Bangkok Post

January 25, 2013

Rohingya refugees in Prachuap Khiri Khan province have gone on a hunger strike in demand of an improvement in the meals provided by Thai authorities. 

About 120 Rohingha men have been transferred from Phang Nga province to a detention facility run by immigration police in tambon Khlong Wan, Muang district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, awaiting their deportation. 

Disease control officials also gave them physical check-ups with help from Myanmarese interpreters. 

The Muslim refugees will remain at the facility until otherwise ordered. Two large rooms have been put aside for prayers. 

An interpreter said that the refugees are demanding the Thai government to coordinate with the United Nations in helping them seek asylum in another country. They refused to return to Myanmar because they feared for their safety. 

Many of them complained that the 75 baht allocated per day per person for food is not enough. They want better quality food in larger portions. They went on hunger strike, but some were later talked out of it. 

Yusuf Towang, the president of a Muslim organisation in the province, said he has been coordinating with immigration authorities in providing assistance to the Rohingya. The Muslim community will collect donations to buy them food, clothing and other essentials to alleviate their problems before they are to be moved to another location.

Phuket Gazette

January 25, 2013

PHUKET: The 179 Rohingya refugees who arrived in Khura Buri District, north of Phuket, on January 23 have taken the Phang Nga Immigration facilities past breaking point, forcing authorities to relocate hundreds of Rohingya already being held at the Phang Nga detention center to immigration centers elsewhere in Southern Thailand.

“Yesterday, we brought 179 Rohingya from Khura Buri police station to our office. We already had 271 Rohingya here, and space for just 250, so we could not accommodate them,” Phang Nga Immigration officer Neti Khunboon told the Phuket Gazette yesterday.

“The Phang Nga Immigration Superintendent ordered us to move 270 of the refugees to Prachuap Khiri Khan and Kanchanaburi immigration-detention centers today [January 25],” Maj Neti explained.

Maj Neti also confirmed to the Gazette that his team was working along with Phang Nga Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office to take care of the children who were part of the group of 179 Rohingya. 

“We want to move them to a special Phang Nga shelter for women and children.” Maj Neti added.

The children have already been examined by Public Health Officers, who determined that five should be sent to Phang Nga hospital to receive treatment for fever, blood in the urine, and possible tuberculosis infection.

Bangkok Post

January 25, 2013

One of the three suspects wanted in connection with the smuggling of more than 800 Rohingya illegal migrants in Songkhla province this month has surrendered to police.

Saroj Kaewmaneechote, 39, from Songkhla, was charged yesterday with helping 157 Rohingya migrants enter Thailand illegally, providing them with shelter, and detaining them against their will, Pol Lt Gen Pisit Pisutthisak, chief of Provincial Police Region 9, said.

The Rohingya were found during police raids on houses in tambon Padang Besa in Sadao district which belong to Mr Saroj.

The suspect allegedly confessed to having been approached by a Myanmar national named Jamanadin who paid him 5,000 baht each time he allowed the houses to be used to accommodate illegal migrants.

Police were still tracking Jamanadin and another suspect, Prasit Lemle, a former mayor of Padang Besar municipality in Sadao district.

In Narathiwat province, police yesterday discovered two spots suspected of being used to shelter illegal Rohingya migrants while they were waiting to sneak into neighbouring Malaysia, a police source said.

Officers received a tip-off from locals who said they had seen about 800 Rohingya staying at the two locations, which were in dense forest areas, the source said.

When officers searched the suspected hideouts, they found them deserted. But evidence found at the scenes led officers to believe both sites had recently housed illegal migrants, the source said.

In Phangnga province, immigration police yesterday transferred 270 Rohingya migrants to Prachuap Khiri Khan and Kanchanaburi to ease overcrowding in detention facilities.

Another 179 migrants had been transferred from the province the previous day.

About 450 migrants had been squeezed into the facilities, even though the immigration police office can hold only up to 250 detainees, Pol Maj Neti Khanboon, chief of Phangna immigration police, said.

Local Islamic organisations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) yesterday began talks on how they could help the hundreds of Rohingya migrants who remain here awaiting a decision on their fate.

The groups agreed to work on transferring detained Rohingya children to where their parents were being held.

Some of the more than 100 Rohingya migrants being detained at the immigration checkpoint in Sadao district of Songkhla would be transferred to Bang Klam police station in the same province to help ease overcrowding, officials said.

Supitcha Rattana & Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation 

January 25, 2013

Seeks to 'clear air' over reports hundreds smuggled into province for work 

Narathitwat Governor Apinan Seutananuwong has ordered a probe into reports that more than 700 Rohingya have been smuggled into the southern province after crossing the border from Myanmar. 

"I don't know how the reports have come out. But to clear the air, I have told relevant officials to investigate," he said yesterday. 

Apinan said he had not heard that hundreds of illegal Rohingya migrants were in his province until media featured the reports. 

"We will probe deeply into the matter," he said. 

If the reports are confirmed, the number of Rohingya found illegally entering Thailand this month could soar past 2,000.

As of Wednesday, official statistics showed at least 1,381 Rohingya were being detained in various spots by officials for illegal entry. All of them were believed to have just arrived in Thailand. 

Described by the UN as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world, the Muslim Rohingya have been denied citizenship and face ongoing persecution in their native Myanmar. Several of the latest arrivals to Thailand have reported suffering severe discrimination and brutality in their homeland.

