QS Madani 

RB News 

February 10, 2013

(Translated into English by Aye Aye Mar) 

After the violent crisis of Arakan State led by extremist Rakhine Buddhists in June, 2012, the innocent Rohingya Muslims young and old have been arrested and detained with wrong accusations. Among them, three Muslims who could afford to pay for their release of 15 Million Kyats (Myanmar Currency) have been released after some days of detainment. 

Voluntarily for the current detainees, those who are set free provided details to RB News regarding their experiences of brutal tortures and abuses which are practiced in Buthidaung Prison, Rakhine State, Myanmar. 

The report states from June, 2012 until present the Rohingya Muslim detainees of Buthidaung Prison have been tortured in some forms of life threatening, beating to death, and cruel methods of tortures and abuses by the Myanmar local security forces and the prison authorities. 

A large number of Rohingya Muslims who were not involved in the violent crisis of Rakhine State, June, 2012, have been arrested based on wrong accusations and detained and tortured in the following manners. 

1. The detainees are tightly tied up by ropes and forced to stay naked. 
2. In the process of bringing the detainees to the prison, their heads were pushed down and pressed down under the feet of the torturers. 
3. The prisoners are forced to stay naked for a long period and in need of bath, they are forced to go naked and prisoner guards bring them back in the same manners in group. 
4. In the process of walking, or keeping the prisoners in the prison, their genitals are beaten or touched by fellow prisoners and tied by ropes until their organs become swollen. 
5. The prisoner guards push down the heads of the prisoners and sit on their backs and hit their heads with hammers. In some forms of tortures, Rakhine prisoners are brought to hit the limbs of the detainees with sticks, hammers and chains. 
6. The limbs, ears and noses of the prisoners are cut off and beat up the victims until severe bruises appear on their heads. 
7. The blows are carried out against especially the main body parts including the abdomens, chest s, hearts and brains until the internal injuries occur. 
8. The prisoner staff and the Rakhine prisoners prick the strands of beard and moustache of the prisoners in pain and make them prick the hair of their body parts. 
9. The limbs of the victims are burnt with burning charcoals; the genitals are heated with electric shocks and poured with hot water. 
10. The prisoners are made starved over a long period of time; not allowed to take a bath but when allowed, only with inadequate amount of water and the victims have access to a very inadequate amount of drinking water with limited time. 
11. In the prison, the prisoners are prevented from sleeping. A measure used to achieve includes being beaten up almost to death which leads to breakdown of nervous system and to other serious physical and psychological damage. 
12. The prisoners are not allowed to pray or to observe the Sabbath. 
13. The heavy ploughs are placed on the necks and the shoulders of the prisoners and made them walk in this manner. 
14. The prisoners are forced to crawl and the prison authorities take rides on their backs for fun. 
15. The prisoners are forced to walk on the nail-spiked pranks and burning charcoals. 
16. The prisoners are forced to lie and heavy weights are placed on their chests. 
17. Scissors, needles, knives and nails are used to peel off the skin of the victims without mercy. In some cases, tongues and eyes are painfully pierced. 
18. As the results of brutally being beaten up, the prisoners make urine and increment. In that case, the victim is made to eat his increment by beating forced. 
19. Red ants are placed on the bodies of the prisoners and made to bite the victims. 
20. Rice and curries are placed on the bodies of the prisoners and astrayed dogs are brought to eat the foods and make them bite the detainees. 
21. In the process of bringing the detainees to the court, the young or the old are tightly tied up and often beaten up at the court. 
22. The prison guards use the curse words to call the prisoners “animals”, “Kular cows” etc. and give the gestures to them as to the animals. 
23. Inside or outside the prison, the prisoners being tied up tightly around the necks, waists and limbs, the parts of their bodies are brutally hit. 
24. The prisoners are denied to receive the medical access when they are ill. 
25. The prisoners are prohibited from meeting their relatives and accepting medicines, foods, cash and clothes. 
26. The prisoners are raped by force and made to swallow the sperm into their mouths. 
27. The same manners of tortures and abuses are applied to the disabled, those whose hands and legs are broken, the deaf, the young and the old prisoners.
28. The prison torturers insult the religion, ”Islam” by stating,”You said, Your God is Great. Now, call your God to save you.” 
29. In addition to these cruel methods of tortures, many lives have been lost by some forms of abuses. The corpses of those who were tortured to death are not handed over to the families. No information is provided on this matter and it is not allowed to bury the dead prisoners in Islamic ways. 

Innocent Rohingya Muslims are arrested without evidences and with the false witness of Rakhines, there have been unlimited numbers of prisoners who are sentenced for long term imprisonment.There are a very few people who are set free by paying a large sum of money. 

The majority of the prisoners lack of money to pay for their escape from prison and have been suffering in the aforementioned brutal methods of tortures and abuses.There have been many people who have escaped into the foreign countries for the fear of the arrests and brutal tortures in the prison of Buthidaung, Rakhine State, Myanmar.

Jack Lee

Alders Ledge

February 9, 2013

In the darkest of hours a voice cries out from the scorched earth of the Arakan. Desperation has left a scar upon it that shapes it, molds it into the familiar tone of those who came before it. Hunger muffles its plea. Tears flow over its words as they fall over its breath like rain.

"Take me back to the killing fields", it pleads. "To where I can imagine life as it was when we did not bleed. Take me back to the world where rice grew in the fields and fish swam in the sea. Take me to time before the blade and bullet came for me. 

"Take me there where I can rest in the warmth of the setting sun. Take me there where I once stood beneath the shade of tall old trees. Let me see my home once more. Let me hear the sound of my children play just one last time.

"Take back to a time when the rats didn't eat better than me. Take me back to that place where the buzzards didn't hover and wait for me to lay down and die. Let me know once more what it was like to live beyond death's shadow.

"Take me back to a time when my brothers and sisters were not memories. Take me back to that time before they were taken from me. Take me back to when I could remember their faces, their voices, their touch. Take me back to that place where we use to gather as one... where my family once felt like more than ancient history."

History has a way of repeating itself. It is a cruel yet dedicated teacher that will not relent. It attempts to show us where we have failed as a species. With its painful repetition it offers us chance after chance to learn from our mistakes. No amount of blood or misery will satisfy it. No amount of suffering can abate its curriculum or spare us our failures in learning from it. 

The cry that comes out of the depths of Burma's most oppressed community are those same cries that echo throughout history. It is a plea for humanity that was lost upon the killing fields of Cambodia. It is a cry that was silenced by the jackboots during the Holocaust. It is a scream that was brutally crushed by the Young Turks as the Armenians were marched off to their deaths. And yet the same cry for help comes out of Burma once more. It calls upon the rest of mankind to step up and fulfill the promises we made after defeating the fascist in World War Two. It begs us to not forget those two words once again... never again.

"Take me back to the killing fields," it rasp voice screams. "But not as they are or as they will soon be. Take me back to the fields as they were before. With grass grown up and the crops swaying in the breeze. Let me loose there where I was once free. Let me live upon that soil once more where my ancestors once called home. 

