Joint Statement on the SPDC’s Sham NationalConvention

Date:29-July-2007

We, at the 6-party alliance in exile strongly condemn the ongoing sham National Convention of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)of Burma.

The sham talks has already started on the 18th of July 2007, just a day before the National Martyrs Day in order to finalize new constitution that is totally against the will of the people. The regime is drafting the constitutionin the so-called National Convention that brought some 1,058 handpicked delegates from the military. They are not allowed to speak to journalists and the public. They cannot even leave the Nyaunghnapin military compound north of Rangoon, the place of sham talks.

“These unbalanced working procedures of the National Convention are not signs of a legitimate process”.

This is a process of total exclusion of the major democracy and ethnic groups. The military has been continuing crimes against humanity in the ethnic areas, particularly in Northern Arakan State and Eastern Karen State of Burma, predominantly the ethnic Rohingya and Karen areas. This isproof enough that the regime is not sincere about the genuine democratic reform.

The regime’s constitution is expected to be completed by this final session of the National Convention, is based on the regime’s “104 principles”. The provisions of the constitution already agreed by the ruling SPDC Militaryregime include reserving 25 percent of all future Parliamentary seats for serving military Generals. The constitution would also require that the President of the country “shall be a person who has been residing continuously in the country for at least 20 years” with “political, administrative, military and economic experience” and whose spouse,children and spouses of children are not citizens of another country. The President should also have at least 15 years of military service. Theserequirements automatically disqualify Burma’s Pro- democracy leader and Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other eight pro-democracy parties including the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR), an ethnic Rohingya representing organization won 90 per cent of the parliamentary seats in 1990s Multi-Party Democracy General Election.

If the regime wants to show its credibility and sincerity, the regime would take steps for a legitimate political road map through the inclusive,participatory and transparency, allowing all the relevant parties to Burma’s constitution drafting and national reconciliation process in order tocontribute their wills for the future of the country.

The regime must release Democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners including General U Tin Oo, U Khun Htun Oo, U Kyaw Min (aka) Shamsul Anwarul Houque, Journalist U Win Tin and etc.

Demand that the ongoing sham talks would stop nconditionally as it is against the will of the people’s elected epresentatives, while must hold a meaningful tripartite dialogue among the regime, NLD and other ethnic nationalities representatives.

Demand that the regime must stop human rights abuses in the country,particularly in the ethnic minorities’ areas like Rohingyas in Arakan State and Karen in Eastern part of Burma.

This alliance is comprising of National Democratic Party for Human Rights (exile - HQ), USA, World Rohingya Congress (WRC), USA, Arakan Rohingya Organization - Japan (JARO), Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF), Arakan-Burma, Burmese Rohingya Association in United Arab Emirates (BRA-UAE) and the National Council of Rohingya in Malaysia (NCR) and dedicated to advocate the causes of the people of Arakan, Burma particularly, the Rohingyas and other ethnic minorities.

Signed by:

1 - Salim Ullah (JARO)

2 - Maung Sein (NDPHR-exile) USA (HQ)

3 - Dr. Zaw Myint Thein (WRC)

4 - Dr. Than Aung (BRA-UAE)

5 - Mohammed Sadek (RYDF)

6 - Ghiyathudeen (NCR)

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

Targetted Rohingya in Thailand

Bangkok officials warn of attacks by southern insurgents
AsiaViews, Edition: 24/IV/July/2007

Thai policemen check security at Rajamangala stadium in Bangkok

Thai officials stepped up security in Bangkok on Wednesday, while warning the public of possible attacks by southern insurgents.

Police Lt-Gen Adisorn Nonsee, the Metropolitan Police Chief, said First Army security officials advised police to increase surveillance on possible insurgents who might be posing as migrant workers.

The warning singled out members of the Muslim Rohingya population, according to a report Tuesday in the Thai newspaper Post Today.

Hundreds of Rohingya have arrived in Thailand by small boats this year, after fleeing their homes in western Burma where they say they are victims of discrimination.

They are usually deported by Thai authorities who fear they may be linked to southern Muslim separatist groups.

Apirak Kosayothin, the governor of Bangkok, said Wednesday people should not panic but to inform authorities if they see suspicious movements. Security has been stepped up in crowded areas such as department stores, sky train and subway stations, and government offices.

Bangkok experienced a series of bomb explosions starting on December 31, 2006, in nine locations in the city and nearby area, which killed three people and injured others.

Patsawat Petchnin, a Bangkok resident, said she accepted tighter security, but added she rarely goes out to public places, particularly at night.

“Nobody knows what will happen next," she said, "because until now the officials still haven't arrested the bombers in the previous incidents.”

Meanwhile, interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and other high level officials are visiting three southern provinces this week to meet with local officials and villagers. They will spend one night in Yala Province, one of the most violence-prone areas.

Since 2004, escalating violence in Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani provinces has expanded to Sonkhla Province, claiming the lives of more than 2,400 people.

Currently, 356 suspected insurgents are detained in military camps.On Monday, the Working Group for Justice and Peace, a Bangkok-based rights organization, released a statement urging the government to respect the rights of suspects by allowing them to meet with lawyers and family members.

By Sai Silp
The Irrawaddy, 11 July 2007

http://www.asiaviews.org/?content=fddfdfe332wxy40&report=20070712042129

Press Release of Intnernational Conference on Burma and Rohingya in Japan

ARAKAN-BURMA RESEARCH INSTITUTE

PO Box 210178

NEW YORK 11421 , USA

Release

Tokyo, July 18, 2007

The second day of the First International Conference on the Problems of Democratic Development in Burma and the Rohingya people was sucessfully held in Gunma Ken, Tatebayashi City , Japan on July 17, 207. The conference was opened by Mr. Salim Ullah, President of JARO. Dr. Habib Siddiqui, Director of the Arakan-Burma Research Institute presided over the conference.

In his welcome speech, Mr. Salimullah said: "Let me welcome you to the second day of our FirstInternational Conference on Democratic Development in Burma and the Rohingya people. Many of you had the pleasure of listening to our distinguished scholars yesterday on subjects that matter to our people –freedom, democracy and human rights for all people of Burma , especially our Rohingya people, who have been rightly called the worst victims of Burmese government’s crimes against humanity.

We learned what Burma and its genuine democratic leadership has to do to bring about the necessary positive changes. In that equation, there is no place for feudalism, racism or xenophobia and big-brother- like unilateralism that breeds hatred and animosity, which contributes to division, dispossession, loss and suffering of people. Instead, what Burma needs is the true spirit of Republicanism, where all people of Burma –from the majority Burman to the minority Karen to Mon to Shan to Kachin to Chin to Rakhaing to Rohingay and all other minorities -- are treated equitably in an inclusive and trust-building environment for nation building. With that formula for genuine reconciliation, Burma has a future in our century. Without mutual respect on an equal footing, Burma has no future. It will continue to be looked upon as a "failed" state, much like Yugoslavia .

This evening, we have some 11 papers dealing with our Rohingya people. As a co-sponsor of this conference, my expectation is that these scholarly articles would motivate you to work for bringing about a positive change in Burma where no one is discriminated on account of his nationality, ethnicity, race, color and religion, let alone being denied of his or her fundamental right to be a citizen."

In the second day event, 11 papers were presented.

Session 1: Rohingya People's National Status

1. Mohiuddin (aka) Maung Sein, President of NDPHR (exile) USA (HQ)

Topic: National Status of Rohingyas

2. Kyaw Soe Aung (aka) MSK Jilani, General Secretary, NDPHR (exile) USA (HQ)

Topic: Rohingyas under the International Laws

3. Dr. Abid Bahar, Professor, Dawson College , Montreal , Canada

Topic: The "Enclave" revisited

4. Salim Ullah, President, JARO

Topic: Burma Fights Fascism

5. Dr. Than Aung (aka) Mohammed Ali, President, NDPHR (exile) UAE

Topic: A short account of the rise and fall of Arakan and Rohingya community today

6. Mohammad Sadek, General Secretary (RYDF) & NDPHR (exile) Malaysia

Topic: Rakhaing-Rohingya Reconciliation in line of NRP/ENC’s Objectives

7. Nurul Islam, ex-President, Arakan Historical Society, Chittagong

Topic: The current situation of the Rohingya people

Session 2: The Future of Rohingya People

1. Ahmedur Rahman Farooq, Co-founder of APFP, author and columnist

Topic: When the Sun will Rise for the Rohingyas

2. Dr. Zaw Myint Thien, Chief Advisor of NDPHR (exile) USA (HQ), President of World Rohingya Congress and Jupiter Corporation

Topic: Future of Rohingya and the Need for Proper Education System

3. Ustad Salim Ullah, President - Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO)

Topic: Rebuilding Rohingya Community through Modern Education

4. Nyi Nyi Soe, VP, JARO

Topic: United we stand, victory belongs to us!

At the end of the program, Dr. Habib Siddiqui read the Declaration of the conference (which shall be distributed separately).

In his closing speech, Mr. Mohiuddin (aka) U Maung Sein read good-will messages from the Rohingya community across the globe. He thanked the Arakan-Burma Research Institute, the NDPHR members and the JARO officials. He deplored the fact that some of the so-called Democracy leaders within the Burmese dissedents have been denying the Rohingya issue, esp. the impact of the 1982 Citizenship Act, which has effectively reduced them as "stateless" people of Burma . He demanded that the notorious Act be repealed. He demanded transparency from the Democracy Movement leaders on this grave issue. He concluded by saying, "Rohingyas are for non-violence and negotiated settlement."

Press Release prepared by

Dr. Abid Bahar

Arakan Burma Research Institute

USA Head Office

Burmese Democratic Forces denounces the SPDC's Sham National Convention and urges to stop Nuclear Program

Burmese Democratic Forces denounces the SPDC's Sham National Convention and urges to stop Nuclear Program

By Mohammad Sadek

Kuala Lumpur, July 17, 2007: Burmese Democratic forces in Malaysia have strongly denounced the sham national convention and urged to stop nuclear program.

Today, a group of about 100 Burmese democracy activists held a demonstration in front of Burmese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur at about 11:15am and demanded the Burmese regime with a press statement that to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo, U Khun Htun Oo, Writer U Win Tin and U Kyaw Min immediately and unconditionally; to release all political prisoners unconditionally; to stop nuclear enrichment program; to stop Sham National Convention and allow putting the will of people representatives; to permit to open the offices of legal political party (NLD) immediately; to decrease the taxes of Burmese workers in Malaysia; and to stop human rights violations.

During the time of demonstration the Malaysia authority more than 100 policemen were taking care of the program and co-operated the demonstrators.

The demonstration was organized by the Democratic Federation of Burma (DFB), Malaysia branch, while democratic dissidents from the Democratic Federation of Burma (DFB), National League for Democracy-Liberated Area (NLD-LA) led by Dr. Naing Linn, Burma Youth Secret Organization (BYSO), Christian Community Clinic Center (CCCC), National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR) exile (Malaysia Branch, Rohingya Organization led by Mr. Zafar, Chin Nationalities League for Solidarity (CNLS) and member organizations of All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF) took part in the event.

In their statement, the DFB mentioned that "we are standing and struggling for reality. We are not doing anything for ourselves. We are not scarifying our lives senselessly. We are trying utmost for our people and civil society of Burma as they would not loss their human dignity. What about you?"

At the same time these democratic dissidents demonstrated in front of Russian Embassy at about 11:50 am, denouncing the policy of Russian government towards Burma and misuse of its veto at the United Nations Security Council.

They expressed their deep concern that the Russian Govt.'s exploitation of logging in northern Burma , which has resulted in tremendous environmental damage to the country, could cause a negative impact on an already fragile environment.

Demonstrators also expressed that "Burma is a threat to the regional and International peace and security as regime has been getting support from Russia in planting nuclear reactors in Burma . The regime has a major program underway to exploit Burma's reserves of uranium ore, including through processing into the refined form known as yellowcak."

When asked, Aung Kyaw Moe, the Vice-Chairman of DFB, Malaysia branch said, if the conventions is resuming for the welfare of people and country, why not releasing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Laureate, and the daughter of Burma's father of army Bogyoke Aung San, whose release is constantly urging by the international communities and why not releasing the political prisoners whose numbers are about 1400.

On the other hand, Maung Thein, the Chairman of DFB expressed that "we will continue our rightful struggle unless there is democratic transition in Burma ."

A member of National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR) exile, Malaysia Branch, an ethnic Rohingya organ said that Burma is one of the largest sources of refugees, human trafficking, narcotics and both communicable diseases and other public health and law enforcement problems. Russia would use its power to protect the safety and livelihoods of all citizens of Burma and to ensure that all Burmese people are able to live in peace, freedom, justice and dignity.

Mentioned may be made that the regime is going to resume its national convention on the 18th of July 2007 to finalize state constitution without the will of people including the peoplefs elected representatives from National League for Democracy (NLD) and other ethnic nationalities organizations.

For further information, please contact at: Tel;+6(0)163094599

Email: mailto:hsadek_brefugee@yahoo.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Writer is a freelance journalist on Burma and its people, particularly on the ethnic Rohingya and Burmese democracy activist.
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Furtehr media reports, please click: http://www.voanews.com/burmese/2007-07-17-voa2.cfm

http://www.rfa.org/burmese/thadin/2007/07/17/demonstration_against_sham_convention/

http://burmese.dvb.no/news.php?id=1255

http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=254

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\07\18\story_18-7-2007_pg4_20

Declaration of First International Conference on the Problems of Democratic Development in Burma and the Rohingya People

Declaration from the First International Conference on the Problems of Democratic Development in Burma and the Rohingya People, Tokyo, Japan (July 16-17, 2007)

1. The Muslim minority community that identifies itself as the "Rohingya" is an indigenous people of the Rakhine (former Arakan) state of Myanmar (Burma).

2. The 1982 Citizenship Act of Burma, which has effectively declared the Rohingya as "stateless", is inconsistent with the United Nations and international laws recognizing inherent dignity, equality and inalienable rights of ALL members of the human family. Through its discriminatory laws and practices against the Rohingya people, the Myanmar government is in violation of each and every Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, making the Rohingya an "endangered" people of the 21st century who need protection of their human rights.

A) To the Myanmar Government:

(1) The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), now ruling Myanmar (Burma), should immediately amend or repeal the 1982 Citizenship Act to remove the burdensome standard of proof for attaining citizenship. The government should grant the Rohingya and other minority entities full citizenship and accompanying rights. The SPDC should furthermore sign and ratify the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and fulfill its international obligation to prevent statelessness of all affected people.

(2) The Myanmar authorities should address the other fundamental human rights problems which have caused the Rohingya and other minority communities to flee to Bangladesh and elsewhere. Specifically, it should abolish the practice of forced labor in compliance with the 1930 International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention on Forced Labor, which the Burmese government signed in 1955. Towards this end, as recommended by the ILO, the Myanmar government should amend or repeal the sections of the Village and Towns Acts that legally sanction the conscription of labor.

(3) The rights of the child should be especially protected, in accordance with the government's commitment to children's rights through its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991. In particular, all children born of Rohingya parents (and other "stateless" minorities) should be granted Burmese nationality, including those born in refugee camps in Bangladesh, Thailand and elsewhere. Children must not be forced to work under any circumstance, and the government should not discriminate against Muslim (and non-Buddhist) children in its provision of education benefits.

