Hasan Kamoonpuri

Oman Daily Observer

May 20, 2013 

AFTER the initial euphoria that followed some reforms by the civilian-led government of Myanmar in 2011, it’s again in the news; this time for the killing of Rohingya minority. The hopes of Rohingyas that much needed reforms on their citizenship rights were on the way, the first for 65 years, have been dashed.

Myanmar’s injustice is on full display in its Rakhine state where 140,000 displaced Rohingyas in makeshift camps are facing very hard times. Recent rains and floods have further worsened the conditions of the Rohingyas, who have faced torture, neglect and repression since 1948 when Myanmar achieved independence. More recently, the violence since June 2012 has left over 4,000 Rohingyas dead, a further 8,000 missing, over 140,000 homeless and 700 women abused.

The root cause is Myanmar’s racist attitude for not recognising one million Rohingyas as its own citizens, which has long made them vulnerable to discrimination, violence and persecution, expulsion and displacement by authorities. Rohingyas, who migrated to Myanmar as early as the 8th century, are regarded as illegal immigrants, rather than one of its 135 official ethnic groups.

Alarmingly enough, at a time when the UN has described these oppressed people “as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world”, some self-styled champions of human rights are not only mute over the continued atrocities, but have lifted sanctions and forged trade ties with Myanmar. At a time when the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has confirmed Myanmar government’s complicity in ethnically cleansing entire Rohingya towns and villages, the European Union has decided to lift many sanctions on Myanmar.

The US has already lifted the 1996 visa ban that barred most government officials, including President Thein Sein, from travelling to the US. More recently, the Washington eased another set of sanctions against Myanmar despite the ongoing persecution of Rohingyas, which flies in the face of their assertions that they are supporters of human rights.

The latest promotion of their ties coincides with a new surge of violence against Rohingyas. The UK is against giving any coverage to the plight of Rohingyas in the press. So instead of engaging constructively in Myanmar with the supporters of peace, they continue to engage unhelpfully.

Egypt’s newly appointed Grand Mufti Dr Shawqi Allam, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Dr Ahmed el Tayyeb and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei have condemned this massacre, describing it as "shame on humanity". They have also expressed readiness to dispatch humanitarian aid and called on all peace-loving parties to act to lift the injustice against these oppressed people.

Indeed, all justice-loving people need to raise an international chorus condemning the silence on these crimes and the use of human rights as a tool for political gains. HRW blames security forces, government officials and monks for fomenting ethnic cleansing and says the dead Rohingyas have been secretly buried in mass graves. The campaign of ‘ethnic cleansing’ amounts to “crimes against humanity”, adds HRW.

Thousands of Rohingyas, including women and children, have put their lives at risk by taking to the seas — often in unsafe craft — hoping to reach Thailand and Malaysia. Hundreds of refugees have been lost at sea. The UN says a boat carrying 100 Rohingyas capsized off western Myanmar on May 13 at midnight and many were feared drowned and dead. Just imagine the helpless cries of small children, women and men at the dead of night in the midst of sea! Where is our sense of outrage!

Amnesty International as well as the world’s foremost Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama have condemned the attacks on Rohingyas, who account for five per cent of Myanmar’s 60 million people.

Vijay Nambiar, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Myanmar, said the violence is “clearly targeted” with “brutal efficiency” against Rohingyas. The UN Special Rapporteur in Myanmar, Tomas Quintana, said he received reports that Myanmar’s soldiers stood by “while atrocities have been committed before their very eyes” in the city of Meiktila.

Oman Daily Observer

January 30, 2013

MUSCAT — Omani representatives along with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), world’s top Islamic body, have visited Myanmar’s Rakhine state several times to survey the fallout from deadly attacks on Rohingya Muslims.

“Oman has great concerns” about the humanitarian situation in Rakhine, Oman Charitable Organisation (OCO) chief Ali bin Ibrahim al Raisi, told the Observer in an exclusive interview.

Oman along with the OIC has agreed to provide development projects in the Rakhine state and not just humanitarian aid. The OIC is mobilising efforts to put in place a Special Fund for reconstruction and rehabilitation of Rakhine State.

During a recent OIC fact-finding mission to Myanmar, the OIC signed a memorandum of co-operation with Myanmar to establish a Humanitarian Affairs Office.

“Once OIC starts working in Myanmar, the OCO will launch a campaign in the Sultanate for involving the public in raising funds for Rohingyas,” said Al Raisi.

“Oman is keen to build houses in Myanmar and to invest in sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture so as to generate jobs for the people,” he added.

As part of the OIC, Oman has been in talks with the Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. She has promised to co-operate with the OIC. All Islamic countries are keen to launch programmes in Myanmar for the oppressed Rohingyas, he added.

At a summit in Mecca, the 57-member OIC condemned “the continued recourse to violence by the Myanmar authorities against the Rohingya minority and their refusal to recognise their right to citizenship”. Myanmar in August agreed to allow the OIC to provide aid to the region, on the condition it agreed to assist all communities in the area.

The OIC is keen to increase economic co-operation with Myanmar to help generate greater opportunities for its younger generations. Suu Kyi said that Myanmar badly needs investment in manufacturing sector as many young people in her country are without jobs.

Oman along with the OIC has condemned the killing of Rohingyas in Myanmar and announced that OCO is ready and keen to work in the Rakhine state to help improve its humanitarian situation, added Ali al Raisi.

The OIC has said Rohingyas face ‘genocide’ in Rakhine as violence against the ethnic minority rages on. The UN said recently more than 22,000 Rohingyas have been displaced in western Myanmar. The UN has described the “Rohingya community as the Palestine of Asia and one of the most persecuted minorities in the world”.

Human Rights Watch has released satellite images showing “extensive destruction of homes and other property in the predominantly Rohingya area”.

Myanmar’s estimated one million Rohingyas are officially stateless, and regarded by the government of Myanmar as illegal immigrants, rather than one of its 135 official ethnic groups.

Last year on December 25, the UN General Assembly issued a resolution expressing concern over the persecution of Rohingyas. The resolution called on Myanmar’s government to “protect all their (Rohingya minorities’) human rights, including their right to a nationality.”

The OCO along with the OIC team in its further visits to Myanmar would again assess the needs of humanitarian assistance for those affected by the violence in Rakhine state and co-ordinate with Myanmar authorities to develop a plan for the urgent provision of this assistance.

The OIC has built an alliance between the humanitarian organisations in the 57 member countries to undertake practical steps on the issue of Rohingya minority. The OCO is an active member of this alliance.

Experts say since Islam is the defender of the oppressed people, it is incumbent on all the 57 OIC members to take measures to help put an end to the mass murder of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar.