By Radio Free Asia

August 27, 2013

Residents and legislators in central Myanmar’s Sagaing region expressed anger on Monday over a lack of action by authorities in containing Buddhist mobs who went on a rampage burning Muslim shops and houses at the weekend leaving hundreds homeless.

Hundreds of rioters armed with swords and sticks torched dozens of shops and houses in Htan Gone village in Sagaing's Kanbalu township beginning Saturday in the first of spreading anti-Muslim violence to hit the region.

Nearly 50 houses were burned down and 318 people were left homeless—many of them staying with friends and relatives or at a Muslim Arabic school in the areas after the two-day violence triggered by reports that a Buddhist woman was sexually assaulted by a Muslim man.

Several people who moved to contain the violence were injured after being hit by slingshots and police had to fire several rounds of warning shots to keep the mobs at bay, eventually detaining about a dozen suspected arsonists.

Htet Aung, a Buddhist resident of Htan Gone, told RFA’s Myanmar Service that the violence spiraled out of control because authorities had reacted too slowly to contain them.

“This became bigger because of a slow reaction [by authorities],” he said, adding that it may be the first violence in the village since it was established. 

“The police had at least two hours to [bring in reinforcements] but they didn’t come in on time. They only came into the village after houses were already set on fire,” he said. 

Htet Aung said policemen who were there “were just standing around before that.”

Myint Naing, a member of parliament for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) in Kanbalu, and his colleague Win Htein, an NLD lawmaker in Rakhine state’s Meikhtila—the site of a deadly Buddhist-Muslim clash earlier this year—both blamed police inaction for the scale of the Htan Gone violence.

There were indications as early as 5:00 p.m. on Saturday that riots would erupt, Myint Naing said, with mobs setting what was believed to be the first fire around three hours later.

By 10:00 p.m., he said, a number of houses had been torched and residents called on the police to intervene, but it was already too late.

“Several police came to the village, but it was not enough. The local people asked the police to bring in the military to stop the violence, but they didn’t do it,” he said.

“I can’t say why they didn’t ask for the military … I heard that the police thought they could control the violence by themselves, but that was a mistake.”

Meikhtila similarities

Win Htein said that the violence in Htan Gone was handled by authorities in much the same way as in his constituency Meikhtila, where a dispute between a Muslim goldsmith and his Buddhist customer led to a massive riot that left more than 40 dead and 12,000 displaced—most of them Muslims.

He said that several hours had passed between the dispute and the ensuing violence in Meikhtila—similar to in Htan Gone, where angry residents gathered outside of the local police station demanding authorities hand over a Muslim man suspected of sexually assaulting a Buddhist woman.

“The Meikhtila incident started at a goldsmith shop and the violence erupted two to three hours later. The incident in Kanbalu was the same as in Meikhtila. There were several silent hours between the start of the incident and the violence,” he said.

“When the violence began, police didn’t know what to do. The problem became bigger because the police had no experience [with communal riots] and didn’t decide on the correct way to control the violence.”

An official from the Organization to Protect Nationality and Religion named Tilawka called on the public to refrain from religious violence and for authorities to work more efficiently to prevent it.

“On behalf of our organization, I would like to say that nobody should employ violence,” he said, adding that people should be tolerant of one another’s religious beliefs.

“The relevant authorities need to collaborate with each other to prevent and control the violence.”

Action defended

Ye Htut, a spokesman for Myanmar’s reformist President Thein Sein, defended the police action Monday.

He said only a handful of officers were on duty when the violence erupted and would not have stood a chance against the hundreds of Buddhists who descended on the local police station demanding that the authorities hand over the Muslim man held on suspected sexual assault charges.

“Nine police from Kanbalu couldn’t stop the mob that came to attack the police station,” Ye Htut said.

“It was only because police from the village police station informed us that more police were deployed around 10:00 p.m. and again around 1:00 a.m., and only then could we control the mob,” he said, adding that authorities had a “faster response time” than in previous incidents around the country.

Ye Htut said that in a recent meeting with division and state level governments, Thein Sein had ordered local officials to take faster action against communal violence.

“That’s why you see more police were added and relevant authorities are able to get to affected areas faster than before,” he said.

But he added that a lack of equipment at the local level had hampered some efforts to improve police response time.

“Local police stations often lack enough vehicles to get to problem areas to take action,” he said.

“We need to improve these kinds of facilities. We have also planned to get more cars for police stations.”

The incident in Sagaing came after a spate of communal violence beginning with two deadly Buddhist-Muslim clashes in western Rakhine state last year, threatening the reform drive by the reformist Thein Sein.

The clashes in Rakhine in June and October left about 200 people dead and 140,000 displaced.

The violence then spread to central Myanmar's Meikhtila and Oakkan towns in March and April, respectively, and Lashio township in eastern Shan state in May.

Reported by Kyaw Thu and Sai Tun Aung Lwin for RFA’s Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.

Rohingya refugees suffer in Thailand

At least eight of the 37,000 who fled anti-Muslim violence in Myanmar have died while detained in Thailand.

An estimated 37,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar since January because of the anti-Muslim violence there.

But according to reports, Thailand has also seriously mistreated the refugees.

Since January, eight Rohingya men have died in detention centres run by the Thai immigration department, the report said.

Al Jazeera's Veronica Pedrosa reports from southern Thailand.

RB News 

August 26, 2013 

Maungdaw, Arakan – Aung Kyaw Zin, a police of Special Branch (SB) based in Aley Than Kyaw in the Maungdaw Township of Arakan State have been arresting innocent Rohingya's. He is rottenly extorting money from them. Today, a Rohingya youth from U-Daung village was arrested by him. He is demanding 500,000 Kyat for the release of the Rohingya youth.