The Fourth Army Area has launched a probe into an allegation that the Rohingya are being trafficked into Thailand with the help of Thai soldiers. 

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) had so far found no evidence of trafficking, DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said yesterday. 

"At this point, we can't conclude that these cases are about human trafficking," Tarit said.

He said available information to date had shown that the Rohingya had illegally entered Thailand in search of work. 

"There's no sign they were duped or physically mistreated," he said. 

Tarit said the DSI would take over cases related to the Rohingya if further evidence suggested that they were victims of human trafficking. 

He assigned DSI deputy chief Yanaphon Youngyuen to attend a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Ministry about the Rohingya today.

In a related development, a Songkhla man surrendered himself to police yesterday to face charges of sheltering and detaining illegal migrants. Saroj Kaewmaneechote had been sought by police after they found a group of Rohingya at his home in Songkhla's border district of Sadao earlier this month. 

Montae sae Lor, a 58-year-old Thai, and Dorlohmae, a 55-year-old Myanmarese, were arrested and charged with supervising the Rohingya for Saroj. 

"We have found that agents for illegal migrant workers have had Malaysian accomplices too," said Songkhla's deputy police chief Colonel Krissakorn Pleethanyawong. 

Also yesterday, officials from organisations including the Sheikhul Islam Office, the Songkhla Islamic Committee and the International Committee of the Red Cross yesterday met and agreed to set up a co-ordination committee to facilitate the flow of assistance to the Rohingya in Thailand.

Phuket Gazette

January 24, 2013

PHUKET: The 179 Rohingya taken into custody north of Phuket yesterday survived on four meals of uncooked rice in their 16 days at sea, one of the survivors told officials.

Local fishermen spotted the refugees – fleeing escalating ethnic violence in their native Rakhine State in Myanmar – off the Phang Nga coast at about 11am.

About 30 officers from the Kuraburi District Office, Takuapa Border Patrol Police and Phang Nga Marine Police intercepted the single boat the refugees were travelling in about three nautical miles north of Koh Phra Thong (map here).

“They departed Rakhine State in Myanmar on January 7. They were at sea for 16 days, hoping to reach Thailand or Malaysia in order to find work,” Kuraburi District Chief Manit Pianthong said. "They all are exhausted."

“They said they had only four meals of uncooked rice and water since they left the state,” he added.

The refugees were taken to Kuraburi Community Hall. Nineteen of them were in need of urgent treatment and were immediately placed on saline drips by medical staff.

“Doctors and nurses were called in to take care of them – some of the refugees have fevers and others have open wounds. Doctors have placed them all on a course of antibiotics,” Chief Manit said.

“Officers have to provide them with food, drink and other care before handing them over to Phang Nga Immigration for deportation,” he added.

This latest arrival of Rohingya refugees in Phang Nga follows a welfare shelter in Khukkhak (story here), also in Phang Nga, on Monday calling for donations of daily necessities in order to provide assistance to 46 Rohingya women and children receiving shelter there.

RB News 

January 24, 2012 

Buthidaung, Arakan: On 23 January 2013 around 10:30pm, at least 2 Rohingya houses were burnt down into aches at Ward No. 1 of Buthidaung Township, Arakan State, Burma, according to a local resident on condition of anonymity. 

Fire broke out from electrical engine house which has been operating by the Rakhine national. There is controversy on the breaking of fire in both residents of Rakhine and ethnic Rohingya, while the Rohingya believe that Rakhine conspired to burn down the Rohingya houses from nearby areas, while the Rakhine claim that the fire was broke out from electric sort, he further told. 

No any person was injured at the house burning incident, while at least Kyat 80 million worth of wealth were brunt down. 

However, the local officials, particularly the members of NaSaKa (Border Security Forces) and other concerned authorities are investigating the real incident. Besides, the losers of these 2 houses are believed to be punished with both imprisonment and fine under the country’s penal code. 

The owners of these 2 houses are feeling fear of unbearable pressures and punishment without fair investigation, while no Rohingya has chance to make enough income for their survival and family support for the reasons of severe restrictions, imposed against them.

Bangkok Post

January 24, 2013

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has ruled out NGO claims that the surge of illegal Rohingya migrants into Thailand is the result of large-scale human trafficking.

The DSI's Anti-Human Trafficking Centre's director yesterday said an investigation into the wave of Rohingya migrants arriving in Songkhla province found the migrants were not victims of human trafficking.

The army estimates about 4,000 Rohingya have arrived illegally in the past three months.

"The Rohingya who are now being helped by authorities were neither compelled or tortured to work," Pol Lt Col Paisit Sangkhapong said. "We didn't find any evidence to support those claims. So we don't accept the Rohingya migrants influx as a special case," he said.

Activists have urged the government to treat the Rohingya surge as a special human trafficking case to be handled by the DSI.

Pol Lt Col Paisit said those found to have been involved in bringing in the Rohingya migrants will face smuggling charges while the migrants will also face illegal entry charges.

Songkhla police have issued 13 arrest warrants for people found to have been involved in bringing more than 900 Rohingya into the country.

The Rohingya are fleeing persecution in Rakhine state in Myanmar.

Police rounded up 397 Rohingya migrants at a remote rubber plantation in Songkhla's Sadao district on Jan 10, the first time the matter came to public prominence.

Ten people have since been arrested while the other three are still at large.

