UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights visits Maungdaw

Tuesday, 31 July 2012 18:10

UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Mr Tomas Ojea Quintana visited Burma from July 30 for four days  accompanied by other members visited Maungdaw Township, Arakan today (July 31), at about 1:30 pm by three Helicopters, according to an elder from Maungdaw.

“But, one of three landed at Nyaungchang village and two others landed at Aley Than Kyaw village to oversee the situation of the recent event which is occurred between Rohingyas and Rakhines, the latter backed by concerned authorities. Later, the helicopters also flew to Maungdaw town.”

After landing the helicopters, some representatives went to the house of Sayedullah, a Nasaka aide with tight security of Nasaka and Sarapa and called the villagers who want to talk to them. Hearing it, villagers rushed to the spot to talk to the representatives, but all of them were driven out from the place by the Nasaka. Later, two villagers- Shadullah, 30, son of Asharf Meah and Moulana Abdul Rahaman, son of Syed Ullah- went to the spot to say some events of the Rohingya villagers. All of them said regarding the recent events. But, Shadullah - a student - especially expressed the facing troubles made by concerned authorities, so, the Sarapa (Military Intelligence) is looking for him after departing helicopters at about 4:05 pm. Therefore, we are very worry for the fate of the villager, said an elder from Alay Than Kyaw.

“The concerned authorities know how to fabricate and what to do before the delegation arrive. Therefore, the situation in Arakan is little bit quiet down just within these days but it will be back to original position once after Mr Quintana’s leaving from Burma.”

“Many people are living in open area without any shelter but sometime they were brought to designated places and taken pictures to show up that they were in safe places.”

Of course, the helpless Rohingya people will dare to speak to the representatives. If anyone who speaks the truth will be arrested and tortured upon leaving of Mr Quintana. It is a worry that the government will make some Rohingya as their puppets and let those to meet representatives along with Mr Quintana and will hide the reality and cover up their crimes against Rohingyas, said a school teacher from Maungdaw.

“A authority puppet – Mujeb Ullah, acting Ward numbers two administration officer – organized some educated Rohingya elder –Aman Ullah (a lawyer),Nurul Amin ( a lawyer), Dr.Zawhir, Hamid, Nurul Haque- to meet UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Mr Tomas Ojea Quintana and other members in Maungdaw district administration office where they will talk as per the direction of authority which will hide all crimes against Rohingyas by authorities –Army, Nasaka, police and Hluntin. The Rohingya elder met with delegations and talk in a room which the authority for them. But, they will talk the real situation of Rohingyas in Maungdaw passing their lives since June 8.”

The Maungdaw authorities also design some Hindu youths as Rohingya religious students, with long dress and hat of Islam religious students to meet the delegations where they will explain about the situation of Rohingya life as per authority aspiration. All the Hidu youths are from Shwezarr village tract, said an elder from Shwezarr village.

On the other hand, Rakhine community from Maungdaw opposed the visiting of UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Mr Tomas Ojea Quintana and its delegations with holding placard which read Get out  UN, No interfere in Myanmar, WE don’t want UN and etc. The Rakhines line up from Shwe Thazine Hotel to Myoma Kayoungdan  road where the delegations went through the road. But, The security forces are not allow Rohingya community to see or to meet in the town  along the road. All the Rohingyas were drove out from thee road by security force, using  the emergency Act 144. But, Rakhines , the security forces  allowed them to stay along the road with placard to oppose the UN delegation. For Rakhine community, no need of emergency ACT 144, said an educated Rohingya from Maungdaw. “ I thinks, it is the direction of Distract administration officer, Aung Myint Soe to oppose the delegations.”
“The Rakhines applied for permission for demonstration under emergency ACT 144 and if they apply it need at least one week to get permission. It seen now, this is the plan of Distract Administration officer idea to do this.”

Source-KPN

ARAKAN CRISIS DURING UN ENVOY VISIT.

The government indulges the Rakhine people while Rakhine people party- RNDP is being the in-charge for Arakan state. From the beginning of the violence, Law and Order have not been applied on aggressive Rakhines, the local security forces have been permitted to shot Rohingyas, seizing Rohingya people's lands and forcing them into tents, rejecting their rights, blocking aid and compelling to die from starvation, and handing over to relocate at another country, are very clear part of the government's involvement.

However, UN just talking for inquiry despite that have not been agreed by the both Myanmar junta and Srilanka dictator from the past five years. Instead, UN must take another workable step.
The second visit of UN envoy could not find anything and such visit could not end the crisis either. The power of UN is also not clear as its envoys have been guided by the military generals and unable to visit freely. In this manner, all Rohingyas will be terminated progressively.

Yesterday, immigration minster Brigadier General Khin Ye talked to the press that the Bengali immigrants of Rakhine state will not be counted for census of 2015.


Sittwe Crisis
A Rohingya family going across the farming land of Tambi village (Tambi Fara or new Chicha Fara), were arrested by Nasaka forces in the afternoon of 31 July. The father was tied up and hanged at the tree while the rest were laid on the ground. The forces accused them as members of Al-Qaeda and shot the father's hand first. When the family members screamed and craved for help, another bullet shot at the forehead of the father, the elder son was shot at tight, the younger son was shot at around abdomen and the mother was beaten to unconscious.
Both the father and the younger son were died on the spot and the rest two were still unknown.

Afternoon, after the UNDP staffs leaved the camps, two police and a RNDP member came to arrest a Rohingya who work as an interpreter for UNDP. During they grabbing away the interpreter, the villagers noisily came out and rescued the interpreter. The police throw the guns away and ran towards outside the village. After that, the two police reported as the Rohingya villagers began mutiny against the authority.

The gangs of RNDP await across the roads near by Roghingya villages. They rush to check every vehicle come out from Rohingya villages. They informed the driver that they will take over in case any Rohingya found in the vehicle.


A ship load of foods sent by Yangon based Muslim organizations has been arrived at Sittwe bay but it was blocked by Rakhine authorities administered by the Arakan state minster Dr Aye Maung who is also chief of RNDP. Despite it has been permitted by president Thein Sein.  First, the Rakhine authority asked to distribute 80% to Rakhine, 10% to military and the rest 10% for Muslim. In this manner, the ship has been stopped more than 3 days and totally not allowed to come near the jetty.
According to the source received today, the ship has been finally allowed to park at the jetty with the agreement of 20% distribution for Rakhine people. But it is not sure whether all the foods will be handed first to the authority.

Rakhine people destroyed their huts and some bamboo houses in Rakhine village of Mingan and rushed to take shelter today at the Buddhist monastery before the arrival of UN envoy. Remaining muslim villagers in Aungmingala village, have been forced to go to the bazaar and authority prepared to film it.


Related info:
Myanmar totally rejects the attempts by some quarters to politicize and internationalize the situation as a religious issue

Burma's Fabrications Ahead of UN Rapporteur Quintana

Translation of- MP U Shwe Maung's Parliamentary Speech in Burmese Parliament Relating to Arakan Crisis on 25 Jul

Minister rejects calls for int’l investigation in Arakan

By DAVID STOUT
Published: 31 July 2012

UN Human Rights Special Envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana (in blue) attends a news conference on Rohingya-related unrest in Arakan State in Rangoon on 30 July 2012. (Reuters)

 

Union Immigration Minister Khin Yi rejected a call from the United Nations’ to investigate the unfair treatment of the Rohingya by security forces following the rioting in western Burma during a press conference where government officials discussed the ongoing unrest in Arakan state.
,” said K“If you think about it, it’s just a fight between the Bengali people who lived in the country over time and the Arakanese people – brothers who live in the same househin Yi, according to Popular Myanmar News Journal.

“This is just a regional but not an international issue. This is to be solved bilaterally between Myanmar [Burma] and Bangladesh. So I don’t think the government will accept the call to open an inquiry as if this were an international issue.”
Khin Yi went on to say that the country’s Rohingya population would not be included in Burma’s 2014 nationwide census.

According to a report from Popular Myanmar News Journal, when questioned by Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Burma Major General Anup Kumar Chakma whether the Rohingyas are among Burma’s 135 ethnic nationalities, the minister dismissed the notion and stated the group arrived in Burma after the first Anglo-Burmese War in 1824, thus voiding them of such distinction.

The immigration minister’s comments were made in front of visiting United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Burma Tomas Ojea Quintana, who travelled to Arakan state today.