The Rohingya youth, 23 year old Narsu, son of Kala Miah, was coming back from Aley Than Kyaw bazaar and on his way back to home in U-Daung village. Narsu was arrested by SB police Aung Kyaw Zin on a false accusation that he was using a Bangladesh mobile phone.

Aung Kyaw Zin has been targeting Rohingyas who shop in Aley Than Kyaw bazaar for a long time. A local close to the family reported to RB News that the arrested Narsu was asked to pay 500,000 Kyat in extortion for his release. 

As many Rohingyas living around Aley Than Kyaw have been having trouble with Aung Kyaw Zin, they complained to higher authorities to take action against him. No action has been taken by the government. the villagers said that the government itself is enjoying the activities of that police officer. 

Aung Kyaw Zin is not only extorting money from the villagers but also has been reportedly engaging in human trafficking business.

RB News

August 26, 2013

Bangkok, Thailand – Thailand based Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand (BRAT) held a press conference at Student Christian Centre in Bangkok on August 24, 2013.

At the press conference, BRAT’s president U Maung Kyaw Nu said that Rohingyas are not economic migrants but compelled by oppressive regime to flee their home and hearth for the fear of persecution which categorically considered under UN Convention of Refugee so that they should be dealt accordingly with humanity. Present treatment of Rohingya by Thailand is not a solution for now and then. It is clear violation of universal human rights while Rohingya are direly in need of protection and provision then a viable solution.

He stressed that Thai government to treat Rohingya as escapee from persecution in their homeland Arakan, Myanmar so that eligible to seek refugee status for protection and to let them access to UN/Regional/International agency timely manner so taken care of their basic needs and rights in line with international standards.

The speakers at the press conference endorsed that the Rohingya refugees in Thailand to get migrant worker status and to get the chance to reunite with their families.

Surapong Kongchantuk from Human Rights Committee of Lawyers Council of Thailand said “Thailand would no longer be accused of human rights violations if the Government treated them with more compassion.”

Khun Surapong said that Thai government is prepared to talk face-to-face with the Myanmar government about large economic projects but not to talk face-to-face about Myanmar resolving Rohingya issue.

And Human Rights Watch advisor Sunai Phasuk said it was shameful that Burma was about to assume the chair of ASEAN in 2014, yet ASEAN had done nothing to solve the Rohingya issue. 

Dr. Niran Pitakwatchara from National Human Rights Commissioner of Thailand said Rohingyas faced poor temporary shelter, exploitation by trafficking gangs, and extortion from smuggling gangs during their stay in Thailand. 

“Though Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, relevant ministries could actually expedite their authority in providing decent and appropriate shelters for these people, based on human rights principles in the Thai Constitution” Dr. Niran continued.

The press conference and round-table discussion on August 24th was organized and sponsored by Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand. The panel speakers are:

- Dr. Niran Pitakwatchara, National Human Right Commissioner of Thailand, 

- Mr. Surapong Kongchantuk, Human Rights Committee of Lawyers Council of Thailand,

- Mr. Sunai Phasuk, Advisor of Human Rights Watch (HRW)

- Ms. Saowanee Khomepatr, Director, Bureau of Anti-Trafficking in Woman and Children, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, 

- Mr. Sarawoot Sriwannayos, Former President of Young Thai Muslim Organization and 

- U Maung Kyaw Nu, President of Burmese Rohinya Association in Thailand.

The Moderator was Ms. Thananuch Sanguansak, Editor of Feature News, Nation Channel.

RB News 

August 26, 2013

Pantanaw, Ayeyarwady – A Muslim house in Pantanaw Township in Ayeyarwady Division was destroyed by 969 Buddhist group today. 

Although the Buddhist religion is not official religion of Myanmar, the majority in Myanmar's population are Buddhists. Most of the ultra-religionists are celebrating as 52nd State Religion Day. Today a 969 group in Pantanaw Township is celebrating it and opening 969 related songs with super-speakers. A Muslim said to himself that the celebration is too noisy. Apparently a Buddhist heard what the Muslim said. The tension arose immediately.

The Muslim man was forced to leave from the town straight away. The 969 group asked local Muslims to destroy the house. The Muslims didn’t agree. Finally the Buddhist mob destroyed the house with the help of carpenters. The local authorities arrived at the conflict area but they couldn't manage to control the mobs.The authorities permitted the mobs to destroy the house. 

The Muslim people in the region are worried for tonight, as further attacks could be performed by the mobs. 

Moreover, today there is big celebration of State Religion Day in Thandaw Township of Arakan State. More than 500 monks and many thousand locals gather to celebrate the big day. They are about 1500 people walking in the town from place to place. There have been several alerts and information leaked from secret meetings of monks and 969 group in Thandwe that today the Buddhist mobs will terrorize the Muslims in Thandwe. 

The Kaman Muslims in Thandwe are also worried that tonight they could be attacked by the 969 group.

BMA Press Release on Latest Anti-Muslim Violence in Burma

Date: August 26, 2013

President U Thein Sein promised on his recent visit to the UK and France that there would be no tolerance for religious extremism and sectarian violence in Burma. Unfortunately, a number of serious incidents have taken place in recent days which raise questions about the government’s ability to prevent and take action against sectarian violence. 

On 24th August 2013, a rumour was spread that a Buddhist woman was raped by the three Muslim men from Htan Kone village, Kantbalu Township, Sagaing Division. The village is located at 15 miles Northern Shwebo Township. 

Mobs gathered near the police station in the evening and were joined by people from nearby villages. The group then started to attack Muslims. 

46 Muslims houses, 12 shops and one rice mill were torched and destroyed. The security forces were reported to have stood by and watched when the mobs were targeting the Muslims properties. Instead of protecting Muslims properties and arresting the attackers, the security forces requested the mob to stop the attack on Muslims.

