Britain renews call to Myanmar to release Suu Kyi

  Myanmar activists shout slogans during a rally demanding the immediate release of their pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, May 30, 2009. Detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi urgently needs medical attention in the Myanmar prison where she is being held, her party said Friday, while closing arguments in her trial were delayed until the end of next week. (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)

By Vijay Joshi Associated Press Writer / May 30, 2009

 

SINGAPORE—Britain renewed its call for Myanmar’s military junta to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying Sunday that people around the world support her and her followers’ struggle for democracy.

Britain’s Minister for International Defense and Security Ann Taylor used a high-profile regional meeting to show solidarity with Suu Kyi, whose trial for allegedly violating the terms of her house arrest has drawn international outrage.

“The people of Burma have suffered half a century of isolation and conflict,” Taylor said, using the former name of Myanmar.

“But Aung San Suu Kyi is not alone. People all around are standing with her and the Burmese people,” she told the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual forum of defense ministers, academics, experts and analysts.

Suu Kyi’s supporters fear that the military junta will use the trial to keep her in detention through next year’s elections, which it claims are part of its “roadmap to democracy.” But few believe that the generals will readily give up power.

Suu Kyi, who has been in detention without trial for more than 13 of the past 19 years, has pleaded not guilty but faces up to five years in jail if convicted for sheltering American John W. Yettaw after he secretly swam to her lakeside residence in early May.

“The continued imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi is a reminder that we cannot take for granted the institutions of democracy. We say to the generals: Now is the time for transition to democracy, starting with the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.”

Suu Kyi’s party overwhelmingly won the last elections held in 1990 but was not allowed to take power by the military, which has run the country since 1962.

Taylor’s comments came as the European Union was talking of introducing tougher sanctions in response to the trial. The administration of President Barack Obama has also announced it will continue its economic penalties.

Obama renewed sanctions, which were set to expire, against the country after Suu Kyi’s arrest.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2009/05/30/britain_renews_call_to_myanmar_to_release_suu_kyi/?rss_id=Boston.com+–+Latest+news

 

US intruder to Suu Kyi home acted alone: lawyer

A US man who swam to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi was not paid by or taking orders from any outside organisation, his lawyer said ahead of final arguments in the trial of Myanmar’s democracy icon.

Myanmar’s military regime has expressed scepticism over John Yettaw’s explanation for his visit to the Nobel laureate’s lakeside home, with one official suggesting that the American was a “secret agent or her boyfriend.”

But lawyer Khin Maung Oo said the devout Mormon was a “sincere and pious” person who believed God had told him to warn Aung San Suu Kyi and the government after he had a vision that she would be assassinated.

“There is no issue of him acting on someone’s instruction to him or that some organisation provided money to him to do so,” Khin Maung Oo said of his client, who like Aung San Suu Kyi faces up to five years in jail.

“As far as I know, he’s a very sincere and pious person. He cooperated with the court. He answered the same during the interrogation and at the trial,” he told AFP.

The lawyer added that photos taken by the American in Aung San Suu Kyi’s house — which the prosecution have focused on during the trial — were “just to show his daughter, not for publicity or not to communicate to anyone.”

Hearings in the mostly closed trial of Aung San Suu Kyi and Yettaw have been adjourned until Friday when lawyers will present their closing arguments. The trial has drawn international condemnation.

Yettaw, a former US military veteran, testified in court last week that he had a dream in which Aung San Suu Kyi was killed by “terrorists” and that he swam across the lake using a pair of homemade flippers to alert her.

Last month Myanmar’s consul general in Hong Kong posted a letter on the Internet saying that “we have no idea whether he is either secret agent or her boyfriend.”

The country’s deputy defence minister, Major General Aye Myint, said Sunday that Aung San Suu Kyi had deliberately covered up the visit.

Khin Maung Oo said Yettaw’s story about his reasons for his bizarre night-time swim across Yangon’s Inya Lake on May 4 had been consistent both under interrogation and when his client testified last week.

“He did not deny entering (the house). He said he came here on God’s mission to warn Senior General Than Shwe (the leader of Myanmar’s ruling junta) and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” he said.

“He said he came to warn that she could be assassinated by some terrorists. He said he had his vision in the state of trance. If he had failed to do so, Aung San Suu Kyi could be lost and the government will also lose dignity.”