Those still at large are Prasit Laemlae, former deputy mayor of Padang Besar municipality who is the owner of the rubber plantation, Sarote Kaewmaneechote, Mr Prasit's associate, and Jama Nadee, a Myanmar suspect.

Police suspect two military officers attached to the Internal Security Operations Command's (Isoc) Fourth Region Forward Command of being involved in the smuggling of Rohingya.

The pair, holding the rank of sublieutenant and major, are being probed by a Fourth Region Army panel.

Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said the two soldiers would face severe punishment if they are found to be involved.

Gen Sukumpol expressed concern about the Rohingya migration.

Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Piya Uthayo, spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, said the 9th Police Region Bureau in the South has now rounded up 1,381 Rohingyas in Phangnga, Songkhla, Satun and Ranong.

Of them, 686 are being sheltered by immigration police, 413 are being held by other state agencies and 282 are being held by local police, he said.

Samart Maluleem, a Democrat MP for Bangkok who chairs a House committee on border affairs, said his panel will travel to Songkhla on Monday to visit Rohingya who are being detained in the province.

Mr Samart said his committee wanted to talk to the Rohingya and state agents to see what help they can provide.

Qutub Shah

RB News

January 23, 2013

(Edited by Mayu Thitsar)

On January 21, in Inn Dinn village and Kyauk Pando village (Shita Furikka), Maungdaw Township, extremist Rakhines from the two villages held a meeting in their respective villages, according to some Rakhine sources, where they discussed and decided not to live together with Muslims and to segregate Muslims from them. And they sent their meeting resolution to the Rakhine leaders in Rathedaung for further action to be taken. It is reportedly known that there are such meetings in many other villages also. So, the Muslims are worrying that Rakhines will continue atrocities against Rohingyas until they can implement what they have pre-planned i.e. ‘Ethnic Cleansing’.

Subsequently, on January 21, the security forces that are encamped in the villages of Min Bya and Mrauk-U Townships left their locations for the downtowns at 7:00pm saying that they have to secure it. On the other hand, Rakhines terrorists were seen carrying the arms and local weapons on buses and the security forces were providing them with arms and other materials according to an eye-witness. Moreover, a rumor is spread that the extremist Rakhines will terrorize Rohingyas afresh within 25th January. So, the Rohingyas in those areas are now being dreadfully traumatized and are in direful need of security and protection. It patently seems that the government is the warmonger until being cleansed. Therefore, international community must extend their helping hands towards the Rohingyas, whose eyes have been welling out since June.

RB News 

January 23, 2013

(Edited by Mayu Thitsar) 

Buthidaung: Yesterday in Ward No. 1, Buthidaung Township, some Rakhine extremists terrorized two Rohingya families of Maulavi Noor Muhammed and Shuna Alee s/o Yusuf from the very ward at around 7:00pm under the pretext of electrical disturbance. They beat the family members and looted the valuables.

“It is thought that the electricity was porously cut off to make such attacks. In such cases, the respective authorities not only lack to respond our call for help, but also torture the victims to extort money.” said by a resident of Buthidaung to RB News.

On January 21, in Fuimalee village, Buthidaung Township, the Nasaka from sub-camp (21) arrested two men, Laloo s/o Mubarek Husin and Nazeer Ahmed s/o Ahmed on charge of sending people to Malaysia. However, as usual, both were released on a ransom of 2 Millions Kyats. Actually, these are the Nasaka and other authorities who ease human trafficking procedures of Rakhine traffickers on bribery.

The Nation

January 23, 2013

Accused Isoc officers based at Chumphon; Sukampol 'angry' over allegations against lieutenant, major, colonel 

The Army is investigating at least three military officers accused of trafficking Rohingya refugees into the Kingdom.

The news came as a fresh group of 179 boat people landed in southern Phang Nga province yesterday, with more boats headed this way.

The three military officers were assigned to work for the Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc) Ranong Attachment, according to Fourth Army Area chief Lt-General Udomchai Thammasarorach. They have been stationed in Chumphon province.

"Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat has instructed me to order the investigation and we have already set up a committee to look into the case," Udomchai told The Nation yesterday.

Udomchai had a closed-door meeting to discuss the matter with Sukampol, who was in Pattani on an inspection of the far South.

The minister appeared angry to learn about the alleged involvement of military officers in the trafficking of Rohingya, a source close to the meeting said.

The accused officers hold the rank of major, colonel and lieutenant, the source said, noting that their commander - a colonel who heads their unit in Chumphon - is also being investigated.

"The military officers in question have said that they used military vehicles to transport the Rohingya for humanitarian assistance, not because they were involved in human trafficking," Udomchai said.

The allegation against the Army officers arose after more than 850 Rohingya were found in the far South earlier this month. Many of them complained of inhumane treatment in their homeland, Myanmar, because the government does not accept them as citizens.

Meanwhile, the latest group of 179 Rohingya refugees arrived in Phang Nga province after maritime police found them floating in a vessel offshore, according to Kura Buri deputy district police chief Laksanawong Rampansuwan.

People on the boat said it took them 16 days to journey from Rakhine state to Thai waters, he said, adding that more Rohingya were on the way and expected to land soon.

On Monday, Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said any soldiers found to be involved in human trafficking would be expelled and prosecuted.

An investigation by the BBC, revealed on their website, alleges Thai officials have been selling boat people from Myanmar to human traffickers.

BBC news reports allege Thai Navy personnel are also part of the trafficking ring. A source close to Rohingya residing in Thailand said they learnt of Navy officers benefiting from the scam, through cooperation with Myanmar nationals and Rohingya agents.

