Maha Min Khant

RB Analysis

April 16, 2013

There are more than ‘190’ countries with their own integrity and sovereignty, and it is most probably guessed that there will be emerging more small countries as the independent states with their own sovereign nations in coming days. 

Of them, many are nowadays become the United Nations member countries as a ‘one family of the universe’ to meet and help together the serious necessities of the human being and cooperate in need of dire assistance for welfare of the people of the member nations residing in this cosmos. In the fields such as – fighting poverty, promotion of health & education, hygienic environment, propping up in finance & tumbling unemployment, feeding starvation and providing food and foodstuff, portion of numerous natural disasters & preventing breaking out of recurring contagious diseases, HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis and so on.. 

Since the birth of the United Nations after the Second World War, to help solve unanimously the multi necessities of the human being and outstanding problems of the world among nations, every single nation which is integrated from each corner of the world as a responsible member nation of the Organization (UN)—had have signed the United Charter to abide the signed rules & principles and cooperate, in which Burma (Myanmar) is a signatory member of the world body, the United Nations, and Myanmar has been an obligatory state to stand for and carry out the requirement of the nation and that of the general public. 

As far as I have knowledge, Myanmar has agreed to abide many clauses in that Charter— to highlight very few particularly such as -- protection and safe guarding of minority people’ lives, properties, religions and that of the buildings-- and the fulfilling of the basic rights of the minorities such as freedom of expression, employment, education, free movement, marriages, association of assembly and so on. 

In reality, Myanmar had been the most turmoil country on this earth since it got the independence in 1948 from British—based on mostly not sharing the equal rights to minority, so called indigenous people, in accord with the “Pan long agreement”, which was collectively signed and pledged by Bogyoke Aung San, to enjoy all due rights, together with all concerned parties, before having independence from the Great Britain. 

Bamar people, having with the most hegemonies tendency against minorities, who are majority of the nation—started struggling for power to grip after 1958 between Bamar itself— which creating some moderate Bamar people as Communists, leading by Thakin Than Tun, who made station central Burma, from one hand – and from the other hand, minority people such as Kachin, Kayah, Shan, Mon, Rakhine, Chin and Rohingya (Rovinga) -- all become open armed human rights activists against the central government, Ne Win’s regime. 

Though the then mulish respective governments from Ne Win then Saw Maung to Than Shwe-- who all had successfully ruled with iron hands the state until 2010, used the term ‘insurgents’ on minorities people all along more than fifty years —in contrast they (indigenous people) simply believe and decided to struggle with arms against the central government with the aims of sort of that kind that they should stand with arms for the due rights in regard their own existence with the help of local people and international community. 

Seeing and realizing the regional and international community that the oppressive and chaotic dominated ruling of the past Burmese governments on minorities--Burma has been principally isolated from the regional, neighboring and international community—and that ‘dodge’ Burma itself chose happily to strip off the minorities people’ due rights in huge ignorance in their regions one after another—as more the then respective governments have been fascinating the opportunity of the ‘international isolationism’ against Myanmar to crush the minorities including the most persecuted Rohingya people disrespecting the United Nations charter and ASEAN charter in which Myanmar has been signatory since 1948 and the year 2007. 

The respective Myanmar governments never respects the principles of UN and ASEAN charter instead they have been with a ‘pride maneuver’ to exercise the relevant affairs with their own under the term of “Sovereignty and internal affairs”. Though every regional and international Charter has carefully decipher the words that – one should not interfere the internal affairs of the others—there have been coordinating works to settle the outstanding problems by the mediations of regional and international dignitaries by one way or another due to the international issues. 

President Thein Sein, who has been known as a reformist in abroad after releasing Daw Aung San Su Kyi, has formed first investigating commission in regards Rakhine state affairs in May of 2012—since that time to as toady he has shifted for five times the report of investigation committee’s facts finding to bringing to his table. 

International community has interestingly concentrated their mind to the result of said committee in which some members are themselves involved in the pogrom in accord to their interviews on RFA, VOA, DVB radios and some videos of broadcasting services plus internal journals which were issued as incitement in the past. 

The word “sovereignty and internal affairs” has been greatly used by every concerned minister and political leaders in this affair whenever the last 2012 Rohingya massacre issue was raised and questioned by international media, diplomats and world communities. 

The more procrastinating the report of Rakhine state issue reaching to president office, the more complex and not viable solution will fade away the good result of the reality from the ground—all internal and international concerned parties strongly believed -- the way the investigating committee (25) members have been manipulating are none other than trying to favor the Rakhine extremists leaders or trying to hide the reality and the secret plan of the government which itself wants to drive out Rohingya from the land — and surely it will apply and accomplish the word “sovereignty, internal affairs and non interference in internal affairs of others” terminology at the time the international community will intervene the “coming concocted result” of the violence which was intentionally created by RNDP, ALD and President Thein Sein with a coordinated plan--not exaggeration but with the proof which was seen and found previously. 

Whenever international community tries to help solve the problem or to find out collective solution which is good for Rohingya and the state, the concerned persons or Myanmar dialogue partners strictly used the word that “it has been internal affairs”. More clearly, it is proud to imply that Myanmar is an independent state with sovereignty and integrity. 

Every responsible member of UN and the integrated member of the organization, each nation has signed at the time of the entry to the organization that it has agreed on its volition to respect the sovereignty of one another as reciprocal and in case of necessary to involve, to help solve together the outstanding problem like Rohingya of today or such kinds in the past or coming days. 

Sovereignty doesn’t mean crushing its own citizens’ lives, property, tranquility, dignity and basic human rights as per their dirty scheme which secretly adopted by among some high level thugs-- who might have been guiding the criminal principles to the President Thein Sein and its administrative mechanism to make chaos in ruling the country. 

“Sovereignty along with rule of law” is understood to maintain peace and tranquility among communities regardless of --who is who, race, religion, color--and to develop the society and that of the integrity and livelihood in the country --but in contrast the sovereignty of the state of President Then Sein’ becomes a questionable now after having a long consideration of his administrative method which has badly harassed the minority innocent Muslims, particularly the Rohingya and the Muslims from Mittilar and that of the people from western Pegu Division along at least (15) localities. 

Doesn’t the state sovereignty concern to maintain rule of law? 

Doesn’t sovereignty and rule of law find out the culprits who have committed crime against humanity? 

Doesn’t Sovereignty mean to adopt rule of law which discharge the laws and save innocent people who have been serving the long jail terms (ten years imprisonment) without committing any crime along the nations’ jails particularly Rohingya youths in Buthidaung Jail? 

