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H.E. U Htin Kyaw
President of Republic of the Union of Burma
Nay Pyi Daw
Myanmar

1st April 2016

Dear President U Htin Kyaw,

We, Burmese Rohingya Organization UK welcome your inauguration as the new President of Burma. This is a significant milestone on the path to democracy for our country. We also congratulate our mother Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for her significant achievement after sacrificing so much for so many years for our country. 

Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK has been advocating for human rights and democracy for all the people of Burma regardless of religion and ethnicity, for many years. We worked with the NLD LA and Burmese communities in the UK campaigning to release political prisoners, and end human rights violations in all ethnic areas as well as where Rohingya face serious persecution in the western part of Burma. BROUK is very pleased to see former political prisoners whom BROUK advocated for, now MPs in Parliament, government ministers and other high-level civilian government posts. 

For decades successive regimes and governments in Burma have pursued a twin-track policy of impoverishment and human rights violations in order to attempt to wipe out Rohingya from the country. Under the government of President Thein Sein human rights violations against the Rohingya sharply escalated, as he attempted to use Buddhist nationalism and anti-Muslim prejudice in the country to win public support.

Human Rights Watch stated that human rights violations against the Rohingya met the legal definition of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Fortify Rights also found evidence of crimes against humanity. Studies by the Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School and Fortify Rights, and by the International State Crime Initiative of Queen Mary University London, found evidence that amounts to genocide of the Rohingya. There is a humanitarian crisis in camps that Rohingya fled to in 2012, and senior members of the nationalist Arakan National Party continue to whip up hatred against the Rohingya. 

The NLD government presents the first opportunity in decades to not only halt the escalation of anti-Rohingya policies and laws, but also put it into reverse, ending violations of international law and applying the rule of law and international human rights standards. 

Addressing the root causes of prejudice and human rights violations against the Rohingya will take many years, but in order to start this process, and to have an immediate impact saving lives and reducing human rights violations, here are practical steps an NLD government can take in its first six months. 

1) Action against hate-speech and extremists
2) Humanitarian access and the safe return of IDPs to their homes. 
3) Reform or repeal of the 1982 Citizenship Law
4) Justice and accountability

Four Steps:

1) Action against hate-speech and extremists

Long term a comprehensive multi-faceted strategy needs to be adopted, and the international community should provide significant resources and expertise to develop and implement such a plan, starting with a national conference bringing together representatives of all areas of Burmese society together with international experts and high level government ministers from the international community. This will take time but planning should begin immediately.

In the short term, there are two other practical steps the NLD could take.

First is to take action to prevent hate speech and incitement of violence, including prosecuting those inciting or organising violence. To date those inciting hatred and violence have done so with complete impunity. 

Second is to demonstrate moral leadership, with Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders personally and specifically speaking out against prejudice and hatred, and challenging the extreme nationalist narrative. The election result demonstrates the support and power Aung San Suu Kyi has. Her leadership on this issue would make a significant difference and give others in Burma who support human rights for the Rohingya to have the ‘cover’ and confidence to add their voices. In this way the terms of the discussion and debate over the Rohingya can start to be changed.

2) Humanitarian access

An NLD-led government should immediately lift all restrictions on the operations of international aid agencies in Rakhine State and take action to ensure the security of aid workers.

An NLD government should also start to devote more government resources to assisting IDPs and isolated villagers.

State level restrictions and rules should all be immediately lifted. These need to be comprehensively identified.

We all must learn to live side by side, in tolerance and in peace. For many years Rohingya and Rakhine were living side by side. We Rohingya reject violence as a way of solving political problems. We simply want to live in peace in Burma, our homeland. We do not seek our own state, or the imposition of our religion or culture on anyone. Burma is a country of many ethnicities and many religions. 

The state government has to ensure that displaced Rohingya people can return to their original villages safely and provide them protection as needed.

3) Reform or repeal of the 1982 Citizenship Law

At the root cause of the denial of rights of the Rohingya is the 1982 Citizenship Law. The lack of full citizenship lies at the root of most of the discrimination faced by the Rohingya, including lack of freedom of movement, and access to health and education services. There is no way this issue can be avoided, and it is much better that an NLD-led government bite the bullet and deal with it at the start of their period in government when they have a new and strong mandate, strong party unity, and elections are years away. Changing this law will undoubtedly be controversial but it cannot be avoided. It will have to be addressed at some point. Better it is done while the NLD-led government is strongest.

4) Justice and accountability

There is credible evidence of multiple violations of international law, including ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, and possible genocide, against the Rohingya. These crimes cannot go unaddressed and those responsible cannot remain unaccountable for their actions. Impunity encourages and enables continuing human rights violations against the Rohingya. Justice and accountability are a highly effective tool to discourage further violations.