(4) The Myanmar government must ensure that all refugees are able to exercise their right to return and must guarantee their full reintegration with full respect for their human rights.

(5) The Myanmar government should release ALL its political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Kyaw Min (aka) Shamsul Anwarul Hoque, dropping all charges against them and their family members.

(B) To the Rohingya brotherly Organizations:

(1) Unity with others is not even a beautiful dream when victims of persecution are divided amongst themselves, mostly on petty matters. For achieving Rohingyas' legitimate rights, all organizations working for the Rohingya community should foster brotherly relationships, mutual trust and respect for each other. Any activity that is detrimental to Rohingya interest and unity should be shunned at all costs. Members and leaders should iron out their differences and find common grounds to unite and cooperate like organs of a body.

(C)To all the Democratic Forces of Burma:

(1) Promotion of racism and xenophobia are crimes against humanity, and as such, should be shun by all leaders and members of the Burmese Democratic Movement.

(2) The ideology of the Myanmar regime is "Myanmarism", which is arrogant, racist, militaristic, feudal, exclusionary and thus, self-defeating. It is a recipe for a 'failed' state, setting off perpetual war within itself, and destabilizing the region.

(3) Rohingya rights cannot take a back seat while demands for equality, freedom, democracy and human rights are sought from the military junta. That is hypocrisy! The dissident leaders must treat Rohingyas as their equal partners and comrades, craving for equity and human rights.

(4) The ENC should include representation from the Rohingya community to address and accommodate their legitimate grievances, especially those relating to the 1982 Citizenship Act.

(5) The leaderships of the Rakhaing, Rohingya and all Democratic Movements must preach that racism and discrimination against any minority community (including the Rohingya) are unacceptable and are in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. If Burma is to survive as a Federal Union, enough trust-building provisions must be made so that every minority community – religious, ethnic, or otherwise - feels equal with other dominant races and groups. The true spirit of Republicanism, in clear distinction to 'Myanmarism', must be embraced as the only alternative for survival of a future democratic Burma.

(D)To all the United Nations Member States:

(1) The SPDC regime must be pressed to repeal its 1982 Citizenship Act that is highly discriminatory and in violations of several international laws and charters of the UN and its member agencies.

(2) The SPDC regime must be pressed to stop its inhuman and degrading treatment of all minorities, esp. the Rohingyas of the Rakhine State of Burma.

(3) Fleeing refugees from Myanmar should not be pushed back against their wishes. And, instead, such should be given shelter with adequate provisions for food, education, job and healthcare. They should not be barred from seeking asylum in a third country.

(4) The UNHCR must improve living conditions within the refugee camps, and ensure that the returning refugees are not mistreated and abused by the Myanmar regime.

(5) The UN member states, esp. the ASEAN countries, must demand a return of democracy with provisions guaranteeing human rights of all minorities (including the Rohingya) in a federal state system that is inclusive and not discriminatory.

(E)To the United Nations Security Council:

(1) The UNSC must demand immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners within Myanmar, allowing them to leave the country voluntarily, if they so choose.

(2) A clear deadline must be set for the Myanmar regime to honor its international obligations for honoring people's verdict in the 1990 election.

(3) The UNSC must ensure that the Myanmar regime stops its crime against its own people.

(4) Through its failure to repeal the 1982 Citizenship Act, the Myanmar regime is guilty of promoting racism, xenophobia, inequality, intolerance and discrimination against minority communities like the Rohingya. The Act has effectively reduced the Rohingya people to be deprived of their fundamental rights to citizenship, movement, education, job, marriage, property and healthcare. The Act must be recognized as challenging the very principle and spirit of the UN. Myanmar's membership to the United Nations must, therefore, be revoked for its monumental crimes against humanity.

(5) As per UN Charter – Article 55 (c) and 56, Myanmar being a member of the UN, its government is legally obliged to honor the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and promote human rights and fundamental freedom for all without distinction as to race, sex, language and religion. Instead, through its criminal actions against minorities like the Rohingyas, the Myanmar regime has proven itself to be guilty of crimes against humanity, and as such, deserve serious punitive actions from the UN from annulling its membership in the world body to sanctions that force the regime to change its uncivilized and brutal ways.