"Do not take me away from here to live in exile. Do not tell me to take to the sea when there is nowhere left to run. Do not pray for my safety in those little boats. Do not hope for the best while my brothers and sisters drown beneath those unforgiving waves. 

"Take me back to the villages I once called home. Take me back to the streets I walked as a young man. Take me back to the mosque in which I once prayed. Let me live in peace as I did in those days before the fires, the fights, the mobs. 

"Do not let hunger do to me what the mobs could not. Do not let my ribs break the flesh as I rot in the camps. Do not let me live like a skeleton draped in flesh. Please do not rob me of my dignity. 

"Take me back to a place where I did not pray for crumbs. Take me back to a time when I did not pick through the weeds for dropped or discarded grains. Take me back to a time when I was not considered less than a dog that I might eat like a man and not scavenge through waste. Take me there so that I might live free... free of hunger... free of fear."

It has been said that those who do not learn from history are damned to repeat it. With Syria, Darfur, the Congo, and Burma we are living through it once more. There are more genocide occurring right now than were occurring at the time of the Holocaust. The number of dead might not be as high as that of what Hitler, Stalin, or Mao killed in their horrific deeds, but the crime is the same none the less.

For those in the West these crimes are treated as anomalies, as oddities that occur in distant lands. We tend to think of genocide as a crime against humanity that we ourselves could never suffer. Americans in particular picture genocide as a thing from which we rescue others.

History has a way of remedying that.

When the Nazis came for the communists,

I remained silent;

I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,

I remained silent;

I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,

I did not speak out;

I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,

I remained silent;

I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,

there was no one left to speak out.We never think these things can come home to where we live. We dream of them as perverse sins that stay put in the history books where they belong. And even for those who acknowledge their existence in our time, we often distance ourselves through the hope that we ourselves could never become their victims.

But how long can societies last when they do not face the sins of their fathers? How long can we keep going if we do not recall the crimes that taint our own past? And if we never learn from our own mistakes than how do we ever prevent them from happening again?

There is not a single European nation that can stand before the world and say that it has never once participated or practiced genocide. America and Canada were built upon the genocide of the native peoples that once inhabited these lands. And yet the history of our forefathers' sins is vastly ignored by the masses that now inhabit these great countries.

It is only upon looking at how, why, and when we committed genocide that we realize the warning signs that came with those crimes. Once identified and taught a society can be prepared to prevent those same crimes from occurring once again. 

In the West we learned our lessons from the Holocaust. We had to repeat genocide after genocide till it climaxed in the slaughter of millions of innocent victims. But we did learn the warning signs.

So why are we ignoring those very sings when they pertain to Burma? Or Syria? Or Darfur?

Perhaps it is just my paranoia, perhaps it is my own view of history that creates it...

But how long before the next government leaning toward ethnic cleansing realizes just how relaxed the world is on the issue and topples over into genocide? After all, all you need to do is look around and watch as country after country funds genocide after genocide without even a second thought. Morality, ethics... they both seem lost now days as world leaders pander to genocidal regimes to make a quick buck.

How long before a government of a developed nation starts to flirt with the idea of ridding themselves of "undesirables"?

Once again, my history with genocide might lend to my perceived paranoia of it, yet the question remains to be answered. History has a way of repeating itself. History has a way of forcing us to deal with an issue that we so desperately try to ignore. Genocide is just another portion of our history that we can not escape.

As long as we continue to ignore the cries echoing out of Burma we assure ourselves that we will have to face this sin once again. It is a crime that knows no borders. It is a crime that knows no boundaries. Genocide does not regard anything as sacred. It does not respect any given religion. It does not look up to any race or down upon any given level of degradation. And as long as we continue to ignore it in Burma, Syria, Darfur, and the Congo we assure ourselves that we will never truly be able to honestly say those two words... never again.

QS Madani

RB News 

February 8, 2013 

Maungdaw: On February 3, in Tha Win Chaung (Bassara) village, Southern Maungdaw Township, a Rohingya fishing boat in the coastal water was attacked by a ship of Rakhine pirates and smugglers coming from Taunggup Township going to Bangladesh. They attacked the rickety boat where six Rohingyas were fishing with fishing net. They sank the boat and killed there fishermen out of six. The rest three could escape by jumping into the water but were half-dead. 

The three dead are: 

(1) Shab Miah s/o Ali Ahmed (26 years old) 

(2) Nur Islam s/o Fazal Ahmed (28 years old) 

(3) Sirazul Haque s/o Kasim (23 years old) 

The alive three are: 

(1) Nur Husin s/o Fedan Ali (50 years old) 

(2) Zahid Husin s/o Ali Ahmed (30 years old) 

(3) Hashim Ullah s/o Habi (27 years old) 

All the victims are from Tha Win Chaung (Bassara) village. When the incident was reported to the Nasaka camp of Bassara, the Nasaka told, “What’s wrong if Kalar were killed? It is pleasure to hear.” and fined them money instead. 

Desperate Future of Kyauktaw 

Kyauktaw: Extremist Rakhines keep trying to terrorize the downtrodden Rohingyas furtively. On February 3, at 11pm, many Rakhines from both Paik Thay village tract and Taung Boun village tract, Kyauktaw Township have gathered in the railway which lies near the Zaillafara village tract for attacking Rohingyas afresh. Fortunately, they couldn’t implement their plan as Rohingya community leaders had alerted the Muslims to possible attacks. Being desperate of a secure future there, people from Kyauktaw flee incessantly as the Rakhines tries to attack afresh from time to time. As a result, on February 4, about 250 Rohingyas have left Kyauktaw for an uncertain destination. Let’s see whether they will mortgage their lives to the waves of Bay of Bengal to escape Buddhist aggressions or destiny will lead them to the better.

Atapoom Ongkulna & Narong Nuansakul

House Standing Committee on State Security chairman Weng Tojirakan yesterday discussed the Rohingya migrant issue and recommended talks with Myanmar to repatriate them or contact the United Nations to find a third country to take them in. National Human Rights Commission's head of violation inspection division, Kesarin Tiangsakul, said it found many women and children among the Rohingya migrants who aimed to work in Malaysia and Indonesia, using Thailand as a transit point.

After they were arrested - and Thai law could detain them for six months - the government had to find a solution to the problem because these people couldn't be repatriated elsewhere. It also had to provide them with care on a humanitarian basis, Kesarin said.

Kesarin said Songkhla's Immigration Police Bureau only had a meal budget of Bt45 per detainee per day, or Bt15 per meal, and they had to depend on kind-hearted donors.

Pol Lt Col Paisit Sangkhahapong, an expert at the Department of Special Investigation’s anti-human trafficking centre, said DSI investigation initially found most Rohingya people were willing to migrate while there were Thais and foreigners involved in smuggling them into the Kingdom. These smugglers then applied deception, force and took advantage of the refugees.

