Daily Archives: November 4, 2012

Nov 4 2012

Memorandum of an Urgent Intervention to Stop to Ethnic Cleansing Towards Ethnic Minority Rohingyas in Myanmar’s Arakan State

source by ; http://salem-news.com/articles/november042012/myanmar-update.php

Nov-04-2012 11:33

Memorandum of an Urgent Intervention to Stop to

Ethnic Cleansing Towards Ethnic Minority Rohingyas

in Myanmar’s Arakan State

Salem-News.com

Update with large number of photos.

Rohingya people are suffering in great disparity.

(KUALA LUMPUR ) – Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM) strongly condemned the continuous ethnic cleansing policy towards ethnic minority Rohingyas by the Myanmar government.

The recent violence which started on 21st October 2012 in Kyaukpyu, Minbya, Mrauk U, Myebon, and Rathedaung Township caused thousands of Rohingyas to being killed and thousands of their houses have been burnt down by Rakhines, police and military.

Though the military has denied their involvement but the villagers confirm the involvement of the military and the police in the recent violence.

The source from the ground estimated 1000 Rohingyas has died including women, men, children and elderly while more than 4600 of Rohingya’s houses and Mosques have been burnt. This contradicts the number of death stated by the military which is very low compared to the estimated numbers of death. Until now the military stated only 84 person has died which is not true as they want to cover the real toll death. Many Rohingyas has reportedly missing but the numbers are unknown.

Currently over 30,000 Rohingyas fled their villages and become homeless. They had nowhere to go. Thousands of them now are on the boats on the ocean trying hard to save their lives. Without food and drinks some of them have died and many more will die due to starvation and dehydration. Until now we have not receive any information on their situation on the ocean.

Since the massacre in June 2012, the military, police and the Rakhines has warned the Rohingyas to flee the Arakan State if they want to save their life and their family. If the Rohingyas fail to do so, they will die and that is what happening since June until now. The military regime will never stop until we are removed from the Arakan State.

One thing that the World Leaders, United Nations and International Communities fail to understand is that we the Rohingyas become the victims of ethnic cleansing policy of the Myanmar government since 1940s. Most of the time the World Leaders, United Nations and the International Communities urging the Myanmar government to stop the violence and restore peace in Arakan State. But, it’s not going to happen because the violence is instigated by the Myanmar government for their own political interests.

Currently the Myanmar government is deploying more security forces to improve the situation in Arakan State but it doesn’t work as the government has no intention to resolve the problem. The Myanmar government is just showing to the outside world that they are doing something to resolve the problem in order to gain the international support for their political interests. Deploying more security forces is not the solution to the problem. It will only put the Rohingyas population in worst situation.

In this recent violence, two military officers were shot by the Rakhines when they were shooting the Rohingyas in Kyawtaw Township. The military arrested some Rakhines who shooting the Rohingyas and the military officers in Pasir Uzu @ Zila Fara fisherman village and Yazanabung Uzu @ Nairong village in Kyawtaw Township. The military confiscated 36 high quality arms in Pasir Uzu village and 14 high quality arms in Yazanabung Uzu village. From the 50 high quality arms, the high level military officer took 3 arms back to Ranggon. We do not know what happen to the remaining arms.

The question is who gave the high quality arms to Rakhines and for what purpose? The villagers also stated that the Rakhines are deploying more arms including long knives before violence started in June 2012. The Bangladesh government has arrested one boat belongs to Rakhines in Bangladesh ocean which carry lots of arms. We do not know how many boats have passed the Bangladesh security check and how many arms have been deploys by Rakhines into Arakan State.

The villagers further stated that before the violence started in June, Rakhines leaders and their community conducted a secret meeting in Nasaka office in Maungdaw. At that time Rohingyas were not allow to go out from their houses. The military also close some roads so that no Rohingyas knows about the secret meeting. The violence in June triggered after the Rakhines secret meeting was conducted. These are the evidence that the violence that triggered in June 2012 was planned in advanced by the military together with Rakhines leaders.

Until now the military government only allows the Rakhines to hold arms but not the Rohingyas. The military conducted constant check on Rohingyas houses and they confiscated all knives used in the kitchen. The curfew is only imposed on Rohingyas while the Rakhines free to move around.

Currently, the Rakhine population has continued their life as usual unlike the Rohingyas who are struggling to seek refuge with no access to food, water, medical and shelter. While the Rakhines Buddhist are free to do their daily activities, the Myanmar government increased the curfew on Rohingyas.

Since June until now, all 17 Township in Arakan State has been affected by the violence instigated by the Myanmar government. The most affected Township are Maungdaw, Sittwe, Kyaukpyu, kyauktaw, Minbya, Rathedaung, Mrauk U, Myebon, Pauktaw and recently Punima. The Rohingyas were the most affected population in the Arakan State. They have very little or no access to food, water, medical and shelter. Though the foreign government and International humanitarian organizations gave lots of aid to Arakan State but the aid hardly reach the affected Rohingyas as they had to go through blockages from the Arakan State Chief Minister and the Myanmar government. Finally only little aid could reach them. The rest are taken by the Myanmar government for their own interest.

The Myanmar government will continue their ethnic cleansing policy towards Rohingyas. If the World Leaders, United Nations and the International Communities fail to act at this very critical time, there will be more death on Rohingyas population. The continuation of the ethnic cleansing policy on Rohingyas will only increase the number of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the World and specifically to the ASEAN Region.

We are frustrated as our Democracy Leader Aung San Suu Kyi is not able to do anything to stop the killing on Rohingya population even after receiving her Noble Prize. Aung San Suu Kyi’s silence on our plight has puzzled us as she was recognized Internationally as a Democracy icon. For many decades the Rohingyas population has supported Aung San Suu Kyi but she has turn blind eyes to our plight.