Dr. Habib Siddiqui, Director, Arakan-Burma Research Institute,

On behalf of the ARAKAN-BURMA RESEARCH INSTITUTE (NY, USA),

Arakan Rohingya Organization-Japan (JARO), &

National Democratic Party for Human Rights (exile) USA (HQ)

1st International Conference on the Problems of Democratic Development in Burma and the Rohingya People has successfully Completed in Japan-First Day

Press Release

July 16, 2007

Tokyo Conference Day 1, Successfully Completed Tokyo, Japan

We are glad to announce the successful completion of the first day event for the "First International Conference on Problems of Democratic Development in Burma and the Rohingya People" in Tokyo, held on July 16, 2007. The conference was attended by Japanese and Burmese NGOs, Rakhine, Karen members and representatives from Japan's ministry of Justice, members from foreign affairs and Rohingya exiles, including the senior members of BRAJ.

The conference was presided over by U Maung Sein, President of NDPHR (exile). Mr. Salim Ullah, President of JARO, welcomed all the guests, speakers and attendees. For the benefit of non-English speaking attendees, gists of the speeches were shared in the Japanese and Burmese languages. In his welcome speech, Mr. Salimullah said, “Good Evening Ladies and gentleman.
I would like to welcome you all to our First International Conference on the Problems of Democratic Development and the Rohingya People. Assalamu Alaikum, Minglabar, Kunichiwa”.

In the beginning of the conference, I would like to thank our special guests from the United States of America, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Burma, and other countries. I particularly want to thank our distinguished guests - Dr. Habib Siddiqui, Dr. Abid Bahar and Br.Mohiuddin. We are very happy to have them among us. Please give them a hand.
…..(applaud)

Once I was told by one of our senior Rohingya brothers, "For a good initiative, you don't need to ask anybody." Yes, this is not a political gathering; it is an educational and intellectual conference. It must be a good cause. But I still thought it is necessary to inform our people, our
Rohingya brothers, our Rakhine brothers, and the fellow Burmese brothers. That is why we have invited them all.

Rohingyas are a stateless people. We don't have a country that we can call our own. The world is our country. We have to work hard to get rid of Burma's discriminatory Citizenship Act to be able to call Burma our country. It is high time that Rohingyas should be united to fight for restoring their citizenship rights.

The conference abstracts have already been published on the Internet. It addresses the problems of Xenophobia, Citizenship issues, Human Rights violations by the military and certain so-called democracy movement leaders. They say we have never heard of the Rohingyas.

We have the experts to tell us. To tell you, what are the problems and what are the issues that have to be understood and resolved to bring an end to the Rohingya suffering.

Now I am opening the floor for the speakers."

The papers presented on the first day were by

Dr. Habib Siddiqui from USA
Dr. Shwe Lu Maung from USA
Dr. Abid Bahar from Canada
Dr. Than Aung from UAE
U Maung Sein from USA.

The abstracts:
1. Dr. Habib Siddiqui – Chief Guest; Director, Arakan-Burma Research Institute, human rights activist

Topic: Human rights violations in Burma (Keynote speech)

Abstract: The human rights situation in Burma has led to fleeing of hundreds of thousands of people of various ethnic groups to neighboring countries. The Rohingya Muslims from Arakan state are vulnerable as they have no legal status in Burma and are considered to be non-citizens. The plight of the Rohingya demonstrates how people without citizenship rights in their own country can be forced out and become refugees, leaving them still vulnerable and without citizenship in the country of asylum.

2 Dr. Shwe Lu Maung, author of the books - The Price of Silence, Muslim-Buddhist War of Bangladesh and Myanmar – A Social Darwinist’s Analysis.