About 200 locals in northern Arakan state’s Maungdaw staged a peaceful protest ahead of the visit from the UN envoy.
Quintana headed into Maungdaw township after he landed in the area at 1:30pm today where residents rallied at Thazin Guest House, which was torched when rioting kicked off in early June.
“The protesters are peacefully expressing themselves holding placards that read: ‘Respect the President’s Decision’, ‘Respect the ethnic people’s rights’, ‘Respect Burma sovereignty’,” said a bystander who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Burmese government has been inundated as of late with a deluge of criticisms from INGOS and fellow ASEAN member state Indonesia over the country’s handling of the Rohingya issue.
“We must highlight, again, that Indonesia has consistently rejected discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, or any other reason,” said Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, according to the Jakarta Globe.
“Our stance also applies to the ongoing attacks against the Rohingya in Myanmar [Burma].”
In the New Light of Myanmar on Tuesday, the government published an announcement echoing the Immigration Minister’s sentiment: “In light of the true circumstances and situation, Myanmar totally rejects the attempts by some quarters to politicize and internationalize this situation as a religious issue.”
“There has been growing trend towards the emergence of democracy worldwide whose universal essence is of freedom, transparency, social justice and equality in the context of human rights protection and promotion,” read another announcement in a page two editorial in Tuesday’s edition of the government mouthpiece.
”“However, the survivability of a nation is far more important than democracy for no democracy thrives on the soil of a country that has lost unity, independence and sovereignty, in other words, a failed state.
-Aye Nai contributed additional reporting to this article.

Source.DVB.

CURRENT SITUATON OF ARAKAN

30 July.

"There are several hypocritical attempts and steps taking by the government in Arakan to deceive the visiting UN Special Rapporteur, Mr. Tomas OjeaQuintana about the actual situation of Arakan and to cover up the crimescommitted against Rohingyas.

Attempt 1

The authority are forcing the leaders of Rohingyas in Maung Daw and Buthidaung to say to Mr. Quintana that they are in peaceful situation and government has only arrested those who involved in the violence. 

Attempt 2

The authority are clearing all the blocks to show that people can move freely and forcing Rohingyas to re-open the remaining businesses.

Attempt 3

Until two days ago, Rohingyas were not allowed to do their lifeline cultivation of crop rice. Now, the NaSaKa in Maung Daw are forcing Rohingyas to start their cultivation and subsequently taking photographs of them.

Attempt 4

NaSaKa is behaving as if they are giving some food rations. The foods given to Rohingyas are taken back by NaSaKa after the completion of their photographic sessions.

Attempt 5

Authorities in Sittwe are repairing few remaining Mosques and painting them. 

Attempt 6

Authorities and Rakhine leaders are visiting the Rohingya camps, persuading Rohingyas and calling them as if their brothers.

Attempt 7

The government also ordered all people to attached the postcards with the symbol "NSK" to their the shirts." Rahim from Maung Daw reported.

In short, authorities in Arakan commanded all Rohingyas and Rakhines that they must, though externally, show solidarity and live like friends from 1st August to 5th August. This pseudo-solidarity and peacefully living together for five days is certainly an attempt to deceive the visiting UN Special Rapporteur, Mr. Tomas Ojea Quintana. C'mon, tyrannic regime and extremist Rakhines! Don't be afraid to show your true faces. Don't try to

deceive the world.

Moreover, according to one of the internal source, the police custodies in Maung Daw and Buthiduang have become Burmese Version of Nazi Extermination Camps where many Rohingyas arrested and locked up are being killed through tortures and various other means. The Rohingyas including under-aged ones are kept without water for days. When they are given foods, it is not on the plates but on the ground. Then, their hands are tied with ropes and they are forced to eat using their mouths. Besides, authorities of the custodies frequently put SALT into wounds of Rohingyas resulted from the tortures. Whoever dies is buried inhumanely wherever possible. Therefore, it is quite similar to how Jews were treated in Nazi's extermination camps. 

Furthermore, it has been known to the world that the monks in Rakhine state are restricting Rohingyas' access to foods, rations and medication. The monks boycotted 22 Rohingyas villages in Kyauktaw township. No Rohingya from these 22 villages are allowed to go out of their villages in search of foods and making them (Rohingyas) die by starvation inside their villages. To add more horrors, according to a reliable source from Maung Daw, about 2

to 3 Rohingyas per day (including children) are being slaughtered in "Allu Daw Bray (Byay)" monastery opposite to the government hospital in Maung Daw. During the raids by the police and Lunthin (security guards) which are made up of Rakhines, hundreds of Rohingyas were arrested. Some of them were killed on the spot, some have been kept and being tortured in police custodies and some were handed over to the concerned monastery to

be slaughtered. The people who are not allowed to inflict pains even on insects, whose religion teaches Metta (loving-kindness), are slaughtering human beings. Unbelievable! These people who are hiding behind saffron might not be Buddhists. They might be influenced more by Hitler than Buddha himself. 

Meanwhile, arresting of educated Rohingyas and their religious leaders continues in Buthidaung and Maung Daw.

The people of the world regretted and mourned after the holocaust of six millions Jews. Then, they decided and took oath to not let happen such kind of atrocities, ethnic cleansing, genocides and the crimes against humanity take place on the earth again. Yet, it is taking place against Rohingyas in Arakan state of Burma. Do come forward to save them before it

is too late. 

Source by M.S. Anwar

Maungdaw authrities design the twon for UN special Raporteur on Human Rights visit.

 30 July 2012

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Maungdaw authorities- Township and district administration offices – are designing the town with full of Human rights to welcome UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Tomas Quintana visit  the areas , according to an elder from Maungdaw.

“We heard Mr. Tomas Quintana will visit tomorrow Maungdaw and Buthidaung and the Town authorities are preparing all things are under the control and town people –Rohingyas – are getting all facilities – movement, foods and religious.”

“The town authorities called all the village administration officers to their office and ordered all Rohingyas must be in the field for working rice cultivation, must be open the Rohingya shops.”

“The authorities also shifted all the arrestees from Buthidaung Jail to No.2 Hluntin Battalion of Buthidaung near golf playground, who were arrested in the riot period and kept in a small room where the authority toke off all the clothes from them.”

All Rakhines  - Maungdaw  north and south , from town and other sides ;- Buthidaung and Rathedaung - are gathering at refugee centers (mostly in the monasteries) in Maungdaw before , now the Rakhines are gathering at Maungdaw High school as they are victims of the riot and staying in the refugee center for fear of Rohingyas attack to them, said a school teacher from Maungdaw.  “The Rakhines  were gather in the monasteries when relief goods were distributing time and returned back to their home after received the relief goods. There are no Rakhine refugees in Maungdaw as no Rakhine ‘s houses burned, only Rohingyas’ houses only burned in Maungdaw.”

“Rohingyaa are not getting any relief from any quarters and they more suffering by not giving access to foods and medicines by the authority.”

Besides, Police officer U Hla Sein with other 4 police personnel entered more than 20 houses from Ward number 5 where the police beat the family members – women and children- and destroyed all the house hold items. At last the police toke the family list and handed over to Ward admin, said a villager from Ward number 5.

Foor Khan, 21, son of Syed from Naribill was arrested by Military Intelligence officer Hla Win Khine  today at about 4:00pm where he was tortured  to confessed  to say some name of villagers which the officer want to extort money from them, said a villager.

The military personnel are placed everywhere in Maungdaw Township. Rohingya people can move freely now wherever army personnel are posted. The military is selling rice for Rohingya with high price. Rice-sack porters also are happy for earning something. The Rohingya are not able to buy rice as they have no money. All the money were looted by Rakhine and security forces, said a villager from Maungdaw.

But some policemen -–Assistant police officer Aye htun Sein and sergeant Than Maung Gyi- who stationed near the clock tower are looting money from the people and collecting 1000 kyats as toll on per rice -sack.

The ancient mosque nearby Sittwe airport is under renovation by the local municipality as to show up that the government is taking care of the damages. The lands of destructed houses and mosques have been bulldozed. The situation of Rohingya refugee camps in Sittwe is still unchanged. People are dying by starvation and lack of medical treatments.

Violating human rights beside the unrecognizing citizens is likewise keeping the people at silent killing field. Many people are living in open area without any shelter but sometime they were brought to designated places and taken pictures to show up that they were in safe places, said an educated person from Maungdaw.