Khin also said his 53-year-old client was a Vietnam War veteran who has post-traumatic stress syndrome, diabetes and heart disease.

Aung San Suu Kyi has branded the trial as biased and said that she allowed Yettaw to have “temporary shelter” for a night. She blamed Myanmar authorities for the intrusion, saying they failed to provide proper security.

The opposition leader has spent 13 of the last 19 years in detention.

Her party won Myanmar’s last elections, in 1990, but the result was never honoured by the military, which has ruled the country since 1962.

http://news.my.msn.com/topstories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3352715

WITHDRAW ABSURD CHARGES AGAINST AUNG SAN SUU KYI – RELEASE IMMEDIATELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN BURMA’ ,

Dear Editors,

 

It would be greatly appreciated if you could cause the following Joint Statement entitled ‘WITHDRAW ABSURD CHARGES AGAINST AUNG SAN SUU KYI – RELEASE IMMEDIATELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN BURMA’ , w hich is now being issued by the 23 Malaysian organisations listed below, to be publiched in your publication.

 In solidarity,

 Charles Hector

Pranom Somwong(Bee)

H/P: 019-2371300

 ————————————————–

 Media Statement – 16/5/2009

 WITHDRAW ABSURD CHARGES AGAINST AUNG SAN SUU KYI

RELEASE IMMEDIATELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN BURMA

We, the undersigned, are shocked that Aung San Suu Kyi has now been absurdly charged for the offence of breaking the terms of her house arrest, in particular the condition that forbids visitors, after an American man, swam across the lake and entered her house uninvited and refused to leave.

 Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her two assistants were reported to have been charged on 14/5/2009 with breach of detention under Section 22 of the Law Safeguarding the State from the Dangers of Subversive Elements, and their trial is scheduled to begin on Monday (18/5/2009) in an Insein Prison special court set up to handle political dissidents.

American, John William Yettaw, 53, of Falcon, Missouri swam across Inya Lake on the night of May 3 and left the compound early on the night of May 5, swimming a distance of about 2 kilometers. Authorities arrested him later that morning.

In Burma , it is also against the law for a foreigner to stay in the home of a Burmese citizen overnight without approval from authorities.

 Dr. Tin Myo Win, Suu Kyi’s family physician, also will allegedly be charged in connection with Yettaw’s  staying in Suu Kyi’s compound overnight. Yettaw himself is also expected to be charged, presumably for violating one of Burma ’s  internal security laws.

Aung San Suu Kyi and her two assistants, have been taken from her home and is   currently being detained in the infamous Insein Prison since 14/5/2009.

 Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, 63, the leader of the National League for Democracy(NLD), has spent 13 of the past 19 years in virtual isolation in her home since the Burmese military junta refused to recognise NLD’s landslide victory in the country’s last elections in 1990.

The most recent, six-year period of detention is due to end on May 27. The junta’s justification for keeping her locked away under the provisions of this draconian 1975 national security law was to protect the state from “destructive elements”. Many speculate that this recent incident was created or being manipulated to discredit Suu Kyi and provide justification for the military government to extend her house arrest again.

 We call for the immediate withdrawal of this absurd charge levied against Aung San Suu Kyi, and her 2 assistants;

 We also call for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Burma ;

We call for ASEAN and ASEAN member governments, including Malaysia, to immediately intervene and urge the government of Burma to respect human rights, and to adhere to the numerous United Nations resolutions, including General Assembly Resolution 49/197 [1995], which, amongst others, “…call on the Government of Myanmar to release unconditionally and immediately the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is now in her sixth year of detention without trial, and other political leaders and remaining political prisoners…’

We also call on the United Nations(UN), the European Union(EU) and all concerned nations to act for the immediate withdrawal of this absurd charge, to secure the immediate and unconditional release of all political detainees and to restore democracy and human rights to Burma and its peoples.

Charles Hector

Pranom Somwong

for and on behalf of the following 22  organisations,

All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)

Amnesty Malaysia

Burma Campaign , Malaysia

Civil Society Committee of LLG Cultural Development Centre (LLGCSC)

Coordination of Action Research on AIDS & Mobility (CARAM-ASIA )

Friends of Burma , Malaysia

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)

Migration Working Group (MWG)

Myanmar Refugee Volunteer Group (MRVG)

National Democratic Party for Human Rights  (NDPHR-Exile) Malaysia

National Institute for Electoral Intergrity (NIEI)

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)

Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS), Malaysia

Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)

Pusat KOMAS

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

Tenaganita

Workers Hub For Change (WH4C)

Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)

PROTEST OF THE ARREST OF DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI BY THE BURMA MILITARY REGIME.

