess the current human rights situation and to reflect on positive developments and remaining challenges,” Mr. Quintana said, preparing for his seventh mission to Myanmar, for which he has requested the authorities to visit Kachin and Rakhine States.

“A particular concern is the escalation of the conflict in Kachin State, and I hope my visit will give me a clearer picture of the situation there and the impact it has had on civilians,” he noted. “I will be lending my voice to calls for a ceasefire and progress in addressing minority issues.”

Regarding Rakhine State, the Special Rapporteur stressed that the current situation continues to be a major concern, following violence between Rakhine Buddhist and Muslim Rohingya communities there last June and October. “I would like to see the conditions in the camps for the internally displaced, which I was particularly concerned about following my previous visit last August,” Mr. Quintana said.

“I will also seek an update on what steps have been taken to address the underlying causes of the violence and displacement there, including the systematic discrimination against the Rohingya community, before I report* to the Human Rights Council,” he noted.

During his visit, the independent expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on the human rights situation in Myanmar will meet with Government officials, members of Parliament and the judiciary, the National Human Rights Commission, and civil society in Naypyitaw and Yangon.

“I look forward to constructive discussion, at both senior and grassroots levels, with the aim of encouraging continuing progress in human rights protection, democratic transition and national reconciliation, while also advising on remaining gaps,” the Special Rapporteur underscored.

On 16 February, at the end of his mission, Mr. Quintana will present preliminary observations at a press conference at Yangon International Airport at 18:15 (local time). His full report on the visit will be presented to the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council on 11 March 2013.

(*) Check the latest progress report on Myanmar by the Special Rapporteur: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N12/520/48/PDF/N1252048.pdf?O...

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Authorities concerned –Burma border security force (Nasaka), police, army and Sarapa (Military Intelligence) -increase harassment against the Rohingya people in Maungdaw after the bigoted violence in June 2012, an elder from Maungdaw Town said on condition of anonymity.

Nasaka personnel of Lake Ya Nasaka outpost camp arrested Maulana Hashim (50), Sayed Alam and two other villagers of Lake Ya (Kumir Khali) village, under the Nasaka area No. 4 of Maungdaw Township over false allegation of human trafficking on February 3 and instigated the local villagers not to take photographs which was taking by Nasaka personnel recently, said a close friend of Maulana Hashim preferring not to be named.

“It is just a plan to extort the money from them. The Nasaka demanded kyat 20 million to release.”

“However, they were released today after taking grantee to pay demanded money to the Nasaka officer. How will they pay a huge amount of money?”

“When the indiscriminate arrest and extortion money will be stopped?” asked a local elder from Maungdaw south.

In addition, today morning, a group of Nasaka personnel from Nasaka area No.6 went to the villages of under its area and locked all the mosques, Maqtabs (Arabic school for young children), Hafez Khana (Quran memorial school) and Madrasa (Arabic school) by Nasaka. The Township administration officer earlier ordered to the villagers to close all the mosques and other religious schools, but villagers did not comply with the order, said a local religious leader.

Besides, toady, at around 3:00 pm, three Sarapa from Maungdaw exit and entry point, arrested Nozumul Hassan(25), son of Abu Taher, a shopkeeper, hailed from Shwe Zaar village of Maungdaw, was arrested from the market while selling goods. It is still unknown to the villagers why he was arrested by the security personnel. But, some shopkeepers believe that he will be punished with false and fabricated case which will easy to extract money from him, according to a shopkeeper of Maungdaw Town.

Moreover, army security personnel increased checkpoints to check Rohingya travelers in Maungdaw Township --- from Shikdar Para (Myoma Kanyoungdan) to Maungdaw and the Maungdaw-Aley Than Kyaw road. The army increase harassment and looting goods from the Rohingya travelers. If a Rohinga traveler from Aley Than Kyaw went to Maungdaw to sell goods,will lost 2/3 of his goods on the way.

So far, the concerned authorities are planning how to harass and drive out the Rohingya community from northern Arakan. But the higher authority declared to the world that they are trying to settle the problems between two communities ---Rakhine and Rohingya, said a business man from Buthidaung.

At the first Union Parliament second regular session on 22 August 2011, President Thein Sein said, “We know what happen to people and what people want. And we are striving our best to fulfill their needs to the full extent. To conclude my speech, I promise that our government as a democratically-elected government will do our best for the interests of the people.”

“Is the government truly democratically elected and will do for the interests of the people?,” asked a local elder from Maungdaw.

Sri Lanka rescues 138 stranded on sinking boat

Sailors help a rescued boy to disembark from a Sri Lanka Navy vessel at Oluvil harbour today. Sri Lanka's navy on Sunday rescued 138 Bangladeshis and Myanmar nationals from a sinking fishing vessel off the island's east coast, officials said.

