Friday, October 19, 2007

CRDB's Statement at the Press Conference at the National Press Club in Oslo, Norway

Press Release

Today, (Oct 19.2007), a press conference was held by "The Council for Restoration of Democracy in Burma (CRDB)", an organization of Rohingyas in exile, in collaboration with The Union of Rohingya Communities in Europe (URCE) at the National Press Club in Oslo, Norway where the Chairman of the CRDB, Mr A. Rahman Farooq read out the written statement of the organization. The conference was also addressed by the Social Welfare Secretary of The Union of Rohingya Communities in Europe (URCE), Mrs Nora Zahid. The conference was also attended among others by Mr Naing Win Zahid, Chairman of URCE, Mr Hassan Ahmed, Vice Chairman of URCE, Mr Habib Pitar, Vice Chairman of URCE, Mr Hamdan Mg Kyaw Naing, Secretary General of URCE, Mr Gafur Ahmed, Publicity & Information Secretary and Mrs Mahmuda, organizing Secretary of URCE. The full text of the Press Statement is enclosed herewith below and the photographs of the Press Conference is attached herewith below.


CRDB's Statement at the Press Conference at
the National Press Club in Oslo, Norway
Dated: Oct 19.2007


Hon'ble Journalists, Media Representatives, dignitaries, ladies & gentlemen,
At the very beginning, we, "The Council for Restoration of Democracy in Burma (CRDB)", an organization of Rohingyas in exile, would like to express our full support and gratitude on behlaf of all Rohingyas in exile, to our heroic monks who have once again took to the street to raise their voice against the Reign of Terror of the Burmese Military rulers. We would also like to express our deep appreciation to the people of Burma who have once again marched who have rendered all out support to the ongoing struggle against the military repression, risking the military repression and loss of life. We would also like to extend our compliments and sincere thanks to the peace loving people of the world for their understanding the plight of the people of Burma and for expressing strong solidarity with threir struggle.
Mentionably, since the Pro-Democracy Uprising of 1988, the whole Rohingya community of Arakan has been actively and spontaneously taking part in the pro-democracy struggle shoulder in shoulder with other pro-democracy activists of Burma and for that reason hundreds of Rohingyas have been killed and thousand of Rohingyas have been imprisoned and over and above, U Kyaw Min who has been elected a Member of Parliament in the General Election of 1990 with a landslide victory and who is respected by the whole Rohingya community as a great leader - has been put in the jail for 47-years term and at the same time, his wife, his two daughters and one son have also been imprisoned. Now they are all passing a nightmarish life in the jail in Burma. His other 3 sons have luckily fled to Malaysia and they were brought by the Norwegian government to Norway few months back. In today's conference here is present his one son Mr Hamdan Mg Kyaw Naing. Here is also present the Chairman of The Union of Rohingya Communities in Europe (URCE), Mr Naing Win Zahid whose one sister is now in the jail in Burma for 20 years term out of which she has already passed 10 years, on the charge of helping some other Rohingyas to travel to Rangoon, because Rohingyas are not totally allowed to Rangoon and also in Arakan which is a state under the Union of Burma and where the Rohingyas mainly live, the Rohingyas are not allowed to move from one township to another without the pass from the local military administration. His another sister is now on the run to Thailand after being wanted by the army on the charge of organizing recent anti-government activities. Here is also present the Vice Chairman of the URCE Mr Habib Peter and Vice Chairman of the URCE Mr Hassan Ahmed whose one brother has been brutally killed by the army 7 years back.
However, in today's press conference, we would like to highlight some points as below about Burma and Rohingyas which are not so much known to the world:
(1) Heartrending stories of crackdown during 27 years long Military Rule from 1962 to 1988:

Since 1988, the military crackdown which has been being conducted by the Burmese military rulers against the pro-democracy activists, are more or less known to the world where thousands of democracy-seeking people, including students, monks, government employees, workers, farmers, traders and even housewives, have fallen victims to the military brutalities and thousands of others have been either maimed or imprisoned without any trial. And despite the landslide victory of NLD (National League for Democracy) in the General Election of May 1990, the army has denied to hand over power to it and instead, Burma's legitimate leader Nobel Peace Prize Winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been put in house detention.

But the atrocities which were perpetrated by the military rulers during 27-years long military rule since 1962 to 1988 turning the whole country into a secret state of terror and isolating the country from the rest of the world - is not so much known to the world.

However, on the evening of 7 July 1962, the army has indiscriminately massacred 135 students of Rangoon University, wounded many others and arrested about 3000 students. It was simply because the students of the Rangoon University raised protest against some rules and regulations which were imposed upon them by the regime restricting their usual movement like those in the military barracks. And a fter the shooting, the campus was cleared up, the dead and the wounded were carried away and at midnight the historic "Students Union Building" was dynamited and bulldozed.

Similar grim showbiz was perpetrated by the military regime on 11 December 1974 , where hundreds of university students were brutally killed by the army following the tug-of-war over the siege of the body of U Thant, the Ex-Secretary General of the UN. U Thant was and still is regarded by the people of Burma as a most serene and brightest son of Burma. However, the students were massacred because they wanted to put the body of U Thant to final rest in an honorable site which would stand for the people of Burma as the milestone of glory and pride. But Gen. Ne Win wanted to bury the body in a common cemetery of "Kyandaw" where the body of notorious Khine May Than (Ne Win's first legal wife) was buried. Thus, there arose a tense situation centering the siege of the body. At this critical situation, once the students seizing the body buried it in the ground of the Students Union Building of Rangoon University on 10th December 1974. But next morning at about 5 am, the army entered the campus using tanks. The Chancellor Gate was first bulldozed off. The army began arresting everybody on the way and herded them off in the military trucks. When the soldiers started digging for the body, students began to march onward to stop them. Then began indiscriminate shooting. When the body was raised, there was a tug-of-war over the body. All those students who rushed onwards to snatch the body of U Thant, were shot dead. Thus, the UN flag with which the body of U Thant was wrapped, was drenched with the blood of the students.

(2) Harrowing events of genocidal operations against Rohingyas and the events of communal violence between Rohingyas and Rakhines:

Arakan is a state under the Union of Burma. It is inhabited by many ethnic communities like Rohingyas, Rakhines, Christians, Chakmas, Hindus, Mros, Khumis, Kamens and some other hill tribes.

The Burmese military rulers have turned Arakan into a land of bloods and tears of distressed human beings through systematic persecutions and genocidal operations from one hand and on the other hand by constantly spreading the poison of communalism in Arakan as a part of its "Divide & Rule" policy with a view to permanently trample Arakan and plunder its huge natural resources and thus the military rulers have divided the people of Arakan into many hostile groups who many often point their guns against their neighbors. And since 1942 over 3 hundred thousand Rohingyas have been killed so far and over 1.5 million Rohingyas have been compelled to leave their motherland Arakan and live in different countires of the world like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia etc as undocumented refugees.