“Of course Mr Quintana will visit the villages in Arakan to see the situation but I don’t think the vulnerable Rohingya people will dare to speak to him. If anyone who speaks the truth will be tortured upon leaving of Mr Quintana. It is a worry that the government will make some Rohingya as their puppets and let them meets with Mr Quintana and will hide the reality and cover up their crimes against Rohingyas.”

Amnesty International and many Human Rights Organizations issued the statements that there are arbitrary arrests, mass killings and security forces are targeting Rohingya people. The security forces raid every night the villages in Maungdaw to arrest Rohingya men. The Rohingya women were raped in absence of men as almost men were not sleeping at home for the fear of arrest.

Malaysian government offered aids for displaced people but Burma’s foreign minister Wunna Maung Lwin rejected it. Human Rights expert Mr Ansar Burney was rejected the entry visa to Burma. Turkish Red Crescent is waiting for the response of Thein Sein government to assist the Rohingya people. Iran government is urging the UN to send peacekeeping forces to Arakan. Independent media access is still controlled. Within, this situation, the Rohingya can get their rights from world community, said an old man from Maungdaw.

Source-KPN

Police harassment increase in Maungdaw

Sunday, 29 July 2012 12:29

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Police officers in Maungdaw Township increase harassment against the Town dwellers and villagers of Rohingya villages. Every day, the police officers arrest the innocent Rohingya villagers to extorted money. 

The police surveillance officer U Aung Kyaw Than of Maungdaw Town went to Baggona village and arrested two villagers--- Mohamed Zuhar and another one today and brought to Maungdaw police station where they were severely tortured to extort money.

U Aung Kyaw Than gave his telephone number to every village in Maungdaw Township to contact with him. His contact number is ---00-95-0945-670, 545. He listed, at least 20 to 30 villagers from every village to meet with him. The police officer threatened to the villagers that if the villagers do not meet him to pay money, they will be arrested and will be sent to Buthidaung jail.

U Aung Kyaw Than has good relation with Officer-in- Charge (OC) U Tin Hla, U Hla Sein, U Hla Myint, and U Maung Chay of Maungdaw police station. This group also involves in Yaba tablets smuggling with Bangladesh. The group uses Rakhines and Rohingys for smuggling Yaba tablets to Bangladesh and they have to pay money to the group per week.

Yesterday, at about 4:00 pm, police and Hluntin arrested Mohibullah (27), son of Tin Soe (clerk), hailed from Bohmu Para of Maungdaw township at Clock Tower junction, while he was going to his home. 

Besides, on July 27, Ayat Ullah ( 20), son of Salamat, hailed from Ward No.1 of Maungdaw Town was arrested by police personnel – Assistant police Inspector and sergeant Than Maung Gyi -   at Clock Tower junction while he was crossing the junction. After arrest, he was severely tortured at the road. Today, early in the morning, police threw a dead body of Rohingya villager nearby a Hindu Para of Shwezarr but it was seen by Rohingya villagers. Therefore, the police took away again to Maungdaw Town. Villagers believe that the dead body was the son of Salamat.

On July 25, Nasaka arrested Arif Hussain (22), son of Baser hailed from Sangri village of Kyauk Pyin Seik village tract of Maungdaw Township.

We, the people of Maungdaw town urge to the Home Minister of Burma through Kaladan Press Network to take action against the police officers, especially U Aung Kyaw Than.

The villagers of Rathedaung Towunship are not allowed to go out from their homes so; they are not able to buy anything from the market. Now, they are facing food crisis. No one visited the Rathedaung Township to oversee the Rohingya situation.

Rakhine Refugees camps again setup in Maungdaw

The authority called all the Natala villagers , Rakhine community from Maungdaw north , Rakhine community from Maungdaw town and others area- Buthidaung and Rathedaung -  to join at the Maungdaw State High school as a refugees, pretending  who are  not able to stay in their villages for fear of attack from Rohingya community, said an elder from Myoma Kyayoungdan village.

“The Rakhine before setup   7 refugee centers at monasteries , but now they again setting up new style  in Maungdaw High school. It is just for showcase of refugee to show the UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur, Tomas Ojea Quintana who will visit soon.”

Mosques checking in Maungdaw

On the other hand, the security personnel are checking the Mosques of Myoma  Kyayoungdan village  where was not happen before. The villagers were not at the Mosques when the security checked the Mosques. The Rohingya community is fearing for blocking the all Mosques as it is checking Mosques now most of the villages, said a religious leader from Maungdaw.

“The authority is going to arrest the Rohingya religious leaders and students. So the religious leaders and students are hiding  for fear of arrest. No one stay in the villages.”

Court staffs attack Rohingya community in Maungdaw

The court staffs have been throwing stones to the Rohingya community who went to see their love one (family members) at the hearing session , said a Rohingya who is the victim of the court.

“The court staffs also said that you are not allow to attend the courtroom. This is not your place.”

The judge also stated the case period into double and fine also double. The Rohingya community, who has a case with bail bound, are called by court and sent to the jail with double jail term and with fine.

Sorce-KPN

Rohingya could be facing threat of ethnic cleansing, says advocacy group 

29 July 2012 /

  MINHAÇ ÇELIK, ISTANBUL

The continuing violence against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and the blocking of aid for them by Buddhists in Myanmar could be seen as an attempt at ethnic cleansing, according to Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, a nongovernmental group that advocates for the Rohingya, adding that the international community should put pressure on the government to immediately control the situation.

“Blocking of aid could be seen as an attempt to ethnic cleansing -- to starve the Rohingyans to force them to flee and leave. The international community should pressure the government to urgently control the situation, provide security for the Rohingya Muslims and to humanitarian workers as well as to ensure access and delivery of aid to affected people. If this is not done immediately, then external intervention should be forced upon, but I doubt this could actually happen.”

The first glimmer of violence in Myanmar occurred in June after claims that three Rohingya Muslims raped a Buddhist woman. Following the allegations, extremist Buddhists began to kill Muslims living in Arakan province, the location of the recently escalating violence in the country, near Bangladesh.

“The alleged perpetrators were indeed three Muslims although the exact circumstances of the rape are unclear. The three were immediately arrested and sentenced to death. The sentence was handed down so quickly that I doubt any proper judicial procedure has been followed,” said Lewa, adding that the death penalty was usually not carried out in Myanmar.
In an interview with Today's Zaman, Lewa described the violence in Myanmar as an ethno-religious conflict, primarily based on race, but in which religious sentiments play a significant role. “Rohingya Muslims do not have any friends in Myanmar,” said Lewa, adding that communal clashes between Buddhists and Rohingyans have turned into state-sponsored violence specifically targeting the Rohingyans.

Reproaching the stance of the international community, Lewa stated that most countries are keen to invest in Myanmar but do not care about the human rights of Rohingyans. “What I find regrettable is that the suspension of sanctions and support for a reform process in Myanmar, which so far is not much more than cosmetic, have reduced these countries to silence on gross human rights issues including the treatment of Rohingyans,” said Lewa.
The Rohingyan Muslims are not seen as citizens of Myanmar by nationalist Myanmar leaders, officials and fanatical Buddhists, and in turn are exposed to discrimination. “Hostility toward the Rohingyans has been long-standing, fuelled by competing notions of the role of race and religion in Myanmar's national identity,” said Lewa.
Myanmar President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency in Arakan province following clashes between Buddhists and Muslims and deployed army troops to restore stability. “Border security forces as well as riot police have been involved in burning houses, looting, and killings before and after the state of emergency was imposed. The army has mostly been involved in mass arrests, killings and rape but not in burning houses and looting,” said Lewa, adding the government has declared a state of emergency in six townships in Arakan province, which is still in force.

“Hundreds of Rohingyans were arrested and taken away to unknown destinations, as their families did not hear from them,” said Lewa.
Myanmar's government is currently not allowing any media organizations to enter the country. An aid team from the United Nations, which is the only foreign team that was allowed to enter the region, has said death toll numbers are contradictory.
“Threats against the UN and international NGOs are being circulated in attempts to block assistance to the Rohingyans,” said Lewa.