Paisit suggested that the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs should negotiate with Myanmar to take these people back, or talk with the UN and UNHCR to send them back to their origin or to a third country.

In Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok district, the combined security force yesterday raided six locations suspected of housing Rohingya migrants and arrested six suspects at one location. They were a roti shop owner identified only as Nurusalam, 55, and five other Rohingya and Myanmar people.

The six locations were allegedly run by a Rohingya trade network led by Yusuf Ali who reportedly bought the Rohingya from agencies in Ranong.

M.S. Anwar 

RB Article

February 7, 2012 

Anyone with right sense knows that there has been a GENOCIDE of Rohingyas and Kamans going on in Arakan, Burma for eight months now. It has also time and again proven that the genocide is sponsored by the central government of Myanmar and cooperated by the Rakhine extremists (Maghs) in Arakan. Naturally, these helpless people are crying out to the world in the midst the grave injustices and atrocities being carried out against them. Instead of sympathizing them on the ground of humanity, the ignorant, uneducated and selfish ultranationalists and chauvinists in Burmese society brutally and illogically insist that Rohingyas and Kamans should leave Arakan if they can't bear up the condition. 

Now, they are the two friendless communities in Burma and the international are not doing enough to save these people from being exterminated. The constant outcries of Rohingyas and Kamans are falling into deaf ears because of the hypocrisy in the world today dominated by the self-centered capitalists who know that they cannot benefit anything from these dying people. Rohingya community have been a figure of hatred and constant persecutions for decades on account of their different ethnic origin and religion. Rohingya community is the only ethnic people of Indian Origin among the predominantly ethnic people of Tibeto-Burman Origin. Rohingyas are descendants of Indigenous Proto-Australoid Negritos and Indo-Aryan Stock of Arakan, who came to racially mix with other people (settled later) and converted into Islam starting from 788 CE. Though these Negritos and Indo-Aryans were the followers of Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism and Animism, they never were Tibeto-Burman people as Rakhines (Maghs) are today. 

A Mongolian Invasion into Arakan occurred in 957 CE and they overthrew the Indian Kingdom of the time, the Hindu Chandra Dynasty. A new civilization took place and from the inter-marriages with the aboriginal Indo-Aryans, an Indo-Mongoloid race formed. Therefore, these invading Mongolians and Indo-Mongoloid people are the founding fathers of Rakhine race today, who later came to mix with other invading Burman people. Despite Rohingyas are the descendants of these aboriginal people, they are being branded as illegal Bengali immigrants on account of their religion. However, it is bound to explain that Rohingyas and Bengalis are not the same race but two different races of the same origin. But only the Fascists and Neo-Nazis such as many people in Burma think of the purity of their race, religion and country. For the rest, only humanism matters! 

Therefore, it is absurdity, delusion and brutality of those fascists who are openly demanding Rohingyas to leave Burma on top of committing continuos heinous crimes against them just because they (Rohingyas) are different to them. For them, only the same or the similar people to them can be citizens of Burma. So, what will you call them? I will just call them SHAMELESS FASCISTS. Below is a typical racist and fascist Rakhine (Magh)'s view on Rohingyas. It is a view of a bigot who calls himself as an intellectual. 

"That's our ancestral land. We cannot share that land with any ALIEN immigrants. I am not anti-Muslim or Islam but people are afraid now. The country or state has responsibility to protect BUDDHISM and the welfare of the people. 

(Upon being asked why he would do with 800,000 Rohingyas or more) That's very difficult question and very complicated problem. I know every body has human rights. Human Rights is there. They must have human rights. But sometimes, we have to realize that constitution and national sovereignty clash with human rights. 

By Dr. Aye Chan, co-writer of Influx Viruses: Illegal Muslims in Arakan, Kanda University Japan (Extracted from Al Jazeera Investigates- The Hidden Genocide)

Following points are to be noted:

1. Are Rohingyas ALIENS? If so, what's the definition of Alien?
2. Is Myanmar only responsible to protect only BUDDHISM? What about Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism etc in the country?
3. Welfare of the people? Which people? Are they those people who are followers of Buddhism and of Tibeto-Burman origin? 
4. Human Rights is there and sometimes, we have to realize that constitution and national sovereignty clash with human rights? What kinds of constitution and national sovereignty are they if they are not founded on or do not value Human Rights so much so that they need to clash with human rights? 

Dr. Aye Chan is a someone who is called an intellectual and historian among Rakhine community. If the scholars shamelessly lie and arbitrarily behave, what about the general illiterate Rakhines (Maghs)? The shocking truth is that his father was from Barua community from Bangladesh, who settled in Arakan in 1950s and once participated in Rohingya cultural festivals in Buthidaung. Baruas and Rohingyas are similar in physical appearances and also culturally and linguistically similar. Indeed, these bigots are shameless. May be being shameless is the second nature of the bigots. 

(Now, the world has already known the truth. The world knows who Rohingyas and Kamans are. Yet, they are not coming forward to solve their root problems because they don't fit into their self-interests. If Rohingyas want to survive, they must learn how to struggle to survive like any other persecuted people in the world in the history and now.) 

M.S. ANWAR is an activist and student in Malaysia. The writings, here, are of his own and do not reflect the editorial policy of RB.

(Photo - YATEEM TV)

Maung Maung 

RB News 

February 7, 2013

(Translated into English by Anwar Arkani) 

The Rohingya was recognized as one of the ethnic groups during parliamentary democracy government in post independent Burma since 1948. As they were on equal footing with other ethnic groups, Rohingyas served the country by holding public services in various government sectors. 

After the coup d’état in 1962, General Ne Win, one of the world’s most notorious dictators, ended the radio broadcasting service in Rohingya language from the National Radio Broadcasting Services of Burma in 1965 as his first step to segregate the Rohingya. Then he attempted to drive out the Rohingyas from their native land by using the Dragon Operation in 1978. The dictator was not successful in carrying out his prejudice plan. Then he enacted the 1982 Citizenship Law as a subsequent plan that has rendered the Rohingyas as stateless. 

Even in Constituent Assembly of 1947 under General Aung San Rohingyas were elected as members in the assembly. Ironically, Rohingya lost their voting and contestant rights after 1982. However, after the military crackdown on the nationwide uprising in 1988 SLORC [State Law and Order Restoration Council] was formed, and under their rules Rohingyas regained their lost rights as voters and contenders. Nonetheless, in 1990, General Khin Nyunt, the then intelligent chief, re-implemented the discriminatory policies against Rohingya which was initiated by General Ne Win. He formed NaSaKa (Border Security Force) to systematically persecute the Rohingya with a long term plan. 

Now Myanmar is being ruled by a so called democratic government representing the people. But the government uses Rohingya as scapegoat to divert public anger for various problems caused by its mismanagement and corruption. Although Rohingya and Rakhine live together peacefully in Arakan for decades, they became enemies. The core reason behind is none other than a premeditated plan of some Rakhine extremists and racist government to exterminate Rohingya. 

