UN calls for inquiry into Myanmar riots

UN human rights chief says forces sent to quash violence in Rakhine state were reported to be targeting Muslims.

Clashes between Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas, which erupted in June, has left at least 78 people dead

The UN human rights chief has called for a “prompt and independent” investigation into the ethnic violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. Navi Pillay said on Friday that an initial move by Myanmar security forces to quash violence in the restive Rakhine state has reportedly turned into a crackdown against Muslim minorities. "We have been receiving a stream of reports from independent sources alleging discriminatory and arbitrary responses by security forces, and even their instigation of and involvement in clashes," the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement. "Reports indicate that the initial swift response of the authorities to the communal violence may have turned into a crackdown targeting Muslims, in particular members of the Rohingya community." Clashes between Buddhist ethnic Rakhine and Muslim Rohingya communities which erupted early June in the western Myanmar state has left at least 78 people dead and 70,000 homeless, Pillay's office said, according to official figures. Unofficial estimates of the death toll were higher, her office added. Pillay urged the government to "prevent and punish violent acts" and said she was dismayed at the derogatory language used against the Rohingya by state and some independent media, as well as by some users of social networking websites. While welcoming Myanmar's invitation to UN investigator Tomas Ojea Quintana to visit from July 30 to August 4, Pillay said it was "no substitute for a fully-fledged independent investigation" into the Rakhine violence. She also pointed out that it was "important that those affected from all communities in Rakhine are able to speak freely" to Quintana. An estimated 800,000 Rohingya live in Myanmar, and the government considers them to be foreigners while many citizens see them as illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh and view them with hostility.

CHRONOLOGY:THE TIMELINE OF BURMA'S ROHINGYA HISTORY IN ARAKAN | Prof.Dr Abid Bahar

Professor Dr. Abid Bahar teaches in Dawson College ,Canada

ROHINGYA ORIGIN IN THE ANCIENT KINGDOM OF ARAKAN 

Arakani researcher San Shwe Bu thinks the Chandras were from Hindu dynasty but later on converted to Mohayana Buddhism. According to him the king and the people both were of Indian origin. The coins of Wasali had the image of Siva engraved on it. M.S. Collins says, “The coins of Wasali were in pure Brahminical tradition.”

The Indian Chandra aristocracy called the ancient dark skinned people of Arakan as the Rakkhasas.

788 During the reign of Arakani Indian Chandra King Mahat Sing Daya’s time recorded in the royal chronicle that several Arab ships wracked on Ramree Island. "Survivors were sent to Arakan proper and settled in villages." Similar Arab settlements were recorded in the other parts of southern part of Chittagong.

785-957 Arab traders began to settle both in Arakan and Chittagong of present Bangladesh. Inter mixture with the local population led to the first Chandra-Rohingyas of Arakan. During this time, in both Arakan and Chittagong, the influence of Sanskrit, Pali, Arabic, Persi, Portuguese combined together eventually formed the Chandra-Rohingya dialect which is similar to the Chittagonian dialect with their slight variations. The same dialect is also spoken by the Chakmas, and the Tanchaingyas of Chittagong Hill Tracts. The reason must be that all these ethnic groups despite their racial differences were the citizens of ancient Chandra kingdom.

9th Century Chandra invasion of Chittagong; Hindus of Chittagong believe that Muslims have changed the original Sanskrit name of Chittagong from "Chatta gram" into "Chaitigaon." However, the Arakani historians claim that the name Chittagong was originally given by an Arakanese king. It says, an Arakani king eracted a pillar at Chittagong in the nineth century A. D. with a remark "to make war is improper." It is true during this time a Chandra king (not a Mogh king) ruled Arakan. There was no Mogh Rakine kingdom in Arakan yet. Arakan was ruled by Chanda king Shoe Ratan. The language of the king was not the Burmese Moghhi "Tsit-ta-gungin", "to make war is improper" as was made up later on. To make war improper seem an unlikely slogan by a fighter king. The original statement "to make war is improper" seems more like the declaration of a peace treaty between two parties than as it is presented as the declaration of a victory by an Arakani king. Under the circumstance of the nonexistance of Burmese language in Arakan, instead of the Burmese "Tsit-ta-gungin", it would seem that the Chandras used Sanskrit language "Shoukeet Thakom" (in English meaning "We live in peace") The latter expression in Chittagonian or in Chandra-Rohingya language seems historically more consistent. But one might wonder how this misinterpretation of a huge magnitude "Tsit-ta-gungin", "to make war is improper" remained as truth for so long? Many of the contemporary research on Arakan show that after the event of 1784, Burmese invasion of Arakan, Burmese king took the Arakani chronocles to Burma proper. The Arakani Sanskrit chronicles were rewritten in Burmese along with a tendentious interpretation of events entered into Arakani history.