Do you (President) know how many innocent people from Buthidaung, Maung Daw, Rathedaung, Akyab and Kyauktaw have been put in Buthidaung and Sittwe jails by the concerned township level authorities with the help of respective townships court judges, lawyer and local Rakhine false witness under the term of “Sovereignty and internal affairs”? 

We, Rohingya are got fed up now and highly frustrated by your ‘sovereignty mechanism theology’—people become impatient—parents are weeping- daughter, sons and wives are expression of grief and praying to be releasing their beloved ones from every jail who are being arrested and served disgustingly without any reason-- is it sovereignty? —no, it is not serving and loving sovereignty, but it is hegemony activities. 

To be honest, You (U Thein Sein) is beloved President if compare any one beside you—but you have been cheated, bullied and fanned by your step by step authorities concern-- from township level to Union level --not to be known the real situation at the ground— Believe it or not! 

At this new year of auspiciousness and golden opportunity, if the kind request of regional, international and sisterly organization (OIC) from around the world come to your attendance to help solve the unsettled all round problems by their help-- please accept the realistic ideas of them to have solved your domestic problems rather than reasoning excuse the word “sovereignty and internal affairs” while such repeating expression neither will attract the international community’s interest who wanted to invest for our country’s welfare nor helpful to your transitional democratic acceleration which you have been laying out touring around international community to draw time and again.

U Kyaw Min

RB Article

Apirl 16, 2013 

Most of Myanmar intellectuals, politicians, democracy activists, writers, military men and other officials have a mindset that Myanmar is exclusively a country of Buddhist people. Non Buddhists are not equal to Buddhists. They cannot expect to enjoy equal rights. Muslim whose root can be traced from the time of Myanmar kings or whose ethnicity can be assumed to have mixed up with indigenous blood are regarded as aliens or as a group of settlers affiliated to foreigners. This phenomenon was obviously seen in the media footages during the recent violence against the Muslims. 

According to their perception; persecution, suppression, and discrimination against them are not so deplorable. Democracy concept, here, cannot penetrate in to the mindset of Buddhist people, in context of Muslim status in Myanmar. Very recently one senior and most respected monk, Thidagu Sayadaw said Buddhist is native religion where as Christianity and Islam are alien religions came along with British occupation of Myanmar. Thus adherents of these religions are guests in the country where as Buddhist are host. So the guests should respect the host. This is a discriminatory, harmful perception which will hinder peaceful co-existence of various Myanmar nationalities. 

Due to this sort of vision and political mindset especially among the higher strata of Myanmar people, we saw little sympathetic response to suffering of more than a hundred thousand IDPs in Myanmar. In case of Rohingya IDPs they are accuse of not being genuine citizen. But it is difficult to prove them as non citizen. They have enjoyed citizenship rights from ever before Burmese independence. They have enjoyed the right to elect and to be elected in all Myanmar national elections. This is a clear prove of their being Myanmar citizen. Even in 2010 SPDC sponsored national election these people got the right to vote and they have three MPs from their own community. Yet there are accusations from some quarter that “these people are not Burmese citizen; they should not be resettled in their original place; they should not be provided with newly constructed houses”. But thanks to the president of Myanmar who ordered recently to bring all the IDPs under shelters within three months. This is an encouraging step from government side otherwise many will perish due to hygiene, dehydration, malnutrition, and frustration in IDP camps. 

A campaign in Rakhine State to get thumb print on computer on forms titled, “List of illegal immigrants; shifted population and so on” has terribly terrorized and embarrassed the grass root public who are not familiar with computerized documentation. Peoples are forcibly subjected to sign and give thumb print under the designation of Bengali which is not their option. So they are not willing to cooperate with the campaign. On the other hand they fear they would be punished for their non compliance with the authority. So any plan, project or state mechanism should be transparent and viable. This should not be a burdens or obstacle for the public to support and to cooperate. 

Security issue is more important nowadays because sporadic shooting, killing, and arbitrary arrests are rampant in Rakhine State. Where these guns come from to shoot the innocent people? Why not any action against these? One Thidar Htwe’s rape/murder case had triggered state wise violence and hundreds of thousands were made IDPs. Why not the similar cases occurring almost daily in Rakhine state are noticed? Why not any legal action is going against this? 

My appeal to all concerned is to take this security issue seriously. We have an obligation to restore normal life in Rakhine. Stability and enforcement of Law and order is an urgent need of time. Action should go against every culprit disregards of race and religion. No one should be immune to the action of Law. No one should be allowed to take law in their own hands as it is happing in northern Rakhine State. The conscience of super race and the conception of privileged class as it prevails in Rakhine State is a permanent hazard for peaceful coexistence and tranquil society. So I hope we all will imagine and find the correct solution of conflict in Rakhine State.

RB News 

April 15, 2013

Maung Daw, Arakan- Around 1AM this morning, a Rohingya man and his son were hacked by some Rakhine terrorists at the village of Dail Fara (ZayKunTan), Alaythankyaw village tract, Maung Daw Township. 

They were U Shamshu S/o Moghul Ahmed (46) and his son, Maung Omar Farooque (17). 

The father and the son got hacked by six Rakhine terrorists as they fell asleep around 1AM while monitoring and taking care of their bean field. The terrorists fled when the co-villagers came to rescue as the father and the son shouted out for help. 

“By the time the father and the son had shouted out for help, his villagers rushed to rescue them. So, the terrorists ran away. Yet, both the father and the son got hacked at their hands and legs. The injuries are severe” said a villager to RB News. 

“They, with the severe injuries, were taken to the hospital in the AlayThanKyaw Village Tract. However, the authority in the hospital refused to cure them and sent them back. Now, they are being treated in their homes by the possible means. We are unable to lodge complaints against those terrorists to Police either because Police do not take any actions against them. Police, instead, try to extort money from Rohingya victims” he added.

April 15, 2013

Soe Raza

RB Poem

April 15, 2013

THE KING OF A HEART 

I’m the King of my Heart; 

It possesses all things that I want; 

The world is not larger than my Heart; 

As all I want is Everything! 

It has unseen Eyes and Ears! 

It sees and hears with no Fears! 

It feels thousands of pretties at a glance! 

With its secret spiritual dance! 

It tells though no Secrets of its Own; 

Dying in hunger for the Crown! 

It asks no breads or burgers; 

Waiting for the pleasure of silence in danger! 

