Former MP Ro Shwe Maung's Speaking Notes for the Conference on “Myanmar democratic transition and persecuted Rohingya” at the Wolfson College, University of Oxford on 11 May 2016.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to speak at this important event via Skype.

Let me introduce myself. This before my name was U Shwe Maung. On 8 May 2016, I changed my name to Ro Shwe Maung. It means Rohingya Shwe Maung. I am a Rohingya. Please call me Ro Shwe Maung. I am a former Member of Parliament in Myanmar from 2010 to 2015. Authority denied my right to run for office again in 2015 General Election although I was a sitting MP. I was denied the right to contest the election because authority falsely claimed my parents were not citizens of Myanmar when I was born. I would like to say this is the most laughable joke in the 21st Century. I am not only one. All Rohingya candidates were targeted for exclusion. Dozens of Burmese Muslims candidates had also been rejected by election authorities. And make no mistake: it is because of our ethnicity and religion. 

On 10 June 2012, I saw face of ethnic cleansing and genocide against Rohingya from helicopter in Sittwe city of Arakan. I saw blaze of Rohingya and Kaman Muslim houses. I felt I was seeing a holocaust from the sky. On July 16, 2012, I went to Sittwe and talked to relatives of victims of violence, which caused 140,000 IDPs. A mother saw her 11 years old daughter was being burnt. A father saw his son was beheaded by the Rakhine terrorists and there were so many horrible stories.

I changed my name to “Ro Shwe Maung”. Because, denial of Rohingya identity is at maximum now although we have an elected civilian government, led by State Counsellor, President’s Office Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar. The Foreign Affairs Ministry advised US Embassy to avoid using the term “Rohingya” in the future after a large demonstration backed by the nationalist activists and monks against US Embassy Rangoon and US Government for the use of the term “Rohingya” on April 28, 2016. 

Now State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is trying her best to reform the country’s old system with a momentum. We appreciate her steps for a new system for the good of Myanmar people. But she has been constantly silent about the plight of Rohingya. She and governing party NLD have been denying existence of Rohingya people in Myanmar. In the context of Rohingya and Muslim issues, USDP Party and NLD Party have been exercising with same political pattern although they have a huge number of differences in other areas. Rohingya issue becomes a political toy among the players of political game in Myanmar. We Rohingya become political victims of Burma and persecuted in various forms in daily life. 

Therefore, I would like to suggest the international community to press the Myanmar government in four key areas: 1) access to citizenship, 2) access to rights and livelihoods, 3) combating extremism, and 4) political reconciliation. In this regard, international actors should call on State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw and Myanmar Military Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to do followings immediately:

1) Access to Citizenship

a. Amend 1982 Citizenship Law to provide Rohingya with equal access to full citizenship, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

b. Recognize Rohingya as an indigenous ethnic group of Myanmar and ensuring our right to self-identification

2) Access to Rights and Livelihoods

a. End freedom of movement restrictions on Rohingya in Rakhine State and beyond

b. Ensure Rohingya in Rakhine State have access to basic services, including education and healthcare

c. Release all Rohingya political prisoners, falsely imprisoned after the 2012 violence

d. Facilitate the resettlement and reintegration of Rohingya into their original homes in Rakhine State

3) Combating Extremism

a. Punish, through proper legal channels, individuals who promote hate speech and incite violence

b. Promote pluralism and inclusiveness in political decision-making and society more broadly

4) Political Reconciliation

a. Include Rohingya representatives at the forthcoming 21st Century Pinlone Conference

b. Work with all groups in Rakhine State to formulate an inclusive roadmap to a durable solution to the state’s challenges

c. Amend the 2008 constitution to move toward true democracy

Thank you.

Ro Shwe Maung

Former Rohingya MP in Myanmar (2010 - 2015)

Board Member of ASEAN Parliamentarian for Human Rights (www.aseanmp.org) 

Founding Member of International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (www.ippforb.com)

President, Arakan Institute for Peace and Development (AiPAD)

Speaking Notes for the meeting of Parliament of Canada the House of Commons’ Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on “Current Human Rights Situation of Rohingya in Myanmar” at 13:00 to 14:00 EDT on May 3, 2016

Dear Mr. Chair,

First of all, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak about Current Human Rights Situation of Rohingya in Myanmar to testify before the House of Commons’ Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

Let me introduce myself. My name is U Shwe Maung (a.k.a) Abdul Razak and I am a former Member of Parliament in Myanmar from 2010 to 2015. 