The Phuketwan website, which won awards for helping to reveal the "pushback" of Rohingya boats four years ago, has similar claims.

Yesterday, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) officials visited ethnic Rohingya detained in Thailand to determine their need to move to a third country. At the time of their arrest, many Rohingya said they wanted a new, safe place to live.

Manasvi Srisodapol, who heads Thailand's Department of Information, said help would be needed from the international community, and third countries, to solve the problems of the Rohingya in the short and long term.

"We have already talked to the Myanmar authorities and the UNHCR about assistance," he said.

Security agencies in Thailand are concerned about the growing number of Rohingya arriving by boat on the Andaman coast other illegal migrants in Thailand.

"We are not ready to host more shelters for the Rohingya here in Ranong," Colonel Narin Phannarai said. He is a deputy chief of a unit overseeing internal security there.

Officials say national security will be jeopardised if the number of illegal aliens grows too big.

In a related development, Thais have donated food and clothing to the Rohingya now detained in Thailand. Songkhla Provincial Islamic Committee has opened a bank account (Islamic Bank of Thailand No. 934 1 48557 6,) to accept donations for the Rohingya. Bt2 million has already been donated.

Despite Thai authorities' pledge to treat the Rohingya well on humanitarian grounds, Ranong residents showed dismay over the influx of immigrants and vowed to oppose the setting up of a refugee camp in the southern coastal province, their leader said last Sunday.

Sucheep Patthong said his group would launch protests if there were reports indicating the government intended to open a Rohingya refugee camp in Ranong. Sucheep said he had sympathy for the Rohingya people but if they were allowed to live in a refugee camp in Ranong, it would have a negative impact on the local people.

"Ranong is already suffering enough from some 100,000 immigrant workers living in the province. This has led to social, security and public health problems," Sucheep added.

Vivian Tan
UNHCR

January 22, 2013

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh – They sail in search of safety, education, a better life, a future. But many die along the way. Those who survive face the prospect of detention, bonded labour or furtive lives as undocumented workers in an alien country. 

In 2012, an estimated 13,000 people – among them the Rohingya from western Myanmar as well as Bangladeshi nationals – left the Bay of Bengal on smugglers' boats. Given the rough seas and often rickety condition of the boats, many never made it to their destination. Some 485 people are reported to have drowned in four boat accidents in the Bay of Bengal, though the real death toll is believed to be much higher. 

So why are more and more Rohingya taking the dangerous voyage? Many of the Rohingya in Bangladesh say that while life was always hard in exile, the inter-communal violence back home in Myanmar last June and October dashed any hope for a solution to their protracted situation. 

"Life was tough in Myanmar, and it's tough here," said Aisha, who fled persecution in western Myanmar's northern Rakhine state 20 years ago and sought refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh. "That's why my husband and my brother went to Malaysia – to find a better life." 

Azu Mehir, 48, said her 20-year-old son Shab Uddin wanted to study more English but was frustrated by government restrictions on secondary education in Bangladesh's two official refugee camps, Kutupalong and Nayapara. "He was a good student but he got frustrated and left," she said. "We looked everywhere for him. After 13 days, I got a call." 

The call can be a blessing or a curse. For refugee families who thought their men were lost at sea, it brings the good news that they are still alive. For parents who didn't even know their children had hopped on a smuggler's boat, it is practically a death knell. 

Sara cries when she talks about her 17-year-old son, who secretly left with three friends on a boat in mid-November. "The smugglers called to say they are holding him in Thailand," she wept in Kutupalong camp. "They beat him two times every day, now his body is swollen. They want us to pay 175,000 taka [more than US$2,160] to the agent in Bangladesh or they will kill him." 

Aisha's husband and brother are also being detained by smugglers in Thailand. "They didn't tell me before they left," she said. "If I'd known, I would've stopped them from going." There are reports that smuggled men whose families cannot make the required payment are sold to fishing boats where they could work many months to pay off the debt. 

While it is mostly single young men who make the journey, the clandestine nature of these irregular movements makes it hard to ascertain how many are Rohingya who fled Myanmar for Bangladesh over the years, how many fled the recent violence back home, and how many are Bangladeshi. 

There are also reports that women and children are joining the ranks. In Kutupalong camp, a woman approached UNHCR to say that her son-in-law had arranged for his wife and child to be smuggled to join him in Malaysia. But she later received a call from a smuggler asking for money for their release. 

Even those who make it to Malaysia do not have it easy. Fatama Hatun's husband left their home in Bangladesh's Leda makeshift site eight months ago. From Malaysia, he sent money home twice but the money stopped coming in October. Fatama has not heard from him since, but heard he had been arrested for not having documents. 

Azu's son, Shab, is now working on a construction site in Malaysia. "It is difficult for a frail young boy to carry heavy sacks of cement," she said. "He works every two days because he cannot take the heavy work. After working the whole day, he gets 40 ringgit (US$13). But he needs to buy food and share a place with others. I don't think he is saving any money." 

But that has not stopped him from dreaming of greener pastures. "If he had known life was so hard in Malaysia, he wouldn't have gone," his mother said. "But now he'll try to go somewhere else." 

While the men may not hesitate to risk their lives for the vague possibility of a brighter future, they leave their loved ones behind to fend for themselves. "Life has been miserable since he left," said Fatama as her husband sits in an immigration detention centre awaiting UNHCR intervention. At 25, she is now responsible for their two children. "I beg for a living but I don't know what we will do in future." 

