Excerpt from the speech of MP U Shwe Maung @ Abdul Razak ( Part-1 )

(14th day of regular session of Parliament on 25 July 2012 in Naypyitaw )
1. The MP discussed according the following points..
a. Root causes of eruption of violence
b. Factors contributing the escalation of violence for weeks
c. Prevention of repetition of similar violence and peaceful coexistence
d. Current situation of Arakan and to continue President’s 144 ( State of Emergency) in effected area

2. The MP told that it was very unfortunate to see some MPs discussed racial and religious hatred (on Muslims) instead of containing the conflict and peace building process in the parliament earlier. He gave thanks to Mr Speaker for recalling etiquette of the parliament reminding those unruly MPs.

3. The MP told that he has the responsibility to give real scenario to the 60 million population of Burma on ongoing propaganda against Muslim in Arakan State. Historical context: Arakan has a long history with independent kingdom. The relationship between Arakan and Chittagong had been very close until Burmese occupation (in 1785). Once, both regions were under the same rule for 200 years. Population movement form one to other (and vice versa) was a common phenomenon. In one occasion Arakan King Min Saw Mu fled Begal in fear of Burmese aggression. Arakan King was later reinstated to Arakan in Mrauk –Oo ( Myo Haung) with the help of strong Muslim army ( 30,000) led by General Sandi Khan. Despite all those solid historical facts, The Muslims were given the impression such a way that as if they came to Burma illegally yesterday or during British occupation ( as widely appears in state and local media).

4. Population movement across the border is not limited during British occupation period only but it has been there for more than a thousand year. It is not unusual those living in North Arakan were similar physical appearance to those in Chittagong district. There are Rakhine Buddhist, Muslims, Khami, Daiknak , Mro and Thek and Chakma ethnics within Arakan ( Burma) territory. The same different ethnicities can also be found in the Chiittagong territory. During Burmese aggression, several Rakhine Buddhist took refuge to Awakyun under Chittagong. Quite recently, researchers found ancient Arakan Shipwreck in Bangladesh. The current Ambassador of Bangladesh to Burma is Chakma, descendent of Arakan. Rakhine (Buddhist) can also be found in India. The Rohingya issue is very simple but due to propaganda, it is complicated and creating instability in Arakan. The same scenario can be found in several other frontiers of Burma such as Kachin , Shan, Karen and other territories. While Muslims in Arakan are under several allegation of illegal immigration and denial of citizenship, Rahine Buddist and other ethnics in Bangladesh side are enjoying full citizenship rights. It is very ridiculous to see Muslims are discriminated and denied rights in Arakan. Current Problem can only be solved based on true history of Arakan before British occupation and wiliness to give due share to the fellow citizens. Otherwise this problem would be repeating indefinitely.

5. There have been several propaganda such as “illegal invasion”, “no Rohingya in Burma ”,” illegal immigrants are creating problems” etc.. It is better to focus on “those people in this region are citizens or not” instead of debating “whether there are Rohingya in Burma or not”. There were several operation to scrutinise citizenship in Northern Arakan after independence, namely Sabe, KyiKan, NagaMin, etc.. . The (Muslim) population is nothing left to be scrutinized. The authorities started replacing new “Nationality Scrutiny Cards” with older (National Identification Card” in 1990 but it was halted due to unknown reason. Now those Muslims are labelled non-citizens just because of not having identification cards. “Qualified to be citizen” and “issuing ID cards” are two separate activities. It is important to know that someone cannot be qualified as a citizen just after only having the citizenship card. Those who are qualified to be citizens are the citizens and deserved to have ID cards”.

(Part 2: initial incident and factors contributing the escalation of violence for weeks: to be continued)

(I would like to declare here clearly that I am not a supporter of USDP and I strongly condemn President Thein Sein particularly for his recent blunder on Rohingya with UNHCR Chief. However, I am just sharing some valid points in U Shwe Maung’s speech. Please ignore any spelling/grammar mistakes. I am voluntarily translating this some friends and sympathisers of Rohingyas are willing to know the speech that delivered in Burmese. )

Authority preparing to prove no violence in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  The authority display army in all part of Maungdaw to keep no violence since yesterday, said an elder from Maungdaw.