In my country, there was a historic election on November 8, 2015. National League for Democracy (NLD) Party, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi made a landslide victory. With effective from April 1, 2016, previous USDP government led by President U Thein Sein transferred the state power to the NLD. As NLD was unsuccessful to amend the 2008 Constitution in the previous parliamentary term, the core of state power is still in the hand of Myanmar Military. Ministries of Home Affairs, Defence, Border Affairs, Immigration and Religious Affairs are under the command of Myanmar Military Chief. Then, The Region/State, District, Township Administrators and Myanmar Police Force are under the command of Home Ministry. What I am trying to say is the core of state power is still in the hand of Military Group although NLD formed a civilian government. In this situation, NLD submitted a bill for a post of State Counsellor for its Chairperson Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to the parliament as she is barred to become President and it was approved. Now she is The State Counsellor of Myanmar. She is leading NLD-Led Government and performing duties as if President of Myanmar.

Honourable Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is trying her best to reform the country’s old system bit by bit. We appreciate her correct steps for a new era. But she is still silent about the plight of Rohingya. She took side of oppressor. She and her party have been denying existence of Rohingya people in Myanmar. In the context of Rohingya and Muslim issues, USDP Party and NLD Party have been exercising with same political pattern although they have a huge number of differences in nationwide politics since 2012 Violence against Rohingya and Kaman in Rakhine State and 2013 Violence against Burmese Muslims in Meikhtila Township. Both parties favour hate speeches of Nationalist Buddhist Group Ma-Ba-Tha directly or indirectly. In October, 2012, there was second violence against Rohingya and Kaman Muslims. I submitted an emergency proposal to Take Action for the violence against Rohingya and Kaman from Kyauk Pru Township to the Speaker of Parliament Thura U Shwe Mann through USDP Party. But the speaker asked the Chair of Rule of Law Committee Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. But she denied. Finally, NUP Party submitted the proposal. I got opportunity to discuss and I called Ministry of Home Affairs to reform Police Force of Rakhine State as policemen involved in the violence according to Rohingya and Kaman victims. When 2013 Violence broke out in Meikhtila, NLD MP for Meikhtila U Win Htein blamed Muslims instead of culprits. 

USDP Party proposed amendment of Constitution Referendum Bill and Parliamentary Electoral Bills to exclude voting rights of 1.3 Million Rohingya, even though Rohingya were allowed to vote in all previous elections. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and no single NLD MPs objected that bills. This was a conspiracy of Thura U Shwe Mann and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to disenfranchise Rohingya from the November 2015 Election. Both parties did NOT nominate a single candidate to run for the election. Rakhine State Election Subcommissions and the Union Election Commission denied my right to run for office on November 8, 2015 Election although I was a sitting MP. I was denied the right to contest the election because Immigration Department and Election Commissions falsely claimed my parents were not citizens of Myanmar when I was born. In 2010 Election, same Immigration Department and Election Commsion approved my paper work for candidacy and I was elected from Buthidaung Constituency, Rakhine State. I would like to say this is the most laughable joke in the 21st Century. I am not only one. All Rohingya candidates were targeted for exclusion. Dozens of Burmese Muslims candidates had also been rejected by election authorities. And make no mistake: it is because of our ethnicity and religion. During a press conference just before the election, she described the persecutions on Rohingya as an exaggeration. She also publicly said “I am a politician and I am not a human rights defender” during a visit to Europe in 2013. She also told media several times that “ Rohingya issue is an Immigration issue, rule of law issue and it is responsibility of government”.

Mr. Chair, 

Now Honourable Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is Foreign Minister, President’s Office Minster and the State Counsellor. She is leading the government. Let me highlight what NLD government did so far in the first month of its term. A lot of political prisoners were released by the order of NLD President and State Counsellor. But Rohingya and Burmese Muslims political prisoners were excluded. Approximately 1000 Rohingya were imprisoned with false charges after the 2012 Violence, which caused 140,000 IDPs. Religious Affairs Minister Thura U Aung Ko accused all Muslims of Myanmar as Associate Citizens (so-called Guest Citizens) during an Interview with RFA Burmese. According to 1982 Citizenship Law, rights of Associate Citizens are not so different as Foreigners. In practice, associate citizens are viewed and treated as Foreigners by the Government agencies. Although Muslim Organizations urged NLD Government to release a statement to show policy of NLD Government towards Muslims of Myanmar, NLD and Honourable State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was silent.

Then, there was about 20 Kaman/Rohingya Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who drowned and died after a boat capsized off the coast in Sittwe, Rakhine State. NLD Government did not help any victim or didn’t release any statement of condolence. But sUS Embassy Rangoon released a statement of condolence and it used the term “Rohingya”. After that the Nationalist Buddhist Ma-Ba-Tha Group providing hate speeches by insulting not only Rohingya but also US Embassy Rangoon, US Ambassador Mr. Scot Marciel and US Government. Then, Ma-Ba-Tha and Myanmar National Network organized a demonstration in front of US Embassy on April 28, 2016. During the demonstration, Ma-Ba-Tha Chief sent a felicitation which insulted Rohingya, US Embassy and US Government very badly. Myanmar Police Force issued permit to demonstrate and police are accomplice. Probably, the permit was issued by the agreement of Home Minster. But NLD was kept quiet as if nothing was happening in the country. The National Democratic Forces (NDF) party released a statement criticizing US Embassy Statement and US Ambassador for the usage of “Rohingya” but didn’t show any sympathy for the victims. NDF party is a Nationalist Party and always blames and insult Rohingya in cooperation with Rakhine extreme politicians. In the statement, NDF urged NLD Government to release a statement on the issue of usage of “Rohingya” by US Embassy. In this connection, RFA Burmese interviewed with NLD Patron U Tin Oo and he said that previous government had decided about the usage for these people, NLD government will not tell anything and there is no Rohingya. Now it is crystal clear that NLD Party and NLD-led Government is not recognizing Rohingya and willing to solve Rohingya IDPs Camps problem. There are 120,000 Rohingya IDPs due to 2012 violences. I saw with my eyes from helicopter while Rohingya houses were burnt by the Rakhine Buddhist Extremist in Sittwe on June 10, 2012. Since then, I have been advocating for the victims to resettle and punish culprits and policemen, who involved in violence. No MPs listened to me and no Ministers cared my questions and proposals. I compiled a book of facts on Rohingya existence and solution to peaceful coexistence and gave to speaker Thura U Shwe Mann, NLD Chair Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all union MPs in 2013. But neither U Shwe Mann nor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has not responded to me. Both of them are politically unwilling to solve Rohingya issue. They have been using “silence diplomacy”

If this is the case, plight of Rohingya will be doubled in a near future. We are not illegal immigrants. We don’t need to be naturalized. We have been demanding to restore our rights including citizenship and political rights. 

For Rohingya, conditions remained grave as of today. I visited IDPs Camps in Sittwe on August 31, 2015. The situation was so dire. Children are suffering from malnutrition. Elders are suffering from disease. Sittwe General Hospital is like a Nazi Hospital for Rohingyas. Most of in-patients were reportedly killed by Buddhist Nurses. Thus, Rohingyas are scared to go to the General Hospital. Medical Clinic in the Camps are not-equipped for all kind of treatments. Thus, most of Rohingya patients want to be hospitalized in Rangoon. For this case, officials charged huge amount of money and most of the patients are unable to pay. Finally, they remain in the camps and waiting for the death. Some tries to go Bangladesh for better medical treatment. When they returned, they are charged for illegal border cross and imprisoned for 1 to 2 years. Most of the patients are women and children. Some of my cousins are victims of this case. Rohingya are not allowed to move freely. Rohingya are facing following problems as of today.

1. Denial of Full-fledged Citizenship

2. Treatment of Rohingya as if Foreigners and Trapping them for Naturalization, which is only applicable for foreigners

3. Uncertainty of Citizenship Processing

4. Denial of Rohingya Ethnicity

5. Accusation as Illegal Immigrants

6. Lack of Freedom of Movement

7. Lack of Access to Higher Education

8. Uncertain life at IDP Camps

9. Restriction of Marriage

The worst thing is restriction of Freedom of Movement within own country. Every town in Rakhine State for Rohingya is like an open prison. Let me share one of my philosophy on Movement. I think restriction of movement is a global practice of governments to punish criminals. When a person commits a crime, he or she must be sent to the prison as a prisoner to be punished. One of the main concept of keeping prisoners in the prison is to restrict their movement. But Rohingya’s freedom of movement is restricted without committing any crime by Rohingya. So, the Rakhine State become as if a prison for Rohingya. Thus, they are taking a risky journey in search of better life in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia. In long term, there shall be no Rohingya youths and educated in Rakhine State. In this way, Myanmar Governments are committing continued ethnic cleansing and slow-motion genocide.

Therefore, on behalf of Rohingya in Myanmar, I would like to request Parliament of Canada and Government of Canada through Mr. Chair to urge/press the Myanmar State Counsellor and Myanmar Military Chief to implement followings immediately.