An NLD government should set up a credible independent investigation with international experts to investigate these crimes and propose action. If the NLD led government fails to set up an inquiry, the United Nations should establish its own Commission of Inquiry.

We hope that you will consider and implement these proposals and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you or your representatives to discuss them further. 

Respectfully


Tun Khin
President
Burmese Rohingya Organization UK



Media release from Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK)

Tuesday 15th March 2016

Rohingya Representative meets Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee at the UN Human Rights Council

Tun Khin, President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), met with Ms. Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma in Geneva today. She presented her new report to UN Human Rights Council yesterday afternoon.

BROUK welcome her new report in which she calls upon the new Government “to take steps to put an end to highly discriminatory policies and practices against the Rohingya and other Muslim communities in Rakhine State. In practice, these policies deny affected populations some of their most fundamental rights. Of particular importance is the need to restore freedom of movement for all, which in turn could facilitate the process of return and reintegration of communities. On-going discriminatory restrictions to freedom of movement are largely used to control the Rohingya population.” 

Tun Khin discussed the four key steps proposed by BROUK to the incoming NLD-led government to start addressing the Rohingya crisis. These are: action against hate-speech and extremists, ensure humanitarian access, reform or repeal of the 1982 Citizenship Law, and justice and accountability, including an investigation into human rights violations against Rohingya in Rakhine State.

Tun Khin also spoke at a side event at the UN Human Rights Council, along with Chris Lewa, Director of the Arakan Project. The event was attended by diplomats, UN officials, Burmese civil society representatives and other NGOs.

President of BROUK told at the meeting: “The international community is not doing enough as repression and discrimination has got worse for us. We were excluded from the 2014 census and we were disenfranchised in the 2015 elections. The international community must call on the new NLD-led government to immediately start implementing the four steps proposed by BROUK in order to address the ongoing crisis.”

Chris Lewa, Director of Arakan Project added: “Humanitarian conditions in the IDP camps are unacceptable. Access to services such as health, education, adequate shelter and means of livelihood should be guaranteed until a return is made possible. This requires political will from all stakeholders as well as support from the international community.”

For more information contact Tun Khin on +44 (0) 7888714866

A briefing with full details on the steps BROUK is proposing that the NLD led government take is available at: http://brouk.org.uk/?p=546



Press Release

Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia: End Indefinite Detention of Rohingya Refugees

Governments should provide full protection to Rohingya, respect right to liberty

(Bangkok, March 11, 2016) —The Governments of Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia should end the indefinite detention of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and provide them with full protection, said Fortify Rights and the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK) in a new briefing published today. Almost ten months after human trafficking syndicates abandoned thousands of Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshis in the Andaman Sea, Rohingya refugees continue to lack protections in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

“We hoped the international attention on the boat crisis last year would have resulted in durable solutions and greater protections for Rohingya refugees in Southeast Asia, but that’s not what we’ve found,” said Mr. Tun Khin, President of BROUK. “ASEAN can and should do better.”

The 17-page briefing, “Everywhere is Trouble,” is based on meetings with government officials, United Nations officials, and non-governmental organizations; visits to an immigration detention center (IDC), government-operated shelter, and refugee camps; and interviews with Rohingya refugees and survivors of human trafficking.

In Thailand, authorities continue to detain several hundred Rohingya in IDCs and government-run shelters. BROUK and Fortify Rights found that Thai Immigration authorities have detained at least 40 Rohingya refugees for more than ten months in squalid facilities at the Songkhla IDC, including reportedly a dozen or more boys under the age of 18. All of the children in the Songkhla IDC are reportedly unaccompanied. Detainees told BROUK and Fortify Rights that they are confined to an overcrowded cell, where they sleep side-by-side on the floor. Detainees in Songkhla said that they lack access to healthcare, mental health services, and opportunities to exercise or be in open air for any period of time.

“Thailand should immediately stop detaining refugees,” said Matthew Smith, Executive Director of Fortify Rights. “The treatment of refugees in these facilities is inhumane and undignified, and the detention of refugee children is particularly shameful and should end immediately.”

International law forbids arbitrary, unlawful, or indefinite detention, including of non-nationals. A state may only restrict the right of liberty of migrants in exceptional cases following a detailed assessment of the individual concerned. Any detention must be necessary and proportionate to achieve a legitimate aim. Failure to consider less coercive or restrictive means to achieve that aim may also render the detention arbitrary.

In Malaysia, thousands of Rohingya refugees are detained in IDCs throughout the country. Rohingya survivors from the May 2015 boat crisis reportedly remain detained in Belantik Immigration Detention Center, where access by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and service providers is extremely limited.