We are very frustrated as the biggest mandated body in the world which is the UNITED NATIONS has FAILED in their duty to save the lives of the affected Rohingya minority even after they announced that the minority Rohingyas is the most prosecuted ethnic in the world. Unfortunately, until today the United Nations has failed to carry their mandate as they only watching the defenseless and hopeless Rohingyas has been killed without taking any real action. Until now we do not know what is the plan of the United Nations to stop the massacre over Rohingyas.

We are Questioning the United Nations why until now they fail to send Peace Keeping Mission to the affected area in Arakan State? What else you are waiting for? What is stopping you from sending your Peace Keeping Mission in this very critical situation? How many lives more must be sacrifice before you can take real action? WE cannot put the business and trade before the human lives. The United Nations must be accountable for the massacre of Rohingyas in Arakan State. The failure of the United Nations to stop the massacre caused thousands of Rohingyas has been murdered brutally.

The United Nations has adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10 December 1948. Since then the United Nations has successfully restore peace in many conflict areas. However until now the United Nations and World Leaders fail to intervene in Rohingyas plight. WE do not know what exactly stopping the United Nations from entering Myanmar especially in this very critical time.

The root cause of the problem is the state ethnic cleansing policy on Rohingyas in Arakan State. The proposal of the president Thein Sein to remove the Rohingyas from Myanmar shows the clear rejection of Myanmar government on Rohingyas. Therefore we urge the British Government to urgently:

1. pressure the United Nations Security Council to send their Peace Keeping Mission to Arakan State to control and monitor the human rights abuses

2. bring the General Thien Sein, former General Thein Shwe and General Kyin Nyunt to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for killing, raped, torturing, detaining and abusing ethnic Rohingya and other ethnics.

3. add more pressure to Myanmar Junta to stop the killings, torture, detention and violence towards ethnic Rohingyas

4. stop the economic and political relationship with Myanmar until they resolve the conflict and recognized ethnic Rohingya as the citizen of Myanmar with equal rights

5. pressure the Junta to allow the International Humanitarian Organizations to go into Arakan State to provide aid especially, food, medicine and shelter

6. pressure the Bangladesh government to allow the International Humanitarian Organizations to extend their services to the affected Rohingyas.

We thank you for your Urgent Intervention to resolve the conflict and Save the Rohingyas from the state sponsored ethnic cleansing. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

 

Mr. Zafar Ahmad bin Abdul Ghani
President
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia

URGENT : CURRENT SITUATION IN ARAKAN STATE @ RAKHINE STATE OF BURMA.

11 Jul

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human
Rights Organization Malaysia
(MERHROM)

URGENT : CURRENT SITUATION IN ARAKAN STATE @ RAKHINE STATE OF BURMA. 11 Jul

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human
Rights Organization Malaysia
(MERHROM)
9 JULY 2012
URGENT : CURRENT SITUATION IN ARAKAN STATE @ RAKHINE STATE OF BURMA.
MERHROM continue to receive information from our homeland.
Some of the information are stated below.
6 July 2012 : Maung Ne Fara village, Maungdaw Township.
120 Rohingya men were arrested by the military, Loonthing, Nasaka and police without reasons at Maung Ne Fara Village. Many of them were educated person and have better economic condition. All of them were taken to Maungdaw military camp. Ten (10) of them were killed. The military cut the nerve (leg) of 25 of them caused them bleeding and can not walk. They were thrown at one place. The family took them to hospital but doctor refused to give treatment as military already gave the order not to give treatment to them. We do not know what happen to the rest of them. At night the military, police, Nasaka and Loonthing went into their houses and raped our girls and women.
7July 2012 : Pundu Parang Village, Butthidaung Township.
80 Rohingyas were arrested and until now there is no news about them. The military went into the houses who do not have men and they sexually abused and raped our women. Some women committed suicide after being raped.
7 July 2012 : Akyab
A boat load of 65 Rohingya people sank in Kaladan River on their way from Pauktaw to Sittwe. Well known Rohingya Lecturer from Sittwe University including Daw Khin Shwe, her son and the boat owner Mr Shukkur were dead. The number of death were unknown but we heard only 15 bodies were found death. The rest were missing. The other 8 boats are still waiting because of turbulent weather condition. All of the boat people are lack of food and heading for Thakkaybyin (Sakki Fara) Village of Sittwe as they heard the aid are provided there.
7 July 2012 : Maungdaw and Buthidaung Township