1. Stop all abuses against Rohingya in Rakhine State

2. Make a roadmap to engineer Rohingya Crisis 

3. Allow Freedom of Movement

4. Allow Access to Higher Education and build enough Primary Schools

5. Resettle IDPs to their original house land

6. Dismantle Partition Fence between Rakhine and Rohingya Community

7. Recognize Rohingya ethnicity 

8. Grant/Restore full-fledged citizenship and political rights to Rohingya

9. Include/invite Rohingya representatives in forthcoming 21st Century Pinlon Conference of National Reconciliation

Mr. Chair, Let me stop my presentation and thank you so much for your time.

Be Logical, Be Consistent then Legal !!!

We are citizens of Myanmar according to Section 11 of 1947 Constitution, Section 4(2) of 1948 Citizenship Act. Therefore, we are citizens of Myanmar according to 1974 Constitution. 

1982 Citizenship Law can NOT deny our citizenship rights as we are already citizens. Becuse 1982 Law is securing citizens who are already citizens according to 1948 Citizenship Act. Moreover,1982 Law is not consistent with 1974 Constitution as it introduced three types of citizenship and thus it should be ammended.

We are also citizens according to Section 345 of 2008 Constitution as we are citizens according to 1948 Citizenship Act. 

We should not refer only 1982 Citizenship Law whenever we talk about citizenship and we must talk about 1948 Citizenship Act as well. Because 1982 Citizenship Law itself is telling us those are citizens who are already citizens according to 1948 Citizenship Act.

If someone urges others to respect 1982 Citizenship Law, he/she should also respect what 1982 Citizenship Law tells about Citizenship.

Be logical, be consistent and then it will be legal.

Shwe Maung

Pyithu Hluttaw Representative

December 25, 2013

RB News 

February 26, 2013 

Nobel peace prize winner Desmond Tutu arrived in Myanmar on Monday. According to the message posted by MP U Shwe Maung on Twitter, Tutu would give a speech at the American Centre in Yangon on Wednesday. 

U Shwe Maung, Member of Parliament, Buthidaung constituency, Rakhine State, Myanmar, has sent a message to the Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu via Twitter as follow: 

Dear Honorable Nobel Peace Laureate, 

Welcome to Union of Myanmar. Welcome to Rohingya Community of Myanmar. Rohingyas appreciate Reconciliation and love Peaceful Co-existence in Rakhine State. But they are suffering from Discrimination and Segregation. Consequences are very unpleasant and hair-raising. So, we are badly in need of a Conflict Resolution and Peaceful Co-existence Methodology, compatible for both Rakhine and Rohingya Communities. I would like to say "Rakhine and Rohingya is like Bolt and Nut". Bolt without Nut is unsecure and Nut without Bolt is unsecure. Similarly, Rakhine without Rohingya is unsecure and Rohingya without Rakhine is unsecure. Your advice and help is highly appreciated. I will attend your Speech Program in Yangon tomorrow. We look forward to hearing from you soon. 

In search of Human Rights, Peace and Development, 

Shwe Maung (a.k.a) Abdul Razak 

MP for Buthidaung Constituency 

Rakhine State, Myanmar 

E-mail: ShweMaung.MP@gmail.com

Facebook: ShweMaung.MP

RB News

January 26, 2013

U Shwe Maung, Member of Parliament, Buthidaung constituency, Rakhine State, Myanmar, has sent a message to Thailand Prime Minister Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Myanmar President U Thein Sein, ASEAN Secretary General, UN Secretary General, UN Spokesperson and Ms. Valerie Amos, UN under Secretary General (Source: Twitter) 

The message is as below: 

Dear Your Excellencies, 

Rohingyas issue is no more local. Now it becomes regional and global. It is miserable to know stories and situation of Rohingya refugees in Thailand. 

On behalf of Rohingyas, I would like to request all of your excellencies to cooperate with President U Thein Sein and The Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann, to recognize existence of Rohingya in Rakhine State and find a permanent solution for Rakhines & Rohingyas based on Peaceful Coexistence NOT Segregation. 

I have a very concrete document and facts. I am ready to share and cooperate for peace and stability of Rakhine State and Union of Myanmar. I would also like to appeal to local and international donors for urgent Humanitarian Assistance to all victims of violence equally. 

Finally, I want to say "Sympathize Rohingyas who are part of Rakhine State, part of Myanmar, part of Region, part of World". 

Thank you indeed. 

U Shwe Maung, MP 

January 24, 2013