It can cross thousands of miles in Patience; 

When it in locks with a Romance. 

It sings in tune with melodious weathers; 

It flies in a height with full of feathers. 

It builds the Castles in the air; 

It dreams of a Princess in care. 

While having no attire! 

But it’s free and far away from this earth; 

Seeking the peace, and peace in love; 

It wanders here and there; 

With scanty crocodile tears; 

While the burden of secrets hides at rear! 

It asks hundreds of questions at a time! 

It is of identity of its own! 

When a peak of thousand waves risen by; 

With gushing blood of thereby! 

Finally, I find the answers leaving a gap; 

‘It is no democracy and peace with a roadmap’. 

It discovers many a Kingdom; 

With the Pillars of equal right and freedom. 

It is worthier than the Holy Kaaba! 

For its sufficient space to Al-Mighty Allah; 

Don’t break the heart of such King; 

Who lives in a world of Dream; 

As Allah hears every single scream! 

Soe Raza is a social activist for Rohingyas’ citizenship rights & student at International Islamic University Malaysia pursuing a degree in Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacology). 

Author’s note: This poem was adapted from my own experience of previous time when it had been composed partially in 2002. But now, it was mainly and solely aimed for those poor Rohingyas who have been dreaming of having a peaceful time in Myanmar ((Burma) with a decent meal, sweetheart when there is equal rights and freedom prevail for all without the existence of any constitutional differentiation policy. It was also aimed to express the characters of few Rohingya leaders who dreamt of building castles (Arakan) in the air without having any concrete step or strong determination with solemn commitment. Finally, through this poem, I’d like to convey a predictable message that Al Mighty may take a revenge against those ill tyrants, 969 monks, miscreants, and the Rakhine or Buddhist extremists of Burma who have been carrying ‘The Hidden/Open Genocide’ against the world’s most persecuted Muslim minority (Rohingya) and other ethnic Burmese Muslims who are often helpless and defenceless. 

Nadim Al-Hamid

Arab News

April 15, 2013

Wakar Uddin, director general of the Arakan Rohingya Union, called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group to persuade China to put pressure on the Myanmar government to stop acts of violence and targeted killings of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar.

“It is well-known that China has strong relations with the Myanmar government and has big economic and political interests there. So we asked Chinese officials to try to persuade Myanmar to stop violence against and acts of systematic killing of the peaceful Rohingya Muslim minority,” Waqaruddin told Arab News.

He was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of an urgent meeting of the OIC contact group here yesterday.

“Arab and Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have strong relations with China, and we hope that these countries come together to play their role. What we are witnessing in Myanmar is a human tragedy in the full sense of the term. What is going on there is unspeakable violence beyond comprehension,” he said. “Islamic identity in Myanmar is at risk of being eradicated, and we appeal to the conscience of all good people to help stop the killing,” he said.

OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu warned of the escalation of violence in other areas, a clear reference to the acts of violence by extremist Buddhists against Sri Lankan Muslims.

“Violence directed against Myanmar’s Muslim population is unacceptable. It is a clear indication of the negative attitude of the government in dealing with ethnic and religious tension in the area,” he said.

“Extremist Buddhists felt that they have the blessing of the government for their atrocities and so they have expanded their actions in other areas,” he said.

He said the OIC has taken a number of actions since last June and that it has tried repeatedly to contact the Myanmar Embassy in Riyadh to no avail.

He called on members of the contact group who have diplomatic missions in Myanmar to use their offices to try to advance the case for the Muslim minority.

RB News 

April 15, 2013 

Maungdaw: A house owned by a Rohingya in Dushirar Dan (Gawdusara) Village, Southern Maungdaw Township in Arakan State was torched yesterday at 9:30pm local time. 

The detail of the event is – a house owned by Guramiah is very close to Natala Rakhine village. The village administrator Ye Aung (Rakhine ethnic) threatened him many times to demolish the house. But as Guramiah is living in this house with his family for many years he disobeyed the order of village administrator. He and his family have been sleeping at nearest relatives’ houses for the fear of night time attack since last year June after the violence broke out in Maungdaw. 

In regard to torching Guramiah’s house “8 Natala Rakhine villages came and torched the house of Guramiah at 9:30pm. Guramiah and his family members were at home at that time. Luckily they could escape from the fire. Nobody injured. We saw 8 Natala Rakhine villagers but we couldn’t identify them who they are because of the darkness outside. Nasaka personnel arrived after the house burnt down into ashes. After that we could not go near to the house as Nasaka barred us. 8 Natala Rakhine villagers left after torching the house.” an eye-witness told to RB News. 

A resident from Maugdaw told that although Nasaka and authorities used to visit such sudden events they are just recording what took place and never take any action against the violators.

AFP

April 14, 2013

YANGON: After generations as part of one of Asia's most ethnically diverse societies, Myanmar's Muslims fear they are becoming "scapegoats" of its reform process following a wave of religious violence. 

At least 43 people died in Buddhist-Muslim clashes which broke out last month in central Myanmar where mosques were burned down and Muslim homes were destroyed. 

The unrest — which followed a wave of religious bloodshed in western Myanmar last year — has instilled fear into the country's Muslims, some of whose families had lived peacefully alongside Buddhists for generations. 

"All Muslims living in Myanmar are worried about this. What will happen to our faith? How can we live in this Buddhist society?" said Nyunt Maung Shein, president of the country's Islamic Religious Affairs Council. 

"Why are we so miserable that our men and women, children, students are brutally killed? Muslims are scapegoats in this transition period from the brutal junta." 

Last year at least 180 people were killed in the western state of Rakhine in clashes between local Buddhists and Rohingya — a Muslim minority treated with hostility by most Burmese who see them as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. 

While the Rohingya — described by the UN as among the most-persecuted minorities on the planet — have long been denied Myanmar citizenship, the Muslims targeted in last month's unrest are Myanmar nationals. 

The apparent trigger for the latest violence was a quarrel between a Muslim gold shop owner and Buddhist customers in the town of Meiktila. Soon afterwards, a monk was killed by Muslims. 

The violence escalated into a street riot that unleashed Buddhist-led bloodshed around the region. 

Some monks were involved in the unrest while others are behind a nationalistic campaign calling for a boycott of shops owned by Muslims. 

The surge in Islamophobia is a major challenge for President Thein Sein's reformist government which took office two years ago after the end of decades of harsh rule by a military that largely suppressed religious tensions. 

"We're oppressed by fear, sorrow and doubt," said Kyaw Nyein, legal consultant and senior member of Jamiat-Uloma-El Islam, an organisation of religious scholars. 

"Even if the government is willing to cure the disease, it is going to take decades." 

The country's transition from junta rule is proving a test for all of society, including the security forces, he said. 

"Previously, there was one military command that would stop any event," he said. "Now it's a civil administration. There are so many steps that need to be taken before (there is) action." 

Myanmar's Muslims officially account for an estimated four percent of the population of roughly 60 million, although the country has not conducted a census in three decades. 

But local Muslim organisations believe the real figure is at least double that — and the proportion is possibly even higher in Yangon, the former capital and main commercial city, which is home to several Muslim neighbourhoods. 

In Meiktila an estimated 30 percent of the population is Muslim, including many who came from China decades ago as merchants. Others hail from Bangladesh, although the majority came from India during British colonial rule. 

Whatever their heritage, Muslims are widely considered as foreigners, said Alexandra de Marsan, an anthropologist with the Paris-based National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations. 

"There have been very few conversions" to Islam in Myanmar, she explained. "Most Muslims are descendants of foreigners from India or other countries." 

The recent violence triggered international alarm and brought calls for Thein Sein's government to take swift action to quell the bloodshed. 

Rights groups have also accused police of failing to stop the violence, which has calmed since the former general appeared on national television on March 28 and vowed a tough response against those behind the attacks. 

Even so in cities such as Yangon — which has so far remained largely peaceful — Muslims are still living in fear. A fire that killed 13 teenagers at a Muslim school in early April added to the tensions, although the authorities insisted the blaze was accidental. 

"Everyone is scared, even me," said Kyaw Nyein. "Every night there are rumours. We are under pressure."

April 14, 2013

Ihsanoglu called for international action to stop violence on ethnic Rohingya.         

Head of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Sunday appealed to the UN Security Council to intervene to protect Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims from ethnic violence. 

"Security Council must protect rights and lives of Rohingya Muslims," Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu told a foreign ministers' meeting of member countries in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

The meeting brings together top diplomats of Turkey, Afghanistan, UAE, Brunei, Djibouti, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Senegal and Saudi Arabia who will discuss violent attacks including torchings, ambushes and deadly assaults in Rakhine state. 

Ihsanoglu also warned against a regional escalation of tensions.

Ezra Sihite, Rizky Amelia & Markus Junianto Sihaloho

Jakarta Globe

April 14, 2013

As ethnic and religious conflict rages against the Rohingya ethnic group in Myanmar, Indonesia has found itself taking on the role of both mediator and refuge country.

Aleksius Jemadu, dean of Pelita Harapan University (UPH), said that this has now become a cross-border problem that includes Indonesia and must be addressed by Asean. 

Aleksius added that the conflict involving the Muslim-majority Rohingya ethnicity in Buddhist-majority Myanmar is a sensitive issue, but Asean must take the lead in solving it. According to the Asean Charter, an important pillar of the Asean community is its inclusiveness of all religions and ethnicities, he added. 

“If Indonesia wishes to become a leader in this instance, it must take the initiative,” he said on Saturday. 

Since the influx of asylum-seekers has affected Indonesia, this is now a cross-border issue, Aleksius argued. 

He added that the killing of asylum-seekers detained in Medan last week was an example of what would continue to happen if Indonesia remains silent on the issue. 

The head of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, Eva Kusuma Sundari, said on Friday that Indonesia was committed to ending ethnic conflict in Myanmar. 

“Indonesia is definitely active in ensuring that reform in Myanmar is progressing well,” Eva said. “Asean is Indonesia’s baby, and Indonesian leadership is significant in Asean.” 

She explained that the official policy of the Myanmar government is that the Rohingya are not considered citizens by the Burmese government, and instead are regarded as a colonial import. For that reason, the Rohingya are considered stateless, do not have national identity cards and are treated as immigrants that someday must be returned to Bangladesh. 

That problem has been increased by the fact that the Rohingya are also mainly Muslim in a Buddhist majority country. “That became an easy trigger to mobilize hate,” Eva added. 

Indonesia has become a layover country for asylum-seekers escaping Myanmar, but the country itself does not have the adequate legal framework to deal with the new arrivals. 

Ali Akbar Tanjung from the Human Rights Working Group gave the example that if an asylum-seeker enters Indonesian waters, they must be accompanied to shore, given a health check and humanitarian support. Furthermore, the government will help to determine their refugee status. However, Indonesia does not yet have set rules for the handling of asylum-seekers, he said. 

Ali said that the matter of asylum-seekers is dealt with only briefly in the Immigration Law and in the regulations for the Directorate General of Immigration. “What Indonesia needs to do is set some ground rules [about] how asylum seekers are to be handled once they are in Indonesia,” Ali said on Friday. 

The regulations, Ali said, can be coordinated with the UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration to ensure that the rights of asylum-seekers and refugees are met, such as the right to go to school. 

Most important is the issue of resettlement. Until now, asylum-seekers and refugees are held in Indonesia in immigration detention centers meant for foreigners who have committed a criminal offense in relation to immigration laws. 

Aside from the need for laws governing the handling of refugees, Indonesia also needs to communicate with nations where they aim to be resettled. For example, there are many refugees who have already received refugee status from the UNHCR, but have yet to be relocated to a third country. They can be waiting for years. 

“Our position is that we cannot remain silent here. Indonesia is not the destination country. This must be communicated with other nations intended as the resettlement country,” Ali said.

By Maha Min Khant

RB Article

April 14, 2013

According to video which I received from one of my best and reliable friends, the leading figures of RNDP, ALD and Rakhine Liberation forces have attended the conference in Mahidol University of Bangkok which was seemingly sponsored by so called Dr.Aye Chan on 9th March of 2013. 

The only selected Rakhine people gathering conference location, to be held on that day (9.3.2012), was previously being publicized in several Myanmar journals, as Chula Lunkur University which is the most prestigious one in Thailand. Very seemingly the responsible persons, for managing such one sided Rakhine attendees conference, were unable to convince the answerable faculty of Chula Lankur University --in regard the particular essence of the conference and that of the attending audiences. 

As far we have received information, any prestigious university simply and graciously advocate the symposiums, seminars or conferences whilst the stakeholders are inclusively invited, attended and get proportionate chance to participate, discuss and debate as per the rule and meeting organism. 

The video shows that there were full of Rakhine youths, in every corner of the university, who were in charge of compound’s safety and security, and the conference attendees were Buddhist religious young monks and secular students--selectively Rakhine boys and girls. 