Myanmar: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay concerned about human rights situation in Rakhine state

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay 

GENEVA (27 July 2012) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Friday raised serious concerns about ongoing human rights violations in Myanmar’s Rakhine state after the violence between the Buddhist and Muslim communities there, urging a prompt, independent investigation.

The latest instability in Rakhine state was triggered on 28 May, when an ethnic Rakhine woman was raped and murdered. This was followed by the killing of 10 Muslims by an unidentified mob on 3 June. According to official figures, over 70,000 people have been displaced in the ensuing violence. At least 78 have died, although unofficial estimates are higher.

“We have been receiving a stream of reports from independent sources alleging discriminatory and arbitrary responses by security forces, and even their instigation of and involvement in clashes,” Pillay said. “Reports indicate that the initial swift response of the authorities to the communal violence may have turned into a crackdown targeting Muslims, in particular members of the Rohingya community."

The High Commissioner said the crisis highlighted the long-standing and systemic discrimination against the Rohingya Muslim community, who are not recognised by the State and remain stateless.

“The Government has a responsibility to prevent and punish violent acts, irrespective of which ethnic or religious group is responsible, without discrimination and in accordance with the rule of law,” Pillay said, expressing dismay at the derogatory language used against the Rohingya by state media, some independent media, and by some users of social networking websites.

She noted earlier commitments by the Government to conduct an investigation, and a recent fact-finding mission by the Myanmar Human Rights Commission.

"I also welcome the Government's decision to allow the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar access to Rakhine State during his planned mission to Myanmar next week. It is important that those affected from all communities in Rakhine are able to speak freely to the Special Rapporteur," the High Commissioner said. "But while he will be able to make an initial assessment during his one-day visit, this is no substitute for a fully-fledged independent investigation."

She also called on all national leaders to speak out against discrimination, the exclusion of minorities and racist attitudes, and in support of equal rights for all in Myanmar, and stressed that the United Nations was making an effort to protect and assist all communities in Rakhine State.

“Prejudice and violence against members of ethnic and religious minorities run the risk of dividing the country in its commendable national reconciliation efforts, undermine national solidarity, and upset prospects of peace-building," the High Commissioner said.

Muslim Groups Increasingly Worried About Fate of Burma's Rohingyas | William Gallo

A Muslim Indonesian holds a banner during a protest in front of the Burma Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 13, 2012.

Muslim groups worldwide are increasing pressure on the Burmese government to stop human rights abuses committed against ethnic Rohingya Muslims. 

The plight of the technically stateless group in Burma's western Rakhine state has long been a concern of the global Muslim community. But attention has intensified in recent weeks after longstanding tensions erupted between the Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, leaving dozens dead and tens of thousands displaced.

Rights groups such as Amnesty International say Rohingyas are the victims of state-sanctioned violence and discrimination in a country that has a long history of mistreating ethnic minorities.

But others, including the government of Iran, have gone much further, calling the conflict a religiously inspired "genocide" and spreading what observers say are doctored photos and fabricated stories of the conflict.

Several extremist groups have also joined the conversation, including the Pakistani Taliban, which on Thursday threatened to attack Burma to avenge the abuses against the Rohingya population.

Outside pressure may not help

Increased attention from Muslims globally could help pressure Burma's government to give more rights to Rohingyas, says Jim Della-Giacoma of the International Crisis Group. But he adds that it could also make the situation worse.