At least 300 Rohingyas who were arrested from Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships last week were taken from Buthidaung Jail to Akyab (Sittwe) by boat.
The Rohingyas cannot go out of their houses to buy food. During last few days at least 43 people died due to lack of food, shelter and medicine.
5 Rohingyas were arrested by Na-Sa-Ka. They are;
Hafez Salim with other three Rohingya from Ashika Fara were arrested at 21:00pm of today after checking the family list.
Mohamed Alam-35 s/o Mohamed Ismail was arrested three days ago and severely tortured in Nasaka area No.(6) as a result of he was unable to pay the Nasaka demand money 2.5 millions Kyat for release.
Again on 6 July, 15 of family lists from Balu Khali village and Wark Pyin village (the Pawet Chaung village tract) of Nasaka area No.(5), were taken away by Nasaka with false accusation of involvement in setting fire of Rakhine village in the past riot. The villagers were asked to choose the family lists within five days with money. The villagers have to pay at least Kyat 500,000 to one million per list.
In Maungdaw Town, the police officer U Than Tin, U Thai Lin Soe and Sergeant U Hla Myint accompanied by some Rakhine youths went to the Rohingya villages and asked to meet with them to pay money otherwise, they will set fire the houses.  This group is led by U Than Tin, the police officer of Maungdaw town police station who boasted he is above the law and no one is there to punish him. He asked money from one villager at least 5,000 to 10,000. He actively participated in the recent violence including looting goods and money and extortion money by arresting.
8 July 2012 : Kyawtaw Township.
Sanghadaung mosque was completely demolished by afternoon and many more houses were burnt down.
Seven (7) Rohingya villager of Kansi Fara (Wakang Group) who went to their farm were brutally beaten-up by a group of Rakhines and their cattle and tools were also looted. They were told that nothing is belong to foreigner and refugees should go back to Bangladesh.
In conjunction with the 45th ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETING in Cambodia we URGE the ASEAN LEADERS to Pressure the General Thein Sein to stop the genocide against Rohingya in Arakan State @ Rakhine State. The ASEAN Leaders must strongly condemn the genocide against Rohingyas and take action against General Thein Sein for allowing it from happening. Rakhine State was taken over by the military but the situation become worse day by day. More people are dying daily. The Asean Leaders must question Myanmar why they fail to stop the problem and how long the problem will continue. How many more will die?
WE are very frustrated over the response by the United Nations and World Leaders who fail to intervene while people are dying everyday. While the United Nations and World Leaders already know about the plight of Rohingyas but NO prompt action taken against junta who is the cause of all problem. We call on the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon to take necessary action against military junta.
While the United Nations are busy in the conflict in Syria, they forgot what happen to Rohingyas in Rakhine State. We start to think what is United Nations stand for, what is human rights and what is democracy?
We thank you for your intervention all this while. We hope you continue your noble work to voice our plight as we are voiceless in our own country. We pray Allah Always protect all of you in your good work. We will continue to update you the situation in
Sincerely,
Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani
President
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM).
PLEASE SAVE ROHINGYAS PLEASE SAVE ROHINGYAS
Arakan State.
Thank you.

A Stateless Silenced Injustice: The Rohingya

The Ethnic Clash Between Rakhines And The Rohingyas

Compare who are Terrorists and victims?

 Monks involved in attack in Sittway….but Muslims are considered as Terrorists if they protect their own houses and property.
 In above photo, left side, it is a mosque in Sittway. This area is where more than 800 Muslim (including Rakhine Muslim and Caman Muslims’) houses are situated. Why the Muslims are not there if they are Terrorists?
The Muslims are fleeing into safe places for their personal security.

Some Photos on Rohingya GEnocide Photos of Arakan Riot

16 Jun

Some Photos on Rohingya GEnocide

Photos of Arakan Riot

STOP THE KILLING AND VIOLENCE TOWARDS DEFENSELESS STATELESS MUSLIM ROHINGYAS IN ARAKAN STATE OF BURMA.

15 Jun

PRESS STATEMENT
15 JUNE 2012
STOP THE KILLING AND VIOLENCE TOWARDS DEFENSELESS STATELESS MUSLIM ROHINGYAS IN ARAKAN STATE OF BURMA.
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM) is deeply concerns about the continued killing and violence towards Rohingyas in Arakan State of Burma. Though the military junta has stated that the situation is better now but the information we received from back home are different. The killing is still continue, many Rohingyas has been arrested and we do not know what happen to them, women and girls has been raped and sexually abused, many Rohingyas has been missing, many more houses has been burnt and more people stranded without food, shelter and medication. Many Rohingya businessman and educated person has been arrested and till now there is no news about them, the shops and businesses belongs to Rohingya has been confiscated by Rakhine Buddhist, police and military. Rohingya are dying as they could not buy food from the shop belongs to Rakhine Buddhist as they refused to sell the food to Rohingya Muslim.
Many Rohingya death body has been burnt and missing. The information we received from back home stated that the Muslim death body was taken by Rakhine Buddhist and we do not know what are they doing to them. We asked for the United Nations to Urgently Investigate this matter. We continuously receiving information from about the situation back home. Until now the situation are really really bad and the access to information for the outside world is very very bad as the information was covered and controlled by the military.
Currently the military has taken over and controlled the Arakan State. The situation become worse and the violence has increased. The information we received the military and the border security forces has threaten the Rohingyas and asking money for bribery.
The are many information has been released by many parties but we are very concerns about the misinformation regarding the real situation. Many information has been manipulated by some parties for their interest. We urgently asked for the United Nations Peace Keeping Mission to step in and resolve the problem.
Many Rohingya houses has been burnt. Rohingyas has to fled to the next village. The military has order that they could not go to other village. When they asked where they want to go, the military said we do not care but if you still go the military will take action against them. Many Stateless Rohingyas now become homeless without food, shelter and medication.
We applaud the United Nations to send the Top Envoy Mr. Vijay Nambiar to Arakan State to access the situation. However we are very worried whether he is able to access the real situation as he was escorted by the military officials at all time. Furthermore the Arakan State has taken over and controlled by the military. Although there are 10 Muslim Leaders joining him, there is no guarantee whether they can talk freely without fear. They cannot talk freely as they will face prosecution. We are worried whether the Top Envoy can talk independently with the Rohingyas without the escort from the military officials. We are worried if the Rohingyas give the real information they will face prosecution from the military.
We are very sad when the Bangladesh Government denied the entry of Rohingya who are trying hard to save their lives. We condemned the act of the Bangladesh Government who failed to protect human being in real need. Many Rohingyas has been arrested in the Bangladesh Prisons for the past two decades. We asked for the Bangladesh Government to release all Rohingya Refugees from their prisons.
So many violence are taking place in different shape and in different area. The genocide is taking place but the world and international communities are moving slow to act. We asked for the Urgent International Intervention to stop the killing and violence towards Rohingyas.
THEREFORE WE URGE FOR: –
  1. The United Nations Peace Keeping Mission to step in Arakan State Urgently to control the situation
  2. The United Nations to send a group of Investigator to monitor, investigate and access the situation Urgently
  3. The United Nations to supply the medication, food and shelter for the affected Rohingyas.
  4. The United Nations to bring the General Thien Sein to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the crime he has done to Rohingyas and Burmese people.
  5. The World Leaders to put pressure on the Military Junta to stop the persecutions and prosecutions towards Rohingya and Rocognized Rohingyas as Citizen.
  6. The military junta to hand over power to the Aung San Suu Kyi immediately as the winner of 1990 General Election.
  7. The International Media to step in to Arakan State to observe and get the accurate information and release the accurate information.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Zafar Ahmad bin Abdul Ghani
President
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)
Date: June 12, 2012