In accord the local journals the concern editorials which were previously issued before the meeting have almost all been confirmed that at the end of the conference there would be a communiqué (announcement) by the Rakhine conference committee that there are no Rohingya people in Arakan. What an awful scheme! 

It was heard that in that “Rakhine historical conference” – the 88 generation, the NLD and USDP members were invited to attend the conference by the responsible persons but it seemed that they didn’t attend at the conference knowingly and the hall showed a lot of vacancies for more guests. 

As per scheme of master of ceremony, Professor Jacque P. Lieder was the first person to deliver the speech regarding the occupation of Arakan state by Bodawpaya of Myanmar king—articulation of full sentences that following the Bamar king’s occupation of Arakan, the Bamar army had destroyed all of Rakhine resources, and made largely collective destruction including expulsion of that of the inhabitants and snatched Maha-myat-muni pagoda from Rakhine state to Bamar proper. 

After that, there was a fresh researcher namely Steven from Netherlands—he had delivered about the cooperation in commercialization between Rakhine kings and the western seafarers -- particularly the western adventurers who helped Arakan Kings and benefited in bilateral and trilateral trade in Mrauk-Oo periods. 

The last actor was Mr. Aye Chan who was clearly seemed to have been influencing the whole round discussion and panel. 

Once, he started the term to deliver the talk show, he was seemed with full pride of being a Kanda University Professor as being ‘heestorian’ not historian—he said that the violence which erupted in Rakhine state in 2012 was the continuation of 1942 pogrom—continued that Bengawli people had destroyed many Rakhine villages, raped many Rakhine women, torched Buddhist monasteries and much more destruction. 

He seemed he had forgotten that the 2012 Rakhine violence was started base on “Ma Thidar Htwe”—that she was allegedly raped by so called Muslim boy-- and all Rakhine leaders such as U Aye Maung, U Aye Thar Aung and others have got an excuse from Ma Thidar Htwe to begin the pogrom program to burn Rohingya and Kaman lives along Rakhine state since that time onwards. 

And these notorious leaders (Aye Maung, Aye Thar Aung and others) have been knowingly pointing and harshly disappointing that--should a Kalar boy insult, rape and kill against a Rakhine girl, Ma Thidar Htwe? Was that a reality or a synchronized conspiracy?—Of course it has been a synchronization from Japan to inner Rakhine state with so called Rakhine leaders—Aye Maung of RNDP and Aye Thar Aung of Arakan League of Democracy, particularly. 

Wasn’t it a collective conspiracy by U Aye Chan from abroad in this “excuse finding” to start last pogrom to deliberately committing crime against humanity at this 21st century--which has been seen by the universe from the beginning? Why did you forget about that girl to mention to connect the last year violence in Mahidol conference, instead you went to fifty years ago so called pogrom which no one can confirm with the acceptable documents rather just exaggeration and useless cheating gossip among Rakhine fanatic only? 

Or the style of your talk at the show confirmed that “you and all your reliable sullied colleagues have created the “crisis of Thidar Htwe” to celebrate the pogrom along the Rakhine state. 

And he also clearly said that there are no Rohingya in Arakan state-- and the word “Rohingya” is a fabricated word created by Mr.Abdul Gaffar in the year round 1950s–at the first parliamentarian periods. 

In his careful deliberation, he continued that “Mr. Nurul Islam, once his friend at the same Rangoon University, who is now residing in London and formed an armed group to attack Rakhine people--and he has an account in which anyone interested can donate money in that account” --he had made fun at the audiences. 

Lastly as the share time comes to the end, he obviously stopped the talk by saying those Bengawli in Rakhine state nowadays are immigrants and they were recruited by the British as the labor-intensive workers in agricultural firms. 

At the end of the every scholar’s verbalization, there were question and answer sessions, which were designed for the questioners as “writing on a piece of paper—detailing- name, designation and political party”, and collectors brought these papers to the panel. Very countable asking questions were answered by each scholar very carefully but it never met the questioners’ destination, heard from the source. 

At the couple of scholars’ question and answer sessions, questioners didn’t have the right to grasp microphone. But fortunately, U Aye Chan asked the panel to provide the microphone to Mr. Htay Lwin Oo after greeting him. I thought that Mr. Htay Lwin Oo might have asked on the paper-- the permission to talk with U Aye Chan regarding the Rohingya issue which has been a hot issue between them via internet, face book and so on. 

Starting from Mr. Htay Lwin Oo, he said that there are Rohingya in Arakan state, and he said he has proof and strong evidences with documents and booklets—which were written by neither Muslims nor Rohingya scholar but by British author—Dr. Francis Buchannan, who worked once in Burma, in his contemporary vocabulary spoken by Rovinga people from Arakan state in the olden periods. He said he (Dr. Francis Buchannan) has written this book in 1799. 

And U Aye Chan asked him to bring the book to the stage—he (Mr. Htay Lwin Oo) has brought the book to the stage and put in U Aye Chan’s hand—soon U Aye Chan said to Htay Lwin Oo that ‘you have not the right to come here’—what a disgusting moment—is he really a scholar?—is he really a professor?—is he really an academician? Is he really going to lead the Rakhine people who want peace tranquility and security in the region? Such a behavior as a scholar is very horrible whoever your are-- wherever your are-- whatever you are. I believe that an honest scholar lead entire community to peace and security for the whole nation. What a horrific scholar? 

To be continuing their short debate, U Aye Chan was not satisfied with the book the one Mr. Htay Lwin Oo handed to U Aye Chan—U Aye Chan continued that Rohingya are Rakhine – and U Htay Lwin Oo told again that in this book there are some words which are said by Rohingya of today in the region—Okay if you are Rohingya how do you spell the words—such as 1) the water in English is called “fani” by Rohingya—what kind of your Rohingya people call that word, U Aye Chan was silent: 2) the Sun in English is called “bail” by Rohingya-- what kind of your Rakhine Rohingya people call that word, U Aye Chan was silent: 3) the earth in English is called “mati” by Rohingya-- what kind of your Rakhine Rohingya people call that word, U Aye Chan was silent again: 

The feeling U Aye Chan wanted or declared to be Rohingya is whether it was his individual approach or the entire Rakhine people desire after having been surveyed-- we don’t know—once U Aye Maung expressed like U Aye Chan in local journal – I think it may be nearly a year now – Okay it is their desire and their decision. 