The collaboration of Rakhine extremists and the government has become crystal clear. The core motive is to drive out the Rohingyas from their ancestral land where they live for centuries and replace them with the Buddhists from Bangladesh. A few days ago, the Rakhine state government told to the media in no uncertain terms that the Buddhists who fled from Bangladesh to Rakhine state are permitted to be resettled in Maungdaw and they will be provided 2 acres of paddy field and the houses. That proves that core motive. 

Although Bangladesh is a Muslim majority country, the Buddhists living there have equal rights and it is known to the world that, unlike in Burma, there is no religious persecution in Bangladesh. No country provides shelter or asylum for a people if there is no persecution against them in their native land. Why then Myanmar is recruiting and bringing the Buddhists from Bangladesh to resettle in Arakan on Rohingyas’ land while pushing out hundreds of thousands of native of Burma who are non-Buddhists? The motive seems to be obvious. 

Now Rohingyas are leaving for Thailand or Malaysia using sea journey. As they could not bear seamless persecution in their native land, Rohingyas are in search of a better place where they can live a peaceful life. Although there is no guarantee that they will find a place to live peacefully, old and young alike are willing to take the risk with the hope that one day they will find a place to live peacefully. While Rohingyas are not allowed to leave their villages, who arrange the journey? The NaSaKa personals are arranging the boats for them. As some military officers from Thailand involve in human trafficking, the NaSaKa and village administrations also involve in trafficking of Rohingyas. 

Recently RB News contacted some Rohingyas in Arakan. A Rohingya from Mrauk-U said that the Rakhine extremists from Minbuu village always shout by saying, “Here is no place for you guys. We will send you third countries.” 

“Rakhine Patriotic Network led by Daw Khin Mar Cho warned the Myaung Bwe hospital authorities not to provide any kind of treatment to any Muslim” a resident of Mrauk-U told to RB News. In addition, that Rakhine Patriotic Network threatened that they will set fire to Paung Tote Rohingya village on February 8, 2013. 

A Rohingya from Thayak Oak village, Min Bya Towship told RB News that “Pan Myaung Rakhine village is nearby our village. Every night they fire home-made guns as if it is a warning sign that they will attack us.” 

Don’t the authorities know all these? They know everything and let it loose. The government is neglecting all these because it is their plan and being carried out in collaboration with Rakhine extremists. 

“Today four boats left from here. All boats were arranged by NaSaKa. The boat-people were also recruited by NaSaKa. There are about 500 people in four boats. We came to know that they are intending to go to Malaysia. NaSaKa arranged the boats, people and took the money. They are earning the money and at the same time driving us out from our country—killing two birds with one stone,” said a Rohingya villager from Ohn Taw Lay village of Sittwe Towship.

QS Madani

RB News 

February 7, 2013 

Maungdaw: On February 1, at around 9pm, Captain Wai Phyo Thet, head of Nasaka sub camp no. (24), Region 4, located in Kyain Chaung (Bawli Bazar), guarded by Inspector Aung Than Kyaw and other Nasaka personnel, raided the house of Abu Tayub s/o Yunus (34 years old) hailed from Kyain Chaung (Bawli Bazar), under pretext of criminal investigation while they were really lusting to extort money on a fabricated or alleged charge. Though they tried to enter the house and arrest Abu Tayub, they failed and returned empty handed. However, he on the following day, had to pay them 650,000 Kyats in order to escape from any further undesired move by the authority. 

Min Bya: On February 3, a young boy named Mohammed Kareem s/o Mohammed Taher from Sangreeboung village tract, Min Bya Township, went hunting to the nearby mountain. The xenophobic Rakhine terrorists, meeting him here, beat him so vehemently that he was seriously wounded in head. 

Mrauk-U: On February 3, owing to the shortage of foods, medicines and shelter, two Rohingya men, Abdul Gaffar s/o Abdul Jabber, 27 and Mohammed Khan s/o Kala Ali, 20, both from Reedafara village, Mrauk-U, had passed away. 

Kyauktaw: There is a mountain in Nairaing village tract, Kyauktaw Township, where, according to eye-witness, many Rakhine mutineers have been staying secretly to traumatize the oppressed Rohingya and terrorize them. The Satan government, in spite of knowing that very well, does not take any action against them. It sounds that the government is internally opening up an opportunity for Rakhines to terrorize Rohingyas afresh. Consequently, many Rohingyas are getting ready to leave for neighboring villages.

AFP

February 7, 2013

YANGON — Medical aid agency Doctors Without Borders warned on Thursday of a "humanitarian emergency" in strife-hit western Myanmar with tens of thousands of people unable to access urgently needed medical care.

Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) said its teams on the ground in Rakhine State faced threats, hostility and accusations of a bias towards the Rohingya Muslim minority group.

Displaced people living in makeshift camps in Rakhine are cut off from healthcare, clean water and basic provisions, according to the humanitarian group, which has worked in the area for two decades.

"It is among people living in makeshift camps in rice fields or other crowded strips of land that Medecins Sans Frontieres is seeing the most acute medical needs," MSF general director Arjan Hehenkamp said in a statement.

"Ongoing insecurity and repeated threats and intimidation by a small but vocal group within the Rakhine community have severely impacted on our ability to deliver lifesaving medical care."

More than 100,000 people -- mostly Rohingya -- have been displaced and dozens killed since June 2012 in Rakhine in two major eruptions of violence between Buddhists and Muslims, mainly from the Rohingya minority.

Myanmar views its population of roughly 800,000 Rohingya as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and denies them citizenship.

Thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar in recent months on rickety boats, mostly believed to be heading for Malaysia.

MSF said some pregnant women faced giving birth in muddy camps without a doctor, while surveys have revealed alarming numbers of acutely malnourished children. Some of the displaced lack access to clean water.

"The only drinking water pond we have is the one which we have to share with the cattle of the nearby village. Five minutes from here is a pond with crystal clear water. We don't dare to go," MSF quoted one displaced man as saying.

Skin infections, worms, chronic coughing and diarrhoea are also common ailments.

MSF urged the Myanmar government and community leaders "to ensure that all people of Rakhine can live without fear of violence, abuse and harassment, and that humanitarian organisations can assist those most in need".

Amy Sawitta Lefevre

Reuters

February 7, 2013

QS Madani 

RB News 

February 6, 2013 

Maungdaw: On February 2, the officer-in-charge of SaRaPha in Inn Dinn (An Dang) tortured seriously and extorted 180,000 Kyats from 12 years old a Rohingya boy named Abdul Razak s/o Lal Mohammed from Inn Dinn village tract, instead of his father who was falsely accused by SaRaPha that he sends people to Malaysia. But the real human traffickers are ignored. 