PRESS STATEMENT

Urgent Appeal for the Intervention to save the Rohingya people in Arakan State, Burma and to End Humanitarian Crisis as well

Your Excellency,
We, the peace loving people from different parts of the world would like to express our deep and great concern over the ongoing grave situation in Arakan causing great consideration to the people. We are sending our urgent request to you to immediately intervene and protect million Rohingya people of Arakan from pre-planned means of genocide.
 The quick deterioration of the situation since the end of last week, after a heinous crime against a young lady turned into racial turmoil with the targeting Muslims by a mob in Taungup, and later targeting the Rohingya villagers by ultra-racist Rakhine and government forces in Maungdaw Township. It spread to all townships in Arakan state. The situation is more violent, the victims are more women, children and elders. Over 1500 Rohingyas are reportedly killed, while more than 3000 Rohingya were severely injured who are unable to get medication to save their lives while rest of Rohingya people are starving without food and water. We have no access to information on what is happening inside Arakan after imposing the emergency act 144 by military (Martial law). Some contacts over the phone told us that para-military and racist Rakhine are burning the Rhingya houses and shot the unarmed Rohingya civilian when they come out. Some Rohingya were purportedly burned alive. All dead and wounded bodies are taken away by the government forces.
 News comes out from personal talk of military officer and media that government plan to kill and clean all Muslin from Arakan state. The information confirms all UN agencies and NGO left from Arakan State.
It is true that most of news media are backed by the racist Rakhine groups and thus the agencies are focusing in accurate information, accusing the innocent Muslim Rohingyas who are totally defenceless and voiceless in all means.
 If there is no intervention, all of Muslim Rohingya in Arakan will eliminated from the face of the earth. Killing and burning the houses are still going on every day and night.The situation is going from bad to worse. There is no way to stay silent and to watch the people dying.
  1. We urged the immediate action to stop this serious genocide, ethnic cleaning by sending UN peace-keeping force to Arakan to protect innocent people.
  1. We urge UN to send UN mission to control the serious situation in Arakan State and save the remaining Rohingya people as quickly as possible.
  1. It is very serious and grave situation and urgent need for international intervention to save lives.
  1. We call on the international media to monitor closely on the serious situation in Arakan.
  1. We urge International Humanitarian group to step up its presence in Arakan State to support humanitarian work, consisting of Emergency Medical Team and Relief Agencies to save the lives of injured and starving people.
  1. We want explanation of the real situation in Arakan State from Burma regime.
  1. We also demand that the UN constitutes an independent and impartial inquiry commission to investigate the crime against humanity and bring the killers to justices.
Sincerely,
Mr. Zafar Ahmad s/o Abdul Ghani
President Of MERHROM

Rohingyas protest in Kuala Lumpur

Posted on 15 June 2012 – 05:08pm
Last updated on 15 June 2012 – 07:32pm
KUALA LUMPUR (June 15, 2012): About 2,000 protesters, mostly of Rohingya origins, gathered in the Malaysian capital to condemn the violence against their people in the Arakan state by the Rakhine ethnic which was highlighted last week.
Previously living under the radar, they unite in the wake of the killing of 10 Muslims on June 3 in Taungup, Myanmar by ethnic Rakhines that led to Myanmar Junta to enforce a curfew period since June 8.
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM) President Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani said they were deeply concerned about the continued killing and violence towards the ethnic group including rape, looting and kidnapping.
“We applaud the United Nations (UN)’s move to send top envoy Mr Vijay Nambiar to Arakan State to assess the situation.
“However we are worried whether he is able to assess the real situation as he was escorted by military official at all times,” he told the reporters during the rally.
National Democratic Party for Human Rights in exile South East Asian General Secretary Mohamad Sadek @ Aung Naing disputed the report saying that the numbers killed had reached tens of thousands since the start of June.
“We have reports from our people that a whole town had been razed down and they have to dig a mass grave of 12,000,” he said.
Coalitions of Malaysian NGOs to Save Rohingyas Chairman Azmi Hamid said the current Arakan crisis is the latest in the history of the Rohingya tragedy which started with their forced expulsion from the area.
“The Rohingya have since been displaced, made stateless, humiliated, dehumanized, terrorized and massacred since 64 years ago.

URGENT : UPDATES FROM RAKHINE STATE OF BURMA 19, JUNE 2012

18 Jun

Myanmar Ethnic Rohinyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)
 URGENT : UPDATES FROM RAKHINE STATE OF BURMA
19,  JUNE 2012
Yesterday, 17 June 2012, the military junta allowed ethnic Rakhine Buddhist to open their shops for few hours. However the Muslim shops were not allow to open. The information we received form back home stated that many Rohingyas went to shop to buy food. However the ethnic Rakhine Buddhist refused to sell food to Rohingyas Muslim. Many Rohingyas has been arrested by the military and the security force and there is no news until now.
For the past 3 days about 500 Rohingyas were arrested by the military and the security force without reason. The military and security force checked Rohingya houses and arrested many people especially aged 12 years above. We do not know where there are taken to and what will happen to them. We received many calls from back home stating that their family members were arrested and missing.
The military raped many Rohingya women and girls. They committed suicide by drinking poison as they cannot accept what happen to them.
The situation become worse with the presence of the military as the military is behind all this. The military newspaper report was not correct as they tried to hide the real numbers who had killed and affected. The military newspaper reported 50 were killed however the information we received more than 20 000 Rohingyas has been affected for the past 2 weeks. Thousands of Rohingyas has been killed, thousands were arrested, thousands were missing and thousands of them were suffering without food, shelter and medication.
The foreign media only take information from the military newspaper which is not correct. The media must get the first hand information from the Rohingyas in order to know the real situation.
We thank you very much for reporting the news from the Arakan State @ Rakhine State. We hope for your continuous support until Myanmar recognized Rohingya as Myanmar Citizen.
PLEASE SAVE ROHINGYA
 