The Rohingya community of Arakan , Burma (Myanmar) is one of the most down-trodden ethnic minorities of the world. They are victim of political oppression, economic exploitation, cultural slavery and communal violence in their ancestral land Arakan where they have been living centuries after centuries. The Burmese military rulers have been constantly pursuing a policy to exterminate Rohingyas from Arakan with a popular notion -"Kill Rohingya first if a cobra and a Rohingya are found together".

Genocidal Operations against Rohingyas
The Pogrom of 1942: Biyallisher Khara Khari
Although the slavish history of the Rohingyas begins with the annexation of Arakan in 1784, but the story of their large scale persecution and oppression begins with the beginning of the 20 th century. Particularly, since 1937, when Burma was separated from British India, the soil of Arakan has been frequently drenched with the blood of the Rohingyas which caused innumerable exodus of Rohingyas in the wake of innumerable operations led against the Rohingyas out of which the Pogrom of 1942, Dragon King Operation of 1978 and the Operation of 1991/92 are the most horrific genocidal operations of the world. Being deprived of fundamental human rights and being victim of the systematic genocide, extra-judicial persecution and eviction, over 4.5 million Rohingyas have been leading a gypsy life both at home and abroad.

In 1942, there was an administrative vacuum in Arakan, during the war with Japan when Allied Forces retreated from Arakan leaving huge arms at the hands of some Rakhine communalists who turned those arms against their Rohingya Muslim neighbors, massacring tens of thousands of innocent Rohingyas mostly in eastern Arakan where the Rakhines were in majority. As a tit for tat regrettably some Rohingya Muslim extremists caused heavy casualty to the life and property of innocent civilian Rakhines in the western Arakan where the Rohingyas are majority. Unfortunately, this grim genocidal tragedy remained unnoticed and thus slipped away from the world history almost unrecorded because of the pre-occupation of the international community with the World War II.

The reminiscence of the tragic stories of the most heinous Pogrom of 1942 which is popularly known as "Biyallisher Khara Khari" still shudders the hearts of those who had witnessed the tragedy. At that time, the genocidal operation in "Kyawktaw" (Township) was so fierce that the water of the " Kaladen River" got a crimson color with the blood of Rohingya victims. And for the following 2/3 years, the fish of the river could not be eaten due to the rotten corpse.

Operation Dragon King of 1978 and its aftermath
As a part of the systematic genocidal operation, this operation was led against the Rohingyas in 1978, when innumerable Rohingya men, women and children have been subjected to massacres and eviction. During this operation, which is popularly known as Dragon King (Nagaminh), about 3 hundred thousand Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh. This was, in fact, the first time when the Rohingya refugee problem drew the international attention. Later, however, the Burmese military government was forced by the international community to take back its citizens. But due to the lack of an all-out guarantee of their security in Arakan, a major portion of the refugees refused to return home and later, many of them got mixed with the local people of Bangladesh and started leading a gypsy life here and there as undocumented refugees and many of them crossed to different countries like India, Pakistan, UAE and Saudi Arabia, etc.

However, out of those 3 hundred thousand refugees, only 180,000 have returned home amidst utter despondency and grief. But since there was no international observation team inside Arakan to look after the returning refuges, those who returned have become victims of double persecutions. They were not returned to their original hearths and homes. The relief commodities given by different international organizations for these returning refugees were not distributed among them and instead were distributed elsewhere. In a punishing act, many food Go-downs of the refugees were burnt down by the army. As a result, one third of the returning refugees died of starvation and malnutrition and the rest of them began to lead a gypsy life here and there inside Arakan.

In 1979, the military rulers led two more operations against the Rohingyas which were called "Galoon" and "Shwe Hinsa". Later with the passage of "The New Citizenship Law" in 1982, the military rulers have virtually declared the Rohingyas as stateless people in their own homeland where they have been living centuries after centuries. In this way, their right to take part in the national affairs and administration has been snatched away.

In fact, during the long military rule since 1962 the army had conducted armed operations against the Rohingyas almost every year under the aegis of the notorious "Immigration Act". Moreover, as a part of its "divide & rule" policy, it has instigated many communal riots between the Rakhines and Rohingyas. Besides, the army and other law enforcing personnel often enter the Rohingya localities on the pretext of an enquiry. While searching the houses of the Rohingyas, they either assault the Rohingya womenfolk or take away those who look beautiful. The Rohingyas are often compelled to provide rice, goats, fowls, etc., free of cost for the army or the police outposts. In what is called modern-day slave labor, they are forced to provide free labour for the construction of different roads and accommodation facilities for the government forces. Sometimes, while all the males of a Rohingya village are summoned to an army camp under some pretext, including forced volunteering for the slave labor – the "kooli" - the forces indiscriminately assault and dishonor the Rohingya women. Besides, drastic restrictions are imposed on the Rohingyas on their movement from a police station to another.

Military Operation of 1991/92:

In late 1991, the world witnessed another grim showbiz of crackdown of the Burmese military regime when tens of thousands of Rohingya men, women and children streamed into neighboring Bangladesh with stories of rapes, killings, slave labor and destruction of religious sites and other acts of human rights violations. At that time, the Bangladesh government registered over 300,000 refugees. The green foliage and picturesque valleys of the southern parts of Cox's Bazar of Bangladesh which cater celestial delights to the visitors have turned into a place of exile for those hapless Rohingya refugees.

At that time, the refugees interviewed by different international organizations and the world media reported appalling atrocities at the hands of the Burmese army. Rape of women after their husbands of fathers had been taken for forced labor was common. Sometimes, the rape occurred in the homes of the victims with children and relatives left to watch. Sometimes, the women were taken to a nearby military camp where they were sorted out by beauty. In some cases, the women were killed, in other cases they were allowed to return home. For more grim stories of persecutions of Rohingyas, you are requested to go through the Report of the U.S.-based human rights organization "ASIA WATCH" – a division of Human Rights Watch - as published in its May 7, 1992 issue are provided below [ http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/Northern_Arakan92.htm]:

[Ref: " BURMA: RAPE, FORCED LABOR AND RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN NORTHERN ARAKAN ", Asia Watch, Vol. 4, Issue 13, May 7, 1992 .]

Over and above, the extreme communal frenzy is one the cruel companions of the Arakanese society. The riots between the army backed majority community "Rakhines" and the minority community "Rohingyas" are common phenomena in Arakan where the communal enmity and hatred has reached at a scale that the Rohingyas can hardly pass through the Rakhine localities. Even the Rohingya Ulemas (theologians) are not spared from the torture. The Rakhine youths either slap down their Tupi (religious caps) or amuse with their beards and scornfully remark – "Khuaysa Kalla" (alien puppies).