Aisha, too, can barely support her family in Bangladesh. There is no way she can raise the 150,000 taka needed for her husband's release in Thailand. "After he left, we are suffering a lot because of the poverty," she said. "My son is not even nine, but he goes to the villages to pick up recycled items and sells them in the market." 

As the cycle of poverty, persecution and desperation deepens, the Rohingya are becoming even more vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous smugglers. Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, they may see no other option but to go with the flow, wherever it takes them. 

*Names changed for protection reasons

M.S. Anwar and RYM 

RB News 

January 22, 2012 

Maung Daw, Arakan: On 20th January 2012, around 1:15AM, a group of NaSaKa (Border Security Force) led by Aung Naing raided two houses at GoneNah Hamlet of Shujah (Shwezar) Village and arrested the heads of the both families. 

They are: 

1. Amir Ahmed S/o Ashu Ali 
2. Noor Islam S/o Ahmed 

Later, NaSaKa released the two Rohingyas after they (NaSaKa) had extorted money from them. The former Rohingya was released on the same day of arrest and the latter one released on the following day. Kyat 300000 and Kyat 500000 were extorted from the former and the latter respectively. 

Though Burmese regime has been stating that the situation in Arakan has calmed down and under the watchful eyes of international communities, the arbitrary arrests, tortures and killings of innocent Rohingyas in the secret cells, often rapes against their girls and women and extortion of money and so forth have been carried out silently. 

It seems that there is no end to the persecutions of Rohingyas and Kamans. And it is up to Rohingyas and Kamans to create their own destiny as their outcries have been falling into deaf ears. Indeed, No Pains, No Gains!!

The Nation

January 22, 2013

Flood of refugees should be discussed by Asean, NHRC says. 

Ethnic Rohingya fleeing from Myanmar deserve the attention of Asean as their problems are huge, a panel of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says.

Panel chairwoman Angkhana Neelapaijit spoke yesterday after visiting some Rohingya people in Narathiwat.

More than 800 Rohingya were found to have illegally entered southern Thailand earlier this month to escape alleged violence in Myanmar. The news put the media spotlight and public attention squarely on them.

The Rohingya are a Muslim minority community from Rakhine state in western Myanmar.

"This issue is big. It should be addressed at the Asean level. Myanmar is also a member of the regional grouping," Angkhana said.

NHRC chairwoman Amara Pongsapich visited the Rohingya people with Angkhana.

At the same time, Senator Jate Sirataranont urged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to raise the issue of the Rohingya with Nay Pyi Taw, Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

"We need to find a balance between humanitarian issues and security concerns," he said.

Angkhana said the Thai government must also discuss the Rohingya with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration, the Red Cross and Unicef.

Jate argued that Thai authorities must send the Rohingya refugees to a third, Muslim country as fast as possible. However, as the process may take time, he believed the government should set up more temporary shelters for them.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, however, expressed concern about creating more shelters for the Rohingya. "We can't take in too many people otherwise problems will arise in the long run. We have to take care of our national security," he said.

It has been claimed there are more than 130,000 Rohingya in Thailand - although rights activists have suggested the figure is a fraction of that. But no third country has expressed an interest in taking them so far.

Prayuth said Thai authorities should only provide humanitarian aid pending deportation of the Rohingya back to their homeland, or their move to a third country.

"We won't ignore the humanitarian principles but we also must pay attention to our national interests," he said.

He threatened action against any soldier involved in smuggling the Rohingya, given more claims of officers demanding money to escort refugees or economic migrants who want help to enter Malaysia.

Ranong Tourism Association adviser Nit Ouitekkeng said the number of illegal migrants in the province was growing fast and it had caused social, public-health, environmental and security problems.

"This means our province's tourism potential is hurt. We are worried about safety problems," she said, pointing out that thefts - sometimes blamed on the refugees - had taken place.

Jonah Fisher 

BBC News

January 21, 2013

Whole families are trying to escape the communal violence in western Burma

Thailand considers the Rohingya to be economic migrants

PRESS RELEASE

URGING SOME SELF-INTERESTED EXILED BURMESE MEDIA TO BEHAVE ACCORDING TO MEDIA ETHICS AND TO STOP CREATING FALSE STORIES TO INSTIGATE MORE VIOLENCE

Jan 20, 2013: RVision is a Rohingya Media Network especially focused on visual media such as Internet TV formed in the wake of genocide against Rohingyas and to spread awareness of underlying truths about their ever worsening situation. Therefore, it has been actively making video analysis on Arakan crises, reporting news and making interviews etc.

Recently, Rvision made a video Report on 26 Workers from Myanmar brought to Saudi Arabia in 2010. The Video can be watched here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzRWR2BJXKE 

They came to Saudi Arabia through some worker agencies in Myanmar and Saudi Arabia. Due to their agents’ mistreatments and failure to fulfill their promises, the workers have been struggling with their lives since then. There are both Buddhists (including Rakhines) and Muslims among the 26 workers from Myanmar.

In June, as the violence against Rohingya in Arakan erupted, Rakhine members were said to have been threatened by some Rohingyas living in Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, some other Rohingyas helped them for their survival on the feeling of being the nation-mates. But recently, few self-interested exiled Burmese media led by some Rakhine extremists twisted the story to instigate more violence against Muslims in Burma. They reported the story as if the threats against the said Rakhines were newly posed and only the 12 Buddhists among the workers were pushed into trouble and struggling for their lives.