France 24 English

03 February 2013

AFP - Sri Lanka's navy on Sunday rescued 138 Bangladeshis and Myanmar nationals from a sinking fishing vessel off the island's east coast, officials said.

One passenger was found dead while many of the 138 plucked from the boat were dehydrated, said navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya, adding that the vessel had been adrift for 10 days before it sank on Sunday.

"We sent three ships for the rescue at a location 50 miles (80 kilometres) off the eastern coast of Akkaraipattu," Warnakulasuriya told AFP. "Some have been admitted to a local hospital."

Police said 14 were Myanmar nationals while the others were Bangladeshis.

Fifteen of the survivors, including two women and two children, were hospitalised with acute dehydration, police said in a statement.

"We have difficulty in communicating with the survivors so we have asked the two embassies to send us translators," police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody told AFP.

He said statements of survivors would be recorded and they would be moved to a temporary shelter in Colombo under judicial supervision. In the meantime, the authorities at Oluvil fishing harbour were giving them shelter.

"We are certain that they were not trying to enter Sri Lanka, but their boat developed trouble in mid-sea and they drifted close to our shores," Jayakody said.

The early-morning rescue came amid stepped up naval patrols to deter Sri Lankan fishing boats from taking would-be illegal immigrants to Australia.

Authorities arrested more than 1,200 people trying to leave the island illegally last year. Many of those who make the perilous journey pay up to $3,000 for a place on trawlers run by people-smugglers.

Warnakulasuriya said the passengers rescued on Sunday identified themselves as Bangladeshi and Myanmar nationals but it was not yet known where they came from or were headed.

Reports from local fishermen alerted fishing authorities who in turn asked for help from the navy which mounted a 20-hour search and rescue operation, officials said.

They said it was unclear if those identified as Myanmar nationals were Rohingya -- members of a stateless Muslim minority described by the UN as one of the world's most persecuted groups -- who had fled Myanmar.

An explosion of tensions between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine since June 2012 has triggered an seaborne exodus of Rohingya.

Thailand's navy blocked more than 200 Rohingya boat people from entering the kingdom late last month as part of a new policy, under which they will be given food and water but barred from landing if their boat is seaworthy.

Sailors assist rescued survivors on a Sri Lanka Navy vessel at Oluvil harbour today. One passenger was found dead while many of the 138 plucked from the boat were dehydrated, said navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya, adding that the vessel had been adrift for 10 days before it sank on Sunday.

Sailors help rescued survivors at Oluvil fisheries harbour in eastern Sri Lanka today. Fifteen of the survivors, including two women and two children, were hospitalised with acute dehydration, police said in a statement.

Resettles over 130-Buddhist from Bangladesh

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Burmese government – Maungdaw district administration office and Township administration office - has resettled over 130 Buddhist from neighboring Bangladesh, are being resettled in Maungdaw Township, Arakan State recently, according to a local villager who denied to be named.

“Local authorities had welcomed 133-member of 44- family of Buddhist people - Rakhine, Maramagyi (Baroa) - hailed from Bandarban district of Bangladesh.  They are from Mosoni Para and Aye Maung Para of Bandarban, Bangladesh.”
The new comers were organized by some Rakhines from Arakan State to go to Arakan State luring them will  get many facilities in Arakan from government and local Rakhine community. The new comers are poor people, said another local villager. 
On 2nd January, 25-family and on 29th January 19-family crossed the Bangladesh- Burma border through Lemosari point (land border), said the villager quoting the new comers.
Of them 12 families were resettled at Zeadi Pyin village of Lone Done Village tract of Maungdaw north and the rest were also resettled in other Natala or Model villages, said a trader from Lone Don Village. 
State government provides them homes and two acres of farmland to each household which were confiscated earlier from Rohingya villagers for Natala villagers. They would be provided cows and rickshaws in future, the trader more added.
Newcomers were first being sheltered at a Buddhist monastery in Maungdaw town, where they received assistance from government before being transferred to the Natala villages of Maungdaw north.
On January 28, many Sayadaw (Buddhist monks) of Maungdaw Town went to Lone Done village tract to encourage them. In future, more Bangladeshi Rakhine, Baroa and Thet will go to Arakan from Bangladesh, said a Rohingya leader Maungdaw Town.
Local Rohingya villagers fear that there will be more harassment by the security forces regarding the new settlers. The authority will also seize many lands from Rohingya villagers to provide them.