The movement of Rohingyas from one place to another by buses, launches or steamers is always full of risks and hazards. Thousands of highly Rohingya educated personalities have fallen victims of assassination at the hands of a section of the Rakhine communalists.

In fact, it is the Burmese military regime which has turned the land "Arakan" into an earthly hell where tens of thousands of innocent human beings are being offered as the requiem of the communal conflagration that the military regime has lit up by constantly fuelling the communal fire.

(3) Dropping 7 hundred thousand Rohingyas from the voter list in Bangladesh will cause a big Human Tragedy across the whole South Asian region and Middle East:

It is true that Bangladesh is a small country of only 147,570 square km with an overwhelming population of 134.6 million people out of which 70 million people live below the poverty level and out of them 45 million people live on below a dollar a day. Despite these so many limitations and limited resources, Bangladesh has given shelter to over 7 hundred thousand Rohingya undocumented refugees over the last 3 decades and for this, we express our deep gratitude to the government and people of Bangladesh. But the ongoing process of the Election Commission of Bangladesh to drop over 7 hundred thousand Rohingyas from the voter list barring them subsequently from getting the National ID Card will be a question of life and death for those undocumented Rohingya refugees who took refuge in Bangladesh particularly since 1978 after being uprooted from their motherland "Arakan" of Burma by its military rulers through a series of genocidal operations, inhuman persecutions and in denial of their citizenships in thier own motherland where they have been living centuries after centuries.

It may be mentined here that after the finalization of the voter list in Bangladesh and after the completion of the National ID Card Issuance Programme by the Bangladesh government by next year, the survival of Rohingyas in Bangladesh without ID Card will be quite impossible, because the ID Card will be essential in all walks of life and without ID Card, it will be impossible to even buy a medicine or get treatment in a hospital.

At present over 4 hundred thousand Rohingyas live in Bangladesh as undocumented refugees and over 3 hundred thousand Rohingyas have been living in different countries of the world particularly in Middle East with Bangladesh passports.

However, due to the loss of Bangladehs passport, if over 3 hundred thousand Rohingyas become illegal immigrants and lose their jobs abroad and similarly if the survival of over 4 hundred thousand Rohingyas become impossible inside Bangladesh due to the lack of National ID Card - it will cause a BIG HUMAN TRAGEDY.
Appeal
So, we fervently appeal to the international humnitarian community, the United Nations, the European Union and other international and regional bodies to apply more force and to take effective steps to restore democracy in Burma, to restore human rights of Rohingyas with the recognition of their citizenship in Burma, to release all political prisoners including the Nobel Peace Prize Winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the great Rohingya leader U Kyaw Min and his family. We also fervently appeal for restoration of communal harmony between the two ethnic communities of Arakan - the Rohingyas and Rakhines and to bycott all the communalist groups of both the Rohingyas and Rakhines who have pushed the lives of thousands of men, women and children towards disaster. We also appeal to Bangladesh government not to drop the Rohingyas from the voter list and to let them live in Bangladesh until a durable solution has been found out to their problem with the restoration of democracy in Burma.
Finally, we would like to thank you all for attending the conference and your valuable time that you have given to it. We hope that you would kindly highlight our plight and predicament to the world through your esteemed media.

Thanking you in advance for your all out cooperation.

A. Rahman Farooq
Chairman
The Council for Restoration of Democracy in Burma (CRDB)
Address: 2975 Vang i Valdres, Norway
Media Contact: +4797413036

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Solidarity Statement with Oslo Press Conference

Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand (BRAT)

Date: October 18, 2007

We at the Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand (BRAT) strongly condemn the Joint Statement of the Rohingya Community in Norway (RCN) for their inclusion of BRAT. We are not aware of this statement but know Mr. Ahmedur Rahman Farooq and his activities under the Council for Restoration of Democracy in Burma that was based in Bangladesh.

He is a young leader who has a high potentiality in the movement. The BRAT believes that the CRDB was the first Non-Violent Democratic Organization of the Rohingya in exile that formed after 1990s General Election in Burma.

We note that there is no existence of Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO) as it was formed in 1999 comprising of Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) let by Dr. Mohammed Yunus, Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) led by Prof. Mohammed Zakaria and Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front (ARIF) led by Nurul Islam. In the same year, both of RSO withdrew their alliance and went back to their own activities.

According to Mr. Nurul’s claim, he is the only one with some of his family members in Bangladesh, the ARNO is exiting but he left Bangladesh and took refuge in United Kingdom to avoid arrest of Bangladeshi Government as he committed crime against humanity, killing hundreds of young Rohingya.

The BRAT therefore request to all concerned authorities and individuals to be aware of ARNO and its allies who conspire against its own people for the benefit of their own.

Finally, the BRAT expresses its deep support and strong solidarity with CRDB and its forthcoming the press Conference in Oslo.

Central Executive Committee
Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand (BRAT)

Letter of Human Rights Council (HRC) for Oslo Press Conference

Dear Organizers and sponsors,
Oslo Press Conference, Norway.

HRC welcomes the forthcoming Oslo Conference and expresses its strong support and solidarity with it. HRC would like to thanks and appreciates to the members of CRDB and URCE including Brother A. Rahman Farooq, Chairman, CRDB for their outstanding efforts to make the conference a success. HRC feels that the ill-fated community will be benefited by the Oslo press conference directly or indirectly.

Finally HRC would like to request all the Political Organizations and individuals to support such a kind of conference by discarding all the differences and discrimination. Criticizing and intolerance to other’s contribution or efforts must not bring peace in the community; rather the reciprocal disdain will be deep-rooted rapidly. So, to avoid the provocation, we should be more generous and cooperative. It is the norm of real Politics. So, HRC would like other Rohingya political Organizations and Alliances to come forward and hold Conferences or Seminars jointly with broader participation on common issues of the oppressed Rohingya people including on feasibility of reconciliation between the Rakhines and the Rohingyas.
ttp://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41641000/jpg/_41641036_10zimbabwepress_apf.jpg
Best regards,

Human Rights Council (HRC)
Arakan

Solidarity Statement of Burmese Rohingya Democratic Alliance, ( BRDA ) with CRDB's Press Conference

Support to the Press Conference of CRDB to be held on Oct-19,2007

We, on behalf of the BURMESE ROHINGYA DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (BRDA) comprising NDPHR ( exile ) USA ( HQ), JARO- JAPAN, BRA-UAE, RYDF-ARAKAN, and NCR-MALAYSIA would like to express our whole-hearted support to the CRDB's Press Conference to be held on 19th October 2007 (Friday) at the national Press Club in Oslo.Norway.

We request all Rohingya community members in Norway to participate and cooperate with CRDB for the success of Press Conference disregarding differences of party politics and internal fractional-ism on the basis of unity in diversity for the common good of all Rohingya people.