INVITATION

 

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New Human Rights Watch Report: The Government Could Have Stopped This: Sectarian Violence and Abuses in Burma's Arakan State

10.30am to 12 noon, Wednesday August 1, 2012

Free

This is not an FCCT-sponsored event. It is a paid function and responsibility for program content is solely that of the event organizer

 

Presented by Phil Robertson, Deputy Director, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch

In June 2012, deadly sectarian violence erupted in western Burma's Arakan State between Arakan Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims. Rohingya and Arakan mobs attacked unsuspecting villages, killed an undetermined number of people, and destroyed homes, shops, and houses of worship. Over 100,000 people were displaced. Human Rights Watch invested and will be launching a new report, "The Government Could Have Stopped This": Sectarian Violence and Abuses in Burma's Arakan State. Based on interviews with members of both the Arakan and Rohingya communities in Arakan state, and others in Burma and Bangladesh, the report describes how the Burmese authorities failed to protect ethnic communities, instead standing by as violence unfolded. While the Burma army eventually stepped in to stop the mob violence, state security forces and local Arakan communities worked together to target Rohingya communities, committing killings, rapes, and mass arrests. Humanitarian access to affected populations remains severely hampered by government restrictions, arrests of aid workers, and threats and intimidation from local Arakan residents. Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh have been pushed back to sea by Bangladesh authorities in barely seaworthy boats and during rough monsoon rains.

The violence against Rohingya comes against a backdrop of decades of official discrimination and persecution. Burma's president, Thein Sein, has recently increased tensions since the violence by advocating the expulsion of all Rohingya from Burma.

Come hear a comprehensive assessment of the situation in Arakan state, and Human Rights Watch's detailed recommendations for the governments of Burma and Bangladesh, UN agencies, and international donors and development partners engaged in Arakan state.

 

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New Human Rights Watch Report: The Government Could Have Stopped This: Sectarian Violence and Abuses in Burma’s Arakan State

New Human Rights Watch Report: The Government Could Have Stopped This: Sectarian Violence and Abuses in Burma’s Arakan State

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

10:30 a.m. to 12 noon

Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT), Bangkok

Presented by Phil Robertson, Deputy Director, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch

In June 2012, deadly sectarian violence erupted in western Burma’s Arakan State between Arakan Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims. Rohingya and Arakan mobs attacked unsuspecting villages, killed an undetermined number of people, and destroyed homes, shops, and houses of worship. Over 100,000 people were displaced.  Human Rights Watch invested and will be launching a new report, “The Government Could Have Stopped This”: Sectarian Violence and Abuses in Burma’s Arakan State.  Based on interviews with members of both the Arakan and Rohingya communities in Arakan state, and others in Burma and Bangladesh, the report describes how the Burmese authorities failed to protect ethnic communities, instead standing by as violence unfolded. While the Burma army eventually stepped in to stop the mob violence, state security forces and local Arakan communities worked together to target Rohingya communities, committing killings, rapes, and mass arrests. Humanitarian access to affected populations remains severely hampered by government restrictions, arrests of aid workers, and threats and intimidation from local Arakan residents. Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh have been pushed back to sea by Bangladesh authorities in barely seaworthy boats and during rough monsoon rains.

The violence against Rohingya comes against a backdrop of decades of official discrimination and persecution. Burma’s president, Thein Sein, has recently increased tensions since the violence by advocating the expulsion of all Rohingya from Burma.

Come hear a comprehensive assessment of the situation in Arakan state, and Human Rights Watch’s detailed recommendations for the governments of Burma and Bangladesh, UN agencies, and international donors and development partners engaged in Arakan state.
mailed by 

UPDATE NEWS OF ARAKAN

Rohingyas are still confined and faced the worst part of difficulties with foods and medications. Those in Northern Arakan state are extraordinarily facing constant harassments of authorities.
Homeless Rohingyas from Kyaukatw and Rambre townships received nothing from the beginning. Overall those additionally dying day by day from starvation and sick are mostly children and older people.

Maungdaw township
27 July: According to ERCA's member Razak, 4 Rohingyas patients involving women who approached to hospital were took over by Rakhines. After hours of intervention by hospital staffs they were finally released and the staffs send them home safely..

Mr. Razak received a source via a monk confirmed that about 60 Rohingya youths arrested from all over Maungdaw town were handed to Buddhist monastery of Hunri Fara by yesterday evening and each time 3 to 4 Rohingyas are taking away for execution.
Update News of Arakan

26 July:
A source came from the two famous Rohingya informers known as Zubair from Manawma village and Sayad Alam from Darga Fara (Nasaka Area-6) who worked more than a decade with Naska authority, confirmed that there are thousands of human bones and skulls in the valley of Hawrawla Zuri (Valley of Hawrawla Mountain) situated at the base of the mountain within the Nasaka head quarter territory of Kyikanbyin (Hawabil) village. They both confirmed that thousands of those Rohingyas executed from the past ten years were thrown into the valley.
They also said that the Nasaka Chief Commander- Aung Gyi was picked up for interrogation from Nasaka head quarter by a Helicopter which came from Sittwe sine the end last month as a result of Rakhine community lodge a complaint against him for releasing Rohingya arrestees. Since then, a new commander who is a Rakhine origin has been replaced.
The Nasaka troops also came to pick up the both informers but they managed to escape early after they received information.


25 July: A Rohingya from Kyaukpyinseik (Naribil) was arrested by Nasaka. The source said Nasaka authority came to arrest mobile phone holder his brother with the suspect of informing news. When his brother was not there on the time of Nasaka arrived, the younger brother was lifted.

24 July (Kaladan Press): The police officer from 3 miles check point arrested 4 Rohingya from Samawna para near the Myothu Gyi villager yesterday evening at about 5:30, said an elder from Myothu Gyi village. They are Abdul Sukur s/o Reyaz, Abudl Sukur s/o Kala Meah , Rashid s/o Abdul Sukur and Putu s/o Abdul Sukur.

23 July (Kaladan Press): Nasaka arrested Somi Ullah s/o Dilu, Rahamat Ullah s/o Dilu , Nur Hashim s/o Basher and another  from Guna Para of Shwezarr Village.
Shadek Husson s/o Osman from Sawmawna para was arrested by Nasaka station near Natala (Shetler) village  at about 4:30pm, but he was released by ransom 20,000 Kyat payment.
On the other hand, Abul Bashar s/o Zakawriya and Yasein (Converted Rohingya) from Thanda village were arrested by army but the relative are worried for them as the army took them to the jungle and no information about them.
Besides, Abdullah s/o Nurmal Hakhin, Habib Ullah s/o Sultan, Maghgul s/o Abdul Rashid and Foor Khan s/o Ali Husson from Alay Than Kyaw were arrested by Nasaka.

22 July (Kaladan Press): The officer from Nasaka Area Number(6), summoned all village admin officers with five religious leaders at his office at about 9:30am. After meeting, the officer arrested 5 religious leaders – Moulan Abu Siddique-45 from Hla Poe Khuang (Sorfordin Bil) village, Moulana Yousuf Ali-40 from Zin Paung Nyar village, Moulana Mohamed Alam-40 from Poungzarr village, Moulan Kawlim-40 from Hlabawzar and Moulana Dil Mohamed-40 from Hlabawzarr.

Besides, the Military Intelligence and Nasaka arrested 4 other Rohingyas from the Juma Moaque of Thayai Gonetan (Knonena Para) while they were praying in the veranda (porch). The arrestees are; - Moulana  Fazal Haque-50, Butu-31,  Amir Abdul Gaffor-42 and another Moulana. The arrestees were kept in the Nasaka custody of Nasaka area number (7).
Similarly, the Nasaka and Military Intelligence arrested 6 Rohingyas from Pa Nyaung Pingyi and 3 Rohingyas from Du Nyaung Pingyi in the morning. Most of the arrestees are religious leaders or students.

Buthidaung township

27 July, From BROUK's press release,
"In Buthidaung Jail 43 dead bodies of Rohingyas were buried in a mass grave near the jail's fencing on the 24th of July.  They were tortured jointly by the Rakhine and jail’s authorities. There are over 500 Rohingya prisoners arrested from Maung Daw and Buthidaung recently,  have been tortured and leaving without food and drink."
Similar concern of "Summary Execution In Buthidaung Prison", was raised by Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand (BRAT) during a memorandum submission at Government House on the same day of Burmese Junta Thein Sein visit on 23 July 2012. The statement said,
"The information received from a prisoner who got released recently on Saturday- 22 July 2012 after completion of two years sentences, confirmed that there are 650 Rohingya detainees in a compound of Buthidaung Jail. 5 Rohingyas are dying daily from inhumane tortures. The dead bodies were packed by gunny and Rakhines carried away by bamboo pole in every early morning. It is very horrible that none of these Rohingyas prisoners can walk well and stand strait. They
sent messages to their families that they could not be able to back alive and the wounds they got were damaged inner parts of organs."