The Burmese Muslim Association (BMA) has documented the movements of the 969 Buddhist extremist group in Shwebo Township since May 2013. Members of 969 have been distributing anti-Muslims leaflets and CDs for many months but the authorities never took any action against them.

In Meikhtilar, some Muslims who were targeted, lost properties and lost love ones as a result of the brutal violence in March 2013 were sentenced 14 years jail while members of the Buddhist mob that committed mass murder and arson attacks on Muslims were sentenced only 2 years jail. 

On 19th August, when UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar Mr. Thomas Ojea Quintana visited Meikhtilar was met by an angry mob. Mr. Quintana’s experience with the mob clearly indicates the existing potential threat for the Muslims. The failure of the security forces to protect him clearly indicated the serious weakness of the state of the rule of law in Burma.

On 9th August a Muslim man was beaten by Buddhist monks from the Thayattaw Monastery in Pha’an city, Karen state. On 20th August, a Muslim man and a teenage boy were beaten by a monk from similar monastery. On 23rd August, three Muslim men were beaten by the monks from the same monastery. BMA has recorded many similar kinds of incidents in Karen state. 

In Arakan, Rakhine Buddhists have been campaigned around 26th August to commemorate 52 years of the declaration of Buddhism as the only State religion in Burma. Rakhine Buddhists in Arakan state plan to celebrate the anniversary in Thantwe city. In the meantime, we have documented that some Rakhine extremists are organising people to attack Muslims in Thantwe where majority Kaman peoples and Rohingyas are living. Ethnic Kamans are recognized as an ethnic minority of Burma. 

Buddhist extremist in Thantwe have ordered all Buddhists to put 969 logos on their doors. We have confirmed that 5 truckloads of Rakhine extremists from across the Arakan arrived Thantwe on 23rd August. Since then, Muslims in the city are in a state of panic. Muslims in Thantwe received information that Buddhist extremists are planning to attack them on 26th August.

Instigators of hate-speech and hate-acts such as U Wirathu continue to spread hatred against Muslims. This indicates that U Thein Sein government does not intend to address the root cause, or at least is so far ineffective at doing so. The riots have been taking place in different places every time. The consequences of not stopping these hate-crimes are very serious and could lead to further mass killings and even popular genocide campaigns. 

We, the Burmese Muslim Association urge the international community to put pressure on Burmese government to protect minorities in Burma from any massacre. Burmese government should protect its citizens equally, and also guarantee protection and security for those whose right to citizenship is contested, such as the stateless Rohingya. The rule of law should be same for everyone residing in Burma. All the displaced persons should be allowed to return to their former places without any restriction. All the religious premises should rebuilt and repair at similar places. All perpetrators of violence should be brought to justice without bias. 

On the eve of Burma's assumption of the ASEAN chair, the government must demonstrate its commitment to protecting peace and security for it citizens and for the entire region.

Burmese Muslim Association 

Media Contact:

Kyaw Win +44-740-345-2378(UK) kyawwin78@gmail.com; 

Ms. Yasmin +1 408 250 6227(USA) yasnohana@sbcglobal.net; 

Kyaw Swa +44 782 842 6801(UK) kyawzwa@b-m-a.org; 

Ms. Molly +1 416 516 7383 (Canada) law4women@gmail.com;

RB News 

August 25, 2013

Sittwe, Arakan – The Rohingya IDPs in Aung Mingalar quarter, Sittwe Township in Arakan State have been moving to designated camps since Saturday. The IDPs were given little notice. Just a few hours before the move was made. These people didn't want to move from Aung Mingalar. They moved there to escape life in the camps. They have to move now because they can’t disobey the order given by the local government. The government has two puppets in the quarter, one is a Rohingya man and another is a Kaman man. The local and international media were misinformed by them as if the moving of the IDPs was voluntary. 

RB News posted the news in English and Burmese after the ordered imposed in Aung Mingalar quarter. Two puppets of the local government are Rohingya man Shwe Hla and Kaman man Shwe Zan Aung. Among them, Shwe Zan Aung spoke to Radio Free Asia Burmese service and Associated Press that the government is not forcing them to move. It is simply a lie according to locals. 

Every family who are moving to the designated camps got Kyat 9,000. The money was paid by a group from Rangoon who visited the quarter recently. Locals said that the group donated Kyat 5 million for the people living in Aung Mingalar quarter. So the authority is giving 9,000 Kyat to every family who are moving. 

Yesterday 130 families, 577 people moved to the camp nearby Thet Kay Phyin and today 89 families, 396 people moved to the camps nearby Thet Kay Pyin and Baw Du Pha. The remaining IDPs will be moved on the following days. 

Regarding the lies of Shwe Zan Aung “We have two puppets of government in our quarter. They are Shwe Hla and Shwe Zan Aung. They have many opportunities as they are talking from the government side. They can go anywhere while many restrictions on us. They can also call any police and use them as their guards at any time. The government offered them something and is using them as informers. Every community has such opportunists. So as they are getting something, they are taking the government side and are echoing the same tune as them. Indeed nobody wants to move from Aung Mingalar. They are living here since last year because they didn't want to stay in designated camps.” a Rohingya from Aung Mingalar told RB News.

RB News 

August 25, 2013

Kanbalu, Sagaing - According to local State Media, MRTV News, 39 Muslim houses, 3 shops and 1 chicken farm were torched by radical Buddhist mobs. Additionally, 3 houses, 12 grocery store and 3 construction shops were destroyed in Htan Gone, Kanbalu Township of Sagaing Division. 

According to locals, although higher authorities were available at that time they couldn’t manage to stop the incident. The mobs set the fire at about 9 pm and the houses were burning till today early morning. Now the homeless Muslims are taking refuge in the Madarasa (Religious School) in Htan Gone. 