Please find out the address of Press Club:

Tostrupkjelleren Presseklubb
Øvre Slottsgate 23
0150 OSLO
Inngang fra Egertorget
(Oslo City Map)
With Prayer for all Rohingyas around the globe!

Sincerely

Dr.Than Aung (a.k.a) Mohammed Ali
President
Burmese Rohingya Democratic Alliance, ( BRDA )


Tel: 971-506-349780 (UAE)


For futher information, Please contact:
1. Kyaw Soe Aung-(414)736 4273 (USA)
2.Mr.Sadek-6- 016-309-4599 (Malaysia)
3.Mr.Salim Ullah-81-904- 9686 779 (Japan)
4.Maung Sein-646-625 9407 (USA)

Stand of NHPHR (exile) HQ with CRDB

Support and Solidarity with CRDB's Press Conference in Oslo,Norway
The NDPHR(exile) USA(HQ) would like to express our strong support and solidarity to the forthcoming Press Conference of CRDB ( Council for Restoration of Democracy in Burma) at National Press Club in Oslo,Norway on October 19. 2007 at 13:30 Friday in collaboration with the Union of Rohingya Communities in Europe ( URCE ).
We appreciate the Chairman A. Rahman Farooq and all members of the Council for Restoration of Democracy in Burma (CRDB ) for holding this conference at this critical hours of Rohingyas and other people of Burma.We have instructed our Branch in Norway- the NDPHR ( exile) Norway to take active part with CRDB and URCE in this Press Conference and help with all available means to implement it for the greater interest of Rohingyas world-wide.We urge all Rohingya organizations to come forward in support of the new initiative of CRDB and URCE and encourage them to advance the sacred cause of Rohingyas' survival in their ancestral homeland Arakan,Burma.
We, all members of NDPHR(exile) USA (HQ) sincerely pray for the success of the forthcoming CRDB's Norway Press Conference.
Mohiuddin (aka) Maung Sein
President-NDPHR( exile)USA( HQ)
PO BOx-210178, NY-11421, USA
Tel646) 625 9407

RYDF's Appreciation Letter to CRDB

Support and Solidarity with CRDB's Press Conference in Oslo,
Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF), Arakan-Bruma expresses its strong solidarity with the activities of the Council For Restoration of Democracy in Burma (CRD and its commitment for Burma and its people.
RYDF also solutes the Union of Rohingya Communities in Europe (URCE) for its collaboration with CRDB's event in organizing Press Conference in the heart of Norway and focal point of Press Media.We apprecite Mr. Ahmedur Rahman Farooq and his colleaques from CRDB and URCE for their noble initiative for the causes of suffering Rohingyas as well as the entire people of Burma.We do believe that the CRDB and URCE can be able to draw the attention of entire European communities and the world about the crisis of Burma, particularly the suffering Rohingyas.
We request all kinds of media representatives, agencies and other concerned including diplomatic missions and etc. to take part in the Press Conference to gain authentic information on Bruma and its people and to show strong solidarity with CRDB and URCE.
Succeed the press Conference of 19th October 2007
Central Executive Committee
Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF
)Arakan-Burma

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan (BRAJ) on UNSC

Date:15 October 2007
Special Statement on the UNSC Presidential Statementon Burma

Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan (BRAJ) warmly welcomes the first-everPresidential Statement on Burma issued on 12th October, 2007 by the UN Security Council. BRAJ recognizes that although the statement unlike a resolution does not have abinding power, it is the first time the UNSC has taken official action on Burmaunanimously and marked a shift of position by China and Russia that had previously usedits vetoes to prevent criticism of Burmese military regime.

In the statement, the Security Council strongly deplores the use of violence against peaceful demonstrations in Burma and welcomes Human Rights Council Resolution S-5/1 of 12 October 2007. The Security Council emphasizes the importance of the early release of all political prisoners and remaining detainees. It also stresses that need for the government of Burma to create the necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with the direct support of the United Nations. The Security Council also calls on the government of Burma to take all necessary measure to address the political, economic, and humanitarian and human rights issues that are the concerns of its people and emphasizes that the future of Burma lies in the hands of its entire people.

Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan (BRAJ) urges SPDC to take urgent action to implement the concerns expressed by all members of the UNSC. We also urge the members of the UNSC to be prepared to discuss a binding resolution that includes an arms embargo and sanctions in the regime in Burma fails to accept the Statement’s demand.
Central Executive Committee
Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan (BRAJ)

Invitation to Press Conference in Oslo on Untold Stories on Burma and Rohingyas

Dear Sir, Dear Madam,

We, "The Council for Restoration of Democracy in Burma (CRDB)", an organization of Rohingyas in exile, are going to hold a press conference at the National Press Club in Oslo of Norway on Oct 19.2007 at 13:30 Friday in collaboration with The Union of Rohingya Communities in Europe (URCE). The address of the Press Club is as below:
Postrupklelleren Presseklubb
Øvre Stottsgate 23
0150 Oslo, Norway
Ph: +4722419201
http://www.tostrupkjelleren.no/

We hope that you would kindly attend the press conference or send your representative.

Apart from displaying a short documentary film on the plight of Rohingyas, we would like to highlight the following points among others in the press conference:
(1) Heartrending stories of crackdown during 27 years long Military Rule from 1962 to 1988:

Since 1988, the military crackdown which has been being conducted by the Burmese military rulers against the pro-democracy activists, are more or less known to the world. But the atrocities which were perpetrated by the military rulers during 27-years long military rule since 1962 to 1988 turning the whole country into a secret state of terror and isolating the country from the rest of the world - is not so much known to the world.

So, we want to highlight some harrowing incidents of that period in the press conference. At the sametime, we want to express our full support and solidarity to the ongoing struggle led by our respected monks on behalf of all Rohingyas living in exile.

(2) Harrowing events of genocidal operations against Rohingyas and the events of communal violence between Rohingyas and Rakhines:

Arakan is a state under the Union of Burma. It is inhabited by many ethnic communities like Rohingyas, Rakhines, Christians, Chakmas, Hindus, Mros, Khumis, Kamens and some other hill tribes.

The Burmese military rulers have turned Arakan into a land of bloods and tears of distressed human beings through systematic persecutions and genocidal operations from one hand and on the other hand by constantly spreading the poison of communalism in Arakan as a part of its "Divide & Rule" policy with a view to permanently trample Arakan and plunder its huge natural resources and thus the military rulers have divided the people of Arakan into many hostile groups who many often point their guns against their neighbors.

So, we want to highlight in the press conference the harrowing events of the series of genocidal operations led against the Rohingyas through the decades and the events of other communal violence which has been continuing between the two sister communities - Rohingyas and Rakhines and which has left over 3 hundred thousand Rohingyas dead so far and compelled over 1.5 million Rohingyas to leave their motherland Arakan and live in different countries of the world as undocumented and stateless refugees.