23 July (Kaladan Press): Husson Johar- Regional Development Association (RDA) secretary hailed from Ward Number (3), Buthidaung , Yasin (Bamboo agent) from same Ward were arrested by police.
Another 43 Rohingyas from Ward Number (7) were arrested from Mosque while they praying afternoon.
Syed Ahmed s/o Amir Rafique, Salim s/o Abdul Amin, Shakar s/o Sultan, Salim s/o Faid Ahmed and Abdul Rahaman s/o Abdul Malek  from Ywama village of Buthidaung were arrested by police for praying in Mosque by afternoon.
 8 Rohingyas from Railway Block of Buthidaung were arrested by police.

Kyauktaw township
26 July: According to ERCA member Rofiq, 40 buffaloes from Rohingya villagers of Fa Laung Rwa (Falom fara) were taken away by Rakhines in the eveing around 3pm. During they taking away, they said that they have to killed at least Kalars' cattle.

Source- NDPHR(exile),

Islamic Bloc Urges Resolution of Rohingya Crisis

Hundreds of people demonstrate in Delhi against Muslim massacres in Myanmar
http://www.irna.ir/News/General/Hundreds-of-people-demonstrate-in-Delhi-against-Muslim-massacres-in-Myanmar/80248467


Islamic Bloc Urges Resolution of Rohingya Crisis

Source from Irrawaddy news, 26 July 2012

Rohingya refugee Rehana Begum holds her child as she hides in a house in Teknaf, Bangladesh, on June 17, 2012. She said her family fled mass burning of houses and violence in Burma, setting out in a wooden boat for neighbouring Bangladesh. They were pushed back three times by border guards, but finally made it on their fourth attempt and are now hiding with local villagers to avoid being arrested. (PHOTO: Reuters)

WASHINGTON—The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has written to Burmese President Thein Sein, urging him to address the plight of the Rohingya minority community in accordance with the accepted practices of international human rights.
In the letter, OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu sought assurances from the Burmese president for the safety and security of the Rohingyas as citizens of the country, and called for an end to all intimidation and oppression against them. Ihsanoglu also called on Thein Sein to take appropriate steps to carry out prompt and effective investigations of the atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims since June 3, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Ihsanoglu assured Then Sein of the OIC’s readiness to cooperate with the Burmese government to advise and assist in the repatriation process of Muslim ethnic minority in the country and to help create a climate of trust and confidence.
OIC letters were also sent to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, urging them to use their good offices and influence with the Burmese government to bring about an immediate resolution of the issue.

Earlier this month, Ihsanoglu had strongly condemned the alleged repression and violation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State, resulting in the deaths of innocent civilians, and the burning of their homes and mosques.
Ihsanoglu made no mention of the allegations that Rohingyas had carried out reciprocal acts against Arakanese Buddhists.
Noting that the recent restoration of democracy in the country had raised hopes in the international community that oppression against Rohingya Muslims citizens would end and that they would be able to enjoy equal rights and opportunities, the OIC secretary-general, however, said that the recent violence against them had caused great alarm and concern to the international Muslim community.

The OIC said it was “shocked by the unfortunate remarks” of President Thein Sein disowning Rohingya Muslims as citizens of Burma.
The 57-member OIC includes all the nations of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia and other countries with strong Muslim populations, encompassing some 1.6 billion people worldwide.
In its mandate, the OIC says it seeks to safeguard the well-being of Muslims around the world. It has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, and has criticized Israel for its continuous use of state terrorism over the years. It has accused Thailand of committing human rights abuses against its Muslim minority in the southern states of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani. And India’s membership is blocked, vetoed by Pakistan, due to its occupation of parts of Kashmir.

In 1999, the bloc adopted the OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. It does not recognize groups such as al-Qaeda and the Taliban, but does allow observer status to the Moro National Liberation Front, thereby blocking the membership of the Philippines.

Burma's monks call for Muslim community to be shunned

 

Turkey Raises Voice against Massacre of Arakan Muslims

http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/139201/turkey-raises-voice-against-massacre-of-arakan-muslims-.html

Growing Unease In Indonesia Over Plight of Rohingya

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/editorschoice/growing-unease-in-indonesia-over-plight-of-rohingya/532495

 

Moros Seek Help For Rohingyas

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/367203/moros-seek-help-for-rohingyas

 

World People to Stage Rallies in Support of Myanmar Muslims

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9104251288

.........................................

 

Burma's monks call for Muslim community to be shunned

Source from The Independent, 25 July 2012

The Buddhists have reportedly tried to block humanitarian aid getting to ethnic group

Monks who played a vital role in Burma's recent struggle for democracy have been accused of fuelling ethnic tensions in the country by calling on people to shun a Muslim community that has suffered decades of abuse.

 

In a move that has shocked many observers, some monks' organisations have issued pamphlets telling people not to associate with the Rohingya community, and have blocked humanitarian assistance from reaching them. One leaflet described the Rohingya as "cruel by nature" and claimed it had "plans to exterminate" other ethnic groups.

The outburst against the Rohingya, often described as one of the world's most oppressed groups, comes after weeks of ethnic violence in the Rakhine state in the west of Burma that has left more than 80 dead and up to 100,000 people living in a situation described as "desperate" by humanitarian organisations. As state-sanctioned abuses against the Muslim community continue, Burma's president Thein Sein – credited by the international community for ushering in a series of democratic reforms in the country and releasing political prisoners such as Aung San Suu Kyi – has urged neighbouring Bangladesh to take in the Rohingya.

"In recent days, monks have emerged in a leading role to enforce denial of humanitarian assistance to Muslims, in support of policy statements by politicians," said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan project, a regional NGO. "A member of a humanitarian agency in Sittwe told me that some monks were posted near Muslim displacement camps, checking on and turning away people they suspected would visit for assistance."

The Young Monks' Association of Sittwe and Mrauk Oo Monks' Association have both released statements in recent days urging locals not to associate with the group. Displaced Rohingya have been housed in over-crowded camps away from the Rakhine population – where a health and malnutrition crisis is said to be escalating – as political leaders move to segregate and expel the 800,000-strong minority from Burma. Earlier this month, Thein Sein attempted to hand over the group to the UN refugee agency.

Aid workers report ongoing threats and interference by local nationalist and religious groups. Some monasteries in Maungdaw and Sittwe sheltering displaced Rakhine people have openly refused to accept international aid, alleging that it is "biased" in favour of the Rohingya. Monks have traditionally played a critical role in helping vulnerable citizens, stepping in to care for the victims of Cyclone Nargis in 2008 after the military junta rejected international assistance.

Many have been shocked by the response of the monks and members of the democracy movement to the recent violence, which erupted after the rape and murder of a Buddhist woman, allegedly by three Muslims, unleashed long-standing ethnic tensions.

Monks' leader Ashin Htawara recently encouraged the government to send the group "back to their native land" at an event in London hosted by the anti-Rohingya Burma Democratic Concern. Ko Ko Gyi, a democracy activist with the 88 Generation Students group and a former political prisoner, said: "The Rohingya are not a Burmese ethnic group. The root cause of the violence… comes from across the border." Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, said: "We were shocked to have [Ashin Htawara] propose to us that there should be what amounts to concentration camps for the Rohingya."

Ms Suu Kyi has also been criticised for failing to speak out. Amal de Chickera of the London-based Equal Rights Trust, said: "You have these moral figures, whose voices do matter. It's extremely disappointing and in the end it can be very damaging."

The Rohingya have lived in Burma for centuries, but in 1982, the then military ruler Ne Win stripped them of their citizenship. Thousands fled to Bangladesh where they live in pitiful camps. Foreign media are still denied access to the conflict region, where a state of emergency was declared last month, and ten aid workers were arrested without explanation.

 

Killings continue in Burma: Amnesty

Greater Kashmir, 24 July 2012

London, July 24: Amnesty International has said that communal violence is continuing in western Burma six weeks after the government declared a state of emergency, with much of it directed at minority Muslim Rohingyas who have been beaten, raped and killed, media has reported.
According to reports, the rights group accused both security forces and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists of carrying out fresh attacks against Rohingya Muslims, who are regarded as foreigners by the ethnic majority and denied citizenship by the government because it considers them illegal settlers from neighboring Bangladesh.
After a series of isolated killings starting in late May, bloody skirmishes spread quickly across much of Burma's coastal Rakhine state.