On February 1, at 9:00pm, the commander of Nasaka region 5, Ngakura, Major Win Hlaing, accompanied by ten Nasaka personnel raided on two Rohingya houses in Ouck Pyuma (Hansar Bil) village and arbitrarily arrested Zakaria s/o Noor Ahmed, 52, and his nephew Mohammed Osman s/o Sayedul Amin, 21, under no commitment of any crime. And then the Nasaka looked for Mohammed Rafiq s/o Abdul who used to say in his father-in-law, Zakaria’s house. However as he was not found coincidently, they began destructively investigating everything in the home to find out any reason to justify their arrest and then later to extort the money. But it was in vain. Finally, the two victims were detained accusing Zakaria that his son-in-law stays in his house and Mohammed Osman has kept foreign mobile number in his pocket. They are still in Nasaka lock-up and it is hoped that money will be final solution as usual. 

On January 29, Nasaka from Kyauk Pando (Shita Furikka) camp of Nasaka region 8 extorted 250,000 Kyats from Kamal Hussein s/o Lal Mia, accusing him of going to Bangladesh illegally. The same day, extorted 250,000 Kyats from Abdul Amin s/o Nur Islam, accusing him of sending people to Malaysia. Hamidullah s/o Mohammed Salam was extorted 80,000 Kyats for sleeping a night at his Uncle’s house and 100,000 Kyat from Abdul Hakum s/o Yusuf without any reason. All the victims are from Kyauk Pando village. 

Buthidaung: On January 30, the police of Buthidaung Township extorted 300,000 Kyats from Habibullah s/o Sayedul Rahman hailed from Ywa Nyo Taung (Rohingya Daung) Buthidaung by false accusation of human trafficking to Malaysia. 

Min Bya: On January 31, two Rohingya from Lama Village (Limebawsar), went to the market that lies at Rakhine hamlet to buy some food items. The merciless Rakhines tortured them and robbed all the things that they bought and the money they had. Similarly, the next day four Rohingya from Muslim hamlet went to that Rakhine market and were also tortured and looted by Rakhines ogres.

Angeline Loh

Aliran

February 6, 2013

Far away from their homeland, the Rohingyas in Malaysia can only wring their hands in despair over the agonising hardships faced by their families at home, writes Angeline Loh. 

Jamal (not his real name) met me at a small roadside eatery after evening prayers. The weather was good, and sitting out in the open was much cooler and less crowded. 

I’ve known Jamal for some time now, since 2007 and interacted to some extent with his community on Penang Island. All these years, he very generously and trustingly allowed me access into the lives of his Rohingya community, the way their society operates and their struggle for survival. He is an excellent gatekeeper for his Rohingya community, being vigilant of their safety and always ensuring a principled and truthful approach to problems and issues affecting them. 

Despite his simple and hard life, Jamal is a respected leader in his community and is frequently consulted by other members for advice and opinions on specific issues affecting the Rohingya community in Penang and Malaysia. 

Yet, Jamal does not affect arrogance, despite the esteem he is held in by his community, and continues to emphasise the principles and tenets of Islam as the fundamental guideline to living a good Muslim life. He is a quiet-spoken person with a thoughtfully peaceful demeanour. 

Jamal has had his fair share of suffering having to flee for his life from his home in Maungdaw, Arakan, Myanmar, leaving wife, children and family behind nearly 20 years ago. His children have already reached adulthood but he has not had the pleasure of seeing them grow up or been closely involved in nurturing them to adulthood and passing on the values he holds dear. 

Conflict 

Anxiety for his loved ones and his community underpin most of his thoughts. There is little to laugh about, but he still manages to raise a smile or two at the irrationality of the whole situation or at the human antics that seem illogical in the circumstances. 

Like every society in the world, the Rohingya also have their internal politics. More often than not, Jamal tries his best to maintain a neutral stance, attempting in his own way to be fair and not hastily judgemental of others, whoever they may be. In his dialogues with me, he is often critical of his own community. It is in these instances that the deep anxiety he feels surfaces, for which neither of us can find any solution to. 

We have discussed many issues, and this evening, it was the events in Maungdaw, Arakan State in Myanmar (Burma). It began on Friday in Jamal’s own village near his home, where his wife and two of his children still live. His eldest child is married and gone away to Bangladesh with her husband. His wife had also gone to visit relatives, at that time, leaving his two other children at home. 

I asked Jamal what he knew of the current troubles in Maungdaw. He recounted whatever he could glean from phone calls to his relative still living there. As far as he knows, it stemmed from the attack on a group of Burmese Muslim missionaries. Apparently, a group of Rohingya had held a protest after Friday prayers outside the mosque and were fired upon by police. 

Two persons were injured and taken to the hospital which is near his home, but doctors refused to treat them unless a police report was made. A fight then, broke out and a doctor was beaten up. Jamal said that under the law (Act 144) assemblies of more than 100 persons are prohibited and there were a hundred or more people gathered at the protest. 

With the escalation of conflict and arson attacks on homes, shops and other buildings, a curfew was imposed on the whole area of Maungdaw that night but police and a Rakhine mob were seen still freely roaming about. Some of the mob wielded swords. 

Jamal’s children stayed indoors, but he said he was afraid that some of the mob might break into their home and harm them. He felt helpless from this distance to protect them. His wife was apparently still away; when she can safely return is unknown. 

On Saturday, 9 June, when the imposition of the curfew had not been lifted, a nine-year-old Rohingya girl, unaware of the curfew went out a few metres from her home to sell vegetables. She was allegedly shot dead by security forces and her body was taken away by them, and not returned to her family for burial. This was said to have happened in Maungdaw Quarter 2. There were police and special forces – Luin Thuin – patrolling the area that morning. Village heads had also called together Rohingya shopkeepers whose shops had been destroyed. 

Myanmar telecommunications had been cut on Friday and Saturday, and Jamal and other anxious Arakan refugees tried to contact family and relatives via Bangladeshi phone lines. “Now, we can’t do anything.” Jamal ended his account of these happenings in utter despair at the futility of the situation that thousands of Rohingya refugees and people find themselves in.

Fear and oppression 

He could not help but tell me about the oppression he had fled from, about 20 years ago. The Rohingya people are often referred to as kalar by other Rakhine, which insultingly translates as ‘pariah’. “We have been afraid of them (Rakhine) since we were very young. To instil discipline our parent’s threatened to call the Rakhine, and we would be obedient because we feared them. 

“Our people are easily put in fear and go about humbly.” 

Despite, what he says, Jamal knows that there are Rohingya who have taken bolder measures and are inclined to act in strong self-defence or aggressive retaliation. 

Still, on reflection, he told me that there was a time when the Rohingya and the Rahkhine enjoyed a camaraderie with each other, going out together and spending time at eateries, talking and walking late into the night. It is sad that those days seem to have faded away with time and that barriers of hatred and anger have arisen between them instead. 

This is the last conversation I had with Jamal, as he hasn’t been in contact for the last few months. I can only hope and pray for the acceptance of the Rohingya people as recognised citizens of Myanmar and that peace and forgiveness will come soon amongst the various ethnic communities in Jamal’s home state of Arakan (Rakhine State) in Myanmar. This is an account truly from the heart of a Rohingya refugee. 