(3) Dropping 7 hundred thousand Rohingyas from the voter list in Bangladesh will cause a big Human Tragedy and cause Terror Risk across the whole South Asian region and Middle East:

It is true that Bangladesh is a small country of only 147,570 square km with an overwhelming population of 134.6 million people out of which 70 million people live below the poverty level and out of them 45 million people live on below a dollar a day. Despite these so many limitations and limited resources, Bangladesh has given shelter to over 7 hundred thousand Rohingya undocumented refugees over the last 3 decades and for this, we express our deep gratitude to the government and people of Bangladesh. But the ongoing process of the Election Commission of Bangladesh to drop over 7 hundred thousand Rohingyas from the voter list subsequently barring them from getting the National ID Card will be a question of life and death for those undocumented Rohingya refugees who took refuge in Bangladesh particularly since 1978 after being uprooted from their motherland "Arakan" of Burma by its military rulers through a series of genocidal operations, inhuman persecutions and in denial of their citizenships in thier own motherland where they have been living centuries after centuries.

It may be mentined here that after the finalization of the voter list in Bangladesh and after the completion of the National ID Card Issuance Programme by the Bangladesh government by next year, the survival of Rohingyas in Bangladesh without ID Card will be quite impossible, because the ID Card will be essential in all walks of life and without ID Card, it will be impossible to even buy a medicine or get treatment in a hospital.

At present over 4 hundred thousand Rohingyas live in Bangladesh as undocumented refugees and over 3 hundred thousand Rohingyas have been living in different countries of the world particularly in Middle East with Bangladesh passports.

So, we want to highlight in the press conference all the grim consequences if so many Rohingyas are dropped from the voter list which will cause a big Human Tragedy and also cause a dangerous Terror Risk across the whole South Asian region and the Middle East due to the exploitation of innocent Rohingya youths taking advantage of their total helplessness and frustration by different terrorist organizations whose networks are widespread all over the region.

However, there are many other points and events that we want to highlight in the press conference.


With thanks and best regards.

A. Rahman Farooq
Chairman
The Council for Restoration of Democracy in Burma (CRDB)
Address: 2975 Vang i Valdres
Norway
Media Contact: +4797413036

Forum on Burma: Road to Democracy in Burma

Burma: Time for Urgent Action
(A Road Map to Democracy in Burma)
Date: October 8, 2007

By Mohammad Sadek·

On behalf of the all Burmese nationals, regardless of race and religions, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and deep appreciation to SUARAM, Youth for Change, Civil Rights Committee and Amnesty International (Malaysia), the organizers of this important event and extend our compliments and sincere thanks to the people of Malaysia and all peace-loving people of the world as for their understanding of the situation of Burma and support to the pro-democracy, human rights and freedom movement of Burma, and for expressing strong solidarity with Burmese nationals.

I feel that it is our duty to convey to you the positions, observations and concerns of the Burmese people on the current situation inside Burma to all of you.

Indeed, the situation of Burma is deteriorating day by day. The recent protest was triggered by the skyrocketing of fuel prices to 500% in last August.

The military regime has a long history of violent reactions to peaceful demonstrations and gross violations of human rights against its own nationals, particularly against the ethnic and religious minorities like the Rohingya, Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Shan, Mon, Pa-Oo, Palong, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, etc. By any definition, it is the most brutal and repressive regime of the world that will never give up its power unless external pressure forces it or the Inernational Community takes a serious action.

Presently, the military regime is shooting, killing, wounding and arbitrarily arresting the innocent monks, nuns, students and civilians who are voicing out about the brutalities of the regime and for their legitimate rights.

The United Nations has appointed its special envoy Mr. Ibrahim Gambari who recently visited Burma on the 29th September, 2007 for a peaceful settlement in the country. However, his visit has not shown any significant change there.

Besides, the regime has been imposing continuous curfew in various cities and towns of the country and harassing the innocent civilians. It is also neglecting the calls of International Community for economic and political reforms while ignoring the release of political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

In this regard, I would like to share with you some important information about the ongoing atrocities inside Burma.

The regime violently dispersed the peaceful demonstrators, killing at least 200 unarmed protestors, including a number of monks and a Japanese journalist, and arrested about 2,400 monks and more than 3000 people in the last week of September.

About 2,000 monks and nuns are reportedly detained in Inn Sein GIT (General Institute of Technology).

Another 1,300 political prisoners are in jail, who are subjected to the worst forms of torture. The military regime is committing crimes against humanity against the people of Burma, including the widespread and systematic use of rapes as a weapon of war. It has forcibly recruited up to 70,000 child soldiers, far more than any other country in the world. There has been high rate of forced labor, extortion, use of human minesweepers, and the forcible displacement.

The regime has destroyed more than 3,000[[1]] villages in last few months in the Eastern part of Burma. Numerous Rohingya villagers in Arakan State (Western Burma) have been facing land confiscation, forced eviction, and demolition of their houses due to implantation of new settlers (mostly Buddhist) under the official program which systematically and violently repress ethnic minorities. So far, approximately 2 million people have been displaced without compensation

Currently, there are more than 3 million refugees and asylum seekers around the world from Burma who have fled from their homes in Burma. Some sought refuge across borders and others trapped inside the jungle where the military hunts them down and kills like animals. The continuous outflow of Burmese refugees affects neighboring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India as well as the resettlement countries like USA, Australia and etc.

The regime's practice of human rights is gross. It routinely restricts it citizen's freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, religion and movement. The junta is responsible for trafficking in persons, discrimination against women and ethnic minorities, and commits other gross violations of human rights, including extra-judicial killings, custodial deaths, disappearance, rapes, torture, abuse of prisoners and detainees, and the imprisonment of citizens arbitrarily for political motives.

Moreover, religious freedom is widely repressed. Burma has sizeable Christian and Muslim population. Muslims in Southern and Western Burma are continuing targets of military abuse. Dozens of Mosques were ransacked and destroyed as anti-Muslim riots reportedly instigated by the Burmese military fired in several cities and towns in 1997. That practice of instigating anti-Muslim riots and destruction of Muslim religious places has not stopped. Muslims are not allowed to rebuild their mosques. Christian churches are closely monitored by the military. Church activities country-wide are reportedly restricted. In border areas, especially in the Chin State and the Karen State, churches have been wrecked by soldiers, and religious differences have been exploited by the junta to promote conflict among the various ethnic groups.

At the same time, the vast wealth of the nation is exploited solely for the benefit of the military regime. As a result, Burma turned to one of the poorest nations in the world and the majority of the people live below the poverty line. The Junta is also selling the country's natural resources to others, including Arakan Natural Gas, in order to buy arms and ammunition that are used against its own people. Mention may be made here that the regime does not allow the international humanitarian agencies to distribute humanitarian aid to the poorly living people.