Therefore, it is very clear that these self-centered media twisted the story with a clear intention of taking political advantage out of the innocent lives through creating violence. Therefore, it is clearly against the principles and ethics of media.

We, RVision, therefore, urge these self-interested Exiled Burmese Media to behave according to Media Principles and Ethics and to stop using the media as a tool to instigate more violence.

We urge all the Burmese media to stand on the truth, to work according to media ethics and to promote peace in Burma which can ultimately lead to a peaceful and developed Burma.

Muhammad Noor

Managing Director

RVision

Ihsanoglu said Syria, Palestine and Rakhine Muslims issues and the developments in Mali would be discussed at the OIC summit that will be held in Cairo, capital of Egypt on February 6-7. 

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), said new approaches to Islama-phobia should be determined.

In a written statement Ihsanoglu said Syria, Palestine and Rakhine Muslims issues and the developments in Mali would be discussed at the OIC summit that will be held in Cairo, capital of Egypt on February 6-7. He added new approaches to Islama-phobia should be determined at the summit.

He said all the members would attend the summit.

Ihsanoglu said the efforts on stopping the ethnic cleansing in Myanmar continues and he would pay a formal visit to Myanmar ahead of the summit.

The OIC summit could not be held for the last two years due to the developments in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Ihsanoglu said artifacts of the Islamic civilization were getting lost due to the recent events in the Islamic world.

He said the OIC would hold a conference on the protection of those artifacts in Cairo on January 31.

Ihsanoglu said several artifacts especially in Mali, Syria, Tunus and Iraq were looted. He said they would also discuss the protection of the artifacts belonging to Islamic and Christian civilization in Israel. He said artifacts face big threats in Jerusalem.

January 21, 2013

Saudi Arabia yesterday announced a contribution of $ 1.88 million toward UNHCR’s humanitarian program in Myanmar providing shelter to Rohingyas in Rakhine state.

A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed by Yousef Al-Bassam of the Saudi Fund for Development and Imran Riza, UNHCR’s regional representative in Riyadh.

The contribution will enable the UNHCR to provide temporary and permanent shelters for around 75,000 displaced people. 

After signing the agreement, Riza highlighted the importance of such assistance in terms of value, timing and significance in improving the living conditions of many of displaced people in Rakhine state.

On behalf of High Commissioner Antonio Guterres, Riza expressed his highest appreciation and deep gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, for this generous contribution which clearly reflects the Saudi leadership's response to humanitarian crises.

The partnership with the Saudi Find for Development involves collaboration with Pakistan in terms of providing permanent shelters to the displaced people.

Tehran Times

January 20, 2013

TEHRAN – Iranian MP Esmaeil Haqiqatpour, who recently visited Myanmar with a number of other Iranian officials to assess the situation of ethnic Rohingya Muslims, said on Sunday that Muslims in Myanmar are experiencing poor conditions. 

Speaking during a press conference in Tehran, Haqiqatpour said that the Muslims they met there were in need of financial assistance. 

The camps allocated to Muslims lack basic amenities, he added. 

The Iranian delegation which recently visited Myanmar delivered Iran’s first aid cargo to Rohingya Muslims. 

Iran seeking to establish embassy in Myanmar 

MP Hossein Naqavi-Hosseini announced on Sunday that the Iranian Foreign Ministry has taken certain measures to establish an embassy in Myanmar. 

“The government of Myanmar is studying Iran’s proposal, and the ground for the establishment of an embassy in the country has been prepared. And of course the Thai government made great contributions in this regard,” Naqavi-Hosseini, who is the rapporteur of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told the Persian service of the Mehr News Agency. 

According to Press TV, hundreds of Rohingyas are believed to have been killed and thousands displaced in recent attacks by Buddhist extremists. 

Buddhist extremists frequently attack Rohingyas and have set fire to their homes in several villages in Rakhine. Myanmar Army forces allegedly provided the extremist Buddhists containers of petrol for torching the houses of Muslim villagers, who are then forced to flee. 

Myanmar’s government has been accused of failing to protect the Muslim minority.

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has also come under fire for her stance on the violence. The Nobel Peace laureate has refused to censure the Myanmarese military for its persecution of the Rohingyas. 

Rohingyas are said to be Muslim descendants of Persian, Turkish, Bengali, and Pathan origin, who migrated to Myanmar as early as the 8th century. 

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have issued separate statements, calling on Myanmar to take action to protect the Rohingya Muslim population against extremist Buddhists.

CURRENT SITUATION INSIDE ARAKAN

Myanmar’s (Burma’s) Western State of Arakan (Rakhine) is again burning. In Mrauk-U, the former capital of the independent kingdom of Arakan, hundreds of young Rakhine Buddhist men were on the march: packed on the backs of pickups, on motorcycles, on trishaws, tuk-tuks and bicycles, but mostly on foot.

They carried spears, swords, cleavers, bamboo staves, slingshots, crossbows and the occasional petrol bomb. Their target: the unarmed Rohingya Muslims. As the Economist (dated Nov. 3, 2012) of the UK noted, one Buddhist terrorist tugged at an imaginary beard and made a grisly throat-cutting gesture.