If so, why didn’t your Rakhine parliamentarians raise the concern that -- the word Rohingya was belong to only Rakhine people in that periods as you feel now Dr. Aye Chan? Mr. Aye Chan – are your become crazy or acting intentional dishonesty? That you know alone! 

Interestingly, whenever U Aye Chan handed over the book to professor lieder to check—he has checked as a historian and said that—History does not make identity—but history does make knowledge and information. As a matter of fact, both U Aye Chan and lieder might have known the substances of that book as the curved historians but both behaved on the stage as if they have never seen or known about the content of the book in regards the words which Rohingya of today speak not only in the region but all around the world. 

U Aye Chan, having completely implicit about the advising questions raised by Mr. Htay Lwin Oo, U Aye Chan got a bit infuriated and embarrassed—seeing the situation by master of ceremony – he cleverly put aside U Aye Chan from having tacit and went to be concluding the meeting program - praising all the attendees and declared the ceremony was successful ended. 

In fact, U Aye Chan should honestly invite all relevant parties for a peaceful discussion for lasting solution to live both community side by side as if as a wise-man, and a loving figure for Rakhine’s both (Rakhine and Rohingya) community—he should behave and act that local people listening him, depending on him and rely on him for future scheme as a ‘harmonious society building architect’ by the help of his scholarly optimistic wisdom. Still he has time to change his mind to the positive stand than creating clashes among community which destroy confidence, peace, security and regional energies in the region at last. We want you to be a peace lover and peace maker not only for Rakhine state and but also for entire people of the country.

Maung Aurther 

RB History

April 6, 2013

Earliest People of Arakan- The Proto-Australoid Negritos 

Historians say the earliest people in Arakan were to be a Proto-Australoid people called Negritos settled in Neolithic period. They were similar to today’s Andamanese (dark-skinned). It is said that they were known as Rakhasha (Pali) or Rakhshasa (Sanskrit) meaning Cannibals. However, according to the historians, there are hardly any archaeological remnants that can prove their existence in Arakan. Therefore, this topic will not be discussed anymore. 

Indo-Aryans or the Early People of Arakan 

The first Arakanese kings were Indo-Aryans from the Ganges Valley. (Ancient Arakanese Chronicles) 

Indo-Aryan people ruled over Arakan dynasty after dynasty, century after century, before the arrival of Burmans who today are called Rakhine. (Maurice Collis + U San Shwe Bu; Into hidden Burma Chapter, Arakan). 

The settlements of the people of Indo-Aryan, Mro (Khami) and Thek (Sak) can be traced to the time as early as BC 3323. (Zaa-Lok-Kat-Pho-Lay by San Kyaw Tuan, P.81) 

After Negritos, Indo-Aryan people were the second earliest people to have settled in Arakan followed by Saks and Khamis, who can be traced with the archaeological evidences. [Khami and Sak were tribal and hilly people and their remnants can still be found in the hills.] Who were these Indo-Aryans? Let us first define the term “Indo-Aryan.” 

http://bit.ly/2tD2Dd defines Indo-Aryan as a member of one of the peoples of the Indian subcontinent speaking an Indo-European language includes Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, etc. Generally, Indo-Aryans are Indians excluding Dravidians (South-Indians). Today if there are people that can be called Indo-Aryan descendants in Arakan are none other than Rohingyas. 

Before 10th century A.D. in Arakan, only Indians and Indian culture including the literature were found. Burmese and Burmese cultures are found only after 10th century. (H. W. Wilson; the history of Indian people, PP. 189 – 204) 

Before 10th century in Arakan, the people and civilization all were Indian. (Gordon H. Luce; Early Burma Pre-Bagan) 

[As of the dynasties in the history of Arakan, according to the historians, there were Dhannyavati (Dhanyawadi) (in three periods) Vaishali (Vesali) before 957 CE and after 957 CE, the two significant kingdoms were Lemro and Mrauk-U. (Details will be discussed later.)] There are two races in Arakan today: Rohingya and Rakhine. Of the two, who do you think represents those earliest Indo-Aryan (Indian) rulers of Arakan ethnically, culturally, and linguistically on and on? Be honest to yourself and have no malice while answering this. 

The Origin of Rakhines 

Rakhine and Burman are the same race. Rakhine speak in an accent of early Burman. More importantly, their religion is the same too. (Dr. Htin Aung, Burma before AD 1280; trans: U Aung Than, 2003, pg.40). 

Rakhine is a branch of Burman. Their early literatures were found in Burmese. (Dr. Than Tun, 80th Birthday Bulletin). 

Presently dominant Rakhine are the last significant group of people to enter Arakan in 10th century and thereafter. (Dr. Pamela Gutman, Ancient Arakan, 1976) 

They (Rakhines) no doubt are descendants from ancestors belonging to Mongoloid tribes, closely akin to those from whom sprung- the Burmese of the Upper Irrawadi. Their language is the same, with a few dialectical differences, though the pronunciation as spoken frequently renders it unintelligible to a modern Burmese. (History of Burma, Lieut. General Sir Aurthur P. Phayre, P. 41, 1883) 

Moreover, there are a number of evidences brought into light by many illustrious scholars on the origin of Rakhines. I hope the references given above are enough for one this topic. Would you still say Rakhines belong to Indo-Aryan or the Indian Kingdoms earlier to the 10th century? Yet, Rakhine bigotry scholars desperately and disgracefully claim that they are of Indo-Aryan (Indian) descendants to relate themselves to the kingdoms prior to the 10th century. Below are a few examples. 

Rakhines’ False Claim 

Rakhine people in early period seemed to write Indian language. (Wethali Age Ananda Sandra Stone Monument, by U San Tha Aung, p. 12) 

However, their quasi-historical records which are secondary material compiled centuries later, and liberally sprinkled with anachronisms, now maintain that they have been in their country since 5000 BCE. They also claim, quite seriously, the early Indian dynasties of Dhanyavati and Veshali as their own — peopled by the Rakhaing race. (Noel F. Singer’s Vaishali and Indianization of Arakan, P. 14, referring “Shwe Zan, The Golden Mrauk U, p. 149”) 

Look at another example of bigotry and desperate Rakhine scholar called Ashin Nayaka living abroad attempted to claim their so-called Indo-Aryan origin. 