Wirathu, a radical monk based in Mandalay posted on his Facebook yesterday when the violence started in Htan Gone that three Muslim men raped a 19-years-old Buddhist girl. Although it is completely rumor, most of his followers believe whatever he propagates.

BBC Burmese service had an interview with the local police. The police said that a Muslim man proposed to a girl and tried to hug her. So the rumor spread out in the region that she was raped. The Muslim man is in custody now. Police are investigating the matter deeply.

The Eleven Media Group, well known as an instigator since last year, echoed the same as radical monk Wirathu in their Burmese news. Wirathu and Eleven Media have been instigating the Myanmar public by posting the rumors to fuel the violence. Although it is a matter that must be solved by local police, the radical 969 group is always ready in any region to attack Muslims. The authorities never try to control the situation, whenever there is an attack on Muslims.

The Ministry of Information released the news this afternoon and reported that the Muslim man tried to rape 25-years-old Buddhist girl. However the ministry could not provide the profile detail of the Muslim man. The news of the ministry said the police and fire brigade were attacked by the mobs. The police opened fire into the air to disperse the crowd. They use a different method against Buddhist and Muslims in Myanmar. The police opened fired directly into peaceful protesters when Muslims in Sittwe asked for the dead body of a Muslim fisherman killed by police on August 9, 2013.

Now that the Muslims in Htan Gone have lost their properties, they are homeless and left on their own. There is no hope that the government will help them rebuild their houses Although the government has full responsibility to protect its citizens.

By Hanna Hindstrom

Democratic Voice of Burma

August 24, 2013

Burma’s ethnic Rohingya continue to face heavy persecution in northern Arakan state, despite the dissolution of a controversial border guard force which had been implicated in mass atrocities against the Muslim community.

According to an independent report seen by DVB on Friday, Rohingyas living in the Muslim-majority Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships near the Bangladeshi border have been “subject to a campaign of mass arrest and renewed restrictions” since a wave of clashes with Buddhists in Arakan state last year.

Although Rohingyas in northern Arakan suffered fewer casualties, less segregation and displacement in the violence compared to those in Buddhist-majority regions, abuses against them are of “significant concern” and a climate of harassment and insecurity persists.

Hundreds of Rohingyas, including children, the elderly and four humanitarian workers, continue to be detained since last year’s riots which displaced over 140,000 people across the western state. The vast majority are being held in the notorious Buthidaung prison, where credible reports of “systematic torture” have emerged.

“They have not had access to fair judicial process and many had been tortured before or in jail custody,” warned the report. “While some are still awaiting trial, many were convicted with harsh prison sentences.”

Earlier this week, Buthidaung court sentenced 43 Rohingya detainees to jail terms ranging from six years to life for their alleged role in the violence. It is also alleged that “several truckloads” of Rohingya inmates, including children, were transferred out of the jail in the days preceding the visit of Tomás Ojea Quintana, the UN special Rapporteur, to the area in mid-August. They were reportedly sent back after he left.

This account was confirmed by Shwe Maung, a Rohingya MP from Buthidaung township. “An eyewitness called me before the visit of Mr Quintana and said that about 200 prisoners were moved to Maungdaw and after the visit they were [moved] back,” he told DVB on Friday.

Quintana, who wrapped up a 10-day visit to Burma this week, told DVB that concerns about torture in Buthidaung jail were legitimate.

“I can confirm last year during the violence that hundreds of Muslims in detention were subjected to systematic use of torture,” he said in an exclusive interview. “These are crimes that the government is obliged to investigate and to hold accountable those who are responsible.”

Meanwhile local sources say that the disbanding of the notorious Nasaka border guard force, which was set up in 1992 to patrol the Bangladeshi border, has only brought “modest improvements” and many Rohingyas view the move as simply “old wine in a new bottle”.

The report notes that while police officers have reduced their reliance on forced labour and eased some local travel restrictions, the collection of arbitrary taxation has skyrocketed. Rickshaw drivers have reported being forced to pay 100 kyat (US$0.10) each time they pass through police checkpoints outside of Maungdaw.

Shwe Maung adds that Rohingyas are still unable to travel between townships, such as Buthidaung and Maungdaw, and workers without travel permits have been arrested at police checkpoints.

“Even though the Nasaka was disbanded, people are still not allowed to move freely, they cannot go freely to Maungdaw, they cannot go freely to Sittwe. So socio-economically, it is very bad,” said Shwe Maung, who represents the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party.

After a meeting with Quintana, the Arakan Chief of Police confirmed that anyone found in possession of a Bangladeshi mobile phone or SIM card would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with existing laws. But he denied that Rohingyas were subject to a two-child limit, as previously affirmed by the Burmese government.

Describing it to a Nasaka “practice”, he added that village administrators would now be in charge of issuing marriage permits, which Rohingya couples are required to obtain. Chris Lewa, head of the Arakan project, said that is too early to assess the long-term impact of the Nasaka’s dissolution, especially relating to the two-child policy but that marriage restrictions were “unlikely” to change.

She added that the main perpetrator of human rights violations and arbitrary arrests was the army, which is exclusively made up of Buddhists. “Nearly all forced labour is now carried out by the military,” said Lewa, who advocates for the rights of Rohingyas.

Locals say there has been a sharp increase in military troops in Maungdaw and Buthidaung, amid news reports that militant pro-Rohingya groups have been active along the border. But Shwe Maung dismissed the reports as “propaganda” intended to stir communal tensions.

President Thein Sein disbanded the Nasaka in mid-July amid heavy international criticisms of its treatment of the Rohingya, who are viewed as illegal Bengali immigrants by the government and denied citizenship in Burma.

RB News 

August 24, 2013 

Kanbalu, Sagaing – The Muslims in Htan Gone, Kanbalu Township in the Sagaing Division are under attacks by local Buddhist mobs according to locals.