Sadly, Mrauk-U is not the only town where Rohingya Muslims are facing a genocidal campaign at the hands of Rakhine terrorists. From the reports collected inside Myanmar, there is little doubt that the Rakhine Buddhist terrorists, aided by local and central government politicians, police and security forces, are carrying out a pre-meditated genocidal campaign to exterminate and drive out every Rohingya of Burma (Myanmar). So atrocious and criminal this campaign is even the president of Myanmar, who had previously tried to hide such targeted violence, had to admit on Friday, October 26 (as reported in the pro-government newspaper the New Light of Myanmar) that eight mosques (Muslim houses of worship) and 2,000 of Rohingya homes were torched to completely destroy these. His spokesman told the BBC this weekend that "there have been incidents of whole villages and parts of the towns being burnt down in Rakhine state." The actual facts and figures, however, are much worse!

Read more by downloading the PDF on Scribd

Genocide of the Rohingya of Myanmar in 2012 By Dr. Habib Siddqui

Qutub Shah 

RB News 

January 20, 2013 

(Edited by Mayu Thitsar)

Pauktaw: Yesterday, the chief minister of Rakhine State, Hla Maung Tin, went to Dumfara village, Pauktaw Township, where about 8000 Rohingya refugees live. The chief minister said, “All of you must go back to your own homes.” The refugees replied, “Unless our houses are rebuilt and enough security forces are provided, we will not go back there because Rakhines will terrorize us again.” Then the chief minister said, “We cannot rebuild your houses as we don’t have any plan to do.” It sounds that Myanmar government wants to materialize the pre-hatched plan of Thein Sein as he said. “We will keep them as refugees in camps.”

Min Bya: Yesterday, due to the scarcity of medical treatment, adequate food and sufficient shelter a Rohingya, Ali Hussein s/o Basheer Ahmed, 48, from Paik Myaung village tract, Min Bya Township, who was very lethally injured by Rakhines in previous attacks died.

The inhumane security forces from battalion 378 have been tyrannizing over the last Rohingyas from both Min Bya and Mrauk-U Townships, who live nowadays in straitened circumstances, by utilizing various modus operandi. Since June, they have been prevented strictly from moving locally from one village to another. Surprisingly, since yesterday, the security forces began to permit orally to go to neighboring villages snatching 1,000 Kyats from each. In every township, Rohingyas are prevented from moving place to place. They are not allowed to do any agricultural work nor other business activities freely. Subsequently, they suffer from several difficulties. They used to buy their daily needs from some Rakhines secretly. But nowadays Rakhine community leaders and fake monks announce in public especially in Kyauktaw and Sittwe not to sell anything to Rohingya.

Some Rakhines robbed one buffalo from Rustum s/o Mohammed Kasim and two cows from Hamid Huson s/o Amiruddin in Sin Kyi Pyin village, Min Bya Township on January 18, at 9am. Similarly also in Paung Se village, Rakhines robbed four cows from Jamal s/o Mohammed Shafi. Those crimes were committed by Rakhines in the presence of security forces but no action has been taken against the criminals as some percentages of robberies go to their pockets.

Maungdaw: Yesterday at 01:45pm, Nasaka from region 7 entered Thanda village, Zawmatat village tract wearing local Muslim woman and cleric dress [Burqa and Kurta] and arrested two men namely, Amir Hamza s/o Zawlaludin, 50, and Rohimullah s/o Islam, 34, from a coffee shop for no reason. Most of customers were wounded while trying to flee this unexpected and horrific situation. Now the two arrestees are detained at Nasaka lock-up. It is expected that they will be released after extorting money as usual.

Buthidaung: On January 17, the Nasaka from Region 9, Buthidaung extorted 550,000 Kyats from Shafi Ullah s/o Hason from Kaytufara, Thein Taung Pyin, Buthidaung, accusing falsely that he caused problems between people of the village and made quarrel with each other.

Min Thein 

RB News 

Recently, we have interviewed Ko Tun Khin, President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation in UK (BROUK), regarding Arakan conflict. 

Ko Tun Khin @ Ziaul Ghaffar was born in Buthidaung Township of Arakan State and did his basic education in Sittwe. He is currently perusing his PhD in civil Engineering in London Southbank University. 

He was one of the founding members of BROUK and leading the organisation since 2005 as a president. During his seven year journey through BROUK, he brought up human rights concerns of Rohingya to the British parliament, European Union, US States Department and Senate, UN Indigenous Forum in New York and UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. 

Regarding Arakan conflict, Ko Tun Khin has contributed few articles in Independent newspaper of Britain and also gave interview to CNN, BBC, and Al Jazeera. 

He is one of the leading activists not only highlighting the plight of Rohingya but also suffering of whole Burma to the outside world. 

Those who understand his view on Arakan, his love and sincerity to the people of Arakan and Burma will clearly demonstrate how the false claims, baseless accusation and arrogant nature of some leading Rakhines nationalist. They are creating misery not only for Arakan, but also for the whole Burma. While the world (and also the ASEAN) is marching towards globalisation, unfortunately Rakhine nationalist are heading for opposite direction and pushing Arakan, the second poorest state of Burma, to further impoverishment. 

Let us see how Rohingyas leaders hold positive thinking and commitment for the development of Arakan, where they lived for generations through in this interview with Ko Tun Khin. 

Min Thein (Question 1): During Arakan conflict, several Rohingya and Kaman Muslims were killed and also lost their businesses and homes. The atrocities committed by Rakhine extremist and local security forces are still continuing. Those Rohingyas in the refugee camps are facing shortage of foods, shelter and also suffering from communicable diseases. As a Rohingya leader, how would you like to appeal Burmese government and the International community? 

