Rohingya exhibition and panel discussion at FCCT in Bangkok

By BRAT,

The photo exhibition- "Stateless Rohingya…Running on Empty" would be launched at Foreign Corespondents Club of Thailand-FCCT from 7pm of Friday May 18, 2012.

"Stateless Rohingya…Running on Empty" is an exhibition by award-winning photographer Suthep Kritsanavarin. It features images captured over three years throughout the region.
This presentation is an in-depth portrayal of the plight of the Rohingyas, an ethnic and religious minority in Myanmar – one of the world's most persecuted – and the international diaspora of their community from Australia to Malaysia.

Powerful images chronicle the story of a people estranged in their own homeland; denied citizenship, education and jobs in Burma – and their perilous journeys by boat in search of a land where they may claim as home.

Suthep, who is known for his pictures of the Mekong River, has also produced a short (12-minute) documentary that reveals the political and social challenges of this stateless community from northern Arakan/Rakhine state, acknowledged by human rights activists as one of the region's most unknown neglected people.

The documentary will be shown at a panel on May 23 to coincide with his exhibition.

The panel will address questions about the identity of the Rohingyas and why have fled their land, the historical source of the Myanmar government's denial of statehood and their struggle for humanitarian recognition.

Human Rights Watch representative Phil Robertson will attend to talk about the plight of the Rohingya, along with a top Thai academic, a Rohingya leader Maung Kyaw Nu (a former political prisoner of conscience and currently chairman of BRAT) and Intl award winner photo-journalist Suthep.

FCCT invites you to join in the launch of the photo show (May 18) and the panel (May 23) to discuss the situation of the Rohingya.