Joint Press Release 

Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), Restless Beings, Burmese Muslim Association UK, Bradford Rohingya Community UK and Burma Campaign UK

For Immediate Release Thursday 5th November 2015

Give Rohingya Back Their Vote - Stop Genocide against the Rohingya

100 people joined a protest at the British Foreign Office today calling on the British government to support a UN Commission of Inquiry into possible genocide against the Rohingya of Burma.

The protest comes three days before elections in Burma where almost all ethnic Rohingya have had their right to vote taken away.

Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), Restless Beings, Burmese Muslim Association UK, Bradford Rohingya Community UK and Burma Campaign UK are jointly organising this protest ahead of elections due in Burma on Sunday 8th November.

Rohingya people living in the UK demanded: 'Give us back our vote! And stop Genocide against Rohingya'

Last week, International State Crime Initiative report from Queen Mary University, Al Jazeera's Genocide Agenda Report, a legal analysis by the Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School, and the human rights organisation Fortify Rights, found 'strong evidence' that genocide is being committed against the ethnic Rohingya of Burma. They called for a UN Commission of Inquiry into the human rights situation in Rakhine State, where most Rohingya in Burma live.

The protest called on the British government to support a UN inquiry into evidence of genocide against the Rohingya in Burma.

Tun Khin, President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK said " We have lost everything from our ethnic rights to citizenship, the right to marry, have children, and now the right to vote and the right to be candidate. The UK government should not be funding the Union Election Commission of Burma or any other Burmese government bodies of any kind which apply discriminatory policies against the Rohingya. If they do, they are complicit in that discrimination. It is deeply troubling that the international community does not oppose strongly, or consider unreasonable, the genocidal acts against the Rohingya. Whenever genocide happens, they say never again. It is time to stop Genocide against Rohingya in Burma".

Mabrur Ahmed, Director of Restless Beings said, "As the recent reports claimed, the Rohingya are now facing genocide. How many more reports, countless number of dead acts of pure xenophobia before the international community acts?" The marginalization, persecution and the acts of Genocide against Rohingya should no longer be tolerated".

Kyaw Zwa, Chairman of Burmese Muslim Association UK said, "Rohingya Genocide in Burma is the outcome of anti-Muslim sentiment. Anti-Muslim sentiment is the outcome of religious based ethno-nationalism in Burma. There are layers of hatred and ideology involved behind the Rohingya Genocide. In order to address the Rohingya issues, we need to address the root cause and solution is not feasible without addressing the root cause".

Mohammed Njamuddin, General Secretary of Bradford Rohingya Community UK said, "We want our all our rights back as all other ethnic minority are getting. The continued Genocide and disfranchisement will force more refugees and the international community has to take immediate action to stop the genocide".

Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, said, "The UK can't keep saying never again when there is ethnic cleansing or genocide, and now stand by and do nothing when experts warn of genocide against the Rohingya. The British government must support a UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations against the Rohingya."

For more information, please contact:

Tun Khin +44 (0) 7888714866

Mabrur Ahmed +44 (0) 7506100785

Press Release

An interfaith and peace activist has been arrested

A Burmese Muslim activist, Zaw Zaw Latt, who has been working tirelessly for interfaith peace building in Burma, has been arrested.

Zaw Zaw Latt was arrested at 8 pm, on 14th July in Chan Aye Thar Zan Township, Mandalay. He was arrested in a café by police officer U Soe Naing, who arrested him without an arrest warrant. Zaw Zaw Latt is charged under section 17/1 of the penal code for unlawful association with a blacklisted organisation.

Zaw Zaw Latt is a member of an organisation called Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar (Translation: Peace Seekers). A Buddhist abbot known as Asha Alinn Yaung Sayadaw from Pyin Oo Lwin founded the organisation in 2013, in the aftermath of the Meikhtilar anti Muslim pogroms. The organisation is formed with members from diverse faiths including Buddhists, Christian, Muslims, Hindus and Baha’i. He is also a member of NLD party. 