 Thank you.
 Yours sincerely,
 Zafar Ahmad bin Abdul Ghani
President
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)
Tel No: 016-6827287

KILLING AND VIOLENCE MARKS THE WORLD REFUGEE DAY 20 JUNE 2012.

20 Jun

PRESS STATEMENT
21 JUNE 2012
KILLING AND VIOLENCE MARKS THE WORLD REFUGEE DAY 20 JUNE 2012.
This year killing and violence marks the World Refugee Day 2012. This is the unforgettable year for us as thousands of Stateless Rohingya has been killed during the conflict in Rakhine State of Burma.
It will take years for us to heal from the pain loosing the loves one and to rebuild their live. The current situation become worse day by day as the violence towards Rohingyas has continue. On top of that people are dying due to lack of food, shelter and medication. Women and children are the most affected group besides men and elderly. The ethnic Rakhine together with Nasaka, police and the military continuously killing, arresting, harassing and abusing Rohingya Muslim.
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organizations Malaysia (MERHROM) condemned the killing and violence towards minority Rohingyas Muslim perpetrated by Rakhine Buddhist, security forces and the military. This is the long term plan by the military and Rakhine Buddhist to destroy Rohingya from Burma. The ethnic cleansing towards Rohingyas are not happening now but many decades ago. Back in 1942, before the Independent of Burma, there was ethnic cleansing towards Rohingya Muslim perpetrated by Rakhine Buddhist. Over 100 000 Rohingyas Muslim has been killed and 307 Rohingya villages uprooted and destroyed in Southern Rakhine. The eagerness of ethnic Rakhine and the military to destroyed Rohingyas from Burma is proven when the military change the name of our state from ARAKAN STATE to RAKHINE STATE in 1984.
The conflict in Rakhine State raises many questions. Some of the questions are:-
  1. Thousands of Rohingya women and girls has been raped and killed over the years by ethnic Rakhine, Nasaka and Loungting (Border Security Force), Police and the Military but no action taken to them until know. This time when a Rakhine women has been raped and killed why the ethnic Rakhine, Border Security Force, Police and Military acted very fast. The police and military cannot investigate our complains as we are not citizen of Burma. We also cannot touch and make problem with ethnic Rakhine as they are citizen of Burma.
  2. The military newspaper reported one of the suspect committed suicide by hanging himself. In the very tight security in the military prison how he can have an access to rope? The source from back home stated that he was murdered by the military not committing suicide. Furthermore as a Muslim we are prohibited from committing suicide. We never heard the case of Rohingya Muslim committing suicide
  3. in Rakhine State.
  4. The two suspect were sentenced to death very fast. We do not know what kind of investigations they had carried out? What evidence the military have when sentencing the two suspect? Nobody knows what happen during the trial as it was close door trial. The suspect plead not guilty but still they were sentenced to death. Source from back home stated that the military had abused them very badly and they definitely could not bare the pain.
  5. Ten Rohingya Muslim were murdered by ethnic Rakhine very badly but until now why there is no action taken against the 300 ethnic Rakhine who murdered the 10 Muslim Rohingyas who are innocent. We urge the military and the United Nation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
  1. The Top Envoy of United Nations has visited the Rakhine State and he stated the numbers of death only 21 person. If the numbers of death is very low why the numbers of death we received back home is far more higher than him?
  2. The Top Envoy stated that the city of Maungdaw is largely calm but why until today we still received the calls from back home stated that the situation become worse day by day.
  1. The conflict between the two ethnics scarified many lives and destroyed many houses. This is clear serious human rights violations. However the Pro-Democracy Leader Aung San Suu Kyi has not making any statement until now. Why she is so silent about this while the whole world is highlighting the issue everyday.
  1. The United Nations has visited the Rakhine State and witness the situation. Until now there is no prompt action taken by United Nations to address the whole issue. Why in such a serious human rights violations taking place the United Nations is very slow in taking prompt actions in handling the issue. We are anxious to know what are the next action will be taken by the United Nations to stop the conflict.
  1. The military imposed the Curfew in Rakhine States but the Curfew is only imposed to Rohingyas. Rohingyas were not allow to go out from the house. The Nasaka, police and military go into Rohingya’s houses and confiscate our property, arresting us, raped our women and abused our people. The Rakhine Buddhist was allow to move freely. The curfew imposed by the military is aim to kill more Rohingyas and finally cleans Rohingyas from Burma.
Zafar Ahmad, President of MEHROM
MERHROM URGENTLY calls the United Nations to send the Peace Keeping Mission to Rakhine States Urgently to monitor and control the situation in Rakhine State. The delay in their action will caused many more innocent Rohingyas to be murdered.
WE calls on the World Leaders and the International Communities to add on pressure to military junta and to help us by sending the food, medication and basic necessities urgently for our survival.
WE hope the conflict will be resolved before the Fasting month of Ramadhan for Muslim in July. We cannot imagine how to go through the month of Ramadhan as many of us were homeless. We cannot perform Ramadhan Prayers if the Curfew is still imposed on us. Currently the military prohibited Rohingyas from performing prayers at Mosque. Some of the Mosque were burnt and some were lock. We calls on our Muslim brothers and sisters to support us in what ever way you can.
WE hope for the continuous support of the MEDIA and JOURNALIST to highlight our issues until there is peace in our state and we are Recognize as Citizen of Burma.
Thank you.
 Yours sincerely,
Zafar Ahmad bin Abdul Ghani
President
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organizations Malaysia (MERHROM)
No. Tel: +6016-6827287

Helicopters Fire on Rohingya Refugees: 3 Boats load of Rohingya devotees killed

Source from RFA, 20 June
Rohingya Muslim refugees from Burma who managed to sneak into neighboring Bangladesh speak of their ordeal at sea.
Saiful Huq Omi/Polaris.