 PRESS STATEMENT

15^th May 2009

 Dear Chief Editor,

PROTEST OF THE ARREST OF DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI BY THE BURMA MILITARY REGIME.

 Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM) strongly condemns the recent arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by the military regime. Her house arrest will be extended another 5-7 years after a journalist from the United States of America sneak into her house to interview her.

 The military regime fail to take into account her health conditions as well as her age when making the arrest. We are looking forward for her release at the end of May 2009. We hope with the end of her house arrest, it will bring a new hope for the people of Burma. But now she was taken away from us again. We were losing hope for the change in our country.

 Therefore we urge the ASEAN Countries, United States of America, European Union and International Community to strongly protest the arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The support from the International Community is very crucial and much needed at this critical time. The delay action will affect her health conditions and it can risk her live. If this happen, it will lead to a mass riot in Burma.

 We urge to the world leaders to act fast to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as it is an illegal arrest by the illegal government. Please act immediately to save her and the people of Burma.

 Thank you.

 Yours sincerely,

 Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani

President

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)

Tel No: 016-6827287

URGENT APPEAL TO THE ASEAN AND WORLD LEADERS TO SAVE ROHINGYAS.

PRESS STATEMENT

 

10^th April 2009

 

Dear Chief Editor,

 

URGENT APPEAL TO THE ASEAN AND WORLD LEADERS TO SAVE ROHINGYAS.

 

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM) is deeply concerned over the increase of the human rights abuses against Rohingyas in Arakan State of Burma in recent months. The situation of Rohingyas in Arakan State became worst after the International media highlighted Rohingya Boat People plight since December 2008.

 

The military regime continued to subject Rohingya and Muslims in Arakan State to harassment, arbitrary arrest, extortion, and religious persecution. In the current development, a Rohingya girl, identified as Hamida (16) was killed and hacked into three pieces by monks in Sittwe (Akyab), the capital of Arakan State on March 28, 2009. According to a local businessman, she was abducted from the street by the monks of Phayarr Gyi Ywar Gyima Taung monastery while she was returning home after completing work at the Rakhine teacher’s house. The businessman did not reveal what he had seen in front of the monastery, for fear of reprisal from the monks and the Rakhine community. The Rohingya villagers did not dare to file a case in the police station against the monks for fear of retaliation from the Rakhine community. However, no one has been arrested by police. The victim who stays with her sister was very poor and did not have any relatives, who could  take up the case. Villagers were very surprised to see the body as the Buddhist monks never killed any human beings.

 

In the same month, it was reported that at least 10 houses belonging to Rohingyas were set fire and burnt into ashes by Rakhine mobs around Sindi Prang village of Buthidaung Township at night time. No action was taken against any culprits by the military regime. Further to this, the military regime has deployed hundreds of thousands of military forces into Arakan State which lead to excessive human rights abuses against Rohingyas.

 

On the other incidents, Na Sa Ka in Buthidaung Township, Arakan State, detained four mosque committee members in Phone Nyo Hlake village for extending the veranda of a mosque by nine inches. They were released a week later after paying a 3 million kyat bribe.

 

On 20^th March 2009, Na Sa Ka in Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, arrested a 45-year-old local Rohingya for possessing a mobile phone charger. He was later released after paying a 500,000 kyat bribe.

 

MERHROM is deeply concerned over the way ASEAN countries have been handling the Rohingyas issue. There were suggestions from some ASEAN countries including Malaysia and Thailand to send Rohingyas back to Burma. This would only make our situation worst as we know exactly how we will be treated by the military regime once we are forcefully deported. This is a matter of life and death. The ASEAN countries cannot take peoples’ life for granted what more when the ASEAN have its own charter now that gives priority to its peoples.

 

We applaud the statement by the Singapore government that they will assist Rohingya refugees by providing humanitarian assistance so that they can depart for a third country. The Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong has made it clear that the problem should be addressed at the source and that ASEAN members should not export their problems to one another.

 

We appeal to the Malaysian government under the New Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the ASEAN Leaders to carefully handle Rohingya issue and make sure that the Rohingyas in exile will not be sent back forcefully to the place where they would face persecution and prosecution. Although most ASEAN countries did not sign Refugee Convention 1951 and its 1967 Protocol, the ASEAN countries are binding   to the Non-Refoulement principle.   

 

According to the former Malaysian Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim, the ASEAN Secretariat is studying whether to return Rohingyas Refugees back to Burma or encourage the third countries to accept them. This is worrying as the first option, returning Rohingyas to Burma seems to be the main agenda of the ASEAN Leaders. This cannot happen as there will be repercussion on Rohingyas. The military regime had announced clearly that Rohingyas are not the citizen of Burma. They further stated that the Rohingyas are darked skin and as ugly as ogres. This is disgrace to the human being as we are the creation of Almighty GOD. The military regime stated that they will only accept Rohingyas if they admit that they are Bengali and their status are still non citizen. This cannot happen as the Rohingyas are not Bengali. Rohingyas has its own language and culture which is different from Bengali.

 

Further to this, Rohingyas had existed in Arakan State since 7^th century before Burma ruler took over. We cannot change the fact.

 

According to Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim, a total of 144 Rohingyas in Malaysia were sent to other countries between 2003-2008. This show the lack of commitment and political will of UNHCR and third countries / Resettlement countries though UNHCR and the World Leaders are fully aware the plight of Rohingyas in Burma and why we became refugees. The main reason remains Rohingyas are Muslim.

 

Although the military regime agreed to cooperate with the Asean Secretariat for data and information collection as the first step to resolving the Rohingya refugee problem, we are afraid of what kind of information will be provided by them.  We recommend that the ASEAN Leaders to visit Arakan State and to get the accurate information on situation of Rohingyas from the Rohingyas themselves. We also recommend that the ASEAN Secretariat to consult the regional and international human rights organizations who have done many research on Rohingyas in order to get accurate and non-bias information.

The visit by the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres to the Arakan State on March 7, 2009 revealed the real situation of Rohinyas though he did not say much to the media about his visit. On the basis of his observations and the discussions held, the High Commissioner came to the conclusion that UNHCR’s current level of activities in northern Rakhine State does not correspond to the actual needs and a decision was taken to upgrade the program with immediate effect.

We welcome the move by the ASEAN Leaders to discuss the Rohingyas issue at the Bali Process scheduled for 14-15 April. However we would like to emphasize that the Rohingyas issue is not just relating to Human Trafficking but there is more to it. The discussion must be broader, especially focusing on the recognition of Rohingyas as citizen as well as addressing the ways to stop gross human rights abuses against Rohingyas. The ASEAN Leaders must recognize that Rohingyas are very in need of the International protection as refugees.

We also call on the UNHCR and the Resettlement countries not to discriminate Rohingyas in the Resettlement program as we are also recognized refugees who need the same protection. At the same time we call the ASEAN and World Leaders for more comprehensive and effective intervention in Burma.

Thank you.

 Yours sincerely,

Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani

President Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)

Tel: 016-6827287

Address: Penthouse, Wisma MLS, No. 31 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, 50100 Kuala Lumpur.

Blog: hhtp://www.merhrom.wordpress.com

 

Burma’s Persecuted Rohingya

Burma’s Persecuted Rohingya
20 February 2009

A woman helps a Rohingya refugee in Aceh province, Indonesia.

Hundreds of members of the Muslim Rohingya minority of Burma have been rescued in waters off the coasts of Indonesia and India in recent months. Dehydrated and in need of medical attention, some of the men bore scars on their backs from beatings reportedly received by Burmese soldiers.

A group of nearly 200 men were found by fishermen near the northern tip of Sumatra. Some told reporters they had originally fled to Thailand, but were detained, beaten, and sent back out to sea without adequate food or water. The men reported that some had died in the difficult journey.

The Indonesian government has provided assistance to the Rohingya who landed on their shores. And the Thai government, responding to international criticism, has stopped sending Rohingyas back out to sea, and is working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help the Rohingya who have landed in Thailand recently.

Rohingya refugees rest after being rescued.

The Burmese military junta’s persecution of the Rohingyan people, however, is nothing new. It is so severe that nearly 1,000 risked their lives to flee by sea in 2008.

Todd Pierce of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration says the Rohingya are what are referred to as “stateless people” because the Burmese government does not recognize their citizenship:  

“They can’t marry without permission, own property, travel, it’s a very tough situation. They’re basically in prison where they live. … They have a well-founded fear of persecution.”