The arrest is related to Zaw Zaw Latt's involvement in a peaceful march to Kachin State in 2013. During the visit to Kachin State he took pictures with the member of Kachin arms group and posted on his Facebook account. The pictures were posted two years ago. He is only now having action taken against him because recently members of Mabatha have been targeting him and spreading rumours that he has connections with armed groups. This shows that authorities in Burma react swiftly whenever the extremist groups demand and pressure them. He has been portrayed as a terrorist on social media.

Zaw Zaw Latt has been working tirelessly for interfaith peaceful coexistence at the grassroots level. His peaceful message is spreading among youth very effectively. Therefore, it is clear that he has become an obstacle for the Buddhist extremist group Mabatha and they have been plotting against him. Since a few months ago the extremist group Mabatha has been spreading rumours against him. He has been accused as being a member of terrorist organisations through postings on Mabatha Facebook pages.

On the other hand, U Wirathu has been travelling and meeting with armed group around the country and posted several pictures but he has never been questioned or arrested. Moreover, there are many journalists, who frequently travelled to the rebel areas, took pictures wearing uniforms and holding arms but they were also never been questioned or arrested. Member of 88 Generation students also visited Kachin state and took pictures but they were never been questioned or arrested. It is also clear that Burmese government never takes any action against Buddhist extremist group that spread hatred among the citizens of Burma whereas they harass and arrest the people who are dedicated to build a peaceful coexistence among diverse faiths in Burma. 

BMA strongly urge the international community to put all possible pressure on Burmese government to release Zaw Zaw Latt immediately. The international community should be committed to interfaith peace building in Burma and to protect those who are dedicated to this cause. Activists like Zaw Zaw Latt should be encouraged, not threatened or framed and punished. Peace activist like Zaw Zaw Latt should not be subjected to arbitrary arrest simply for their involvement in peace building. Noticeably, since the election is closer, the current sensitive situation could easily trigger anti Muslim pogroms. Burma needs more people like Zaw Zaw Latt. Therefore, international community need to address this issue seriously. 

Zaw Zaw Latt has been remanded for two weeks but is expected to be sent to Obho jail on 21st July. He is currently still in Chan Aye Thar Zan Police station. The punishment for the breach of the section 17/1 shall not be less than two years imprisonment or could be more than three years and shall be liable to fine.

Burmese Muslim Association

17th July 2015

Media contact

Kyaw Win, UK, Kyawwin78@gmail.com +44 740 345 2378

Daw Molly, Canada, law4women@gmail.com +1 416 516 7383

Ms. Yasmin, USA, yasnohana@gmail.com +1 408 250 6227

BMA vehemently condemn the statement of Al Qaeda leader

Date: September 5, 2014

Burmese Muslim Association vehemently condemns the statement of the Al-Qaeda leader who threatened Burma in his latest video. BMA also condemn the terrorist group called, ISIS – Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, whose inhumane actions are totally contrary to Islamic beliefs and teachings. The marginalised minority Muslims in Burma will never accept any help from a terrorist organisation, which is in principle a disgrace and morally repugnant.

Muslims are fully integrated into the fabric of Burmese society and belong and support the Burmese Nation. The Burmese Muslims will not tolerate any threat to its motherland. The Muslims in Burma have proved their loyalty to the country throughout the history of Burma with exceptional bravery and with tremendous courage.

According to the peaceful teachings of Islam, we do not believe that violence is the solution, whenever peaceful measures are feasible, because it makes the situation worse. Burma already bore the brunt of the world’s longest civil war, and now is the time to reform our beloved country meaningfully and inclusively, to become a democratic nation that is peaceful and prosperous. We believe in peaceful coexistence for all, and to ensure peace the Burmese government needs to respect human rights and especially needs to protect religious and ethnic minorities who in turn will support the Burmese government.

We are also concerned with the silence of the religious organisations and political parties in Burma because, while hundreds of thousands of Muslims in Burma are facing ethnic cleansing, paradoxically they are at the forefront condemning the oppressed Muslims. Certainly, the Burmese government should also stop supporting extremist Buddhist organisations that are promoting anti-Muslim hatred, and should take actions against state and non-state actors that are involved in anti-Muslim pogroms and persecutions. 