It is unclear as to why the violence started, but it is not unusual in Myanmar, as the Muslims in several townships have been attacked by Buddhist mobs since March 2013. This has become far too routine after the violence took place in Arakan State in 2012.

RB News has received reports from locals that the monks and the Buddhist mobs have surrounded the mosque in Htan Gone since 9:30 pm local time. Although the situation was extremely tense the mosque hasn’t yet been attacked.

However, there have been about seven Muslim shops that were destroyed by the mobs and six Muslim homes that have been burnt down by the mobs. Additionally a chicken farm was also burnt down.

The military and local police are surrounding the nearby mosque to observe the situation. However, it can’t be said that the mosque would be safe seeing as how the security forces are constantly near the place where the violence take place and they never show any effort to stop the violence against Muslims.

Earlier in the day the telephone landlines and mobile phones were working properly but the lines became incommunicado after the crowds appeared in front of the mosque. The locals said the crowd was about 200 and now growing to somewhere around 500 in all.

Although the fire brigade came the mobs didn’t allow them to enter the area of the conflict.

By U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)

Bottom Line Assessment: Issues of religion and ethnicity will shape the trajectory of Burma’s political reform before the planned 2015 elections. Burma is currently designated by the State Department as a “country of particular concern” for particularly severe violations of religious freedom, as ongoing political reforms have yet to dramatically improve the situation for freedom of religion and belief. Sectarian and societal violence, anti-Muslim exclusionary campaigns, and military incursions have caused egregious religious freedom violations against Muslims and some ethnic minority Christians. Nonetheless, in areas where the military has retreated from daily governance, the worst human rights abuses have receded in the past year (including many that affected religious communities). Legal restrictions on some religious activities remain in place, but are enforced sporadically, if at all, depending on region, ethnicity, and religious group. The situation of the ethnic minority Rohingya, which intertwines issues of religious freedom and ethnic discrimination, remains a profound humanitarian and political crisis. It threatens to inflame anti-Muslim prejudices in other parts of the country, create large refugee flows in the region, instigate additional sectarian violence and discrimination, and potentially undermine the political reform process.

Read full report on Scribd --

Burma: Implications of Religious and Ethnic Violence

U Kyaw Min

RB Opinion

August 24, 2013

President Thein Sein after his British and France trip on 21st of July met with some of his ministers, Myanmar Human Rights commission and interfaith trust building committee, where he emphatically declared zero tolerance for any racial and religious violence in the future. He said peace, stability and rule of law are the most important things. All should co-operate and take responsibility in this context. IDPs in Rakhine state should be resettled promptly, where by sustainable economic development program should be introduced. All should be treated equally. No further discrimination in the country. We know Rohingyas bore the brunt of the violence in Rakhine State. They principally suffered by the violence.

This notion of our president is a big change in the state policy. We appreciate it. A lot of kudos goes to the president.

But this anomalous and unexpected attitude of the president is challenged in the same meeting by some of his ministers and by Myanmar Human Rights Commission Chairman U Win Mra.

Union immigration minister U Khin Yee said so called Rohingya would be dealed in accord with 1982 citizenship Law. What we know is that Law is deliberately enacted to strip Rohingya of their citizenship after they had been repatriated in 1978. Almost all Rohingyas in the camps held National Registration Cards which at that time was nationality card. According to existing laws then no foreigners could hold NRCs. Foreigners were issued FRCs: Foreigner Registration Cards.

The possession of the NRCs by refugees compelled Burma to receive back the refugees as her citizens. Thenceforth U Ne Win got a second thought to make NRCs null and void. There came the 1982 new citizenship Law which implicitly abrogated the legal value of NRCs. There after NRCs holders are not recognized as citizens though these NRCs stood as genuine nationality cards until recently. In 1990 as well as in 2010 elections NRC holders could compete in the elections. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi contested in last year interim election with that NRC.

On the other hand NRC holding Rohingyas are alleged to be illegal immigrants. Their NRCs were seized and substituted with so called white cards, which has no legal value. If NRC of Rohingya is accepted as nationality cards as in case of others, all Rohingyas are entitled to obtain nationality scrutiny cards under 1982 citizenship law. But things in Myanmar are not going like this.

Formerly one without holding either NRC or FRC could not live freely in the country. A man without any registration cards would be arrested, imprisoned and lastly deported according to Myanmar immigration Law. It is a wonder how one million plus Rohingyas could live for generations in Myanmar if they are foreigners or illegal immigrants as Myanmar government accuses now.

U Khin Yee said in the above meeting that 1982 citizenship Law recognizes as citizens who formerly were naturalized, not those who hold NRCs. He further said Rohingya who could not prove three back generalizations could not have the right to apply for naturalization, but they will be issued white cards which actually have no legal value under any existing law. This dilemma is a creation of present government.

The core problem is there. For individuals it is difficult to show birth certificates or other residency related paper documents which really were not in existence in pre-independence period. The records of people would be only in the immigration and man power department offices in Myanmar.

U Ye Htut, deputy information minister most paradoxically said he learn there were thousands of Muslims in Rakhine during Myanmar King’s period. But they were Bangali whom we cannot recognize as indigenous race although our laws say a people who permanently live in our dominion before 1823 is indigenous race. He said descendents of those Bangali have the right for naturalization. Here this notion is not in accord with the existing laws but according to their whim.

The worse is what the Myanmar Human Rights commission Chairman, U Win Mra said, “We cannot give our citizenship to this Rohingya because they cannot speak our (Rakhine) Language”. Here U Win Mra (a Rakhine) forgets the fact that all Rakhine including their kings spoke Rohingya Language. All Rakhnie including U Win Mra himself were bilingual in the past. Rakhine kings had Muslim names. Rakhine courts use Bangali and Parsian (the language of Rohingya then) as official Language. Rohingya were not required to speak Rakhine Language. (See, Thibaut d Hubert and Jacques P. Leider; Traders and Poets at the Mrauk-U court, 2011)

Again what U Win Mra said is in disrespect of international Human Rights norms and standard. It is deplorable to here this notion from a Human Rights commission chairman. He does not deserve that post.