A Stateless Silenced Injustice: The Rohingya Child’s

By Zeenat Islam
less than a minute ago
Nov 4 2012

Rohingya appeal to world leaders

KUALA LUMPUR: Rohingya living in Malaysia have made a strong plea to world leaders to stop the ethnic cleansing of their countrymen in the Myanmar state of Arakan.

Five members of the Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organisation Malaysia (MERHROM) handed memorandums to the representatives of the British High Commission, the Chinese embassy, the United States embassy and the European Union Delegation of the European Commission here yesterday.

“The killing has to be stopped. We plead to the world superpowers to take immediate action to resolve this conflict and put an end to this ethnic cleansing” said MERHROM president Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani during the handing of the memorandum.

Among the resolutions are:

 THE United Nations security council  send a peace keeping mission to the state to monitor the situation;

 BRINGING General Thein Sein, former General Thein Shwe and General Kyin Nyunt to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for crimes against Rohingya and other ethnic groups of Myanmar;

  PRESSURING the junta to stop the killings, torture and violence towards ethnic Rohingya; and,

  HALTING economic and political relationships with Myanmar until the conflict is resolved.

It said the situation in the Arakan state had worsened since Oct 21 as violence by the military junta against the Rohingya Muslims left thousands dead and homeless.

Nov 4 2012

Memorandum: Urgent Intervention to Stop Ethnic Minority Rohingyas in Arakan State of Myanmar

Memorandum: Urgent Intervention to Stop Ethnic

Minority Rohingyas in Arakan State of Myanmar

source by ; http://salem-news.com/articles/november012012/burma-meeting.php

Salem-News.com

Rohingya people have no access to food, water, medical and shelter.

Rohigya people are suffering
Rohigya people are suffering. Courtesy: dvb.no

(LONDON) – Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM) would like to invite all media and journalists to cover the Handing over of the Urgent Memorandum to the British High Commission, China Embassy, US Embassy and the European Union in regards to the recent violence in Arakan State of Myanmar.

This is very Urgent Memorandum as the situation in Arakan State is very critical with numbers of death of Rohingyas has increased tremendously. Almost 5000 Rohingyas houses have been burnt down by the Rakhines, police and the military. Thousands of Rohingyas currently on the ocean trying to save their lives. Many Rohingyas were missing but the numbers are unknown.

Currently more than 30,000 Rohingyas fled their villages and homeless. They had nowhere to go. They have no access to food, water, medical and shelter.

We would appreciate you could cover the Handing over of the Urgent Memorandum and highlight this critical situation. The details of the event are:

Date                  2nd November 2012
Time                 10.30 am
Venue               1st  – British High Commission  (10.30am)
                          2nd – China Embassy  (11.00am)
                          3rd – US Embassy  (11.30am)
                          4th – European Union  (12.00 noon)
We thank you for your cooperation and attention to our plight. Please call me at any times for any queries. May Allah bless you for your noble work.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Zafar Ahmad Bin Abdul Ghani
President of Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)
Tel: 6016-6827287

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

Nov 4 2012

Many Rohingya missing as boat sinks off Bangladesh

31 October 2012 Last updated at 16:21 GMT

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Many Rohingya missing as boat sinks off Bangladesh

Boats on the Bay of Bengal carry Rohingya away from the violence Thousands have fled Burma for Bangladesh in flimsy boats

About 120 people are missing after their boat capsized in the Bay of Bengal, police in Bangladesh say.

Survivors say many of those on the boat were Rohingya Muslims who have fled recent ethnic violence in Burma.

Local fishermen rescued 13 people from the boat which sank as it was transferring passengers to a larger ship bound for Malaysia.

More than 20,000 Muslims have been displaced by fighting which erupted in Rakhine state 10 days ago.

At least 80 people have died in the violence and thousands of homes have been burnt down.

Clashes in Rakhine in western Burma earlier this year uprooted more than 70,000 Rohingya.

That violence was sparked by the rape and murder of a young Buddhist woman in Rakhine.

A woman and child in a makeshift tent in a refugee camp outside Sittwe Many Rohingya have gathered in a camp outside state capital Sittwe

Reprisal attacks on Rohingya by ethnic Rakhine spiralled and the government was forced to impose a state of emergency to end the violence.

Many of those displaced in June now live in squalid camps either in the state capital, Sittwe, or across the border in Bangladesh.

There is long-standing tension between ethnic Rakhine people, who make up the majority of the state’s population, and Muslims, many of whom are Rohingya and are stateless.

The United Nations describes the Rohingya as a persecuted religious and linguistic minority.

The Burmese government, on the other hand, says they are relatively recent migrants from the Indian sub-continent.

The authorities regard the Rohingya as illegal immigrants and correspondents say there is widespread public hostility to them.

In the most recent clashes, some Rohingya have accused the security forces of siding with the Rakhine and shooting at Muslims.

The government declared a curfew in the affected areas on Monday, and has deployed additional security personnel in Rakhine state, but the violence has continued.