We would like to urge the international community to put effective pressure on the Burmese government to stop supporting the extremist groups in Burma, and to stop hate speech against the minority Muslims. At the same time we would like to assure the international community of our full cooperation in preventing the poisonous ideology of Al Qaeda and other extremist ideology from spreading into our community. However, in this we need the support and cooperation of the international community. 

Burmese Muslim Association

Media Contacts:

Ko Kyaw Win +44 740 345 2378 (UK) kyawwin78@gmail.com

Ko Myo Win +95 950 70304 (Burma) starmywin@gmail.com

Daw Molly +1 416 516 7383 (Canada) law4women@gmail.com

Ma Yasmin +1 408 250 6227 (USA) yasnohana@sbcglobal.net

Statement on anti Muslims violence in Mandalay

July 4, 2014

Burmese Muslims Association strongly condemns anti-Muslim violence that has erupted in recent days in Mandalay, the second largest city in Burma. The violence that has occurred is not simply a result of sectarian conflicts. It is without doubt a well-planned operation, carried out by a group of well-trained thugs--which has tacit impunity and free license from the Thein Sein's government--not only to cause a great deal of physical harm and injury against Muslims, a helpless minority group in Burma, but also to instil immense psychological terror and mental anguish, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The promise given by President Thein Sein to the world for zero tolerance against anti-Muslim violent activities has once again proven to be completely hollow and empty.

Since 1st July 2014, a van and a group of about 30 motorbikes, carrying mobs armed with machetes and lethal weapons, were roaming around the city of Mandalay and targeting various Muslims, shops and businesses owned by Muslims, and a number of Islamic religious institutions and premises. Shockingly, the police stood by and watched the mobs attack the Muslims and their properties, without intervening. In the past, the police have used excessive force and power to crackdown on farmers protesting and land grabbing, no doubt to protect the interests of the generals and their cronies. This hypocritical and contradictory behaviour of the police is clearly because they must not have received orders from the top authorities to stop the mobs and to prevent harm perpetrated against Muslims in Mandalay. We have documented that whenever there are public demands to amend the 2008 constitution, and whenever there are public protests against the Chinese projects in Burma, anti-Muslim violence was fomented and created by letting loose groups of well-trained mobs in order to divert the public’s attention. Unfortunately, the odious culture of using Muslims as political scapegoats is long anchored in Burmese politics; Muslims have been the victims of various power struggles in Burmese history.

Recent violence in Mandalay was triggered based on a rumour published by a news blogger by the name of Thit Htoo Lwin. Instigators of anti-Muslim violence are now once again active in the arena of social media. Moreover, U Wirathu is also posting inflammatory comments on his Facebook page and spreading more unfounded rumours. Therefore, it is very worrisome that the attacks on Muslims could spread to other parts of Burma in the coming days.

Authorities in Mandalay have declared martial law, starting on 3rd July 2014, from 9pm to 5am. Muslims in Mandalay are now very much panic stricken, because, ironically, declaring martial law could mean more deadly attacks against the Muslims. In 2013, Muslims populated areas in Meikhtilar city was burned down to ashes soon after martial law was declared. Under martial law in Meiktilar, police only intervened when Muslims were trying to defend their lives, but stood by and watched the mobs when they targeted against the Muslims.

Regrettably, it is also a failure of the worldwide international community, that not enough pressure was exerted on Thein Sein’s government to protect the vulnerable Muslim minority, by preventing hate and vulgar speech spewing forth by the militants, and to arrest perpetrators who were instigating and causing harm and mayhem. In a sense, Burmese Muslims are the unfortunate and unintended victims of excessive optimism that the international community have on the on-going democratic reforms unfolding in Burma. 