Rohingya refugees in Kuala Lumpur and Penang told BROUK and Fortify Rights that the police routinely use the threat of arrest to extort money and property from them, particularly if they are unable to produce proper documentation or a card demonstrating they are a registered asylum seeker with UNHCR.

Changes in UNHCR’s registration practices in Malaysia have considerably narrowed access to asylum procedures for Rohingya refugees, BROUK and Fortify Rights said, leaving many without any documents and at risk of serious security concerns, including the possibility of indefinite detention. Rohingya refugees in Malaysia said the lack of access to UNHCR registration is the single-most important issue they face, followed by lack of access to affordable healthcare and livelihoods.

“I have no job and no earnings and that is difficult. It is not easy to get a job without a UN card,” lamented an undocumented Rohingya-refugee woman living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia since June 2014. “I’m not in good health. My family is separated...Everywhere is trouble.”

In May 2015, Indonesia was widely praised for opening its borders to Rohingya refugees after Acehnese fishers courageously rescued at sea more than 1,000 survivors of human trafficking. Today, Rohingya survivors from the May boat crisis are confined to camps in Aceh, Indonesia. Rohingya refugees living in the camps are not free to leave the camps and must depend on service providers for basic necessities. Rohingya refugees living in other parts of Indonesia with UNHCR status lack freedom of movement in the country.

Indonesian authorities effectively deported BROUK President Tun Khin on March 6, following a meeting between him and Rohingya refugees in Makassar. Immigration officials arrived at the community meeting unannounced, took Tun Khin’s UK passport and also threatened to deport and confiscate the UNHCR cards of the refugees who participated in the meeting.

BROUK and Fortify Rights believe the Indonesian authorities attempted to intimidate Tun Khin in order to discourage him from providing moral and advocacy support for the refugee community in Indonesia.

BROUK and Fortify Rights called on ASEAN member states to ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. ASEAN member states should provide full protections to Rohingya refugees, including the right to liberty and freedom of movement.

“Rohingya refugees have long contributed positively to societies throughout the region when they have the opportunity to do so,” said Amy Smith, Executive Director of Fortify Rights. “It’s in everyone’s interest that Rohingya refugees are provided with full protections.”

SEE ATTACHED EVERYWHERE IS TROUBLE REPORT

For more information, please contact:

Matthew Smith, Executive Director, +66 (0) 85.028.0044,

Amy Smith, Executive Director, +66 (0) 87.795.5454, 

Tun Khin, President, Burmese Rohingya Organization UK, +66 (0) 97.731.4164, 







Media Advisory, March 8, 2016

“Everywhere is Trouble”

An Update on the Situation of Rohingya Refugees in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia

In May 2015, human traffickers abandoned boats of thousands of Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals coming from Myanmar’s Rakhine State and Bangladesh, leaving them adrift in the Andaman Sea. Instead of initiating search and rescue efforts, key countries in the region reinforced their borders and intercepted and towed stranded boats farther out to sea. After international outcry, some member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to allow disembarkation and provide temporary shelter to survivors. ASEAN’s failure to prioritize protection led to an unknown loss of life at sea.

Almost ten months later, the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK) and Fortify Rights traveled to Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesiafrom February 15 to March 9 to assess the situation of Rohingya refugees in each country. Representatives from the organizations met with government officials, United Nations officials, and nongovernmental organizations; visited Immigration Detention Facilities, government-operated shelters, and refugee camps; and conducted interviews with Rohingya refugees. Meetings and travel in Indonesia were in partnership with the Geutanyoe Foundation.

At 10am on Friday, March 11, BROUK and Fortify Rights will publish a briefing at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand to share their findings, observations, and recommendations. A Q&A session will follow brief presentations.

Featured speakers will be:
Mr. Tun Khin, President,Burmese Rohingya Organization UK
Ms. Amy Smith, Executive Director, Fortify Rights
Mr. Matthew Smith, Executive Director, Fortify Rights
Ms. Lilianne Fan, International Director, Geutanyoe Foundation

For more information, please contact:

Matthew Smith, Executive Director, Fortify Rights, +66 (0) 85.028.0044, 

Amy Smith, Executive Director, Fortify Rights,+66 (0) 87.795.5454, 

Tun Khin, President, BurmeseRohingya Organization UK,+66 (0)91.731.4164,

Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand
Penthouse, Maneeya Center Building
518/5 Ploenchit Road (connected to the BTS SkytrainChitlom station)
Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02-652-0580



Media release from Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK)
Thursday 18th February 2016

Four Steps the NLD Led Government Can Take On Rohingya Crisis

The Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK today publishes a new briefing paper calling on the NLD-led government, which will take power in April, to take four practical steps to start addressing human rights violations against the Rohingya. The briefing paper is available on our website here: Practical steps the NLD-led government can take in its first six months to address human rights violations against the Rohingya

Addressing the root causes of prejudice and human rights violations against the Rohingya will take many years, but in order to start this process, and to have an immediate impact saving lives and reducing human rights violations, here are practical steps an NLD government can take in its first six months:

1) Action against hate-speech and extremists - Take action to prevent hate speech and incitement of violence, and demonstrate moral leadership, with Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders personally and specifically speaking out against prejudice and hatred, and challenging the extreme nationalist narrative.