The U.S. provides assistance to the Rohingya where possible, through the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, which has clinics and basic schools in Burma. But Mr. Pierce says the military regime blocks some efforts:

“It’s often very difficult to work in Burma … the government of the country where they are is often a little bit wary about letting international organizations work with those people, because again, they don’t want to acknowledge that those people exist.”

The U.S. has also resettled some Rohingya referred by the United Nations in the United States and asks countries the Rohingya flee to, such as Thailand, to carefully screen the migrants to determine whether they need protection.

“Our view is that persecution should stop,” U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said during a recent trip to Bangladesh. “We all need to see what we can do to take care of these folks.”

http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2009-02-20-voa6.cfm

Take Allegations of Government Officials Involvement in Human Trafficking Seriously

Press Statement: 20 January 2009

 

 

Take Allegations of Government Officials Involvement in Human Trafficking Seriously

 

 

SUARAM is concerned that the Malaysian government is taking lightly the issue of the allegations that government officials are involved in human trafficking of migrants and refugees.

 

On 15 January 2009, the US Senate released information that investigations were being conducted on allegations that Malaysian government officials were involved in trafficking of migrants and refugees. Suaram has always expressed grave concerns regarding the trafficking of Burmese refugees to the Thai border by Immigration officials. We welcome the investigations and view that it is high time that the corruption plaguing the Immigration Department is exposed and the government officials responsible for the trafficking of migrants and refugees be held accountable.

 

We welcome the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s remarks that human trafficking cannot be tolerated and hopes that he will hold true to his word to take action against the government officials involved (reported in The Star, 16 January 2009).

 

However, we condemn the defensive remarks made by the Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and the Foreign Minister Datuk Sri Dr Rais Yatim (The Star, 17 January 2009).

 

The Home Ministry should stop denying the allegations as the allegations are not unfounded and start taking measures to expose the officials involved in the extortion and sale of Burmese refugees. It is evident that the special committee that was set up by the Immigration Department last year to investigate the allegations was simply lip service. The Home Minister also stated that the needs of migrants in detention centres are being looked after. Nothing could be further from the truth as conditions in Immigration Detention Centres are terrible with severe overcrowding, unhygienic conditions, lack of access to medical services, poor quality of food given and mistreatment of detainees. The poor conditions are reported in a fact-finding mission conducted by the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and Suaram (Undocumented migrants and refugees in Malaysia: Raids, Detention and Discrimination, March 2008). Even the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) reported in its 2007 Annual Report that overcrowding in detention centres is an issue of concern.

 

The Foreign Minister Datuk Sri Dr Rais Yatim stated that “We are not living in barbaric times when people are sold off at the whims and fancies of people with power.” If we are no longer living in “barbaric times”, then the government should take immediate action to identify and capture those involved in human trafficking, starting with government officials.

 

As a member of UN Human Rights Council, and as a large receiving country of migrant workers in Asia, Malaysia is obligated to observe and show commitment in upholding international standards and principles of human rights.

 

Malaysia has ratified the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and is obligated to provide protection to children.

 

Suaram urges the Malaysian Government to cooperate in the investigations being conducted by the U.S Senate and to take serious action against the officials who are involved in the trafficking of migrants and refugees.

 

We urge the Malaysian Government to stop all deportation of refugees and asylum seekers and uphold the principle of non-refoulement, which is to not forcibly remove refugees from the country or return them to their home country where they possibly face persecution.

 

We call on the Home Ministry to stop raids and arrests of refugees and asylum seekers; to exempt this group of people from punishment under the Immigration Act by using Section 55 of the Immigration Act 1959/63; and to allow them to live and work in Malaysia until it is safe for them to return to their home country.

 

We also call on the Malaysian Government to immediately ratify the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol.

 

 

 

Released by,

 

 

Temme Lee

 

Coordinator

 

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

325 Rohingyan Refugees feared death when authorities allegedly put them back to sea – Burmese demo in KL 14/1/2009

Just received news about this Burmese demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on 14/1/2009, and it is sad that our alternative media also seem to have missed it.