The international community should be proactive, and also react immediately before several Muslims could be slaughtered once again, as it happened in the city of Meikhtilar in the year 2013. On behalf of all the Muslims in Burma, the BMA urgently and in strongest terms, request, implore and demand the international community to send security observers to Burma, and to use effective pressure on the Thein Sein’s government to stop using Muslims as political scapegoats and worthless pawns.

In addition, the Rohingya Muslims in Arakan state should also be given adequate health care and security, and allowed to return to their former homes and places. Also, it is imperative to effectively eliminate corrupt and biased authorities and their judicial proceedings, which are one-sidedly against Muslims, and turning a blind eye and providing immunity to the perpetrators of violent criminal activities, which will be seen again in Mandalay. At the same time, the international community should seriously consider to investigate and hold tribunals for crimes against humanity that the Burmese generals have been committing throughout history.

Burmese Muslims Association 

Media contacts:

Kyaw Win +44-740 345 2378 (UK) kyawwin78@gmail.com

Ms. Yasmin +1 408 250 6227 (USA) yasnohana@sbcglobal.net; 

Umar Ye Htun +2 011 158 222 53 (Egypt) umaryehtun@gmail.com

Min Than Win + 65 90 277 379 (Singapore) minthanwin@gmail.com

BMA statement on the latest massacre in Western Burma

BMA is deeply concerned over the latest outbreak of violence against Rohingya in Northern Arakan. Although we are unable to verify the exact figures independently, the information received so far is quite terrifying. The attack is being justified on an alleged murder of a single police officer, which is a similar narrative of 2012 rape allegation that led to Rohingya ethnic cleansing.

In December 2013, the local authorities allowed 969 radical monks to preach racism in Maungdaw Township. Since then we have witnessed local Muslim communities being increasingly targeted. The permission to preach these controversial ideas at a location that has recorded high sectarian conflict has indeed shocked us; and such behavior is clearly raising questions on the real intentions of the authorities. 

Allowing the radical monks to spread hatred among communities, and treating the Muslims as second-class citizens in Burma should not be acceptable under the pretext of Democratic reforms. International community needs to raise their voices loudly and clearly to stop continuity of ethnic cleansing in Burma.

BMA welcome the statement the US and UK governments issued jointly, demanding an inquiry into the incident. However, we strongly believe the inquiry should be conducted by organizations that have credibility, rather than the Burmese authority, whose pronouncements against Burmese Muslims have been seen to be very biased. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated, that more than 40 Rohingyas have been killed, which the Burmese authority continues to deny. 

The UN and International community should move to protect civilians from any attacks by the Rakhine extremist, since the state authorities have failed to implement the rule of law, and provide security in these areas. 

BMA strongly demands that Human Rights watchdogs be appointed in Northern Arakan to monitor the area and report to the international community. Since the 2012 Rohingya ethnic cleansing, the condition of Rohingya people is worsening, and the restrictions and persecutions are ongoing. Continued anti-Muslim violence in Burma could jeopardize the stability of the region, as we have witnessed in neighboring countries last year. Therefore, it is imperative for the international community to take appropriate action to protect further atrocities against Rohingya and Muslim minorities in Burma. 

Burmese Muslim Association 

28th Jan 2014

Media Contacts: 

Ko Kyaw Swar +44 782 842 6801 (UK) kyawzwa@b-m-a.org; Ko Myo Win +95 950 70304 (Burma) starmywin@gmail.com; Ko Kyaw Win +44 740 345 2378 (UK) kyawwin78@gmail.com; Daw Molly +1 416 516 7383 (Canada) law4women@gmail.com; Ma Yasmin +1 408 250 6227 (USA) yasnohana@sbcglobal.net;

BMA Press Release on Latest Anti-Muslim Violence in Burma

Date: August 26, 2013

President U Thein Sein promised on his recent visit to the UK and France that there would be no tolerance for religious extremism and sectarian violence in Burma. Unfortunately, a number of serious incidents have taken place in recent days which raise questions about the government’s ability to prevent and take action against sectarian violence. 

On 24th August 2013, a rumour was spread that a Buddhist woman was raped by the three Muslim men from Htan Kone village, Kantbalu Township, Sagaing Division. The village is located at 15 miles Northern Shwebo Township. 