"This is an issue around which Burmese or ethnically Burman nationals rally around, and that is part of the problem," says Della-Giacoma. "So any sort of threats from outside groups would only enforce or harden that nationalism and definitely not help the problem."

Rohingyas reject Taliban threats

Maung Kyaw Nu, a former political prisoner turned activist who works with Burmese Rohingya Association of Thailand, says he not only doubts the threat of an attack should be taken seriously, but the message runs counter to his group's goal of a peaceful solution.

"Even we don't like it," he says. "You know my political attitude toward Burma is to restore the peace and the rule of law so that we don't like this kind of group, and we condemn them, you know, not only regarding Burma, regarding any area particular area in the world."

Despite the rejection from some prominent Rohingyas, Chris Lewa of the Arakan Project, an NGO that monitors Rohingya issues, says there may already be repercussions from the outside threats. Lewa said that Burma's military reportedly arrested 38 Muslim religious leaders in northern Rakhine state Thursday following the terror threat by the Taliban.

"It appears that [the Burmese military] has responded in arresting a number of imams and mullahs from Maungdaw and Buthidaung along the border with Bangladesh," says Lewa, who says a number of other religious leaders have been arrested recently in a crackdown seemingly aimed at preventing protests during the religiously important month of Ramadan.

The violence and discrimination against Rohingyas is not genocide or ethnic cleansing, according to Lewa, who says such exaggerations are partly the result of recent statements from Burmese President Thein Sein. The president said earlier this month that deportation or refugee camps were the only solutions for the Rohingyas, who are denied citizenship in both Burma and neighboring Bangladesh.

Not just about religion

Benjamin Zawacki, a Burma researcher at Amnesty International, insists that it would be a mistake to view the conflict through only religious lenses, saying it should be viewed in the wider context of Burma's struggles with ethnic minority groups.

"I think that religion is clearly a part, but my assessment is that it is more secondary than it is primary in terms of why these violations and this discrimination takes place," says Zawacki.

Not only do Rohingya have a clearly different physical appearance from the majority of Burmese, says Zawacki, they have also adopted what some consider to be a "foreign" or "minority" religion.

But he says the widespread prejudice and discrimination against Rohingyas in Burmese society is partly the offspring of government policies that limit the rights of the minority group.

"If you look at the sort of discrimination that Rohingyas have faced for decades, it's very much part of the institution," says Zawacki. "The restrictions on marriage, the restriction on education, the restriction on movement - these are all systems within Myanmar [Burma] society."

Zawacki says these kinds of policies have the effect of making Burmese citizens feel they are justified in treating Rohingyas differently from other groups. Rights groups such as Amnesty International say the crisis can begin to be resolved when Burma amends its 1982 citizenship law that says Rohingyas are not citizens.

Many were encouraged that democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi this week called for laws to protect the rights of ethnic minorities. But Zawacki said she should go a step further, and clearly state that Rohingyas should receive the same rights as all other Burmese citizens.

Update News of July 27, 2012

Relocate Rohingya villages, arrest Rohingya villagers, torture and sent to Buthidaung Jail
Rathedaung
On July 25, at around 9:00 am, army accompanied by some local Rakhines forcibly relocated Upper Kyang Daung village of Rathedaung township. It has over 50 houses and the children and old people were facing very difficulties while the armies forcibly vacated them from their houses due to heavy rain, according to villagers.