In any event, the allegation that “…in late December 2008, 427 Rohingya were forcefully sent back to International water by Thai authorities. ..” and that out of things about ‘…325 were feared dead, while 102 were luckily rescued by Indian Coast Guards…’

The practice of putting refugees (or should we say potential refugees and asylum seekers) back to sea – especially during this monsoon period is shocking and should be condemned by all justice-loving persons.

Call by All Burma Democratic Forces (ABDF), in KL, Malaysia

 

Yesterday on 14 Jan 2009, All Burma Democratic Forces (ABDF) based in Malaysia, held a peaceful assembly to submit memo to both Embassy of Royal Thai at 10:20am and High Commission of government of Bangladesh at 11:00,.

In the assembly, about 30 representatives were presented and they had been allowed to hold 5 minutes only. They expressed their serious concern over Thai authority’s systematic tortures and keeping in detention for about four weeks of intercepted Burmese refugees and releasing secretly into international waters, then planned to fared dead of about 300 Burmese refugees.

They also expressed on Bangladesh goverment’s forceful repatriation since 1992.

before releasing secretly into international water by Thai-forces

Are They Not Human Beings

(you can guess how Thai-forces treat behind this)

How They Treat, during apprehended by Thai-forces

 

Relating to their concern and for more details, pl, visit at: www.infiltrationwat ch.wordpress. com http://phuketwan. com/tourism/ andaman-links- amnesty-torture/

And in their submission of memo, as follow;

1. A MEMORANDUM TO THE ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT

On behalf of all Burmese people, we at the All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF, an umbrella organization of different political, ethnic, socio-cultural and religious organizations of Burma based in Malaysia express our sincere condolence for the departed souls in Andaman sea of India and Bay of Bengal in the recent month.

We strongly condemn the Government of Royal Thailand for its brutal behaviors toward the victims of gross human rights abuses in Burma.

The boat people who arrived to the Thai coast were the ethnic Burmese Rohingyas. They left country to escape persecution and to find safe place for them through the danger of Bay.

After long journey, they found a hope in Thai coast but unfortunately, they got inhuman treatment that resulted to fear dead. The Thai authorities have been installing pressures over the Burmese people for long period and giving strong supports towards military regime in order to enjoy the benefits of Burmese natural resources, particularly from the Gas
pipeline of Yadana and Yedagon of Mon State.

It is also instigating the regime to improve more powerful tools towards ethnic cleansing against Burmese ethnic minorities, especially, the Rohingyas of Arakan State, Shan, Karen, Kerenni of their respective states.

In April, 2008, the ousted Prime Minister of Thailand Samak Sundaravej had taken step against ethnic Rohingya refugees in Thailand that to put them in an isolated Island in the International Water without any reasonable ground.

Despite advocating the plights of Rohingya, the Thai Government is moving against humanity and thus thousands of Rohingya missed in the Bay of Bengal in various ways in the year 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Recently, in late December 2008, 427 Rohingya were forcefully sent back to International water by Thai authorities that went against humanity and thus 325 were feared dead, while 102 were luckily rescued by Indian Coast Guards.

Before this fate, these people were detained for about 4 weeks in Thailand by Thai forces. Then the Thai authorities put them on 6 different motorized boats and taken to international water. During this time, some sought sympathetic assistance not to send backs them in uncertain water. In spite helping them, the authority put 15 people into Gunny Bags and threw into the water; and the rest people were left in the international water, taking out the engines of boats. Two of the boats were exploded in the water firing rocket launchers. These kinds of inhumanities of Thai authorities are very much shocked to us.

The Thai Government also shot dead 11 Burmese nationals from Rajburi Hospital in the year 2000, while 54 Burmese people had to suffocate in Thai container truck in April 2008 as well.

Similarly, the brutalities of Thai authorities are not sacrifice able for the people of Burma and the Government always gives threat to Burmese democratic forces based in Thailand and thus they have to move from one place to another.

In these regards, we urge upon the Government of Royal Thailand:

1.To immediately cease inhuman pogrom against boat people and all other Burmese people in Thailand;

2.To immediately review the policy towards humanity to extend humanitarian assistances to Burmese vulnerable people, particularly the Rohingya boat people;

3.We demand to give official clarifications about the current kills that has done by the current Thai authorities in the International Water;

4.We also demand to boycott support to Burmese military regime for the causes of immediate democratic changes in Burma and to extend assistances towards Burmese democratic forces;

5.We encourage for hosting international agencies to help boat people and to screen their cases in order to extend international protection.. ………………..

