ARNO Welcomes the Written Ministerial Statement of the FCO

Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) heartily welcomes the written Ministerial statement, dated 16 January 2012, of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London, on the visit of Foreign Secretary William Hague to Burma on 5-6 January. “It was a historic visit; the first by a British Foreign Secretary since 1955”, the statement said.

The ARNO with the Rohingya people of Burma are overwhelmed with gratitude for the statement of the Foreign Secretary, “I raised with the Foreign Minister the discrimination suffered by the Rohingya community, who have been denied citizenship and access to basic services and rights. We will continue to press the Burmese government on this issue.” 

During his visit the British Foreign Secretary met with President U Thein Sein , the Foreign Minister and Speaker of the Lower House and encouraged them for significant reforms. “I informed them of the allocation from the Department for International Development of £10 million of existing aid for microfinance for the Burmese people and announced an additional 2 million of humanitarian aid to benefit people in Kachin State... I also wanted to set out clearly to the government the changes that we would want to see before we could support lifting EU sanctions”, the statement revealed. 

Mr. Hague held two meetings with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and assured her of UK‘s continued support to promote reform and democracy in Burma. He met representatives from other opposition groups, including 88 Generation leaders and former political prisoners. 

Mr. Hague also met a range of representatives from ethnic communities, including the Kachin, Rohingya, Shan, Rakhine, Chin, Mon, Karen, Karenni to hear more about their concerns and aspirations. The statement quoted Mr Hague to have said, “We will continue to stay close to these and other ethnic groups to ensure we remain seized of the issues they face.” It revives hopes and confidence in the hearts and minds of the persecuted Rohingya and other ethnic peoples. 

The Foreign Secretary said, “I am delighted to say that following my visit, there have been significant further developments on some of the issues I raised with the government”. He expressed that the ceasefire signed on 12 January, between the government and the KNU, after 63 years of conflict is a right step; and he warmly welcomed the release of a significant number of political prisoners on 13 January. “The British government will continue to follow developments in Burma closely. We will support progress, while remaining vigilant on human rights issues, especially in areas affected by ethnic conflicts”, Mr. Hague continued. 

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Nurul Islam: + 44 7947854652