Mobs gathered near the police station in the evening and were joined by people from nearby villages. The group then started to attack Muslims. 

46 Muslims houses, 12 shops and one rice mill were torched and destroyed. The security forces were reported to have stood by and watched when the mobs were targeting the Muslims properties. Instead of protecting Muslims properties and arresting the attackers, the security forces requested the mob to stop the attack on Muslims.

The Burmese Muslim Association (BMA) has documented the movements of the 969 Buddhist extremist group in Shwebo Township since May 2013. Members of 969 have been distributing anti-Muslims leaflets and CDs for many months but the authorities never took any action against them.

In Meikhtilar, some Muslims who were targeted, lost properties and lost love ones as a result of the brutal violence in March 2013 were sentenced 14 years jail while members of the Buddhist mob that committed mass murder and arson attacks on Muslims were sentenced only 2 years jail. 

On 19th August, when UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar Mr. Thomas Ojea Quintana visited Meikhtilar was met by an angry mob. Mr. Quintana’s experience with the mob clearly indicates the existing potential threat for the Muslims. The failure of the security forces to protect him clearly indicated the serious weakness of the state of the rule of law in Burma.

On 9th August a Muslim man was beaten by Buddhist monks from the Thayattaw Monastery in Pha’an city, Karen state. On 20th August, a Muslim man and a teenage boy were beaten by a monk from similar monastery. On 23rd August, three Muslim men were beaten by the monks from the same monastery. BMA has recorded many similar kinds of incidents in Karen state. 

In Arakan, Rakhine Buddhists have been campaigned around 26th August to commemorate 52 years of the declaration of Buddhism as the only State religion in Burma. Rakhine Buddhists in Arakan state plan to celebrate the anniversary in Thantwe city. In the meantime, we have documented that some Rakhine extremists are organising people to attack Muslims in Thantwe where majority Kaman peoples and Rohingyas are living. Ethnic Kamans are recognized as an ethnic minority of Burma. 

Buddhist extremist in Thantwe have ordered all Buddhists to put 969 logos on their doors. We have confirmed that 5 truckloads of Rakhine extremists from across the Arakan arrived Thantwe on 23rd August. Since then, Muslims in the city are in a state of panic. Muslims in Thantwe received information that Buddhist extremists are planning to attack them on 26th August.

Instigators of hate-speech and hate-acts such as U Wirathu continue to spread hatred against Muslims. This indicates that U Thein Sein government does not intend to address the root cause, or at least is so far ineffective at doing so. The riots have been taking place in different places every time. The consequences of not stopping these hate-crimes are very serious and could lead to further mass killings and even popular genocide campaigns. 

We, the Burmese Muslim Association urge the international community to put pressure on Burmese government to protect minorities in Burma from any massacre. Burmese government should protect its citizens equally, and also guarantee protection and security for those whose right to citizenship is contested, such as the stateless Rohingya. The rule of law should be same for everyone residing in Burma. All the displaced persons should be allowed to return to their former places without any restriction. All the religious premises should rebuilt and repair at similar places. All perpetrators of violence should be brought to justice without bias. 

On the eve of Burma's assumption of the ASEAN chair, the government must demonstrate its commitment to protecting peace and security for it citizens and for the entire region.

Burmese Muslim Association 

Media Contact:

Kyaw Win +44-740-345-2378(UK) kyawwin78@gmail.com; 

Ms. Yasmin +1 408 250 6227(USA) yasnohana@sbcglobal.net; 

Kyaw Swa +44 782 842 6801(UK) kyawzwa@b-m-a.org; 

Ms. Molly +1 416 516 7383 (Canada) law4women@gmail.com;

Under U Thein Sein’s government, Muslims in Burma have been targeted animosity and hostility to unprecedented level, in the form of distributing malicious pamphlets, disseminating of hate speech videos, organising public sermons by extremist monks which fanning enmity and hatred wide spread.

BMA: Strongly condemn hostilities against Burmese Muslims