The government declared a state of emergency on 10 June, deploying troops to quell the unrest and protect both mosques and monasteries. Authorities said that at least 78 people had been killed and thousands of homes of both Buddhists and Muslims either burned down or destroyed.

Violence in the past six weeks has been "primarily one-sided, with Muslims generally and Rohingyas specifically the targets and victims", Benjamin Zawacki, a Bangkok-based researcher for Amnesty, told the Associated Press. "Some of this is by the security forces' own hands, some by Rakhine Buddhists, with the security forces turning a blind eye in some cases."
Officials from Burma's government could not immediately be reached for comment.
Amnesty also said that security forces, including the police and the army, had detained hundreds of Rohingya Muslims.
"While the restoration of order, security, and the protection of human rights is necessary, most arrests appear to have been arbitrary and discriminatory, violating the rights to liberty and to freedom from discrimination on grounds of religion," Amnesty said in a statement.

The violence, which reached its bloodiest point in June, constituted some of the country's deadliest sectarian bloodshed in years and raised international concerns about the fate of the Rohingya Muslims inside Burma.
The Burmese president, Thein Sein, said earlier this month the solution to ethnic enmity in Rakhine state was to either send the Rohingya Muslims to a third country or have the United Nations refugee agency look after them. The UNHCR chief, Antonio Guterres, said, however, it was not his agency's job to resettle the Rohingyas.
Bangladesh also denies the Rohingyas citizenship, arguing that they have been living in Burma for centuries and should be recognized as citizens there instead.

The UN estimates that 800,000 Rohingya Muslims live in Burma. Thousands attempt to flee every year to Bangladesh, Malaysia and elsewhere, trying to escape a life of abuse that rights groups say includes forced labor, violence against women and restrictions on movement, marriage and reproduction that breed anger and resentment.

Amnesty called on Burma to accept Rohingya Muslims as citizens, something the government has staunchly opposed because it does not consider them an ethnic group native to Burma.
"Under international human rights law and standards, no one may be left or rendered stateless," Zawacki said. "For too long Myanmar's (Burma's) human rights record has been marred by the continued denial of citizenship for Rohingyas and a host of discriminatory practices against them."

BURMA US Urges Bangladesh to Help Rohingya

Source from Irrawaddy news, 24 July 2012

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WASHINGTON—Expressing serious concerns over deteriorating conditions for Rohingya Muslims inside Burma, top US lawmakers and Obama administration officials have urged neighboring Bangladesh to accept those fleeing over the border and give them refugee status.

Burma has been facing a mounting humanitarian crisis in recent weeks, said Congressman James McGovern, who chaired the special hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on Bangladesh.

Noting that Burma's western Arakan (Rakhine) State has seen an escalation in state-sponsored violence against the Rohingya, a stateless Muslim people who have suffered persecution and discrimination for decades, McGovern said that this recent outburst of violence has forced many to flee their homes to seek refuge across the border in Bangladesh.

"Rather than offering sanctuary for refugees seeking protection from persecution and abuse, Bangladesh has forced members of this community to return back to Burma where they face an immediate threat to life and safety," he said.

New York Congressman Joseph Crowley also expressed concern about the plight of Rohingya refugees. "I'm concerned and I think we're disappointed when people who are fleeing conflict in their own land, are not recognized as citizens in their own country, and are fleeing harm's way and to have women and children being turned back, I don't think it looks positively on the people of Bangladesh," he said.

"I know that's not who they are and what they're about. I think they're peace-loving people and want to see advancements not only for themselves, but for their neighbors in the ongoing conflict," Crowley said, adding that he hopes to raise this issue with Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi when she travels to the United States in September.

Responding to the concerns of American lawmakers, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said that the Obama administration also feels disappointed by Bangladesh's policy of turning away the Rohingya and other individuals fleeing the sectarian violence that has gripped western Burma since early June.

"This stands in marked contrast to the country's traditional policy of non-refoulement," he said. "The US government has and will continue to raise concern for the well-being of these individuals at the highest levels."

At the same time, Blake pointed out that Bangladesh has supported more than 250,000 Rohingyas in Bangladesh for decades. "Most of those are economic migrants and not so much refugees. But we have consistently made the point to the government of Bangladesh that they have an international obligation to try to help those who are fleeing violence in Burma right now. So we've urged the government of Bangladesh to continue its policy of non-refoulement," he told Crowley in response to a question at the hearing on Thursday.

Blake said Bangladesh has provided emergency assistance—food, water, blankets and medicine—but then turned all those in need back over to Burma in order not to permanently add to the population that they already have.

"So we've expressed our concern about that policy for the reasons that I just spoke of," he said. "And we've also said that we and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees stand ready to provide economic assistance to the government to help them to the extent that they need to help provide for these refugees."

McGovern went on to enquire if this was an issue that has been discussed with the Burmese authorities. "And what, if anything, has the United States done to improve the circumstances faced by the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh?" he added. "You mentioned that we made an offer to provide some assistance, but was that offer accepted?"

Blake responded by saying that diplomatic efforts have fallen short as Bangladesh did not actually accept any refugees but instead sent them back. "But we have had provided assistance in the past," he said. "No one really knows the exact number of Rohingyas that are in Bangladesh, but it's somewhere between 250,000 to 400,000 of whom 29,000 are actually registered in camps."

Some Rohingya living in Bangladesh have been there for over 30 years, explained Blake. "And they don't want to go back so they're not going to be forcibly repatriated," he said. "They quite understandably are very concerned about the situation back in Burma.

"It's possible to envision a circumstance where in the future conditions might improve sufficiently in Burma whereby they might be willing and might in fact seek to try to be repatriated back, but those don't yet exist," added Blake.

Asean Members ‘Must Unite or Fall’

Source from Irrawaddy news, 24 July 2012

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa addressing the United Nations in New York on Sept. 24, 2009. (Photo: CTBTO Conference)

Even though Asean finally managed to come out with a joint statement following its regional summit last week, a fickle unity will continue to undermine the grouping as long as it fails to address domestic problems in each of its member states, observers have said.

Aleksius Jemadu, dean of Pelita Harapan University's School of Social and Political Sciences, said that as long as China and the United States could help Asean countries more than they could help themselves, the regional bloc would always face the threat of disunity.

"We can see it clearly in Cambodia's case," he said. "[Prime Minister] Hun Sen needs China's help in developing Cambodia's economy while Asean offers nothing in regards to this issue. That's why they will reject any statement they think will make China angry."

The same is true for the Philippines and the United States, he said.

"For President Benigno Aquino, it would be a domestic disaster if he let China occupy the disputed area [in the South China Sea claimed by both China and the Philippines]," he said. "So US support is very important to him."

Aleksius said Asean needed to begin addressing real problems, such as the need for economic development in member states, rather than serving as a talking shop.

Hariyadi Wirawan, an international relations expert from the University of Indonesia, agreed that Asean would need to solidify its unity if it wanted to protect its interests in the face of the United States and China, which have the world's two biggest economies and are seeking to increase their influence in Southeast Asia.

The 10 member states of Asean last week failed for the first time in the grouping's 45-year history to issue a joint communiqué at the end of a summit. Host Cambodia rejected a proposal by the Philippines and Vietnam to make specific references to their separate territorial disputes with China in the statement.

However, thanks to some impressive shuttle diplomacy by Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Asean states were eventually able to reach a compromise. To make it happen, Marty went on a whirlwind 36-hour tour of the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore to persuade his counterparts to meet in the middle.

The eventual joint statement, issued on Friday, said the member states had reaffirmed "the non-use of force by parties" in the South China Sea.

Beijing and several Southeast Asian countries have overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea. Chinese and Philippine ships have been engaged in a standoff near the disputed Scarborough Shoal since April.

The new statement calls in general terms for the implementation of Asean-promoted principles for the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes.

Indonesia has proposed six basic principles in a bid to quell ongoing tensions, which Foreign Ministry spokesman Michael Tene said had been agreed to by all Asean member states.

Among the principles are for Asean countries to remain committed to the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea, signed by the disputing countries in November 2002, as well as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

"Public War Coming in Rakhine"

Source from NDPHR(exile),

Burmese newspaper of 21 July reported- "Public War Coming in Rakhine"  

the report said- "Associations like public military will be formed in Maungdaw. It will be formed by ethnic nationals to protect from different races' terrorizing".

.........................................