“Some army is stationed near the market of Maungdaw and other areas, some Rohingya are going to market to buy foodstuff for their home when army has taken security in the town. The army also sells rice to the Rohingya since yesterday in Maungdaw.”
“The rice sacks which Rohingya buy from army, are taking to their home, but the police personnel are collecting toll from these rice sacks.”
“The police personnel –Assistant police officer Aye htun Sein and sergeant Than Maung Gyi- stationed near the clock tower and collecting toll from Rohingya who return from Maungdaw market.”
“The security personnel collect 1000 kyats per sack of rice who take for his home and sometimes the security personnel hijacked Rohingya who has money. The police personnel take him to the electric generator compound and toke all the belonging from Rohingya.”
If the armies also take position at clock tower, the Rohingya will able to move freely from this area, said a school teacher.
“Suddenly, the authorities change their plan of no foods for Rohingya is a showcase to prove the visiting  UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur, Tomas Ojea Quintana .”
The authority also preparing to kept fake Rakhine refugees in the refugee centers in Maungdaw to show the difficulty of Rakhine community in Maungdaw. Actually, the Rohingya community is refugees as IDPs in their villages and not getting foods and medicines as they lost everything during the riot.
The UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur, Tomas Ojea Quintana wish to find out the real facts, he must meet the Rohingya from villages or must visit Rohingya villages if he had times to see the Rohingya life after riot in Maungdaw, said  an elder from Maungdaw.
“The authority will give to meet him with some Rohingya who are the puppet of authority.”
“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, Navi Pillay, said in a news release stated in UN.org website.
“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 [Muslim] community,” she added.
Ms. Pillay welcomed the Special Rapporteur’s visit, but noted that “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.”

OIC AMBASSADOR AT THE UN EXPRESSES SERIOUS CONCERNS OVER SITUATION IN ARAKAN

The OIC Ambassador HE Ufuk Gokcen expressed serious concern over the deteriorating situation in Arakan in a meeting with Prof. Dr. Wakar Uddin, the Director General of Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU) and the Chairman of the Burmese Rohingya Association of North America (BRANA), and Nay San Oo, the Information Secretary of BRANA and the Co-founder of Free Rohingya Campaign, at the OIC Mission at the United Nations. 

In response to the questions by the HE Ambassador, Dr. Uddin provided detailed accounts of the current crisis in Arakan and the most immediate needs of the Rohingya victims in Northern Arakan State. Dr. Uddin and Nay San Oo explained how the brutal murders of Rohingya men, women, and children by Buddhist Rakhine vigilantes recently has transitioned to massive arrests, torture, and cold blooded murders of innocent Rohingya men by Burmese police, Lon Htein, and Nasaka forces in jails. They further explained how the State of Emergency imposed by Burmese government in Arakan is taking toll on Rohingya as they cannot go out of their houses in search of food and medicine even during day time as the Rakhine mobs are continuously attacking and looting Rohingya while Burmese police forces are providing coverage for Rakhine. “ The Rakhine are not obeying the state of emergency law, and they are roaming the streets and looting Rohingya houses. The imposition of state of emergency is providing leverage for Rakhine and crippling the Rohingya. These are compelling evidences of how the Burmese government has manipulated the situation in favor of Rakhine through this state of emergency law to further marginalize Rohingya” Dr. Uddin stated. “The Burmese forces are raiding Rohingya houses and taking the male adults away to unknown destinations. There are numerous cases of assault on Rohingya women and rapes by Burmese forces, particularly where men of the households were taken away by the Burmese forces” he added. Dr. Uddin has appealed to the HE Ambassador to assist the international community in rapid mobilization of the food aid to Rohingya as the Burmese forces are diverting the current aid supplies to Rakhine. He has also given the accounts of numerous mosques gutted and others shut down in Arakan by the Burmese government - not allowing Rohingya to pray and arresting Imams in several locations. 

ARAKAN ROHINGYA UNION (ARU) DIRECTOR GENERAL BRIEFS AT THE UN  

On the same day, in the afternoon, Dr. Uddin and Nay San Oo were invited to the United Nations for a closed-door briefing on the current situation in Arakan. The briefing was conducted through audio-visual presentation, beginning with demographic background information on Rohingya, some highlights of the roles of Rohingya in the multi-ethnic political process during the post-colonial periods of Burma, how the military dictatorship have systematically revoked the citizenship of Rohingya, the persistent human rights violations and persecution of Rohingya by the Burmese government forces, coordinated ethnic cleansing in Rohingya areas in Arakan, the ultra-nationalist and racist ideology of Rakhine as a compounding factor, implication of Burmanization schemes in ethnic minority areas in Burma, and the current ongoing violence and genocide against Rohingya in Arakan. Dr. Uddin stressed the serious needs of humanitarian aid such as food, shelter, and medicine as the current aid supplies are not reaching Rohingya people. Additionally, the Rakhine vigilantes are robbing food from Rohingya, if there is any remnant left in Rohingya’s possession. Further, Dr. Uddin made an urgent appeal the UN to intensify its efforts in Arakan and to demand Burmese Government to allow immediate deployment of UN personnel, particularly a commission of enquiry and peacekeeping/monitoring team, in Arakan State. In conclusion, Dr. Uddin stressed “we are running out of time, people are dying in the open and in jails of horror - please initiate the deployment of UN personnel in affected areas urgently”.

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.