Regarding the condition of health, nearly 97,000 new cases of tuberculosis in Burma are detected annually, which is the highest rate in the world. Malaria is the leading cause of mortality in Burma where 70 percent of the populations in areas are at risk. The other critical issue is that at least 37,000 people died of HIV/AIDS in Burma in 2005, and over 600,000 are currently infected. The World Health Organization has ranked Burma's health sector 190th out of 191 nations. The regime only spends less than one dollar per person on healthcare. According to WTO web, per capita total expenditure on health indicate U$ 37 for Burma, U$ 64 for Bangladesh, U$ 293 for Thailand and U$ 402 for Malaysia.


Burma, now, becomes a serious threat to the international peace and security as it has a major program underway to exploit Burma's reserves of uranium ore, including its processing into the refined form -- known as the yellowcake. This is being bartered to North Korea for their respective enrichment programs (in contravention of the Security Council sanctions on North Korea). It is also likely being bartered to both China and Russia, in return for weapons from China and weapons and nuclear assistance, including a reactor, from Russia.

Following the visit of the UN envoy Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, people of Burma expect a peaceful solution that Mr. Gambari submits effective report to the United Nations Security Council towards adopting a binding resolution to take serious actions against the Burmese regime.

Democratic reform inside Burma is a matter of crucial urgency without which there will be no stability within the country. The chaos inside, in effect, will destabilize the entire region.

On behalf of all Burmese nationals:-

(1) I urge upon the UN Security Council (UNSC) to convene an emergency meeting to examine the deteriorating political situation in Burma, while China and Russia must warn the Burmese regime that they would support full consideration of the situation thereby the Security Council, as well as adoption of a Council's Resolution;

(2) I call upon the People's Republic of China to remove objection against the UNSC to condemn repressive measures taken by the regime against the peaceful demonstrators;

(3) I also call upon the People's Republic of China and all other nations that have provided military assistance to Burma to suspend all such assistance until restoration of civilian democracy in Burma;

(4) I request the United Nations and the international community to strongly encourage China, India, Russia, ASEAN countries and neighbors of Burma to review their policies and use their influence to convince the Burmese regime to engage in meaningful dialogue with opposition leaders and ethnic minorities for urgent national reconciliation;

(5) I also appeal to the international community to freeze the bank accounts’ transaction of members of the regime as well as to boycott diplomatic relations with the regime if the regime commits further violence.

· Mohammad Sadek is the General Secretary of the Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF), Arakan-Burma, which is a grassroots organization of the ethnic Rohingyas of Arakan State, Burma, working for the restoration of democracy, human rights, peace, justice and tranquility in solidarity with other ethnic and religious groups. He is also the Vice-Chairman of All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF), Malaysia which is an umbrella organization of different political groups of various races and religions.
[[1]] US Senate Resolution, 110th Congress, 1st Session

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Burmese people have completed a peaceful demonstration and long-march in Malaysia













































































Statement of NDPHR exile on Burma crisis

Ref: NDPHR(USA)34- 39 /2007Date: September 26, 2007
The NDPHR ( exile ) USA (HQ) Condemns the Barbaric Response of the SPDC
Military Junta against Peaceful and Well-behaved Protesters

We, the members of NDPHR(exile)USA(HQ) are shocked andoutraged by the Burmese SPDC military junta's brutal response
to peaceful protesters led by Revered Monks (Sanghas) against their
suffering and mismanagement of the country making the lives of all Burmese people beyond toleration.We strongly condemns the SPDC's brutal actions and demand the Burmese
military junta for immediate STOP stop of its barbaric response releasing all political prisoners.

The peaceful protest of the Burmese Monks supported by law abiding Burmese Citizens demanding an Apology for the mistreatment to the monks, the Release of prisoners, Reduce fuel prices and a initiate democratization process in the country with opposite democratic forces are legal and justified.

We are with the Burmese people in their just struggle led by Monks,We are encouraged to see the joining of students, citizens ,nuns and everyone disregarding the race and religion representing all ethnic minorities.

We also strongly support the brave Arakanese people who have been demonstrating since August 28, 2007 led by Arakanese Monks.Yesterday nearly 1000 Muslim people march the streets of Akyab along with several monks and Buddhist people by forming hand-chains with each others which is a historical break-through in the process of Arakan history.

According to the available information from Narinjara news , there were not only Muslim males, but also women participating in the demonstration that was staged by monks, despite the military authorities warning to monks not to protest any further in the streets.

The Burmese military authority on Monday warned monks not to continue their demonstrations in the streets, but many monks in Akyab led over 5000 people in staging a protest against government warnings.

It is a matter of encouragement and interest that Rakhine community welcomed the Muslim community joining in the demonstration along with the Buddhist community in order to show unity among the Arakanese people.

We appreciate the elderly Muslim's statement "We are a family and we are travelers in the same boat. We are all suffering from economic hardship during this present military government so we all Burmese citizens need to be united without regard for religion, class, or race."

We pray to God for the continuation of the unity of all Arakanese people embracing each other forgetting the past hostilities for the common good of Arakan and Burmese People.

We also see fervently appeal to the Government and people of China to cease their support for the Burmese military regime and support the popular uprising of Burmese people under the Monks on humanitarian ground.

We appeal also the UN Security Council Members Emergency Meeting today holding by the request of European members of the 15-member council( Wednesday) over the deadly clashes in Burma between anti- SPDC government Burmese protesters and the military junta to INTERVENE and Protect the Burmese Civilians from loss of lives and properties.

We repeat our heartfelt thanks to the President Bush,British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and all world leaders who came forward with strong support to the cause of Burmese people
taking the seriousness of the situation to the “illegitimate and repressive regime.” SPDC military junta against its peace-loving citizens.

We welcome and support the United States and the European Union for condemning the SPDC's attacks on peaceful protesters and calling on the military SPDC rulers to open a dialog with pro-democracy leaders, including detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, according to a joint statement on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

We urge the Secretary-General Ban Kee Moon to immediately dispatch a special envoy to Burma for a fact finding mission.We appreciate Mr.Ban Kee Moon for urging the junta "to exercise utmost restraint toward the peaceful demonstrations taking place, as such action can only undermine the prospects for peace, prosperity and stability in Myanmar
Finally, we pray for the salvation of the souls of those monks and civilian protesting Freedom Fighter who sacrificed their lives for all Burmese people at the hands of brutal hands of SPDC regime.so far,5 monks and three civilian were reported killed, five wounded and more than 200 people were arrested.

Maung Sein @ MohiuddinPresidentNDPHR(exile) USA (HQ)PO Box-210178,WoodhavenNew York,USATel:(646) 625 9407Media ContactKyaw Soe Aung (General Secretary)Tel: (414) 736 4273

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Situation of Rohingyas and Migrants from Burma in Malaysia

Unsafe Harborby Violet Cho/Kuala Lumpur
September 1, 2007

Malaysia provides no protection for its refugee population

I’ve always thought that the lives of Burmese refugees were much the same from place to place. They’re generally unwanted, have few opportunities to better their lives and in many cases suffer unconscionable abuse.