Since hundreds of scholars are unfolding through their vigorous research the historicity and ethnicity of Rohingya, U Win Mra’s assertion or condition for Rohingyas’ citizenship will fade away in the air. Here one of the renowned Scholar Nobel Laureate, Harvard Professor Amartya Sen perceptively observed: Rohingya did not come to Burma but Burma came to Rohingya (Land).

So I hope Myanmar government and extremist with chauvinistic mentality will reconcile themselves with reason and truth. They should have courage to accept the reality of Rohingyas historicity. 21st century is not a century of racialists and apartheid. Therefore my request here to them is “stop crying for segregation and separation”. It is the age of globalization, human rights and democracy.

By UN News Centre

August 23, 2013

A United Nations independent expert today urged greater inclusion of women and other minority voices in the peace efforts in Myanmar and called on the Government to fulfil its obligations in stemming the spread of incitement of religious hatred directed against minority communities.

Wrapping up his eighth visit to the South-East Asian country, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, stressed that Myanmar had made positive improvement in its human rights situation, and has the potential for further progress.

But at the same time, he stressed that the historical need of reconciliation with ethnic groups and the spread of incitement of hatred against religious minority groups are among remaining critical challenges.

“The initiatives being implemented at the highest levels by the Government to stop more fighting in the country needs to be accompanied, in parallel, with measures at the grassroots level to also engage local and rural communities in the process of peacebuilding and reconciliation,” Mr. Ojea Quintana said.

He commended the Government for increasing space for civil society, including the recent commemoration of the 1988 pro-democracy protests but urged more space to be opened up for “all voices to be heard” so communities have trust and belief that this process will lead to a better future.

“The past is unavoidable and will always come up in a country that has suffered decades of conflict and oppression,” he stressed. “The Government, together with civil society has to build on this progress towards addressing the past through mechanisms to establish the truth and bring reconciliation.”

Mr. Ojea Quintana also called on the Government to stem the spread of incitement of religious hatred directed against minority communities through strong public messaging, the establishment of the rule of law, and policing in line with international human rights standards.

He expressed concern over the continued separation and segregation of communities in Rakhine State adding that it was becoming increasingly permanent and impacting negatively on the Muslim community.

Any attempt by the Special Rapporteur to visit Meiktila, where violence in March targeting the Muslim community left over 10,000 people displaced and led to 43 people killed, was cut short after this entourage was roughed up by demonstrators.

“Around 200 people descended over my car. They punched and kicked the windows and doors and [were] shouting abuses,” Mr. Ojea Quintana told UN Radio. “My concern is that the police nearby, stood by without really stopping these people and intervening. The incident which took place in Meiktila was very serious, but I already discussed [it] with the Government and I hope in the near future this will not happen again.”

During his 10-day visit, the Special Rapporteur also visited Chin State, Kachin State and Shan State, and Meikhtila in Mandalay Region.

He also noted that Myanmar still has prisoners of conscience, some of whom he met during his visit to the Insein prison in Yangon, and other detention centres in Rakhine State.

“They should be released immediately and unconditionally,” Mr. Ojea Quintana reiterated.

President Thein Sein granted amnesty in July to 73 prisoners of conscience, as part of a series of reforms initiated two years ago following the establishment of a new Government. He has announced that by the end of the year all remaining political prisoners will have been released.

Special rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

The Nation

August 23, 2013

RB News 

August 23, 2013

Sittwe, Arakan – Rohingya IDPs who have been staying in Aung Mingalar quarter in the Sittwe Township in Arakan State, have been ordered to move to designated refugee camps by the local authorities. They will have to move from Aung Mingalar without prior notice. 

After violence broke out in Sittwe, 301 Rohingya families IDPs from Kyaung Gyi Lane, Ka The and Kone Dan fled to the Aung Mingalar quarter to escape life in refugee camps. Most of them are living at their relatives houses in the Aung Mingalar quarter. Today the authorities ordered them to move to the UN registered refugee camps in Ohn Daw Gyi, Say Ta Mar Gyi and Baw Du Pha. The locals said more than 1500 IDPs will be moving forcibly. 

“They lost all of their properties during the violence in 2012. However they didn’t move to refugee camps as they don’t like to stay there. All of them are living in their relatives’ houses in Aung Mingalar. Now the leader of Aung Mingalar quarter, U Shwe Hla is collecting the names of those IDPs and they will have to move tomorrow morning at 9 am although they are flatly denying to move from here.” a Rohingya from Aung Mingalar quarter told RB News.

Another Rohingya from Aung Mingalar said “It is declared with some official document by the Chief Minister. There are nearly 1500 registered Rohingya IDPs in Aung Mingalar up to now. And the IDPs are guess that they will be placed in Say Ta Ma Gyi camps but it is not confirmed which camps they have to go. Some are refusing peacefully saying to the village leaders that they won’t go there even the authorities stop the ration for them.”

“The authorities are threatening that they will not provide the ration any more if the IDPs do not move to the camps. Although they are not getting much ration, they will be helpless if the ration stops as everyone in Aung Mingalar has no earning at all since last year.” the Rohingya man continued.

By Dr. Habib Siddiqui

RB Article

August 23, 2013

Tomas Ojea Quintana, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, was in Myanmar last week on a 10-day fact finding trip. It was his eighth official visit to the country that took him to Rakhine State, Chin State, Kachin State and Shan State, and Meikhtila in Mandalay Region. 