2) Ensure humanitarian access - Immediately lift all restrictions on the operations of international aid agencies and also start to devote more government resources to assisting IDPs and isolated villagers.

3) Reform or repeal of the 1982 Citizenship Law - The lack of full citizenship lies at the root of most of the discrimination faced by the Rohingya. There is no way this issue can be avoided, and it is much better that an NLD-led government bite the bullet and deal with it at the start of their period in government when they have a new and strong mandate, strong party unity, and elections are years away. It will have to be addressed at some point. Better it is done while the NLD-led government is strongest.

4) Justice and accountability - An NLD-led government should set up a credible independent investigation with international experts to investigate these crimes and propose action. If the NLD government fails to do so, the United Nations should establish its own Commission of Inquiry.

The briefing paper also analyses the NLD and Military approach to the Rohingya issues, and what the election results reveal about anti-Rohingya and anti-Muslim prejudice in the country. 

These results appear to reinforce something that BROUK has long believed, which is that while prejudice against Muslims is widespread, it is not necessarily that deep. Prejudice against Rohingya is greater than Muslims in general, but is not the top concern of many Rakhine. The prejudice that exists is widespread, but for many periods has been below the surface. It usually comes to the surface when prejudice and hatred is stirred up by political and religious extremists. It is a top down process, not a grassroots bottom up expression of repressed tensions, as many have tried to argue.

For decades successive regimes and governments in Burma have pursued a twin-track policy of impoverishment and human rights violations in order to attempt to drive Rohingya out of the country. Under the government of President Thein Sein human rights violations against the Rohingya sharply escalated, as he attempted to use Buddhist nationalism and anti-Muslim prejudice in the country to win public support.

The incoming NLD government presents the first opportunity in decades to not only halt the escalation of anti-Rohingya policies and laws, but also put it into reverse, ending violations of international law and applying the rule of law and international human rights standards.

“At the election people voted for hope, not hate,” said Tun Khin, President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK. “This Rohingya issue is not as intractable as many diplomats and observers try to argue. If there is strong moral leadership and action countering hate speech and incitement, it will be possible to take practical steps to start to end human rights violations against the Rohingya. There is a unique opportunity to make real progress but if those arguing for a soft and slow approach win the debate, the opportunity will be lost and the crisis and suffering will continue for many more years.”

For more information contact Tun Khin on + 44 7888714866



RB News
November 6, 2015

London -- Rohigya genocide brought to the attention of the world's top universities including Cambridge University last week. 

The event was organised by the Cambridge Union Society along with BROUK President Tun Khin, Professor Penny Green Director of International State Crime Initiative, Greg Constatine internationally renowned photographer, Amal from Equal Right Trust and Professor Kirsten Mc Connachie expert on stateless issue from Oxford University. 

BROUK President Tun Khin highlighted the background history of Rohingya people and the current situation. 

Tun Khin said, “I don't exist. That is what Burmese Government says. The Burmese government also claim the ethnic Rohingya of Burma, who are around 1 million peope, never existed. 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 a candidate. It is deeply troubling that the international community does not oppose this strongly, or consider it unreasonable, the genocidal acts against the Rohingya. Whenever genocide happens, they say never again. It is time to stop Genocide against Rohingya in Burma". 




Regarding the election Tun Khin stated that when the people of Burma go to the polling stations on November 8th, for the first time since independence the majority of Rohingya will not be allowed to vote. In another first all Rohingya candidates for the national parliament were rejected by the Union Election Commission (UEC), and there will be no Rohingya MPs in Parliament. The international community should not be funding any Burmese government bodies or any body which applies discriminatory policies against the Rohingya. If they do, they are complicit in that discrimination. As such, they are also complicit in the government's broader policy to eliminate the Rohingya from Burma. 

Professor Penny Green address recent reports which provide compelling evidence of a coordinated, State-led plan of genocide against the Rohingya. The report is based on the International State Crime Initiative (ISCI) scholars’ unprecedented systematic field research in Myanmar. In a report titled Countdown to Annihilation: Genocide in Myanmar, researchers from the university-based International State Crime Initiative concluded that "dehumanisation and stigmatisation" techniques are being used against Rohingya and warrant comparisons with Germany in the 1930s and Rwanda in the early 1990s. 