An Irrawaddy correspondent witnesses the hardships facing migrant in Malaysia

Witnessing the appalling conditions endured by Burmese refugees in Malaysia, however, has brought their misery and lack of hope into greater focus.

During a visit to the Ampang suburb of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, a Rohingya community leader casually pointed to a group of young Burmese children playing near the small hut that served as their home.

“Look,” he said, pointing in their direction. “None of these children can read or write.”

None of the schools in Malaysia accepts refugee children from Burma, so these children are unlikely ever to learn while they remain in the country.

My visit to Ampang revealed the hidden desperation of Rohingya refugees who fled oppression in Burma only to find more of the same in their country of refuge. The streets teem with refugees looking for any opportunity to support their families.

At first glance, they might seem little more than beggars, gardeners, odd-jobbers or even criminals. They’re not always immediately recognizable as Burmese.

As the community leader and I walked through Ampang, we saw a father petitioning door-to-door for work as a gardener. His young children trailed behind him—one of them carrying a sharp pair of rusting shears.


Five-year old Rohingya refugee Mohd Ali and family demand asylum during a "sit-in" at the UNHCR compound in Kuala Lumpur [Photo: AFP]

The old man asked for any kind of work—cutting grass, weeding, cleaning up—in return for money or a meal for his family. He was only one of many. Others scrabbled for scrap iron or plastic from rubbish bins. Still others fished in open drains for their dinner.

In Ampang, I also met a 14-year-old Rohingya girl named San San Yu. She was born in Arakan State in western Burma but left with her family a few years later for Malaysia to escape the crushing poverty and relentless oppression that have come to define life there for the local Rohingya population.

San San Yu now lives with her family—including parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles—in a small cement building in Ampang. About 20 people share the cramped quarters.

“I always used to think about going to school and studying, but I know that my parents cannot afford to send me,” San San Yu said softly when asked about her dreams for the future. “Now, I just worry about the daily survival of my family.”

Watching young Malaysian girls her own age walking on the streets or catching buses in their school uniforms fills San San Yu with envy and regret.

More than 20,000 Rohingya refugees from Burma live in Malaysia. Most have registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, but they continue to be denied access to education and live in fear of deportation.

Malaysia, like Thailand, is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees, but it has signed two other important international agreements: the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
But conventions alone are not the solution. Governments can choose to ignore them. Thailand did not sign the 1951 refugee convention, but it allows refugees from Burma to live in temporary camps along the border and provides legal registration for migrants. It also grants educational opportunities for refugees and migrants.

In contrast, Malaysia provides no protection for its refugee population, only the constant threat of arrest, abuse and deportation. Many refugees who have been deported must bribe their way back into the country, usually hiding in the trunk of a car.

An older Rohingya man recognized by the UNHCR as a refugee met me in a teashop in downtown Kuala Lumpur. During our visit, he pulled photos from a book that depicted him naked from behind and clearly showed the thick welt from the caning he received while in detention.

Recognition of refugee status by an international organization does not protect against abuse. only the most extreme circumstances would have compelled this dignified man to reveal those humiliating photos to a young Burmese woman such as myself.

Before dawn on the morning of my departure, as I waited for the bus to the airport, I received a text message informing me that two friends who had introduced me to Burmese refugees during my visit had been arrested in raids conducted just hours before, along with 150 others.

One of the detained men had been punched in the face for telling the Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia, or RELA, officers (a vigilante group used by the Malaysian immigration department) attempting to arrest him that he was a refugee and had the right to legal protection.

Maybe in other places that would be true, but not in Malaysia.

After I arrived at the airport, one of the detained refugees called me from the RELA temporary detention center. He was hiding in a bathroom because detainees were not allowed to make phone calls.

He told me that he was not concerned for himself. As an activist, he has grown accustomed to being arrested and deported. He speaks Bahasa Malaysia and a little Thai and can handle himself, he told me over the phone. But he was worried about the others, some of them pregnant women and children. What will happen to them? he asked.

It is sad enough that, as Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said, Burmese people live in fear in their own country. But to live in fear in a country that they have come to for shelter from oppression is sadder still.

Irrawaddy.orghttp://www.irrawaddy.org/

Rohingya 6-Party Alliance Call to Stop Voilence and Human Rights abuses in Burma

Joint Statement of Six-party Alliance (BRDA) on 88’ Students and current situation in Burma
Date:: 30-August-2007

We, the Six -party alliance of the Rohingyas in exile, the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR-exile), HQ, USA, Arakan Rohingya Organization in Japan (JARO), Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF), Arakan-Burma, World Rohingya Congress (WRC), Burmese Rohingya Association in UAE (BRA-UAE), and National Council for Rohingya (NCR), Malaysia, strongly condemn the State Peace & Development Council (SPDC) regime and demand to set free all peaceful protesters and 88-generation leaders currently detained for demonstrating against the regime’s sudden decision to increase fuel prices and express our deep concern over the treatment and whereabouts of those detained.

Of the detained, some of whom were prominent pro-democracy activists during the 1988 uprising, including Ko Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Ko Pyone Cho, Ko Min Zay Yar, Ma Aye Aye Than, Ma Sandar Minn, Ko Mya Aye, and Ko Aung Kyaw Oo. We are concerned that future protesters will fall victim to such treatment as demonstrations against the fuel price increases spread throughout the country.

We support the peaceful protest of Burmese people as the protests are the legitimate expression of dissatisfaction over the widely suffered effects of the regime economic mismanagement and bad governance. These peaceful protests, triggered by the junta's steep increases in fuel prices, are the logical consequences of many years of political repression and irresponsible administration.

Mentioned may be made that Burma is ruled by one of the world worst violators of human rights, a military regime, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) that took power in a coup in September 1988. Over 1,200 political prisoners are in jail, subjected to some of the worst forms of torture. The military regime is committing crimes against humanity against Burma people, including the widespread and systematic use of rape as a weapon of war, the forcible conscription of child soldiers, forced labor, the use of human minesweepers, and the forcible displacement of over a million people.

In this connection, we urge upon the regime to:
(1) Immediately annul the fuel price increases in order to bring a sustainable economy and to alleviate poverty in the country;

(2) Stop using violence against peaceful demonstrators.

(3) Immediately release all political prisoners and cease military hostilities against non-Burman ethnic communities like Rohingyas, Karen, Karenni, Shan, Chin, Mon, Kachin, Pao, Palong and etc.

(4) Begin meaningful dialogue with leaders of the democracy movement and ethnic nationalities in Burma in order to achieve the goal of genuine federal democracy and economic reforms that will help all parties.