Those Indo-Aryan are THOUGHT to have mixed and intermarried with a migrant Mongoloid tribe in eastern India and Arakan. http://bit.ly/10eZtIL

It was just what they think. So it is nothing but a baseless and illogical claim. If their claims are to be taken as true, there are a lot of questions needed to be answered. How had the Indian-Language-Speaking people, Rakhine, suddenly, after 10th century, forgotten to speak their own language and lost their linguistic identity so much so that they started speaking a language of Tibeto-Burman origin? What had led them to change the Indian names of their kings (the names such as “Chandra” of the earlier dynasties) to Burman names? Above all, how do Rakhine people suddenly happen to look different from Indians? And many more! These are the missing links. 

Sometimes, Rakhines claim they are of Tibeto-Burman group and some-other-times, they are of Indo-Aryan origin. Two contradicting claims! Funny, isn’t it? Probably, they claim to be Tibeto-Burman not to alienate themselves their original stock. And the earlier Rakhine chronicles also claim they are of Tibeto-Burman group. On the other hand, they claim to be Indo-Aryans probably for linkage of the history, earlier civilization and magnificence of the past built by Indo-Aryans who had ruled the region for more than a millennium until it was invaded by Tibeto-Burman of Mongoloid origin. 

One more interesting question “do you know what term Burmese and Rakhines use to call Rohingyas, Bengalis, Indians and Pakistanis etc?” Isn’t the term ‘Kular’ originally meaning ‘Noble Race’ they use to call Indians in the derogatory sense? Suppose Rakhines are of Indo-Aryan Origin (i.e. Indian Origin). If so, they are Kulars, too. And if they are Kulars, too, then why do they call others (Rohingyas) ‘Kulars’. On the other hand, do Rakhines call themselves ‘Kulars’. Do Burmese call Rakhines ‘Kulars’? In fact, who call Rakhines ‘Kulars’? 

To be continued .....

Maung Aurther is an activist. He can be reached at dhannyawadi@gmail.com.

Press Release 

Date: April 12, 2013 

Time: 5:38pm 

In front of UN Head Quarter 

New York 

Organizers: 

(1) Free Rohingya Campaign 

(2) Myanmar Muslim Civil Right Movement 

About 200 Burmese Muslims and Rohingya of USA resident representing all 50 states gathered on 4/12/13, 9:30 am in front of Myanmar Permanent mission at New York. 

Despite heavy rain, protesters were determined to continue their planned demonstration as most of the people need to go home by Bus or rental minivan. They have demanded to stop religious discrimination, anti Muslim movement, and terrorism in Burma. They also asked U Thein Sein to dismantle terrorist network like 969 and others who has been planning and executing systematically the terror network with the support of very powerful element inside government. One of the organizers from Forth Wayne Indian said in his speech “We wait for too long since May 2012 to see action of U Thein Sein government with hope that he will do something to stop violence but Meikhtila genocide has proven that security forces do nothing when Muslim were being killed and burnt them alive.”They also highlighted the need to resettle 100 thousand Rohingya IDP to their own villages and all religious building be rebuilt on the same location as it was before. 

At 11:00 am the leaders of protesters handed over memorandum to NYP police officer to be handed over to H.E U Kyaw Tin, Permanent Representative. The protesters moved In front UN Head Quarter to demand to the world body to send UN investigation teams to find out real mastermind of terrorism inside Burma as they do not have any confident in U Thein Sein and the commission that he formed. Journalists from Turkish Journal were on the sense interviewing the protestors. The protesters ask UN Security Council to wait until all six million Muslim were killed or they send UN investigators for genocide before it is too late. They also declare that Rohingya and Burmese Muslim are one and united and will work together until justice is being done and full human right and Citizenship right is restored. 

RFA and VOA have interviewed Nay San Oo and Yusuf Iqbal the detail about the protest as well. 

For protesters of voice for voiceless 

Yusuf Iqbal

Letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Letter to Myanmar President U Thein Sein

Assed Baig

VICE

April 12, 2013

Burma's Muslims are still having a pretty awful time of it. Last year, the country's Buddhist majority launched a series of attacks on the minority Rohingya Muslim population, supposedly because they're not "ethnically pure". The attacks have continued this year and now include the general Muslim population, as well as the ethnic Rohingyas, getting their homes burned down and heads smashed in by marauding gangs of vicious Buddhists. 

After monitoring the plight of the Rohingya and the two incidents of violence against them in June and October last year, I decided to fly out to Burma in wary anticipation of another round of trouble. The problem was that I had no money, no commission, no media organisation backing me and the mainstream media had pretty much stopped reporting on the issue. When I turned to the public to help fund my trip, the response was overwhelming (turns out people do have an interest in helping to expose the extended violent persecution of vulnerable minorities) and they collectively helped me raise enough money to go. 

We stayed in Sittwe, the main city in Arakhan state, which is where the majority of the Rohingya camps are situated. Travelling past the police check points every morning and into the Rohingya camps, it felt like being transported into a parallel world where suddenly it's fine to forget about your obligations as a human to not be an unscrupulous bully to a group of people just because they originally come from somewhere different to you. The Rohingya Muslims aren't recognised as citizens of Burma, meaning they have no rights and very little access to education and healthcare.

While in Sittwe, some of my contacts told me about Rohingya women being kept at a military base. I tracked down some of the eyewitnesses, but I needed to get close to the camp to confirm what I'd heard. Bear in mind that taking pictures and video of a Burmese military base obviously isn't something to be taken lightly, and the people who'd agreed to take me there risked their lives if they were caught. 

The evidence I obtained during my week in Sittwe strongly implies that the Burmese military is imprisoning Rohingya women from the Arakhan region and using them as sex slaves. That evidence has been passed on to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a United Nations agency dealing with labour issues, who have lodged a complaint to the Burmese government and launched an investigation in an attempt to rescue the women. 

Eyewitness testimony of a military camp situated a few miles from Sittwe town (and home to Regiment 270) describes around 20 women and three children under the age of eight being held at the camp. One of the witnesses, Amina (name changed), described walking past the camp when she heard voices calling out to her. The imprisoned women asked Amina if she was Muslim; she is. 

“Please help us. If you can help us escape from here you will go to jannah (heaven),” one woman told her. “Many military men come, we can’t breathe. We want to become Muslim again. If we stay like this we will go to hell.” The intended meaning of what was said was, Amina felt, clear: these women are being raped, and they don’t have to say it explicitly for anyone to understand what's taking place. 

The prisoners asked Amina to pass the message on to someone who could help. “Our parents can't find us,” they added.