"It can be stopped but not without confronting the fact that it is, indeed, genocide," Professor Green said. Professor Penny Green also said “Myanmar’s Rohingya are being slowly annihilated through sporadic massacres, mass flight, systematic weakening and denial of identity. A genocidal process is underway in Myanmar and if it follows the path outlined in our report, it is yet to be completed. It can be stopped but not without confronting". 

The other speakers discussed about Rohingya refugees situation in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The speakers discussed how to work closely to raise issue with the UNHCR for the Rohingya refugees resettlement.



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:

Mabrur Ahmed +44 (0) 7506100785



RB News
November 4, 2015

London -- BROUK President, Tun Khin addressed the Rohingya genocide at the event “Burmese Elections and Persecution of Rohingya” hosted by Speaker of British Parliament, John Bercow, at the speaker’s house yesterday. The event was organised by the Speaker in association with the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Burma Campaign UK. The speakers of the event were Speaker John Bercow, Rushnara Ali MP, Tun Khin, President of BROUK, Ben Rogers East Asia Team Leader from Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Mark Farmaner from Burma Campaign UK. All the speakers addressed key issues of the Rohingya, religious intolerance, international law and the upcoming elections. More than 10 British Parliament members including Shadow Ministers, the Foreign Common Wealth Office, and many NGOs attended the event. John Bercow mentioned his long time support for the Burmese democratic movement, his serious concern about the Rohingya issue and his visit to Burma in 2013. Rushanara Ali MP, Co-Chair of the Burma APPG and Shadow Development Minister 2010-2013, spoke of her visit in 2013 and the deteriorating situation of Rohingya in Rakhine State. 

BROUK President, Tun Khin mentioned how when the people of Burma go to the polling stations on November 8th, for the first time since independence the majority of Rohingya will not be allowed to vote. In another first all Rohingya candidates for the national parliament were rejected by the Union Election Commission (UEC), there will be no Rohingya MPs in Parliament. The international organisations, governments, foundations and charities which helped fund the UEC and the election should review their decision to do so. The international community should not be funding any Burmese government bodies of any kind which apply discriminatory policies against the Rohingya. If they do, they are complicit in that discrimination. As such, they are also complicit in the government's broader policy to eliminate the Rohingya from Burma. Tun Khin also said at the meeting “The recent International State Crime Initiative report from Queen Mary University, Al Jazeera's Genocide Agenda Report, Yale Law School and Fortify Rights report, says it found strong evidence that genocide is occurring against the Rohingya in Burma. It is time UK government and other international community should support UN commission of Inquiry to assess the situation of Rohingya people of Burma".



Ben Rogers spoke on two major reports, one by Yale Law School and another by Queen Mary University of London, and a series of news items on Al-Jazeera, which claim there is strong evidence of genocide against the Rohingya. The elections on Sunday disenfranchise the Rohingyas and whoever wins the elections, the plight of the Rohingyas will not, in the short-term, change unless the international community acts. Ban Ki-moon should take charge of the situation and demand unrestricted access for international NGOs to all parts of Rakhine state.




Mark Farmaner states that the elections offer no hope for an improvement for the situation of the Rohingya in Burma. Most Rohingya cannot vote, and Rohingya cannot stand as candidates in the national parliament. As far as human rights violations are concerned, both the USDP and NLD reject clear evidence of multiple violations of international law against the Rohingya. The only way these most serious human rights violations will be addressed is if the international community acts. A UN Commission of Inquiry must be formed to investigate these human rights violations. Neither a NLD led government or an USDP led government will likely deliver any significant improvement for the situation for the Rohingya. The international community cannot continue to stand by as the situation for our people deteriorates to a level where experts say genocide may be happening, and yet still do nothing.





Media Release from Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK

For Immediate Release Tuesday 3rd November 2015

New Rohingya Election Briefing Paper Presented In UK Parliament

A new briefing by Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, ‘No Hope For Rohingya From Burma Election’, was presented at a meeting in the British Parliament today. The briefing paper is available on our website at: http://brouk.org.uk/?p=511

The briefing paper provides analysis of the election from the perspective of the Rohingya. When the people of Burma go to the polling stations on November 8th, for the first time since independence the majority of Rohingya will not be allowed to vote. In another first, as all Rohingya candidates for the national parliament were rejected by the Union Election Commission (UEC), there will be no Rohingya MPs in Parliament.

The paper is being presented in a meeting on the Rohingya in the British Parliament today, hosted by John Bercow MP, Speaker of the Parliament. 