Students: Stop Rohingya massacre

Source from Bangkok Post,  23 July 2012

A dozen Muslim students on Monday morning staged a quiet protest in front of Government House in Bangkok, where Myanmar President Thein Sein inspected a guard of honour together with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Ashar Sarimachi, a fourth-year political science student of Thammasat University, led the group, who held placards saying "Stop the massacre of Rohingya".
Mr Ashar said the information released about incidents during the events in Rakhine state last month and had been twisted and was misleading.
"The Rohingya were protrayed as instigators of the spate of violence, but they were actually the abused," said Mr Ashar, chairman of the Confederation of Muslim Students in Thailand.
The 12 student protesters called on the Myanmar government to allow greater humanitarian access to the affected area and for government protection of this minority group.
The statement was issued in the name of five student organisations.
Another group holding protest signs about Rohingya-Arakanese incidents also gathered outside the  Myanmar Embassy.

Photo by Achara Ashayagachat

BRAT Raises Summary Execution In Buthidaung Prison

The team seeks urgent solution from the World Body- UN, EU, ASEAN and OIC to immediately end
the crisis according to its statement.

Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand-BRAT's statement expresses about ongoing summary execution of Rohingya detainees in Buthidaung Prison.
"As we received information from a prisoner who got released recently on Saturday after
completion of two years sentences, in Buthidaung Prison, there are 650 Rohingya detainees
in a compound and daily 5 Rohingyas are dying from inhumane tortures. The dead bodies
were packed by gunny and Rakhines carried away by bamboo pole in every early morning. It
is very horrible that none of these Rohingyas prisoners can walk well and stand strait. They
sent messages to their families that they could not be able to back alive and the wounds they
got were damaged inner parts of organs."

  

The Arakan Conflict and Nationalist Threats In Burma

Source from Irrawaddy news, 24 July 2012

The continuing strife in western Burma signifies a dangerous future for an ethnically diverse country that has experienced ethnic conflicts for more than 60 years. It is not simply a campaign against the minority Rohingya as a group. It is a reflection of a tragic political hangover of the nation-state system that operates through an ominous and troubling nationalism.

The Arakan conflict is about nation-state building and state territorialization, which are being articulated by mainstreaming a singular ethno-religious identity—Buddhist Burmese, the basis of official nationalism. The root cause of the historical antagonism between the dominant Burman leadership and ethnic groups has been reactivated.

Politics of identity and difference

The first danger the anti-Rohingya campaign poses to ethnic harmony at the national level, not just at the Arakan (also known as Rakhine) state level, relates to the politics of identity and difference. Historically, ethnic Rakhine were antagonistic to ethnic Burmans for 'destroying' the Rakhine kingdom in the 18th century despite the fact that the majority of both ethnic groups were Theravada Buddhists. Nationalists now have mobilized Buddhist Burmans for their campaign against the Rohingya by presenting Arakan state as the western gate of Buddhist Burma against 'flooding' Muslims from Bangladesh.

As the anti-Rohingya campaign began to intensify in November 2011, Buddhism became the common ground for fostering an alliance between the Rakhine and Burmans. Discourses of anti-Rohingyas came to be constructed in term of protecting amyo barthar thartana — race/nation and religion. Religion refers exclusively to Buddhism.

In this situation, the already unclear definition of amyo (race/nation), and the elements that constitute this category, further blur the boundary between ethnic Rakhine, Burmans and Burmese citizenry. But it takes the general categorical form of 'Buddhist and/or Burmese' where 'Burmese' generally refers both to the country's citizens as well as the majority ethnic Burmans. They also blur the boundaries between Rohingyas, Islam and Burmese Muslims. Ethnic Burmans, with or without the Rakhines' mobilization, joined the campaign in the name of "safeguarding the nation."

Therefore, differences and historical antagonism between ethnic Rakhines and Burmans have temporarily faded into a common "Buddhist Burmese" identity vis-à-vis the Rohingya. This merger is obvious as the Burmese government as well as senior opposition leaders from Aung San Suu Kyi's party including Tin Oo, Nyan Win and Win Tin jumped on the bandwagon to speak out against the Rohingyas. Well-known celebrities, scholars and well-respected writers agreed.

The supposed global champion of freedom and democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, said during her Europe trip in June this year that she did not know if Rohingya were citizens of Burma. She did not even say one clear word that insults and deadly attacks on vulnerable Rohingyas must stop immediately.

Ko Ko Gyi, the leader of the 88 Generation Students, even denounced the Rohingya as a threat to national security. Likewise, Burmese freedom fighters and refugees in the West have openly campaigned against the Rohingya, arguing that denial of citizenship for them is the majority's desire, however racist and exclusive, effectively turning democracy into mob rule. Some activists, just like the junta, claim that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights does not fit with Burma.

The Burmese media, especially the domestic journals, also launched a media war by supporting attacks and expulsion of the Rohingya from Arakan state – all in the name of protecting the nation.

The most disturbing statement came from President Thein Sein who told UN refugee agency officials that the Rohingya would be sent to camps and delivered to third countries as refugees. All these are a reflection that those who dominate Burma's political and social lives express and engage in political actions based on deeply ingrained nationalist sentiment, however deadly and violent.

Geographical misconception of history and territory

Another important factor in the Arakan conflict is the public's geographical imagination of national history and territory. For example, the title of a book written by a retired army officer, Thaung Wai Oo, is literally translated as We love [the land] because it is the inheritance from our forefathers. These words are also the lyrics of the national anthem. The book is about Thaung Wai Oo's experience working with army officers who were deployed in counterinsurgency operations in various parts of the country.

It is odd that the author, being a Burmese military officer from the central plain of modern Burma, imagines ethnic territories beyond the plain as an inheritance from forefathers as if these ethnic territories have been part of modern Burma since time immemorial. Such a perception misses an important historical reality — that modern Burma itself is very new. Today's ethnic territories that appear on the national map as unified ethnic states were separate and relatively independent polities with distinct ethnic groups, cultural practices, and political histories.

It was only in 1947 when the rulers and leaders of these polities voluntarily attached their lands to "Burma Proper" [the lowland plain region in central Burma] to establish the Union of Burma. They were convinced by the promises of independence hero General Aung San and his forward-looking colleagues to join the Union on equal terms.

As General Aung San and his fellows were assassinated before independence, the Burmese nationalists also killed Aung San's promises. The result is internal colonization. When the dictator Ne Win took over the country in 1962 in the name of protecting the nation from disintegration, he denied Aung San's promises to ethnic peoples. Over time, Ne Win's self-important textbook history convinced the public that they are indigenous to all the lands within the modern national borders, as imagined by Thaung Wai Oo.

The reality is that these ethnic states are not in any way the inheritance of Burman elites. They are lands historically, politically, and symbolically specific to ethnic minority groups. Failure to understand the historical geography of the nation has led the public to internalize Ne Win's lies that ethnic groups demanding the fulfillment of Aung San's promises are separatists and 'rebels'. The Burmese term for insurgents 'thaung gyan tu' means rioters, looters and criminals – or a combination thereof.

Constructing official nationalism vis-à-vis foreigners and ethnic 'separatists,' Ne Win instilled a strong nationalistic attitude among the public. Before his coup, Burman nationalists' promulgation of Buddhism as a state religion in 1961 dismayed ethnic groups whose majority members practice Christianity or traditional belief systems.

In short, imagining the entire national territory as a singular entity and the land mass as that of the Burmese (whatever the term refers to exactly), and deeming the country a Buddhist nation led to inscribing the national space with singular ethno-religious identity, a common but problematic practice of nation-state building.

This predicament has results in burning churches, and beating and killing religious leaders in the Kachin, Chin, Karen and Karenni states and making the accusation that Christianity is encroaching on a Buddhist nation. In the ongoing Kachin conflict, churches have been turned into temporary military camps. Worse, Kachin News Agency reported in May 2012 that Burmese soldiers gang-raped an ethnic Kachin woman in a church.

The same logic applies to the Arakan conflict. Imagining the Arakan state as a unified territory in the west of Buddhist Burma, it is deemed to be an entirely Buddhist Burmese space. This completely disregards the fact that Arakan state is a combination of multiple territories inhabited by peoples with distinct cultures, religions and languages, just as in the Shan state where there are territories of the Wa, Kokant, etc.

Imagining a different reality in political centers far away from Arakan state, the Burmese disregard the reality that non-Buddhists, non-Burmese and non-Rakhine also have lived in different territories within Arakan state for centuries. Just as with all other borderlands in the world, peoples from both sides of the border move around in the Burma-Bangladesh borderland, known today as Arakan state. Having 'illegal' immigrants does not negate the reality that a segment of Muslims – whether they call themselves Rohingya or not – are indigenous to some territories in Arakan state.