Quintana’s visit to Burma got off to a bumpy start when he was greeted in Arakan State by nearly 90 Arakanese Buddhist Magh protesters, some of whom carried signs urging the “one-sided Bengali lobbyist” to “get out,” reflecting perceptions among some that the UN envoy is biased in favor of the state’s Rohingya Muslims. It is not unusual for a country that has come to symbolize the den of intolerance, racism and bigotry in our times. Many in Burma—including the government—refer to the Rohingya - who are indigenous to Arakan before Buddhist Maghs moved to the region – as Bengalis.

At Wednesday’s press conference, Quintana pushed back against accusations of bias, saying, “Let me reaffirm that I have a willingness to work for the human rights of all the people of Myanmar. … I am ready also to talk to those who disagree with my approach and with my opinions. I did it in Rakhine State, I stepped off my car and I talked to the protesters." “The condition is that it has to be a peaceful dialogue and that’s the challenge in Myanmar with respect to this issue.”

Quintana's ordeal recalled the difficulties previous U.N. envoys had in dealing with Myanmar before military rule ended in 2011, when they were often barred from meeting people, snubbed by officials and even denied entry to the country.

The human rights situation in Arakan State has drawn international attention and severe condemnation, with human rights groups and foreign leaders alike expressing serious concern over the humanitarian conditions of some 140,000 IDPs (internally displaced people) who live in 76 squalid camps that are located outside the state’s townships. The IDPs, most of whom are Rohingyas, were driven from their homes in two bouts of genocidal campaigns by the racist Buddhists last year. The Rohingyas have faced systemic discrimination for decades and are denied citizenship by the apartheid government, which contends that they are illegal “Bengali” immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh.

Just days before Quintana’s arrival, police opened fire on crowds of Rohingya Muslims in IDP camps outside of Sittwe (Akyab), the state capital, in the latest instance of violence to hit the troubled region. At least one Rohingya was killed by police bullets and several others were wounded by the gunfire.

In Kachin State, Quintana met last week with government officials and representatives of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), but was denied access to the KIO stronghold of Laiza on the Sino-Burmese border, with the government citing security concerns. “This pattern of denying access, not only to address humanitarian shortcomings but also serious human rights concerns, needs to change immediately,” Quintana said on Wednesday.

In Meikhtila, his planned visit to an IDP camp on August 19 had to be cancelled after a group of Buddhist protesters aggressively confronted him. He said: "My car was descended upon by a crowd of around 200 people who proceeded to punch and kick the windows and doors while shouting abuse." 

In March, following weeks of incitement of religious hatred within the community, violence targeting the Muslim community erupted in Meikhtila, leaving over 10,000 Muslims displaced. The pogrom against Muslims there saw Buddhist mobs torch whole Muslim areas in violence that spread to other parts of the country. The victims included more than 20 students and teachers of a Muslim school on the outskirts of Meikhtila, who were set upon by armed men and beaten and burned to death, according to witnesses interviewed by AFP.

Graphic video footage given to AFP by activists shows an embankment next to the school turned into a killing field, watched over by uniformed police who did nothing to stop those horrendous crimes.

After the March violence, Quintana said the reluctance of security forces to crack down on the unrest suggested a possible state link to the fighting. Commenting on the mob attack on his car this time, he said, "The fear that I felt during this incident, being left totally unprotected by the nearby police, gave me an insight into the fear residents would have felt during the violence last March, as police allegedly stood by as angry mobs beat, stabbed and burned to death some 43 people." 

In a statement released by the UN Information Center, Quintana highlighted the role of the state in preventing such incidents from spiraling out of control: "I must highlight the obligation of the police to act immediately to control violent mobs running riot in communities, and protect all people regardless of their religion or ethnicity; something it seems they have not done during the violence in Meiktila." 

After meeting with residents who witnessed the scenes last March, he stressed, "The violence in Meiktila has highlighted to me the dangers of the spread of incitement of religious hatred in Myanmar, and the deadly environment that this can create. The central and state government has an obligation to address these worrying trends."

Quintana visited Lashio in Shan State where he met with township authorities and Muslim leaders. During the violence in late April, which affected the Muslim community in Lashio, in most cases the police stood by while the Buddhist mobs set fire to Muslim houses, shops, a mosque and a Muslim orphanage. A Muslim man was brutally beaten to death with sticks and stabbed, and his wife was severely injured. Thousands of Muslims remain internally displaced in the region.

Quintana also noted that the state and central government in Myanmar are working well with the international community to address urgent humanitarian needs of both Rakhine Buddhists and the Muslim communities. "However," he said, "my overriding concern is that the separation and segregation of communities in Rakhine State is becoming increasingly permanent, making the restoration of trust difficult. This continues to have a particularly negative impact on the Muslim community. The severe restrictions on freedom of movement in Muslim IDP camps and villages remain in place. I visited Aung Mingalar, the only remaining Muslim ward in Sittwe, where a large number of people are living in a confined space, with the periphery marked out with barbed wire and guarded by armed police. This has serious consequences for fundamental human rights, including access to healthcare, education, as well as access to livelihoods. Furthermore, there continues to be cases of humanitarian workers facing intimidation by local groups when attempting to provide healthcare to the camps, which compounds the problem of access to healthcare." 

He welcomed the disbandment of Nasaka, a border security force which has committed numerous human rights violations over the years. He said, "The police and army have now taken charge of security in Rakhine State. Although there are legitimate security concerns which the police and army are addressing, I have received many serious allegations of the disproportionate use of force in dealing with large crowds of Muslim protestors. The latest incident saw live ammunition used to disperse a crowd of Muslims in Sittwe, with two killed and several injured. Security forces need to stop the use of excessive force. Sittwe and in particular Buthidaung prison are filled with hundreds of Muslims men and women detained in connection with the violence of June and October 2012. Many of these have been arbitrarily detained and tried in flawed trials. I met the State Chief Justice and urged for the respect of due process of law. The use of torture and ill treatment, including some cases of death, during the first three months of the June outbreak, needs to be properly investigated and those responsible held to account."