The interview with Jamal was done around June 2012, when ethnic clashes in Rakhine State first broke out. The situation has since deteriorated and continues to worsen.

Angeline Loh, a long-time Aliran executive committee member, writes regularly for Aliran. WIth a background in international human rights law, she champions the rights of those who are often forgotten or marginalised in society.

UN Human Rights Council

February 5, 2013

GENEVA – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, will undertake an official visit to the country from 11 to 16 February 2013, which will include gathering information on the current situation in Kachin State and Rakhine State. The rights expert visits the country at the invitation of the Government. 

“As Myanmar continues to undergo wide-ranging reforms, it is important to assess the current human rights situation and to reflect on positive developments and remaining challenges,” Mr. Quintana said, preparing for his seventh mission to Myanmar, for which he has requested the authorities to visit Kachin and Rakhine States. 

“A particular concern is the escalation of the conflict in Kachin State, and I hope my visit will give me a clearer picture of the situation there and the impact it has had on civilians,” he noted. “I will be lending my voice to calls for a ceasefire and progress in addressing minority issues.” 

Regarding Rakhine State, the Special Rapporteur stressed that the current situation continues to be a major concern, following violence between Rakhine Buddhist and Muslim Rohingya communities there last June and October. “I would like to see the conditions in the camps for the internally displaced, which I was particularly concerned about following my previous visit last August,” Mr. Quintana said. 

“I will also seek an update on what steps have been taken to address the underlying causes of the violence and displacement there, including the systematic discrimination against the Rohingya community, before I report* to the Human Rights Council,” he noted. 

During his visit, the independent expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on the human rights situation in Myanmar will meet with Government officials, members of Parliament and the judiciary, the National Human Rights Commission, and civil society in Naypyitaw and Yangon. 

“I look forward to constructive discussion, at both senior and grassroots levels, with the aim of encouraging continuing progress in human rights protection, democratic transition and national reconciliation, while also advising on remaining gaps,” the Special Rapporteur underscored. 

On 16 February, at the end of his mission, Mr. Quintana will present preliminary observations at a press conference at Yangon International Airport at 18:15 (local time). His full report on the visit will be presented to the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council on 11 March 2013. 

(*) Check the latest progress report on Myanmar by the Special Rapporteur: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N12/520/48/PDF/N1252048.pdf?O...

RB News 

February 6, 2013 

Dr Tun Aung a.k.a. Nurul Haque, 64, chairman, Maungdaw District Islamic Religious Affairs Council and retired medical doctor, was sentenced for 11 years in jail in a patently unfair trial. He is currently imprisoned and suffering from serious health conditions that require specialist treatment but have so far gone unattended according to the statement released by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on February 1, 2013. 

As to the information received by AHRC, Dr Tun Aung had tried to negotiate between officials and angered youths in Maungdaw before the violence broke out. After the violence, he was brought to Nasaka on June 11, 2012. He was accused of sending information abroad about violence. He was sent to regional army headquarters for questioning and then on to the prison in Sittwe. He was held in incommunicado, without access to family. 

Dr Tun Aung had no lawyer and witnesses for his defence. He was convicted of a series of charges and sentenced to 11 years in jail. 

AHRC suggested by writing a letter to Myanmar government authorities urging to release Dr Tun Aung from prison and provide him specialist medical treatment without delay. AHRC stated that they are writing separate letters to UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights in Myanmar, on the independence of judges and lawyers, on the right to health, on freedom of opinion and expression; and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and regional office in Bangkok, calling for their interventions into this matter. 

U Shwe Maung, Member of Parliament, Buthidaung constituency, Rakhine State, urged President U Thein Sein to grant Amnesty to Dr Tun Aung. 

“I know very well this is very unfair. Maungdaw and Sittwe districts are the worst in terms of Rule of Law in Myanmar. The easiest and quickest way to solve this issue is through the Amnesty of President. Therefore, I would like to request President U Thein Sein to grant Amnesty to Dr. Tun Aung.” a message tweeted to President U Thein Sein’s twitter account (@TheinSein) by U Shwe Maung (@ShweMaung_MP). 

He referred the case details of Dr Tun Aung by the link of the statement of AHRC. 

The daughter and son-in-law of Dr Tun Aung were also arrested in Yangon after he had been arrested. Both of them were imprisoned in Insein jail and released on December 21, 2012.

Congratulations to Senator John F. Kerry on his Appointment as Secretary of State

The Burmese Rohingya American Friendship Association (BRAFA), a Wisconsin State based Rohingya ethnic community organization working for the Rohingyas who are stateless, homeless and current victims of state controlled Genocide in Burma, would like to congratulate Senator John F. Kerry for the recent appointment as the 68th Secretary of State at the U.S. Government. 

Senator John F. Kerry was appointed as the Secretary of State by the President Barack Obama with the advice and consent of the Senate and John Kerry is the President’s Chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service, and U.S. Agency for International Development. 

The Rohingyas all over the world are very much aware of the Secretary of State John Kerry for his excellent and best efforts to solve the problem of Rohingya people in Arakan-Burma as well as the Rohingya refugees’ issues in Bangladesh in the past who was the Senator from Massachusetts and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 

The Burmese Rohingya American Friendship Association (BRAFA) leadership believes that under the new Secretary of State John F. Kerry, the image of US Government in the world will be strengthened and we want to see US Government’s more involvement in Burma for the establishment of genuine democracy, human rights, peace and prosperity, and prevention of ethnic cleansing. 

The BRAFA would like to express its willingness to work and co-operate with the newly appointed Secretary of State John F. Kerry in regard with the issues for the restoration of Rohingyas’ citizenship and fundamental human rights in Burma and to prevent the on-going slow burning genocide against the ethnic Muslim Rohingya minority people in Burma.

Hanna Hindstrom

Democratic Voice of Burma

February 5, 2013

Thousands of Muslim Rohingyas, who were uprooted after sectarian clashes in western Burma last year, are still not registered as internally displaced persons (IDPs) by the government and continue to be denied humanitarian assistance, local sources have warned. 

An international aid worker, who recently returned from the conflict-torn Arakan state, told DVB that she visited remote areas around the state capital Sittwe, where people were forced to beg for food from locals and registered IDPs in order to survive. 

“What most of the world is not aware of are the refugees that are not living in [registered] camps,” said Oddny Gumaer from Partners Relief and Development. “And those people are living in conditions that are so bad that I’m sure if the international community doesn’t do something very soon they are going to die.” 

She told DVB that she was “overwhelmed” by the conditions in some of the areas she visited, which she described as akin to “concentration camps”. 

“If they are lucky they have a tarp to cover them, many of them have stitched together old rice sacks. There are no toilets, no sanitation, doctors, and no access to hospitals. I saw babies that were so malnourished and children with bloated stomachs and mothers that couldn’t feed their babies because they didn’t have any milk.” 