Police arrest two villagers in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  Two Rohingya villagers were arrested and extorted by police recently over the allegation that they were involved in the violence occurred in June last year between Rohingya and Rakhine communities, said a close friend  of the victims on condition of anonymity.  
“The arrested were identified as Basa Meah (35), son of Fazal Rahman and Kala Meah( 26), son of Noor Mohamed. Both of them belong to Kilaidaung village of Maungdaw east.”
The first one was arrested by police on January 30, and the second man was on January 31 by police of Maungdaw police station, the friend added.
However, on January 30, in the evening, Basa Meah was released after taking Kyat 400,000 and two big cocks that cost at Kyat 15,000, said a relative of Basa Meah.
In similar way, Kala Meah was also released today in the morning, after taking Kyat 600,000.  Earlier, two months ago, his father was also arrested by police in the same allegation and was released after paying Kyat 700,000, said a relative of Kala Meah.
“If anyone is involved in any crimes, he will be arrested and inquired before giving punishment. Without any justification or inquiry, taking money and release means, a kind of discrimination and pushing them into poverty,” said a business man from the locality.
Though the violence between Rakhine and Rohingya was happened on June 8 last year, many Rohingya villagers—including youths even boys over 10-year, knowledgeable villagers, rich man were arrested while many villagers were killed by security forces accompanied by some racist Rakhine mobs and some were sent to jail where they have been tortured inhumanly. But, the concerned authorities are arresting Rohingya villagers regarding the riot, so far, said a political leader from Maungdaw Town. 
Not a single person of Rakhine community was arrested regarding the violence. So, this makes them encourage doing more attacks against the Rohingya community.  The government declared that security forces are being deployed in northern Arakan to control the violence between two communities.  The situation is eased overtly across the northern Arakan , but, covertly, the harassment against the Rohingya community is still going on, the leader more added.
Though the violence has been passed nearly eight months, the harassments of the security forces such as ---police, Nasaka (Burma’s border security force), army and Sarapa (Military Intelligence) --- have not been stopped against the Rohingya community, a trader from Maungdaw south said.
“After capricious arrest and torture, extorting money from villagers is a very solemn for the Rohingya community as they have no money and jobs while they have been kept in their villages,” said a villager elder who did not mention his name for security reason.

More lands confiscated in Maungdaw south

Maungdaw, Arakan State: More than 150 acres of arable lands were confiscated by the government authority and have provided to the Natala villagers in Maungdaw south recently, said a local farmer on condition of anonymity.

"They confiscated lands had already been grown winter paddy (paddy after paddy) by the farmers when it was seized by the authority. The all seized lands are belonging to Rohingya villagers of Sarcombo and Gudusora villages under the Maungdaw south.”
At present, the Natala villagers are tilling the paddy fields again to grow paddy in the fields after destroying previous cultivation by the Rohingya farmers, said a local farmer.
One of the farmers from Maungdaw rural area said, "We Rohingya farmers grow paddy in the rainy and winter seasons in our areas of Maungdaw south to improve rice production. “We are now more struggling for our family members as the government doesn't allow us to do anything.”
According to different sources, many Rohingyas have been starving from the shortage of food in Arakan State since June last year.
Sources also said, Rakhine community gets donation from different quarters of government, but Rohingya community doesn’t get anything from the government side in northern Arakan.
Since June 2012, Rohingya people have been keeping in their villages and the authority does not give them permission to do anything to support their family members. So they have no jobs and no works for earnings. At this moment, in southern side of Arakan State, Rohingya people get some relief from NGOs, but it is very inadequate.  Meanwhile, the northern side of the Rohingya people did not get any relief, said a local elder who denied to be named.
In this situation, the concerned authorities are killing innocent Rohingya villagers, looting property from villagers and also making arbitrarily arrest and extorting money from villagers by various torturing and threatening. In short, the whole Rohingya community is in dying position. How they will survive in Arakan State in future?, the local elder more added.

Young kid serious injures in motorbike accident

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  A young Rohingya kid critically injured in a motorbike accident on Maungaw- Bawli Bazar road on January 28, in the evening, according to a closed relative of the victim.
“Nuru (9), son of Hasan, hailed from Zambonia (Zinbow  Nyar) village under the Nasaka area No.6 of Maungdaw north is the young Rohingya kid.”
A  Rakhine primary school teacher name unknown drove a speedy motorbike made an accident with young Rohingya kid- Nuru - in front of the local Nasaka area No.6 commander office at about 2:15pm on January 28, while he was crossing the road, the relative more added.
The boy was seriously injured in his back-side, but he is still alive. Seeing the accident, the nearby villagers rushed to the spot and the motorcyclist ran away and entered the local Nasaka commander office, so the Nasaka personnel gave him protection from the villagers, said a local youth from the village.
However, the villagers appraised the matter to the Nasaka officer to get judgment, but the officer asked the villagers to go to their village and take treatment from local quack doctors. The officer also asked the villagers to inform him time to time of the improvement of the injured boy. But, the officer did not tell anything to the Rakhine schoolteacher.
“At least, the expenditure of the treatment must be paid by the Rakhine schoolteacher,“ said a business man from the locality.
A village elder said, “The road is clear at that time as the place is rural area and there is no many cars on the road. It is impossible to make and accident. I have suspicion on this accident.”