Nov 4 2012

Suu Kyi ‘says she cannot back Myanmar’s Rohingya’

Suu Kyi ‘says she cannot back Myanmar’s Rohingya’

(AFP) – 11 hours ago

YANGON — Aung San Suu Kyi has declined to speak out on behalf of Rohingya Muslims and insisted she will not use “moral leadership” to back either side in deadly communal unrest in west Myanmar, reports said.

The Nobel laureate, who has caused disappointment among international supporters for her muted response to violence that has swept Rakhine state, said both Buddhist and Muslim communities were “displeased” that she had not taken their side.

More than 100,000 people have been displaced since June in two major outbreaks of violence in the state, where renewed clashes last month uprooted about 30,000 people.

Dozens have been killed on both sides and thousands of homes torched.

“I am urging tolerance but I do not think one should use one’s moral leadership, if you want to call it that, to promote a particular cause without really looking at the sources of the problems,” Suu Kyi told the BBC on Saturday.

Speaking in the capital Naypyidaw after talks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who has said the EU is “deeply concerned” about the violence and its consequences for Myanmar’s reforms, Suu Kyi said she could not speak out in favour of the stateless Rohingya.

“I know that people want me to take one side or the other, so both sides are displeased because I will not take a stand with them,” she said.

The democracy champion, who is now a member of parliament after dramatic changes overseen by a quasi-civilian regime that took power last year, said the rule of law should be established as a first step before looking into other problems.

“Because if people are killing one another and setting fire to one another’s houses, how are we going to come to any kind of reasonable settlement?” she said.

Myanmar’s 800,000 Rohingya are seen by the government and many in the country as illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. They face severe discrimination that activists say has led to a deepening alienation.

The Rohingya, who make up the vast majority of those displaced in the fighting, are described by the UN as among the world’s most persecuted minorities.

Nov 4 2012

Rohingyas and Bangladesh

source by ; http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=256202

Azad indicted for war crimes Monday, November 5, 2012

OP-ED

Rohingyas and Bangladesh

Mo Chaudhury

The bouts of ethnic violence in the Rakhine region of Miyanmar since mid-2012 have once again triggered the attempted exodus of Rohingyas into Bangladesh. The purpose of this commentary is to explore key dimensions of the Rohingya tragedy and potential courses of action from the Bangladesh perspective.

First, the conflicting and growing strategic interests of the global power players in the land and sea area surrounding Myanmar (and Bangladesh) continue to prevent any strong independent action on the part of these players to bring about and enforce a mutually fair redress for the Rohingya trgedy. Such a redress would perhaps involve creating an autonomous Rohingya-majority territory in Myanmar carved out of north-western Rakhine with its political and governance structure similar to the territories of Canada and USA, for instance.

Second, the Government of Miyanmar (GoM) continues to deny citizenship to the Rohingyas claiming that the Rohingya ancestors, originating from areas now part of Bangladesh, unlawfully trespassed into and settled in the Rakhine region. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB), on its part, argues that it is an internal problem of Myanmar, and a more accommodative GoB policy regarding the Rohingyas would simply encourage continued governance failure in Myanmar.

Meantime, the tragedy continues to deepen with all of its manifold implications for Bangladesh, such as economic rehabilitation, cultural assimilation, risk of strengthening of anti-secular extremism, risk of counter violence against the Buddhists in Bangladesh, risk of infiltration of illegal arms and weapons, risk of border tension in case of Rakhine insurgency (of ethnic alliances of separatists) operating from within Bangladesh, risk of strengthening of separatist forces in the southeastern areas of Bangladesh, etcetera. The blame game (as much as the blames may be true) and the associated lack of commitment to the humanity of the Rohingyas do not seem like productive courses of action for Bangladesh.

Third, there is no legislation in Bangladesh specifically targeted at handling refugees or asylum seekers. Instead, the GoB relies on the 1946 Foreigners Act that grants it sweeping power. Further, Bangladesh is not a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol. This legal void has provided utmost discretion to the GoB in dealing with the Rohingya refugees. For example, Bangladesh is yet to document/register the vast majority (221,000 out of the reported 250,000) of the Rohingyas already in Bangladesh, most of them since 1991-92.

Without any legal status, these Rohingyas do not qualify for any official humanitarian assistance and have been living in sub-human conditions. While respecting the international law of non-refoulement, Bangladesh did not expel the undocumented Rohingyas, but the 2012 actions of repelling the asylum seekers indicate a reluctance to respect this law going forward. Further, in November 2010, the GoB suspended the UNHCR programme for resettlement of Rohingyas abroad and has since rebuffed strong appeals from the UNHCR to revoke the suspension.

Granted that the internal security concerns of Bangladesh may be well-taken, the question is why twenty years (since 1992) is not a long enough period of sub-human living for the undocumented Rohingyas without access to lawful employment, education, health, freedom of movement, justice system and international assistance.

Fourth, the 250,000 Rohingyas in Bangladesh represent a tiny 0.17% of the country’s population of 150 million, and only one-eighth of the annual growth (1.37%) of population. Further, if the documented Rohingyas are rehabilitated in low density areas, additional amenities and infrastructure needs will be minimal. With legal status, it is also expected that the economic productivity and consumption of the Rohingyas and the inflow of international assistance for them will rise. Thus, their registration is not likely to result in either a population burden or an economic baggage. Without documentation, however, not only the are economic benefits foregone, the Rohingyas may in fact become increasingly desperate and vulnerable to recruitment by criminals, extremists and political opportunists.

Fifth, there is a risk of ethnic clash and separatist turmoil if the Rohingyas are all rehabilitated in the south-eastern region of Bangladesh. For example, if all 250,000 Rohingyas are relocated to the Bandarban district, they will become a dominant ethnic majority there. Therefore security concerns warrant a spatially diversified rehabilitation, possibly dispersing a significant number of Rohingyas to the northern and western districts and perhaps the off-shore islands of Bangladesh.