Arakan state was rocked by two bouts of sectarian violence in June and October last year, when the majority Buddhist population clashed with the Muslim Rohingya — a stateless minority group viewed as illegal Bengali immigrants by the government. While most of the displaced have been registered as IDPs and receive some form of humanitarian aid, many of the Rohingya have not. 

A recent report by the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN agency formally tasked with humanitarian distribution in Arakan state, recognised the problem of unregistered Rohingya camps on the outskirts of Sittwe. 

“Unregistered IDPs do not receive assistance from the international community, leaving them largely reliant on donations from host villagers and external religious organisations,” said the report released in late January. “As a consequence, living conditions for “unregistered” IDP populations are not good, with most living in small huts made of straws and pieces of tarpaulins.” 

According to the report, many “unregistered” families fled after the October conflict, because of ongoing tensions or fears of renewed clashes in their local area, “sometimes at the behest of authorities”. But a WFP spokesperson insisted that the “majority” of those displaced in last year’s violence are receiving assistance. 

“There is still a relative fluidity to the situation and people are still moving, but the government, WFP and other humanitarian actors are doing everything we can to make sure that all those who should be registered are,” Marcus Prior told DVB. 

The UN agency says it registered an additional 15,000 people between December and January, bringing the total number of IDPs to 125,000. But it is likely that thousands more, as well as host communities who have lost their livelihoods as a result of travel restrictions, are in need of aid. 

“Without a proper assessment led by government it is very difficult to say how many additional people need assistance,” Kirsten Mildren from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) told DVB via email. 

“We know anecdotally that there are people that have arrived from Sittwe town and rural areas to the camps outside Sittwe. Some estimates say as many as 10,000.” 

A spokesperson for the local state government blamed the Rohingya for refusing to stay in one place. 

“I would like to say that [IDPs] in Pauktaw should stay in Pauktaw; why come to Sittwe or Tharyar?,” said Win Myaing in an interview with DVB. “Now, when we are making a list in the camp over here, then people from [another camp] will come. Frankly, [the Rohingya] are just attempting to make the list bigger so that they can get more aid.” 

He also accused the UN of “failing” to provide for unregistered IDPs and host communities affected by the violence. “WFP doesn’t provide aid at all for the unregistered refugees. But our government; the state government, is distributing aid for all those who are on the list or not on the list.” 

WFP insists they have managed to secure access to most of the areas in Arakan state, except for the very remotest. But other aid groups say access continues to be severely hampered by local hostility and government indifference. 

Since violence first erupted last year, local nationalists have led a vociferous campaign against international aid groups, who they perceive as treating the Rohingya favourably, even though they account for the vast majority of those displaced. 

Peter Aung contributed reporting.

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed Early Day Motion 838 on Burma, tabled by members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma (APPG Burma). So far 57 MPs across all parties have signed the motion, calling for international observers, full international access to deliver humanitarian aid, and the repeal of the racist 1982 citizenship law in Burma. An Early Day Motion (EDM) is a kind of parliamentary petition. 

The motion concerns the ongoing attacks against the Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority in Burma. The British MPs noted that in October 2012 the attacks also began against the Kaman Muslim ethnic minority and that the police, state security and also national Burmese Army soldiers were reported to be taking part in some of the attacks. They also express concerns about the request of President Thein Sein for international assistance in deporting all Rohingya from Burma, which gives encouragement to the those carrying out the attacks. 

The motion calls on the British government to support the placement of UN-mandated international observers in Rakhine State, to work to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access is granted to all Rohingya areas, to support a United Nations Commission of Inquiry into the violence, and to encourage the government of Burma to repeal or amend the 1982 citizenship law which deprives the Rohingya of citizenship. 

Since violence erupted in June last year in Burma’s Rakhine State, more than 100,000 people have been displaced. This violence has evolved into systematic attacks against the ethnic Rohingya. In addition, Burma’s 1982 citizenship law excludes several ethnic groups and underpins the persecution and discrimination of the Rohingya. The President of Burma has even proposed that the United Nations arrange for Rohingya people to be removed from Burma and sent to third countries. 

Many of those forced to flee the violence are living in squalid camps in desperate need of food and shelter. There is severe overcrowding, child malnutrition, totally inadequate water and sanitation, and almost no education available in the camps. Thein Sein’s government restricts international assistance to refugees and IDPs. 

“The British government opted for a softly-softly approach to the military-backed government of Burma instead of pressuring them to halt abuses. Trying to become close to the government and promoting trade and investment ensured that they were confident they can get away with not taking action and exploiting the crisis to build public support,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “We are concerned that violence will erupt again unless concrete action is taken by the Burmese Government. More pressure from the international community is urgently needed to persuade them to take concrete action. The British government must respond to the call from Parliamentarians and re-evaluate its currently policy of soft engagement with the military-backed government in light of its failure over the Rohingya crisis”. 

Early Day Motion 838 : ATTACKS AGAINST ROHINGYA IN BURMA

That this House is concerned by the ongoing attacks against the Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority in Burma; notes that attacks have now begun against the Kaman Muslim ethnic minority; further notes that police, state security and national Burmese Army soldiers are reported to be taking part in some of the attacks; is further concerned by President Thein Sein’s request for international assistance in deporting all Rohingya from Burma which gives encouragement to alleged mobs carrying out the attacks; calls on the Government to support the placement of UN-mandated international observers in Rakhine State; further calls on the Government to work to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access is granted to all Rohingya areas, to support a United Nations Commission of Inquiry into the violence, and to encourage the government of Burma to repeal or amend the 1982 citizenship law which deprives the Rohingya of citizenship.

RTT News

February 5, 2013

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the world's largest Muslim organization representing 56 countries, has called for a seat for the OIC in the U.N. Security Council, Arab media reported.

"One of the important objectives for which I have been exerting a lot of efforts was to have a seat for OIC in the Security Council to represent 1.5 billion Muslims in the world," OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu told reporters in Cairo on Monday.

Poverty, lack of economic integration, Jewish settlement in occupied Arab territories, and "Judaization" of Jerusalem were some of the problems the Islamic community was facing now, he said and added that the OIC had set out a plan to develop Jerusalem in cooperation with the Palestine Authority and the Islamic Development Bank.

Ihsanoglu said more diplomatic efforts were needed to mobilize international support for recognition of Palestine as a State by the United Nations. "UNESCO has recognized Palestine as a full member. This is a big achievement," he added.

OIC Foreign Ministers, meanwhile, held a meeting in Cairo to finalize the agenda for the February 6-7 Islamic Summit called by the OIC.

In an interview with the Saudi newspaper 'Arab News,' Ihsanoglu said the summit would shed light on the emerging challenges facing the Muslim nations and the expanding opportunities, particularly the Palestinian cause and the troubling issue of Israeli settlements.

There will be a special session on the settlement issue. The summit will also discuss the unfolding developments in the Muslim world, notably the situation in Syria and Mali, and take important decisions on them.