However, the villagers are temporarily taking shelter in nearby three Rohingya villages–   Sowarp Prang, Auk Nanra Gon (Raza Bill) and Pring Daung villages.
The army has established temporarily camp at Raza Bill village since July 25. Earlier, they stayed at Zedi Pyin Buddhist monastery. They are observing the situation of the village.
The relocated villagers are facing —shelter, food and medicine crisis– as they are not allowed to go market to buy rice and other essentials.
According to government officials, in Rathedaung Township, four refugee camps are established for Rakhine community. No refugees center for Rohingya in Rathedaung. All the Rakhine family members from the town are kept in the refugee camps to show the higher officials who will visit the Rathedaung Township. Their aims are to get rations from donors and to show international community by taking fake photos. Four Rohingya villages were burned down by police, Hluntin with the help of local Rakhines. Only Rakhine community attacked the Rohingya villages and publishing Rohingya attacked Rakhine community where the authority kept the Rakhine community in the refugee camps to show and to publish.
The state of emergency was declared in Rakhine state (Arakan State) by the union government on June 10 and the curfew was imposed by the state government on June 8, 2012.
“The situation is now backing to normal completely, said government official.” Why did the concerned authorities relocate Rohingya villages and arrest Rohingya villagers, so far?, said  a villager.
Besides, Thara Pyin village of Rathedaung Township was burned down on June 21. It has 155 houses, of them 100 houses were burned down. Thami Hla was also burned down on June 14 by police, Hluntin and Army with the cooperation of some local Rakhines. There are also three other villages—Prin Daung, Kudo Chaung and Sao Pyin were burned down.
Maungdaw Township:
Md. Juhar (28), son of Fazalul Haque, hailed from Maung Ni village of Maungdaw Township was arrested by Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) at about 5:30 pm yesterday. After arrest, he was severely tortured and the villagers believe that he will die.
People are not allowed to buy rice so far in Maungdaw Township. So, the people are facing starvation in the holy month of Ramadan.
According to government official, it will stop the state sponsored emergency, when the situation is calm. In fact, there is no untoward incident, now, only the government harasses and arrests the Rohingya community without any provocation. They are culprits and the judge. Rakhine leaders and some of the officials ordered to the local Rakhines not to sell any rations to Rohingya Muslims. If anyone is found to be selling rice to Rohingyas, he/she will be punished.
Rakhine leaders and some of the officials ordered to the local Rakhines not to sell any rations to Rohingya Muslims. If anyone is found to be selling rice to Rohingyas, he/she will be punished.
During the last few days, government authorities have step up arresting many Rohingyas, including religious teachers and village leaders after inviting them to a meeting.
Five religious leaders who were arrested by Nasaka of Area No. 6 of Maungdaw Township on July 22, inviting them to a meeting were sent to Buthidaung Jail yesterday.
Besides, Mohamed Johar son of Muktar, acting village administration officer of Bagona village and its member Syed alam were arrested by Nasaka of Magyi Chaung  on July 26 while attending meeting which was called by Nasaka. The arrestees persons’ information are not known till now the report filed.
Police office Than Htay and his collaborator, Syed Kaseim  are harassing the villagers of Myothigyi everyday to extort money from villagers. The police officer  asked money without any filing case, just said give money or will arrest.
Buthidaung Township:
In Buthidaung Jail, 31 prisoners died.  Prisoners were severely tortured by concerned authorities of the jail. There are over 572 Rohingya prisoners, arrested from Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships recently.   Most of them have been tortured, leaving without food and drink which leading to death. It is learnt that some of the prisoners have been living without clothes. Many Rohingyas were killed in jail and the dead bodies were not returned to their family members, according to a reliable source.
In every town, Rohingya people are not allowed to go out from their villages across the Arakan state. So, the people are dying daily as they are not able to buy any food. Rohingya  People have been keeping in a big cage like birds since last June, and whenever the concerned authority wants to arrest them, they get out from the cage and torture and send to jail over false and fabricated allegations.
The government authorities are killing Rohingyas by cutting the rations. Today, Arakan State becomes silent killing field.
In Sittwe, people have been suffering from food crisis since the incident was occurred. Rohingyas are not allowed to buy food from the market.  Children, old and wounded people have been suffering from food and medicine crisis most. The International Community must take action immediately to save Rohingya lives, said an elder from Akyab.

Locals collect tolls from the refugee woodcutters

Ukhiya, Bangladesh: A group of Local goons are collecting from the refugee woodcutters who go to forest to collect firewood, said a refugee from Kutupalong camp.