The briefing paper provides information on Rohingya political parties and candidates who have been banned from participating, and examines the prospects for the Rohingya after the elections under an NLD or USDP government. It concludes that whoever wins, the Rohingya lose, with no prospect in sight for significant improvement for our situation after the election.

Tun Khin, President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation said “The international community must stop treating the situation of the Rohingya as somehow disconnected from the general situation in the country. To endorse the elections in any way as credible is to endorse our disenfranchisement and our repression. The recent Yale Law School and Fortify Rights report says it found strong evidence that genocide is occurring against the Rohingya in Burma. It is time UK government and other international community should support UN commission of Inquiry to assess the situation of Rohingya people of Burma".

For more information contact Tun Khin on +44 (0) 7888714866






RB News
November 2, 2015

London -- On 29th November at the launch of the ground-breaking report Countdown to Annihilation: Genocide in Myanmar which was written by ISCI scholars. BROUK President Tun Khin urgently called on the UN Human rights Council to adopt a resolution mandating international Commission of Inquiry to fully asses the situation of Rohingya. 

The event took place at the Hoxton Arches Central London and more than 100 people attended including human rights groups, British media and others. 

The report was written by ISCI scholar Professor Penny Green, Dr Thomas McManus, and Alicia de la Cour Venning. The report provides compelling evidence of a coordinated, State-led plan of genocide against the Rohingya. The report is based on ISCI scholars’ unprecedented systematic field research in Myanmar. 

The launch of the report was accompanied by a panel discussion with Penny Green, ISCI Director, Professor of Law and Globalisation, Queen Mary University of London, Tomás Ojea Quintana, Former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar ,Tun Khin, President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK and human rights activist, Sarnata Reynolds, Senior Advisor on Human Rights at Refugees International. 

In a report titled Countdown to Annihilation: Genocide in Myanmar researchers from the university-based International State Crime Initiative concluded that "dehumanisation and stigmatisation" techniques being used against Rohingya warrant comparisons with Germany in the 1930s and Rwanda in the early 1990s. 

Researchers said they found Nazi and SS paraphernalia such as t-shirts and helmets in official documents of the Arakan National Party, a Rakhine party. 

"It can be stopped but not without confronting the fact that it is, indeed, genocide," Professor Green said. Professor Penny Green also said “Myanmar’s Rohingya are being slowly annihilated through sporadic massacres, mass flight, systematic weakening and denial of identity. A genocidal process is underway in Myanmar and if it follows the path outlined in our report, it is yet to be completed. It can be stopped but not without confront" Mr Quintana said the International community has to take effective action and should support International investigation which he has proposed for a long time. 

"At this point, the situation of the Rohingya cannot be understood without considering a possible genocide," Mr Quintana said in comments released with the report. "At this point, the situation of the Rohingya cannot be understood without considering a possible genocide," he said in comments released with the report. The finding is backed by Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN's special Rapporteur of human rights in Myanmar between 2008 and 2014. 

BROUK President Tun Khin expresses his personal experiences of genocidal policy against Rohingya during his life in Arakan State. Tun Khin said “he doesn’t exist that is what Burmese Government says. They Burmese government also claim the ethnic Rohingya of Burma around 1 million Rohingya never existed”. 

Sarnata Reynolds mentioned the seriousness of the situation for Rohingya IDPS in Sittwe IDP camps and others. She also highlighted Rohingya refugee’s situation in Malaysia and other countries where she visited recently.






Public Demonstration Calling For End Of Genocide Against Rohingya In Burma


Rohingya Demonstration Invitation 5th Nov 2015, 2-3pm



Whilst Burma waits and is on the cusp of a general election in early November, the world waits with baited breath to see if life improves for the many ethnic groups of Burma who have faced decades of marginalization. The Rohingya, whom the UN has long claimed to be ‘one of the most persecuted communities in the world’, are not expecting any reprieve.

The recent Yale Law School and Fortify Rights report says it found strong evidence that genocide is occurring against the Rohingya in Burma. It concludes, “The mass scale of the atrocities perpetrated specifically against Rohingya also provides strong evidence that the Myanmar government has acted with genocidal intent toward the group.”

A yearlong Al Jazeera report also claims that genocide has been enacted against the Rohingya in Rakhine State, Burma.

Restless Beings, Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), Burmese Muslim Association UK, Bradford Rohingya Community UK and Burma Campaign UK have joined arms and are calling out to supporters of the cause of human rights to join together and demonstrate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of UK to put political pressure and to take tangible steps to end the ongoing genocide against the Rohingya.

Demonstration Details:

Date – 5th November 2015

Time- 2:00-3:00 PM

Place- Foreign and Common Wealth Office, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH.

We urge you to attend and to publicize the event with contacts and other like-minded groups and people.