On the Problems faced by the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, Ihsanoglu said the OIC was seeking a political solution to the Rohingya problem. "We are in the process of building bridges between the Myanmar government and the OIC, which must be based on confidence and trust," he said.

Khalid Iqbal

The Nation (Pakistan)
February 4, 2013

The United Nations considers Rohingyas of Myanmar as a persecuted religious and linguistic minority. Myanmar considers this community, of about 800,000, settled in Rakhine, as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. 

Despite their continuous residential reality, Myanmar is reluctant to grant them their due citizenship rights. Last year, a statement by Burmese President Thein Sein that “all Rohingyas should either be deported or placed in refugee camps” sparked a mass exodus. 

Needless to say, Buddhist Rakhine and Muslim Rohingya communities have co-existed for generations. They are now being forcibly segregated. Barriers have been erected across the roads in the state capital and the homes of thousands of Rakhine people have been destroyed. The divide between Buddhists and ethnic Muslims echoes of similar happenings in the Balkans. 

Myanmar’s quasi-civilian government has failed to intervene and prevent the hardships being perpetrated upon the hapless Rohingya minority. It is also ironic that the iconic lady from Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, who herself faced brutality and was awarded a Nobel prize for her services to humanity, has not been able to come forward and play a meaningful role to resolve this humanitarian crisis.

The leadership in Myanmar has imposed emergency rule in response to the continued tensions in Rakhine state. However, the application of preventive rules is selective; while the Buddhists remain free to move around, Rohingyas’ movement is being incrementally restricted. 

To avoid persecution in Burma, a large number of Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia, where they are treated as stateless migrants. More and more Rohingyas are now risking their lives by attempting to migrate on boats. 

If apprehended, they are deported back to Myanmar after a short trial. Hundreds of them have been arrested at the Dhaka International Airport in recent months. “Such attempts are on the rise. These Rohingyas are mostly caught at the immigration when their fake passports go under the scanner,” said Hasanul Haider, Commanding Officer of Airport Armed Police.

Myanmar has rejected an offer by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to begin negotiations for bringing communal violence to an end. According to Asean’s Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan: “Myanmar believes it is their internal matter. But your internal matter could be ours the next day, if you are not careful.” He proposed the setting up of tripartite talks between Asean, the UN and Myanmar’s government to prevent the violence from having a broader regional impact. 

Unfortunately, the bloodshed has led to about 180 deaths since June 2012. This year, the fighting in Rakhine has resulted in another 88 killings. Human rights organisations fear that the actual number of deaths could be much higher. Unbridled violence has also manifested the in torching of thousands of homes, resulting in thousands of Rohingya Muslims ending up in overcrowded shanty camps, where they live under sub-human conditions. 

Al Jazeera’s Wayne Hay reported from Sittwe, capital of Rakhine state, that: “Around 100,000 people have been displaced since the fighting started back in June. Most of those displaced lost their homes when they were burned down in what they say is a deliberate attempt by the predominantly Buddhist government to drive them out of the country. According to Mohammad Juhar, a Rohingya Muslim, ‘there were security forces present before the latest violence started. But when the fighting came to our town, there was no security…....When they did arrive, it was too late and they also shot into the crowds of Muslims’.“

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has requested Myanmar’s neighbouring countries to open their borders for those who are fleeing the country. It maintains that there are about 25,000 Rohingyas registered in Malaysia. Many Rohingya Muslims escaping the communal violence have also sought refuge in Bangladesh and Thailand. It the fact that it is a dangerous journey and after all going through that trouble, most of them are turned back. 

According to the Bangladesh Coast Guard, at least 350 would-be refugees have, reportedly, drowned in the sea since July 2012. This figure, however, reflects only those incidents that the survivors or their families have talked about. Then again, the actual number could be much higher. 

Rejected as citizens by both Bangladesh and Myammar, they continue to be victimised in the camps where they seek shelter. Jonah Fisher of BBC reports: “Deliveries to the camps on Myebon have to be made by boat, and attempts to get proper sanitation and supplies into Taung Paw have so far been blocked. Rakhine Buddhists control the jetty and are refusing to allow aid agencies’ regular access to the Rohingya camp.” Hence, obstruction by the Buddhist community was preventing aid workers from doing 90 percent of their work. Only the Burmese military could force the aid through, but it has refused to intervene. 

The Rohingyas, who have crossed over to Bangladesh and are residing in Madham Charpara, are not registered as refugees. Since 1992, the Bangladeshi government has denied permission to the UNHCR to register them. They are still considered illegal migrants and are not entitled to food, healthcare or education benefits provided by the UNHCR and its partner organisations. 

According to a survey conducted by “Doctors without Borders”, 40 percent of the deaths in unregistered camps are caused by diarrhoea. There is only one toilet for every 10 families. “The unhygienic life these refugees are leading here is the main cause of their illnesses,” said Professor Pran Gopal Datta, Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Medical University. 

Bill Frelick, Director of Human Rights Watch’s Refugee Programme in Bangladesh, also said: “This is sheer inhuman treatment.” He added that unregistered refugees cannot get healthcare facilities outside their camps, and the aid agencies with better medical treatments are not allowed to reach them either. The Bangladeshi government has ordered at least three international aid organisations to cease assistance to the refugees living outside registered UNHCR camps. “This is a cruel policy,” he remarked. 

Nevertheless, the ethnically Bengali, Rohingyas seek refuge in Bangladesh, which now has an estimated population of them quarter of a million. Bangladesh, however, does not appreciate their presence despite their ethnic ties to the country and has been striving to make life as difficult as possible for them in the hope that they will leave. 

The Thai government has decided to temporarily detain Rohingya migrants for six months, without upgrading their status as refugees. The National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General, Lt Gen Paradon Pattanathaboot, said that Thailand will not set up permanent refugee camps, though it could still build temporary detention centres. Bangkok promised to receive Rohingyas for a maximum of six months, but warned that it would deport those who try to escape. More than 1,400 Rohingyas have been rounded up since early January. 

Thailand has provided them with food and water on humanitarian grounds. The NSC is of the view that after the six month period, the UNHCR should take care of them. Bangkok Post has reported that on January 31, Thailand stopped the entry of boats carrying 340 Rohingyas, and officials ordered migrants to continue their travel to Malaysia after delivering them food and water. 

The question is: whether these arrests, humiliations and deportations could stop the Rohingyas from emigrating into the neighbouring countries? As long as the Myanmar government continues to treat them as aliens, the problem would persist. All countries have a moral obligation to accept refugees, who are in danger and help them to resettle. 

The UN needs to take bold steps to resolve the issue in a wholesome way, beyond its refugee dimension. It needs to act with speed and will as it did in the case of East Timor. 

The writer is a retired air commodore and former assistant chief of air staff of the Pakistan Air Force. At present, he is a member of the visiting faculty at the PAF Air War College, Naval War College and Quaid-i-Azam University. Email:khalid3408@gmail.com