2. A MEMORANDUM TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH

On behalf of all Burmese people, we at the All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF, an umbrella organization of different political, ethnic, socio-cultural and religious organizations of Burma based in Malaysia express our sincere condolence for the departed souls in Andaman sea of India and Bay of Bengal in the recent month.

We feel shock on the misbehaviors of Bangladeshi Government towards the persecuted Rohingya Burmese people and thus strongly oppose the ongoing initiative of Bangladesh with Burmese military regime.

The state of Rohingya’s settlement fall in western border of Burma and that adjacent to Bangladesh which is a member state of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and thus the Rohingya flee to neighboring Bangladesh to escape brutal persecution of Burmese military.

Unfortunately, the persecuted Rohingya’s fate went against their expectation. So, they would face consecutive harassment there as the Government ignores its Islamic obligation and installs mistreatment over vulnerable people. That’s why they choose secondary movement to other countries to find a safe life for them through out the Bay of Bengal.

On their way to unexpected destination, many lost their lives in the Bay and some managed to reach at the coast of Thailand. Bangladesh Naval and Coast Guards are reluctant to watch in to the Bay of Bengal which resulted to loss thousands of Rohingya in the Bay in the year 2007 and 2008. For all these, the Bangladeshi Government is responsible at all.

Recently, in late December 2008, 427 Rohingya were forcefully sent back to International water by Thai authorities that went against humanity and thus 325 were feared dead, while 102 were luckily rescued by Indian Coast Guards.

Before this fate, these people were detained for about 4 weeks in Thailand by Thai forces. Then the Thai authorities put them on 6 different motorized boats and taken to international water. During this time, some sought sympathetic assistance not to send backs them in uncertain water. In spite helping them, the authority put 15 people into Gunny Bags and threw into the water; and the rest people were left in the international water, taking out the engines of boats. Two of the boats were exploded in the water firing rocket launchers. These kinds of inhumanities of Thai authorities are very much shocked to us and thus preparing the event to draw international attention.

Despite these, the Government of Bangladesh is pretending to unknown matter as it is inking economic deals with Burmese regime for its own interest and ignoring the causes of humanity. Bangladesh is reluctant to watch in the Bay and thus Rohingya are dared to dive in the water in the name of Allah’s Mercy. The Bangladeshi Government has been installing pressure over persecuted people over there and developing insincere relationship with military, while ignoring Islamic obligations towards Muslim Minority of Burma.

On the other hand, the Bangladesh Government had started its forceful repatriation of Rohingya refugees in 1992, was by shooting over the flock and later in 1997, the Government extended additional forces in the refugee camps on July 20 and 22. During this time, many wounded in teargas of Bangladesh authorities who are still unable to see in the open sky.

Following this, many refugees were arrested, detained and sentenced for long term without proper trial. Meanwhile, Bangladeshi authorities are worse enough in criminalization of refugees to pull them into uncertainty.

In April 1998, a refugee camp was burnt down and many innocent refugees were shot dead, while at least 100 refugees were detained with false and fabricated charges.

The Bangladeshi authorities did another operation on 18 and 19 November 2004 and shot dead many refugees including pregnant women, children and elderly people.

In June 2008, at least 18 Rohingya childrend had to die without any medication as the Bangladesh authorities imposed restriction over international agencies to look into the matter of Rohingya refugees. Government also does not allow NGO to help undocumented Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh who are the double victims of both regime and OIC member state.

Finally, the Bangladeshi Government is keeping the gate open in the Bay of Bengal in order to let the Rohingya to leave Bangladesh to uncertainty.

All these behaviors are totally against humanity and Islamic obligations, while it is also against the international laws. Therefore, we urge upon Bangladesh:-

1.To immediately cease all kinds of misbehaviors that stands against the vulnerable Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh border and to give full respect to the Islamic obligations that accorded in the Quran and Sunnah;

2.To immediately bring the Rohingya issue before the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) resolution in order to bring it to the United Nations General Assembly;

3.To immediately watch the Bay of Bengal in order to protect people from unexpected dead and to reduce dangerous travels;

4.To bring an end of undue representation for the Rohingya and advocate their causes to find permanent solution;

5.To allow international agencies to observe the situation of Rohingya in Bangladesh and along the border that may be helpful to bring an end of their miserable plights.