For more information, please contact:
Mabrur Ahmed +44 (0) 7506100785



Rohingya Flood Victims Abandoned By Burmese Government

Date: August 7, 2015

Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK is receiving reports from Rakhine State indicating that the Burmese government has abandoned most Rohingya victims of the floods and is focusing instead on assisting only ethnic Rakhine. 

The Burmese government has been evacuating ethnic Rakhine from the low-lying areas to highlands in many towns of Arakan. State government and central government supplied aid and relief to the Rakhine residents while Rohingyas were totally neglected.

The lives of Rohingyas in IDP camps and others who were previously not getting enough aid are now in danger. The floods hit children and families who are already very vulnerable, including Rohingya Muslims who are living in camps in Rakhine State.

While international attention has focused on flood victims across Burma, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya in areas not evacuated have not been provided with sufficient aid and are in desperate need in their camps and homes. The shelters that many Rohingya in IDP camps were living in were old and needed replacing but despite concerns about the vulnerable position of the camps to storms at this time of year, they were not replaced. This has made Rohingyas even more vulnerable to the floods. 

Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK is calling on the United Nations and international agencies to do more to reach vulnerable Rohingya populations with aid, as the government is not helping them as it should. False accusations that they favour Rohingya with aid should be ignored and the focus be on humanitarian need. 

Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK President Tun Khin said; “The immediate need for today is that aid gets through to those who need it. This crisis has been made worse by existing restrictions on aid to Rohingya IDPs. It is yet another example of why it is vital that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon personally takes the lead in negotiating unrestricted international humanitarian access in Rakhine State. We cannot continue with a situation where there are crises every few months and even in normal times the situation is unacceptable.”

For more information please contact Tun Khin +44 7888714866.



RB News
June 17, 2015

BROUK President Tun Khin was invited by the French Foreign Ministry to discuss the Rohingya crisis on 11th June. Tun Khin met Diddier Ortolland, head of Southeast Asia Division and other officials at Ministry of Foreign Affairs France. 

During the meeting the BROUK President addressed the current update situation and urged French officials to immediately raise the issue in UN Security Council. 

Tun Khin stated, “Our people are dying every day. The International Community knew it but they are not doing enough. I appeal that we do not to let another Rwanda repeat for Rohingya. Please help end the genocide of more than 1 million Rohingya. The Burmese government’s plan is to drive us out of our own ancestral land and, if any Rohingya are left standing, they intend to build an apartheid against us”. 

“It is time for the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to intervene to stop Rohingya Genocide where Persecution of the Rohingya minority by the Myanmar government amounts to genocide, according to field research from the International State Crime Initiative (ISCI), based at Queen Mary University of London,” said Tun Khin. 

At the end of the meeting BROUK also called on theFrench government with the US, UK and EU countries to pressure the Government of Myanmar to do the following: 

1. To immediately end its policies and practices of genocide; 
2. To restore full and equal citizenship rights of the Rohingya; 
3. To institute the right of return for all displaced Rohingya; 
4. To effectively provide the Rohingya with all necessary protection; and 
5. To actively promote and support reconciliation between communities in Rakhine State, Myanmar. 

The trip was organised by Info Birmanie. Tun Khin also gave many Interviews on current events related to the Rohingya Genocide in French Media and other journals.



June 9, 2015

Shocking images have brought the Rohingya to the world’s attention - boatloads of people drifting aimlessly on the Indian ocean, sustained by bottles of water thrown to them by visiting journalists. The Rohingya are Muslims from western Myanmar – or Burma – who live a life of poverty and exclusion. The government refuses even to recognise their ethnicity. Hoping for better lives in Malaysia, they turned to people smugglers and leaky boats. Will anyone help the Rohingya, one of the most marginalised communities in the world? And, why has even the most famous living Burmese, the icon of democracy and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, refused to speak up on their behalf?

(Photo: Myanmar, South East Asia migrant. Credit: Ye Aung Thu/Getty Images)





RB News
June 9, 2015

London -- 3rd commemoration of Rohingya Genocide in Arakan event was held in London last Friday 5th June 2015.. The event was organised by Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK and more than 100 people attended including members BROUK, Members from Burmese Muslim Association UK, Anna Roberts Executive Director from Burma Campaign UK (BCUK) ,Ko Aung from 88 Generations and Mr Nurul Islam chairman of Arakan Rohingya National Organisation.

Ahmed Jarmal General Secretary of BROUK hosts as a master of Ceremony of the event. He mentioned “This event is 3rd COMMEMORATION OF ROHINGYA GENOCIDE IN ARAKAN” to give our remembrances to those who died and who were still suffering due to the pre planned attack on Rohingya and other Muslim of Burma. 