He called on the Myanmar Government to fulfill its obligations in stemming the spread of incitement of religious hatred directed against minority communities, through strong public messaging, the establishment of the rule of law, and policing in line with international human rights standards. He said, "The starting point for the solution to the situation in Rakhine lies with the unavoidable role of the state in pursuing policies that benefit both communities and brings the restoration of the rule of law as a means to build bridges between them."

The U.S.-based group Physicians for Human Rights, in a report released Tuesday, blamed the government for failing "to protect vulnerable groups" and allowing "a culture of impunity for the violators," and called on the government to conduct thorough investigations and prosecute those responsible. It warned that Burma risked “catastrophic” levels of conflict, including “potential crimes against humanity and/or genocide,” if authorities failed to stem anti-Muslim hate speech and a culture of impunity around the clashes.

As I have noted in my earlier commentaries on Myanmar, the state remains a pariah state with its apartheid structure intact. The so-called reform activities of the government of Thein Sein have not put a dent in that massive structure. Unless, that structure is uprooted and its racist and bigot elements within the broader society tamed down Myanmar would continue to repeat her past crimes and her records of human rights abuses and tortures would remain a matter of grave concern to the civilized world. The UN and the international community, on their part, need to ensure that Myanmar's Thein Sein government is not prematurely rewarded for its half-hearted reform activities, which thus far, deplorably, have been hypocritical to the core to fool them. They ought to also make sure that the ideologues of Buddhist racism and bigotry against the Muslims and Christians are hunted down for their incitement of genocidal activities within Myanmar. Only by bringing such war criminals – the promoters of intolerance – to the book, can the government send the message to its racist and bigotry-ridden, fractured society that such evils will no longer be tolerated in new Myanmar. 

Will the Buddhist leaders of Myanmar have the hindsight, courage and wisdom to do what is morally right towards bridge-building and finding a place in the civilized world? Or, is it a hopeless case with this Mogher Mulluk that will continue to snub voices of reason and wisdom, so well put by Tomas Quintana in his press release?

Andrew Day

RB News 

August 22, 2013

Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh - 22 year old Rohingya man Mohammed Salim from Nayapara Refugee camp found trouble while trying to collect firewood from a nearby forest. The incident happened on Tuesday, August 20, 2013.

After collecting as much wood as he could travel with, Mohammed Salim headed back towards the camp. Before he reached his destination he was confronted by young men from a nearby village. 

The villagers demanded that Mohammed Salim gave him the firewood. When he refused, the young men began to beat him. He managed to escape from their clutches and ran away.

The next day, the young villagers sought out to find mohammed. reportedly donning a large knife, a gun and a large stick. 

Once the villagers failed to locate him, they proceeded to call the local Forestry Office. The villagers fabricated a story that Mohammed had collected wood from an area that was close to the village and restricted from cutting.

The Forestry Office contacted to Camp in Charge (CIC) office. The CIC called two police constables who proceeded to go to to his house. When they arrived, the police arrested the young mans father Mohammed Ali. They brought him to the CIC office. After questioning, the CIC fined him for 1500 BDT to be paid to the Forestry Office.

By Aye Aye Win

Associated Press

August 22, 2013

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar's government on Thursday disputed accusations that it failed to protect a top U.N. human rights envoy who said his vehicle was attacked by a 200-strong Buddhist mob during a visit to a city where religious violence flared earlier this year.

President Thein Sein's spokesman, Ye Htut, said U.N. rights rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana was never in any danger during his visit this week.

He said members of the crowd approached Quintana's convoy in the central city of Meikhtila only to give him a letter and a T-shirt, "so what Quintana said is very different from the true situation."

Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist nation of 60 million people, has been gripped by sectarian violence in the last year that has left more than 250 people dead and sent another 140,000 fleeing their homes. Most of the victims — including at least 43 from a March attack in Meikhtila — were Muslims.

Quintana's 10-day visit to Myanmar, which ended Wednesday, was in part aimed at investigating ongoing tensions and the response of the government.

Quintana said his convoy was mobbed Monday night as security forces looked on.

"The fear that I felt during this incident, being totally unprotected by the nearby police, gave me an insight into the fear residents would have felt when being chased down by violent mobs during violence last March ... when police allegedly stood by as angry mobs beat, stabbed and burned to death 43 people," he said.

Quintana slammed the government for failing to do its job. "The state has failed to protect me," he said.

Ye Htut had another version of events.

In addition to helping to disperse hundreds of people before Quintana's arrival — he said 100 were left by the time the convoy arrived — one police car was escorting the U.N. rights envoy and 30 other officers were controlling the crowd, he said.

"Police gave protection to him and people had no intention to hurt him," Ye Htut said, adding that police successfully cleared a path and the convoy passed without incident.

Myanmar only recently emerged from decades of isolation and military rule. One of the biggest challenges of the new, quasi-civilian government has been the rising anti-Muslim sentiment.

Quintana said his own experience "highlighted for me the dangers of the spread of religious incitement in Myanmar and the deadly environment that this can create."

"Although the chief minister declared that the trust had been restored, this does not reflect reality," he said.

The unrest began last year in the western state of Rakhine, where Buddhists accuse the Rohingya Muslim community of illegally entering the country to encroach on their land.

Quintana faced several smaller protests during his visit, most of them peaceful. Almost all were by Buddhists, who feel that the U.N. and other international agencies are ignoring their complaints and tilting relief and reconstruction efforts in favor of the Muslim community.

It was Quintana's eighth trip to Myanmar since being named U.N. rights rapporteur. He will present his findings to the U.N. General Assembly on Oct. 24.