Tun Khin (Answer 1): Arakan conflict is well planned by RNDP party organizing extremist Rakhine Buddhist through paranoid ambitions, false targets and unrealistic incentives. Observers can clearly figure out the identical nature of objective and modus operandi of RNDP party to those of Hitler’s Nazi party in Germany. RNDP’s planning are currently carried out by collaboration of (Rakhine) State Government, local authorities, security forces and some ministers from Central Government. This collaboration can be easily seen and voiced out by not only Rohingyas but also International NGOs and Government representatives in the field with solid evidence. I believe that President U Thein Sein is well aware of this truth. 

During Arakan conflict, 90% those in desperate need of assistance are Muslims. 80% those detained by the State Government on allegation of creating conflict are also Muslims. In reality, RNDP is the one obliterating food and security to Muslim refugees. RNDP is continuously campaigning to strangulate business, work and education of Muslims in areas where they have yet to create any clashes. This coward action of RNDP is blatantly ignored by the Rakhine State Government. President U Thein Sein should take necessary action against these trouble makers who tarnish the image of not only the President but also the whole Burmese population in International arena. 

We made an appeal to the United Nations, EU and International community to send UN peace keeping force if Burmese Government fail to protect further escalation of atrocities on Rohingyas. This is because we have received information that RNDP chairman Dr Aye Maung is planning 3rd attempt to instigate riot. In the first riot in June 2012, Rohingya and Kaman lost home, businesses and lives. Rakhines also suffered to some extent. Instead of protecting Muslims, the government gave inconsistent and false allegation towards Muslims. After four months, there was a second rather well planned riot and Muslims suffered extensively. Until today there is no reliable security for Muslims provided by Burmese government. 

Apart from UN Peace keeping force; we have also urged the international Community to form an Independent Commission to investigate this conflict. We need to bring to the justice for those culprits who instigate this conflict. Otherwise we will see an ugly page on the history of 21st century where one small ethnicity is wiped out just because of their religious belief. It is not only the shame for the culprits but also a dark page for the Burmese leaders and International community for failing to protect an oppressed group of people. 

Min Thein (Question 2): The word Rohingya has never been in the Burmese history. Rakhine extremist alleged that there is a big agenda behind this word. How would you like to say about this allegation? 

Tun Khin (Answer 2): I would like to say that someone is either very poor of historical knowledge or terribly racist if he claims he never heard of the word Rohingya. I do not want to say more on this historical dimension. But since when those who call themselves Rakhine adopted the name Rakhine? Before that what was their name? Rakhines have demonstrated that an ethic can choose a name according to their preference. While obliterating the right of sister community to adopt the name of their preference, Rakhines are alleging Bhamas (Burmese main ethnic group) to be chauvinists. Rakhine are claiming them as special race. 

It is true that majority of Burmese are strange about the term Rohingya. The reason behind is that successive Burmese military regimes have been obliterating Rohingyas to reach out other Burmese. Rohingyas were not given a chance to explain about their history and culture. Overall illiteracy, lack of general knowledge, lack of female education, lack of harmony with other sister communities etc.. all are as a result of discriminatory policies imposed on Rohingyas for decades. Rohingya development efforts (in education, health and business) are still hampered by the government. Rohingyas’ demand for human rights at par with other citizens of Burma is just to develop the community. It is not to have a separate state as alleged by RNDP chairman Dr Aye Maung. Rohingyas were loyally participated on nation building during the period of Arakanese Kings, during colonial period and also during post independent democratic Burma. We, Rohingya today only have one ambition that is to participate in development of own community as well as for the nation building with our qualification and workforce. 

Today this civilized world has learned from strength and weakness from the past, unwrapping barriers and boundaries to march towards unified globalised, developed peaceful world with less conflicts. If someone comes with an idea of separation tiny bit of land form the map, he may be seen as an insane person. We will never accept or support such a crazy idea. 

Min Thein (Question 3): Finally in your opinion, do you think what reforms measures required to restore trust, peace and security among different ethnic groups in Rakhine state? 

Tun Khin (Answer 3): In Arakan conflict, not all Rakhines were involved. We can generally say there are two types Rakhine Buddhist. 

The first group is those who are willing to separate Rakhine State from Burma to establish “Father Rakhine State”. This group is made up of only portion of the population led by political parties with some businessman and local authorities and their cronies. If the power is in hands of this group, the situation of Rakhine State will remain in misery. The state cannot go side by side with other people of Burma in nation building. They are branding themselves as a neo-Nazi style ultrapatriotic Rakhine people. 

The other group of Rakhine people are those who follow ideal teaching of Buddhism and willing to live in peace and harmony. Although majority, this group lacks power holders and businessman. This group is true representative of Rakhine people and culture. 

If we are looking for the enduring peace in Rakhine State, the peace loving group of Rakhine (the latter group) should be exposed to the larger Burmese population and international community. Central government also needs to expose the real culprits and give them due course of the law without fear or favour. I am quite confident that although Rohingya and other Muslims lost properties, businesses and lives, they are still willing to live side by side peace loving & trustworthy group of Rakhine people (except the group with ruthless trouble makers). 

I was born and brought up in Rakhine state and currently pursing higher education in overseas. I am still looking forwards to have a chance to contribute for the development of Rakhine State.