“Some local goons go to forest and collect tolls from the official and unofficial refugees. They collect taka 20 to 30 per head.”
A registered refugee Mostafa Kamal (30), block-G of Kutupalong official camp accompanied by other refugees went to the forest to collect firewood on July 24. They couldn’t pay money the local goons who collect money as the goons were not present in the morning that day, said another refugee.
He returned with firewood alone at noon while the local goons met him and asked money. He wanted to pay money 20 taka, but they didn’t satisfied. They demanded him to pay 2000 taka as punishment for  denied.
Suddenly, a dacoit Shajahan of Modur Chara of Kutupalong started severally beating Mostafa Kamal with axe till become unconscious.
On hearing cry and scream, some refugee youths went to the spot and recovered him, but local goons ran away. He is treated in the Kutupalong refugee clinic.
According to refugees, some local goons have been collecting tolls from the unofficial and official refugees for long times.
Besides, local people hijacked two truck loaded of rice bags where an NGO distributed rice to the unregistered refugees of Kutupalong makeshift camp on July 26 morning, according to a refugee of camp. “The NGO brought three trucks with ful load of rice bags and they only distributed one truck and the rest two trucks attacked and looted by local where the local had also beaten the refugees where the refugees tried to stop the trucks.”

Mass arrest going continuous in Maungdaw

In Maungdaw Township, the arrest of Rohingya Muslims is going on by Hluntin (riot police) and police personnel everyday while they are passing days and nights in their houses as Internal Displace Persons (IDPs) without getting any foodstuffs from any quarter. They are not allowed to go out from their villages to buy any food items from the markets; even Rakhine villagers do not sell rice to the Rohingya villagers. As a result, most of the villagers are starving and children and old people are dying every day, according to an elder from Maungdaw.

“A group of police personnel accompanied by Hluntin (riot police) went to the Ward No.5 of Maungdaw Town and arrested— UlLa Meah (62), the ex-village chairman, son of custom Mohamed Amin, Mohamed Eliyas (50), son of Bodi Uzaman and Sayed Alam (31), son of Lukman Hakim from their home while raided the village.A youth aged (22) was also arrested but released later before leaving a village.”
“The police made a list of villagers or town dwellers to be arrested in next time in every village and Quarter, at least 30 to 40 people are included in the list. The police occasionally went to the villages to arrest the villagers; this is another tactics to arrest and to give harassment to the Rohingya villagers.”
Besides, on July 24, six Sarapa (Army Intelligence) went to Jubair house of Maung Nama village under Nasaka area No.6 of Mauungdaw by car and looked for Jubair, but they did not find him. However, they took away Kyat 1.5 million, some of tiger shrimps, a watch, one TV set and other goods from his house, according to a villager.
Similarly, the Nasaka with their collaborators – Kawlim Ullah , present village administration officer of  Kyaukpinseik ( Naribill) and Salim Ullah are harassing  the village to extort money  with false allegation of involving in the recent riot, according to an elder from the village. “The two collected kyat 200,000 -300000 kyat per head. If anyone refused to pay the money, he will arrested by Nasaka. The villagers who had given the money to them are;- Hafez Mohamed Tawyub,35, son of Ahmed shirf, Abdul Majed, 20, son of Sultan,Shawfique,24, son of Shuna Ali, Jabir, 20, son of  Shawfi Rahaman,Rahamat Ullah, 35, son of Abbas Ali,Shuna Meah, 50, son of Syed Karim, Rawbe Ullah,20, son of Abdu Sukur,Feran Ali, 24, Abdul Amin, Hafez Abdul Salam,28, son of Syed Abubakar,Moulana Syed Islam, 27, son of Mohamed Salam, Jafor, 28, son of Sultan,Jawshim,26, son of Abdul Gafor, Salim, 25, son of Kala and Hussein Ahmed, 30, Abul Bashar,”
The Nasaka, army with the collaboration of U Sein Maung, the present Village administration officer frequently went to Oo Daung Village and looted rice, fowls, and other goods from the village. Earlier, 42 villagers were arrested but 15 villagers were released after paying. However, two villagers were re-arrested from released villagers. It is learnt that, the concerned authorities have to arrest more villagers.
In addition, on July 15, a group of Sarapa from Maungdaw Town went to Bawli Bazar of Maungdaw north and arrested Mohamed (30), son of Mogul Ahmed, the ex-village Chairman, Mohame Enus (32), a small trader and Jaffar (35), a small trader. The reason is not known to their relatives why they were arrested.