This reality does not matter. The Burmese from political centers, alongside Rakhine nationalists, claim Muslims' territories by means of wiping them out: Thein Sein's plan, which is supported by the public. All these examples of state territorialization signify that internal colonization from the political centers is still the principle of politics in Burma.

The Arakan conflict and Burma's ethnic future

The nationalist response to the Arakan conflict raises an important question of what this conflict means to the country's broader ethnic relations. The Arakan conflict is testimony that the political mainstream continues to be nationalistic. Just like the state, mainstream oppositions stand up not for the principles of freedom, democracy and human rights, but for their own interests against power. They united against the Rohingya with complete disrespect for human life, dignity and human rights. Who would guarantee that they would not react to potential crises involving other minority groups just like the way they responded to the Rohingya?

This is a legitimate question especially because the mainstream political opposition has never taken the plight of ethnic peoples seriously. For the mainstream opposition, both at home and in exile, the problems are about the lack of democracy, human rights, and lately the 'rule of law'.

According to them, ethnic affairs that consist of broken promises to ethnic groups, loss of territorial rights, human rights violations in ethnic states, cultural oppression, and a federal state based on equal political representation are not the primary concerns. Their fight for democracy has rather sidelined anything 'ethnic'.

That is why the mainstream opposition has not taken any proactive stance against a decades-long history of deadly violence in ethnic states despite the military's openly stated commitment to 'wiping out' all insurgent groups. As witnessed, the military's attempt to 'wipe out' insurgent groups does not discriminate between insurgents and civilians, resulting in mass execution, torture, sexual violence and expulsion of people.

Even in a reformed Burma where people can speak freely, the mainstream opposition including Aung San Suu Kyi has not spoken out clearly against the Burmese military's offensives and human rights violations in Kachin State. This is an indication that the mainstream political opposition is not on the same page as ethnic groups.

In such a political environment, bolstering Burmese nationalism, although in opposition to Rohingyas in the context of defining who belongs to the nation, reinforces the centrality of Buddhist Burmese in the political life, which automatically further relegates the position of minorities to oblivion.

The Arakan conflict demonstrates that the political mainstream can be easy prey if nationalism is exploited. This is even disconcerting as those who dominate political stage, the media, the youth, celebrities etc. are all prepared to not only speak the language of oppressors but also to act with them in the name of race/national and religion or national security.

If the government frames a potential conflict with an ethnic group just as the Arakan conflict was framed along nationalist lines, who will guarantee that the majority with the tools of power would be fair? Who would guarantee that they would not band together and parade behind the military against those they deem to be the nation's enemies, as plotted by the government's sick drama via discourses of amyo barthar thartanar?

Until the mainstream Burmese stand up for the principles of freedom and human rights including enfranchisement of the minorities, the ethnic minorities are vulnerable. Until the people realize that modern Burma as a nation-state is not homogenous, but composed of territories with diverse cultures and religions, internal colonization and conflict will ensue.

Sai Latt is a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography at Simon Fraser University in Canada. This article first appeared in Asia Sentinel. The views expressed in this article are his own and do not represent The Irrawaddy editorial policy.

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Rohingyas recount terror of Burma clashes

Source from BBC, 22 July 2012

By Anbarasan Ethirajan BBC News, Teknaf, near Bangladesh-Burma border

Zohara Khatun says she and her family ran for their lives - her father was killed

Zohara Khatun is still reeling from the trauma of seeing her father killed in western Burma in June.

"My father was shot dead by the Burmese military in front me. Our entire village was destroyed. We ran for our lives. I still don't know what happened to my mother," she said, sitting in a thatched hut in a fishing village near the town of Teknaf in south-eastern Bangladesh.

Ms Khatun is one of the Rohingya Muslims who have managed to cross into Bangladesh following the communal unrest in western Burma's Rakhine province.

The 30-year old broke down repeatedly as she tried to explain what happened over the border.

She says their village came under attack during clashes between majority Buddhists and local Muslims, mostly from the Rohingya minority. Nearly 80 people were killed in the fighting and thousands were displaced.

Human rights groups allege that Burmese security forces continue to carry out mass arrests, forcing many Rohingya Muslims to flee. A state of emergency declared last month is still in force in many places of the province.

Unwanted

There is no independent confirmation of the claims of extra-judicial killings and other abuses - journalists are denied access to the area. Burma denies its security forces are responsible for human rights abuses.

Background: Burma unrest

What sparked the violence in June?

The rape and murder of a young Buddhist woman in Rakhine in May, which set off a chain of deadly religious clashes.

Why was a state of emergency declared?

It allows the introduction of martial law, which means the military can take over administrative control of the region.

Who are the Rohingyas?

The United Nations describes them as a persecuted religious and linguistic minority from western Burma. The Burmese government, on the other hand, says they are relatively recent migrants from the Indian sub-continent. Neighbouring Bangladesh already hosts several hundred thousand refugees from Burma and says it cannot take any more.

Since the June clashes, many hundreds of refugees have been trying to get into Bangladesh, taking perilous boat journeys along the Bay of Bengal and across the river Naf, which separates the two countries.

"We were floating on water for six days. I could not feed my children for days," Ms Khatun said.

"When we tried to reach Bangladesh, we were not allowed to enter. We did not know where to go."

There are an estimated 800,000 Rohingya Muslims living in western Burma. The Burmese authorities argue that the Rohingyas are recent migrants from the Indian sub-continent.

But Dhaka says they belong to Burma, so they are not welcome in Bangladesh either. Dhaka says there are already 400,000 Rohingyas living inside the country, most of them, it says illegally.

Bangladesh has pushed nearly 1,500 Rohingya Muslims back into Burma since June saying it cannot afford to help them.

Some - like the family of Zohara Khatun - have managed to get in. The Rohingyas who came recently have been living in hiding among Bangladeshi villagers. They are afraid that if the authorities come to know about them they will be sent back to Burma immediately.

Bangladeshi authorities say they are determined to stop the latest influx.

Lt Col Zahid Hasan of the Bangladeshi border guards showed me how his men have been patrolling the river Naf to prevent Rohingyas from crossing into the country.

"It is really putting a direct effect on our social stability as well as the economy. If this influx continues then the problem of stability will be at stake," Col Hasan said.

"Sometimes these Rohingya people are involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking and other anti-social activities which are really affecting the social stability in this area."

The Rohingyas deny such allegations.

'We belong to Burma'

The refugees I spoke to accused Burmese security forces of turning a blind eye when their villages came under attack.

Sayeda Begum now has no husband and her children no father

"My husband was killed in the riots. The Burmese police were shooting only at the Muslims, not the Buddhists. The military was just watching from the rooftop and they did not intervene," said Sayeda Begum, another Rohingya Muslim woman.

Rohingya Muslims have flocked to Bangladesh over the past 30 years, bringing with them tales of oppression and exclusion.

They are denied citizenship and land rights in Burma. Human rights groups say they are among the most persecuted minorities in the world.

But Bangladesh's refusal to allow in the recent wave of refugees has also attracted criticism.

"We understand it is not that easy. So we advocate with the government of Bangladesh to give at least temporary protection status to those arriving from Rakhine state of Myanmar [Burma]," said Dirk Hebecker, a senior official from the UN Refugee Agency in the Bangladeshi town of Cox's Bazaar.

The Rohingyas who crossed into Bangladesh in the past three decades have been living in camps along the border. The unofficial refugee camps have no running water, drainage or health facilities. The Rohingyas live in abject poverty and squalor in these camps.

Conditions in the unofficial Rohingya refugee camps are squalid

The recent statement by Burmese President Thein Sein that the Rohingyas should be resettled in a third country has also added to the anxiety of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

"We are concerned by the president's comments. We belong to Burma and we want to go back to our villages. It is difficult to live in refugee camps like this," said Ahmed Hossain, a Rohingya community leader in Kutupalong camp, near Cox's Bazaar.

"We are willing to go back to Burma only if our security and rights are guaranteed."

For years, Bangladesh has been urging the Burmese authorities to take back the Rohingya refugees living in various camps but without much success.

The latest crisis comes at a time when Burma is gradually moving towards democracy. But many here in Bangladesh argue that the process may not be complete unless the Rohingya issue is resolved.