The event started with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Mr Nurul Islam Chairman of Arakan Rohingya National Organisation gave opening remarks by thanking BROUK for organizing this wonderful event. 3 years ago in this month state sponsored massacre was carried out against Rohingya and Kaman in Arakan and other Muslims in other parts of Burma.

Mr Nurul Islam mentioned that the human rights violations and abuses committed against Rohingya for decades are not isolated incidents, but part of a broad pattern of the policies being implemented by the ruling Thein Sein government. They are committed with full impunity and knowledge of the government and violation has not been fully and impartially investigated and none of the perpetrators have been brought to justice. 

The government has no intention to resolve the issue. A UN Commission of Inquiry is most urgent to investigate the mass atrocity crimes in Arakan and other parts f Burma and to bring those responsible to justice. It is also important that UN intervenes in the matter on ground of humanitarianism.

Mr Nurul Islam concluded his opening remarks by mentioning the root cause of the problem must be addressed. Their citizenship and ethnic rights must be restored. Political and democratic process in Burma should be all-inclusive; Rohingya must be a part of it. Humanitarian aids must be allowed. All persecution and ghettoization and must be ended. Repatriation and rehabilitation of refugees in their original properties. 

Kyaw Zwa from Burmese Muslim Association said after by election 2011 Burmese government systematically planned massacre against Rohingyas and other Muslims of Burma.The government planned Ma Thi Da Twe rape case to start Rohingya genocide in 2012 June. It was very clear that Ma Thi Da Twe case was not a rape case at all which everyone knows. He addressed that President Thein Sein government is wiping out Rohingyas and other Muslims of Burma by doing anti-Muslim hate speech and creating violence. He concluded his speech by 

Anna Roberts from BCUK pointed that BCUK is continuously pressing e UK government through MPs. She mentioned that Bt BROUK’s call to support UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to lead to get in aid in Arakan and to support International Independent Investigation.

88 Generations Leader Ko Aung mentioned that he will be together with Rohingyas in Solidarity and will continue his support on the cause. 

BROUK President made closing remarks by thanking all BROUK members for their great effort for the event. He also thanks to audience and other participants of the event. He encouraged that not to lose hope even tough situation is not getting better. Recent OSLO conference shown 7 noble prize winners are together with Rohingyas in Solidarity. Rohingyas struggle is long way to go and and have to keep current momentum. Rohingyas are without friends inside Burma and have a few friends Like Dr Maung Zarni and Ko Aung. Rohingyas are the son of Arakan soil and have to continue the struggle to restore Rohingya’s rights.

The event was ended with Dua and served dinner later.









RB News
June 9, 2015

BROUK President, Tun Khin, was invited to speak at the Morocco Parliament regarding the current situation of Rohingya on 1st of June. The event was organised by Socialist International and the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Morocco. 

At the meeting in the Parliament more than 20 countries' political party members, the Foreign minister of Morocco, NGOs, and Media attended. 

At the opening session the Moroccan Foreign Minister, Salaheddine Mezoua, addressed a key note speech by pointing out the current Rohingya situation. Tun Khin, who was guest speaker at the meeting, presented the Rohingya’s historical background, details about the current situation, information on anti- Muslim hate speech, and also information from the recent Oslo Conference regarding Rohingya and stressed the international community's lack of action. 

Tun Khin appealed to the Parliament, “Our people are dying every day. The international community knew it but they are not doing enough. I appeal to not let another Rwanda repeat for Rohingya. Please help end the genocide of more than 1 million Rohingya. The Burmese government’s plan is to drive us out of our own ancestral land and, if any Rohingya is left standing, they intend to build apartheid against us”. 

Tun Khin told to RB News “It is a great honour for me to speak at the Moroccan parliament on behalf of Rohingya people. I am glad to see many participants at the meeting express strong concern on our cause, how Burmese government is implementing genocidal acts against our people. I am very grateful to the Moroccan government for their immediate concern, to raise the issue with United State, EU and some members of states in OIC. We really have to keep current momentum to pressure Burmese Government to stop Rohingya Genocide”. 

Tun Khin also urged the Moroccan parliament to pressure the Government of Myanmar to do the following: 

1. To immediately end its policies and practices of genocide; 
2. To restore full and equal citizenship rights of the Rohingya; 
3. To institute the right of return for all displaced Rohingya; 
4. To effectively provide the Rohingya with all necessary protection; and 
5. To actively promote and support reconciliation between communities in Rakhine State, Myanmar. 

At the End of the meeting- All the Political Party members from 20 countries agreed to raise Rohingya issue with UN , and their own countries. They also said they would work continuously to put strong pressure on Burma to restore the rights of the Rohingyas. 





    • Rohingya Exodus