The women only managed to speak to Amina because it was Burmese Independence Day and the soldiers were away. “We've been arrested here for quite a long time now. They have left us today because they have a special visitor,” they told Amina. The women continued, telling Amina that if the word was spread too much that the military would kill them, as well as warning her that she was at risk of being killed herself if she was spotted talking to them. 

Amina saw three children inside the camp. Two of them popped their heads up on the windowsills and one came up to the fence so that Amina could pass through some vegetables she'd collected. “The women were crying," she told me. "Some of them called me daughter, others called me sister.” 

Amina described some of the women as pregnant, which could indicate that they've been prisoners since the June or October violence and have become pregnant during their imprisonment. Information relayed from various sources indicates that local villagers are aware that women are being kept as prisoners but are too scared to speak out. And as Rohingya aren't recognised as citizens of Burma – and therefore have no rights – it's fair to assume that the punishment inflicted on them for making these kinds of allegations wouldn't exactly be regulated.

An 18-year-old Rohingya man I interviewed described another camp 20 minutes away (which is home to the medical regiment), where another woman was apparently being held under similar conditions. He was one of around 14 rice paddy workers who went to speak Rakhine with the woman, the language spoken by the Buddhist population of Arakhan. The woman replied, “Don’t speak Rakhine with me any more, I am Muslim and a prisoner here.” 

She then told the men her father's name and where she was from. They asked her what she was doing at a military camp if she was Muslim, and if she was ready to come with them. She replied, “I have two children,” implying that her children are being used to keep her at the camp. This evidence has also been passed on to the ILO. 

I tracked down other eyewitnesses, but they were mostly too afraid to speak. One woman who'd seen the women imprisoned at Regiment 270’s camp initially agreed to speak to me, but backed out after her husband threatened to divorce her if she spoke to any journalists about the situation. The Rohingya have no rights or official form of protection, and those who do speak to journalists are risking their lives, so the reluctance to divulge what they know is perfectly understandable. 

The last known sighting of these women was at the end of March and it's uncertain whether they're still alive. It's also uncertain if the women are still at the camp or have been split up into different camps. But what is certain is that there are innocent Rohingya women being held captive by the Burmese military and plenty of locals know about it, only it's impossible for them to do anything about it without the threat of losing their lives. 

Follow Assed on Twitter: @AssedBaig

Press TV

April 12, 2013

A court in Myanmar sentences three Muslims to 14 years in prison with hard labor for beating a Buddhist customer in a gold shop in the central town of Meiktila. 

The gold shop owner, his wife and an employee, were given the jail terms for hitting the customer in an argument over a gold hairpin in Meiktila on March 20. 

The argument sparked several days of violence against Muslims across the country. Over 40 people were killed and more than a thousand others injured. A number of mosques and homes of Muslims were also burned down in several towns in central Myanmar. 

Myanmar’s Islamic Religious Affairs Council and the Myanmar Muslim National Affairs Organisation later appealed to the government of President Thein Sein to take swift action to stop the ‘violent attacks.’ 

On March 28, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, said he had received reports that Myanmar’s soldiers and police sometimes stood by “while atrocities have been committed before their very eyes” by well-organized Buddhist mobs in the central city of Meiktila. 

The Muslim minority of Rohingyas in Myanmar accounts for about five percent of the country’s population of nearly 60 million. The persecuted minority has faced torture, neglect, and repression since the country achieved independence in 1948. 

Last year, scores of Rohingyas were killed when Buddhist extremists carried out atrocities against Muslims in the western state of Rakhine. Thousands of Rohingyas were also displaced. 

Myanmar’s government has been repeatedly criticized for failing to protect the Rohingya Muslims.

On April 10, 2013, Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan (BRAJ) along with People Forum of Burma (PBF) had 4th regular meeting with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan on ongoing current situation of Rohingya in Burma and also to convey highest respect to Hon. National Leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi through His Excellency Mr Fumio KISHIDA, Foreign Minister of Japan, since BRAJ is unable to see her in person. 

At the meeting Deputy Directors Mr Masaru HARADA and Akemi YOSHIDA, Mr Daisuke HASEGAWA of Country Assistance Planning Division I and International Cooperation Bureau and also Katsuyuki MATSUOKA (a) Htoo Aung, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Japan in Myanmar were present. 

BRAJ President Zaw Min Htut said “We believe it is very fruitful meeting and hoping many positive changes from our Hon. Leader’s visit to Japan and from the Japanese government.” 

“We handed over a letter for Mr KISHIDA, asking to convey our highest regards and wish that our Hon. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will play a leading role in ending inter-communal violence and for a peaceful Democratic Burma.” Zaw Min Htut added.

A humble request to raise the issue of Rohingya in Myanmar with Hon. Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.

(Photo: AP)

Radio Australia

April 12, 2013

United Nations Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Myanmar, Vijay Nambiar, says the government is committed to reform and resolving the issue of Rohingya statelessness.

Myanmar's progress towards democracy has been heralded around the world, but recent violence against ethnic minorities has caused the country's human rights to be questioned. 

Despite this, Mr Nambia has told Newsline the country's reform agenda is "on track" and the government wants to address the issue of citizenship. 

"I would say that these latest developments have been a reminder of what still needs to be done, and the fragility of the process, but there is determination in the government to carry this process of reform forward," Mr Nambiar said.

"I don't know whether we can say that the entire situation in the country has been deteriorating," he said. "I think broadly the reform process is on track."

The Myanmar government has regarded Rohingya Muslims as illegal immigrants who emigrated from Bangladesh, despite living in Myanmar for generations.

Recent sectarian violence between the country's majority Buddhists and minority Muslims has exposed the distrust between the two communities, with dozens killed and thousands displaced.

In March, Myanmar's Presidential spokesman, U Ye Htut, dismissed calls that the government should grant citizenship to the thousands of Rohingya still regarded as illegal immigrants.

But Mr Nambiar says positive steps are being made to resolve the dispute.

"The government, particularly the minister for immigration, is keen on looking at the larger question of citizenship."

"I think they are conscious that they need to come out with both temporary and long term measures to address this question."

The Rohingya are widely regarded as one of the most persecuted ethnic groups in the world.

Monsoon preparations

Mr Nambiar is also confident the government has taken on board concerns that refugee camps housing Rohingya won't survive the monsoon season.

"The government seems to be keen on looking at the humanitarian aspect on the one hand, because the monsoons are going to come very soon and the shelters which have already been constructed need to be strengthened and made somewhat permanent," he said.

Myanmar's Presidential spokesman, U Ye Htut, previously dismissed UN reports that the camps sheltering 120,000 people were inadequate.