Lastly, it is in the long-term interests of Bangladesh to be seen as a nation that genuinely cares about the sufferings of fellow human beings. Unbalanced concerns about internal security and geopolitics should not cloud the recollection of traumatic ethnic and political persecution of the Bangladeshis themselves in the not so distant past, nor should it be lost that a sufficiently large segment of the world was always there for Bangladesh whenever it needed economic and humanitarian assistance, especially at times of severe natural calamities. The care and assistance needed by the Rohingyas surely pales in contrast.

While mindless compassion can be reckless, so can be heartless pragmatism. Hence, it is a reasonable balance between the two that Bangladesh needs regarding the Rohingyas. Clearly the transition from defending minorities within own borders to accommodating minorities across the borders is fraught with unpleasant challenges, but continued deferral of taking up the challenges is not a sustainable choice either.

Such a recognition could perhaps start with: (a) unequivocal condemnation of the acts of violence in Rakhine as unacceptable by the GoB, civil society and other collective forums, (b) registration of the undocumented Rohingyas in Bangladesh, (c) cooperation with relief organisations to channel humanitarian aid to the Rohingyas in Bangladesh, (d) articulation and enactment of a comprehensive refugee policy, and (e) leadership by the GoB in orchestrating a multilateral alliance to address the Rohingya tragedy. In other words, a combination of unequivocal moral support, refuge and relief efforts within an internationally accepted legal framework, and mobilisation of interested powerful partners are called for.

The writer is Professor, Practice in Finance, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Email: mo.chaudhury@mcgill.ca

Nov 4 2012

Top Myanmar News Stories

Nov 4 2012

Now, EU chief Barroso offers new ‘development aid’ to Burma

Big News Network (ANI) Sunday 4th November, 2012

After the World Bank gave millions of dollars in aid to Burma, European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso has now offered the country more than 100 million dollars in development aid as he met President Thein Sein.

The two men met in the new capital, Nay Pyi Taw, and discussed steps to boost trade following decades of sanctions.

Barroso also held talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

According to the BBC, the president of the European Commission is the latest in a series of Western officials to visit Burma since the military-backed government began reforms last year.

The government has published details of a new foreign investment law, which is aimed at attracting overseas companies.

Over the past decade, trade links and aid between the EU and Burma have been a fraction of those with other Asian countries.

EU member states had imposed tough sanctions on the military because of its repressive rule.

The EU is also believed to be offering Burma the same trade privileges as other low-income countries get.

It will also fund a new ‘peace centre’ to help Burma resolve the long-running conflicts between central government and ethnic minorities. (ANI)

Nov 4 2012

Burmese Icon Dismays Rohingya Muslims

source by : http://www.onislam.net/english/news/asia-pacific/459860-burmese-icon-dismays-rohingya-muslims.html

Burmese Icon Dismays Rohingya Muslims

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OnIslam & News Agencies

Sunday, 04 November 2012 16:32

“I know that people want me to take one side or the other, so both sides are displeased because I will not take a stand with them,” she said.

YANGON – A Burmese Noble laureate opposition icon has declined to support Rohingya Muslim minority, insisting she will not use “moral leadership” to back either side in the deadly sectarian violence that forced thousands of people, mostly Muslims, to flee their homes.

“I am urging tolerance but I do not think one should use one’s moral leadership, if you want to call it that, to promote a particular cause without really looking at the sources of the problems,” Suu Kyi told the BBC on Saturday.

At least 84 people have been killed and 129 others injured in deadly violence between Buddhists and ethnic-Bengali Muslims known as Rohingyas in the western state of Rakhine since October 21.

Suu Kyi and the Rohingya: a Heroine No More

“Don’t You Feel Rohingya Are Human Being?”

Suu Kyi Urged to End Myanmar Muslim Plight

The violence has displaced nearly 29,000 people, more than 97 percent of whom are Rohingya Muslims, according to the United Nations.

Many now live in camps, adding to 75,000 mostly Rohingya displaced in June after a previous explosion of sectarian violence killed at least 80 people.

Human rights groups have accused Burmese police and troops of disproportionate use of force and arrests of Rohingyas in the wake of the riots.

Human Rights Watch has accused Burmese security forces of targeting Rohingya Muslims with killing, rape and arrest following the unrest.

The Noble laureate disappointing comments followed her talks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who has said the EU is “deeply concerned” about the violence and its consequences for Burma’s reforms.

Yet, Suu Kyi said she could not speak out in favour of the stateless Rohingya.

She added that both Buddhist and Muslim communities were “displeased” that she had not taken their side.

“I know that people want me to take one side or the other, so both sides are displeased because I will not take a stand with them,” she said.

Suu Kyi won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for championing democracy in opposition to a ruthless military junta that held her under house arrest for years.

Equal!

Equating both sides of the conflict, the Burmese icon blamed Muslims and Buddhist on inciting sectarian violence.

“Because if people are killing one another and setting fire to one another’s houses, how are we going to come to any kind of reasonable settlement?” she said.

Sui Kyi has been under fire over being silent on the persecution on the sizable Muslim minority.

Last September, she came under fierce criticism after saying that she does not know whether Muslim Rohingyas are citizens of Burma or no.

Described by the UN as one of the world’s most persecuted minorities, Rohingya Muslims are facing a catalogue of discrimination in their homeland.

They have been denied citizenship rights since an amendment to the citizenship laws in 1982 and are treated as illegal immigrants in their own home.

The Burmese government as well as the Buddhist majority refuse to recognize the term “Rohingya”, referring to them as “Bengalis”.

Burma is about 90 percent Buddhist and the majority are ethnically Burman, but the remaining people are a diverse group of over 100 ethnic and religious minorities.

Treating Buddhism as the state de facto religion, the Buddhist Burman majority was singled out as the trustworthy pillar of national identity.

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