Executive Committee

All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF)

Union of Burma

For further information, please contact:

Mohammad Sadek, Tel: 0163094599

Aung Kyaw Moe Tel: 0122430774

Habibur Rahman Te: 0122595185 – SOURCE: The Sail

Thai PM to meet rights groups on violation reports325 Rohingyan Refugees feared death when authorities allegedly put them back to sea – Burmese demo in KL 14/1/2009

Thai PM to meet rights groups on violation reports

Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:26am IST

 

[-] Text [+]

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Sunday he would meet human rights groups to discuss alleged violations, as further reports emerged of ill-treatment of refugees from Myanmar by the security forces.

 

“Tomorrow I will meet all human rights organisations at Government House to discuss all issues and problems about violations, including a few incidents reported on recently, as well the Rohingyas case,” Abhisit told reporters.

 

The Rohingyas are Muslims from Myanmar. Many have fled the Buddhist-dominated, army-ruled country to escape repression and economic hardship, but rights groups say hundreds were recently detained on a remote Thai island before being forced back to sea by the security forces with little food or water.

 

The Foreign Ministry says it is looking into the allegations.

 

The Bangkok Post reported on Sunday that only 107 out of 412 refugees survived one such incident on Dec. 18. It spoke to survivors now in a relief camp on the Andaman Islands in India.

 

It also said there had been more recent incidents, including one in which 200 refugees were missing and may have died after being set adrift by Thai authorities around the turn of the year.

 

The newspaper said 46 refuge-seekers from Myanmar were taken into custody by Thai authorities on Friday after their boat was intercepted off an island in southern Thailand.

Vice Admiral Narong Thedbisal, who commands naval forces in the area, has denied his men mistreated refugees after a Hong Kong newspaper reported tourist accounts of soldiers whipping migrants on a beach in the south.

 

The Bangkok Post said that, privately, Thai officials had expressed concern the Rohingyas could be trying to join a separatist rebellion by Muslims in southern Thailand. 

http://in.reuters. com/article/ worldNews/ idINIndia- 37510720090118

Burmese rebel leader is shot dead

Burmese rebel leader is shot dead

Pado Mahn Shar was a veteran of the Karen people’s stuggle
The secretary general of Burma’s largest rebel group, the Karen National Union, has been killed.

Pado Mahn Shar, who was in his sixties, was shot at his home in the Thai border town of Mae Sot, his family said.

He was targetted by two men in a pick-up truck, while sitting on the veranda of his home. He died instantly.

The KNU and its military wing, the Karen National Liberation Army, have spent nearly 60 years fighting the Burmese government.

They want to establish an autonomous Karen state in the east of Burma, and to protect the Karen people from what they say are abuses by the government.

Setbacks

KAREN STRUGGLE

The KNU, through its armed wing the KNLA, has been fighting for greater autonomy since 1949 The KNLA split in half in 1994, with the new group, the DKBA, making a pact with the government
The KNU and the junta reached a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ in 2003, but it quickly broke down.

The Karen are just one of many ethnic minorities in Burma. Much smaller rebel groups still exist in the Shan, Karenni and Mon states
Despite their fighting spirit, the Karen rebels have suffered a number of recent setbacks, including political splits and defections to the government.

Militarily, they have been driven further and further back towards the Thai border.

However, Pado Mahn Shar told the BBC last year: “Whatever happens, we cannot surrender.

“If the government won’t offer us a proper peace settlement, we have to carry on fighting.”

The BBC’s Kate McGeown, who met Pado Mahn Shar on the Thai-Burmese border, says his death will be a serious blow to the Karen rebels.

As it is, they face a huge challenge against the Burmese army, which is vastly superior both in terms of numbers and equipment.

Analysts said it was not clear who was behind the shooting.

Pado Mahn Shar (l) said the rebels would never give up
It might be the result of rivalry within the Karen rebel movement, Burmese expert Aung Naing Oo told the AFP news agency.

Thai police said the gunmen approached Pado Mahn Shar and addressed him in the Karen language before opening fire.

But what the KNU really feared, Aung Naing Oo said, was that the Burmese government might have ordered it.

“Everybody is terrified that there could be a hit list from the Burmese military circulating around Thailand of people to be killed,” he said.

Pado Mahn Shar had himself predicted an increase in bloodshed, telling Reuters this week that violence might rise ahead of a constitutional referendum in Burma in May.