We call upon all peace-loving people of the world, USA, EU, ASEAN and UN security Council to continue to work and intervene in Burma before it is too late .

Dr.Than Aung
President-BRDA

For media Contact, please contact at:
Ko Salim Ullah (Japan): +81-276-73-8079
Ko Kyaw Soe Aung (USA) + 414 -736- 4273
Ko Mohammed Sadek (Malaysia) + 6(0) 163094599

UN HHUMAN RIGHTS EXPERtS ON THE ROHINGYAS OF ARAKAN

UN HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERTS CALL ON MYANMAR TO ADDRESS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MEMBERS OF MUSLIM MINORITY IN NORTH RAKHINE STATE

2 April 2007

The following statement was issued today by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro; the Independent Expert on minority issues, Gay McDougall; the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Doudou Diène; the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Miloon Kothari; the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler; and the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Paul Hunt:
"Under the 1982 Citizenship Law, the members of the Muslim minority in North Rakhine State, generally known as the Rohingyas, have been denied Myanmar citizenship, which has seriously curtailed the full exercise of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights and led to various discriminatory practices. This includes severe restrictions on freedom of movement; various forms of extortion and arbitrary taxation; land confiscation and forced evictions; restricted access to medical care, food and adequate housing; forced labour; and restrictions on marriages. As a consequence, thousands have fled to neighbouring countries, in turn creating complex humanitarian situations in the region.
We call on the Government of Myanmar to take urgent measures to eliminate discriminatory practices against the Muslim minority in North Rakhine State, and to ensure that no further discrimination is carried out against persons belonging to this community. We remind the Government of its obligation to protect all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction from any form of discrimination.
We reiterate the important role of minority rights in promoting equitable development, peace and stability, as enshrined in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities.
We urge the Government of Myanmar to repeal or amend the 1982 Citizenship Law to ensure compliance of its legislation with the country’s international human rights obligations, including article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and article 9 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; and to guarantee that the right to nationality as enunciated in article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 5 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination finds meaningful expression within Myanmar's borders.
__________
For use of the information media; not an official recordHR07056E
http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:s7e3hT3uCrAJ:www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpNewsByYear_en)/C66EEDAC0C757AA5C12572B10054B0B4%3FOpenDocument+Rohingya+in+September+2007&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=40&gl=my

Friday, August 24, 2007

Burmese Democracy Dissidents Statged Demonstration in front of Burmese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur

Burmese Democracy dissidents demonstrated in Malaysia
By Mohammad Sadek
Kuala Lumpur, August 24, 2007:
Today, Burmese democracy dissidents from different Burmese political organizations staged a peaceful demonstration in front of Burmese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

A memorandum of the demonstration was endorsed by Democratic Federation of Burma (DFB), Malaysia Branch, National League for Democracy (NLD-LA) Malaysia Branch led by Dr. Naing Linn, National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR-exile) Malaysia Branch, Burma Youth Strive Organization (BYSO), All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF), Malaysia, Rohingya Organization let by Mr. Zafar, Burma Refugee Organization (BRO) let by Dr. Myat Noe Khaing, Burmese Muslim Organization (BMO), Christian Community Clinic Center (CCCC) and individual democracy dissidents and human rights activist and defenders.

There were more than 200 activists rushed to the front of Embassy and read two pages of memorandum by a woman activist, Dr. Myat Noe Khaing, the in-charge of Burma Refugee Organization (BRO) in Malaysia.

The memorandum stated that “we protesting the brutal behaviors on the democracy dissidents and human rights defenders in the country. Our step aims are to set free of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners including the re-arrested Min Ko Naing and other 88 generation student leaders, while struggling for the liberation of innocent civilians who have living in sub-human condition.”

It further stated that “88 Generation Student Movement led by Min Ko Naing is not terrorist activities. The struggle is very rightful and its stand is against unjust martial laws. But your (the regime’s) laws are not acceptable to the people of the country and thus people have to stay in various difficulties including food, shelter, health, education and etc. So, we are showing our strong solidarity with the movement of 88generation student leaders.”

Aung Kyaw Moe, the Vice-Chairman of Democratic Federation of Burma (DFB) Malaysia Branch said that “Our fight is against the fascist Burmese regime that does not see any welfare or benefit of the people of Burma and that do everything against its own people. It is well-known to the people of the world that the regime is acting against humanity. It is brutal and inhumane at all. So that we will continue our rightful struggle unless the unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.”

Maung Thein, the Chairman of DFB, Malaysia Branch told to the media that “the regime cannot deny its hypocrisy and conspiracy against innocent civilians. Regime instigates religious riots, ethnic tensions, and rampant crises of economy, backwardness on education and political confusions in order to keep its dictatorial power in their hand. It is also denying the people’s elected government that won in 1990. If the regime is sincere for the country and people it must hand over the power to the legitimate government immediately and unconditionally.”

A repetitive of the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR-exile), Malaysia Brach said, “Fascist Burmese regime is drafting new constitution without the will of people in its sham convention with some hand picked-up delegates from the military. It has also hike up the fuel price up to 500 percent that is an intentional pressure on its own people. While arrested the most prominent 88 generation student leaders Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Min Zeya, Ko Jimmy, Ko Pyone Cho, Arnt Bwe Kyaw and Ko Mya Aye and some others.”

Earlier this year, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Ibrahim Gambari as a senior adviser to continue the work of promoting democracy in Burma. Last month, Gambari visited China as well as other Asian nations to discuss concerns about military-ruled Burma. But the regime is acting negatively toward the process.

Therefore, the dissidents call upon the State Peace & Development Council (SPDC), the Burmese regime that to (1) unconditionally free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners including U Tin Oo, U Kyaw Min and re-arrested 88 Generation Student Leaders Ko Min Ko Naing and others immediately (2) initiate a meaningful tripartite dialogue with NLD and ethnic nationalities for the democratic reform immediately in order to draft the constitution with the people’s elected representatives, democracy-icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and 88 generations student leaders (3) cease all sorts of human rights abuses and atrocities against ethnic minorities and religious groups like the Rohingyas, Karen, Karenni, Mon, Chin, Shan and etc. in order to ensure their human rights as equal regardless of race and religion (4) Ensure basic and fundamental rights of the people to education, economy, health and etc. in order to free the people from all kinds of meaningless difficulties (5) abolish fascist and brutal leading of the regime in order to ensure peace, justice, freedom for all and (6) reduce fuel prices as soon as possible in order to bring a sustainable economy for the people of Burma.

The demonstrator ended the event with a revolutionary song which encourages the activists to take part more actively and to continue struggle restlessly. ##

For further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me at: 0163094599, E-mail: sadek_brefugee@yahoo.com
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Writer is democracy and human rights activist of Burma and freelancer on Arakan, Burma and its people, particularly the Rohingyas of Arakan State.
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