Topic: We, the People

Abstract: In this slide presentation, the author reviews mistakes of the multi-racial, -cultural,
-religious, -ethnic Union of Burma. An analysis of origin of the terms – Rakhaing and Rohingya – is provided, along with a review of population size, Muslim political movements in contemporary Burma. A case for true republicanism in the yet-to-be released 2008 reformed constitution is suggested for uniting all races, faiths and ethnicities.

3. Dr. Abid Bahar, Professor, Dawson College, Montreal, Canada

Topic: Xenophobic Burmese literary works: A problem of Democratic Development in Burma Abstract: For the past half a century, Burma’s people’s history has been overshadowed by its military history, symbolized by xenophobia and oppression. Minorities different from the dominating Burmans are being uprooted from their localities under the pretext of being "foreigners."

Nowhere is it as serious as in the province of Arakan. In this paper, the report of the survey on the xenophobic works is presented and concludes that the growing chauvinistic literary works breed intolerance and aggression in society – factors that contribute to producing refugees. These beliefs and attitudes could also be the antecedents to the problems facing democratic development in Burma.

4. Dr. Than Aung, (aka) Mohammed Ali (UAE), President-NDPHR (exile) UAE

Topic: Rohingyas for Respect, Negotiated Settlement and Peace

Abstract: Human beings by birth earn the right to citizenship of the mother earth. United Nations'
Charter of Rights and Freedom recognizes this right for every human being. However, Fascist regimes like the SPDC and its predecessors Ne Win government from 1962 denied human rights to the Rohingya people of Arakan. In 1982 it passed a constitutional Act denying the Citizenship of the Rohingya people. Ever since Rohingyas have became a stateless people.

5. Mr. Yusuf Mohiuddin (aka) Maung Sein, President of NDPHR (exile) USA (HQ)

Topic: Problems of Democratic Development in Burma and the National Status of Rohingya People

Abstract: Democracy is not just a popular slogan about a political system - ‘by the people, of the people and for the people’. Democracy is also about a life style that prepares its citizens to make sacrifice, show tolerance, respect the rights of their fellow citizens; and in turn, it also expects reciprocity from others. Such a system allows common participation and allows citizens to go beyond the parochial limits of race, ethnicity and xenophobic thinking. This paper explains that while Burmese democracy leaders have been working hard to fight against the military dictatorship, a large part of the leadership is only trying to gain their share of political participation by depriving the minorities. A case in point is the Rakhine state where some democracy movement leaders/members tend to ignore the Rohingya people’s legitimate rights in Arakan. They either try to discourage a common stand with the Rohingya leaders to fight against the military’s xenophobic 1982 constitutional act or outright deny Rohingya's citizenship rights. This paper concludes that to bring democracy in Burma, democracy awareness campaign is needed.

There was a Q and A period.

Press Release Prepared by:
Dr. Professor Abid Bahar
Arakan-Burma Research Institute
USA Head Office

Rohingya Refugees: Pregnant Woman dies lack of treatment

Kaladan News

July 9, 2007

Pregnant woman dies from lack of treatmentTeknaf, Bangladesh: A pregnant Burmese refugee woman living in the Nayapara camp died because of lack of proper treatment on July 7, said Enamul Haque, her husband.

The woman was identified as Shazeeda Khatun (20), of MRC No. 26123, Shed No. 68/2 in Nayapara camp.

Shazeeda Khatun was into her eighth month of pregnancy. She began to have stomachache from late on the night of July 6. It was her first pregnancy. At about 7:00 a.m, on July 7, she was taken to the Ministry of Health (MOH) run by the UNHCR and the government. But, she was not attended to in the MOH clinic centre till 11 a.m. After 11 a.m. Dr. Papush came for a primary check up and referred her to the Medicine Sense Frontier (MSF) after he found her condition had become critical.

After admission in the MSF clinic, the patient was provided treatment by doctors. They tried to save her life but were unable to, said her husband.

She died at noon in the MSF clinic. A MSF doctor told her husband that "if she had been admitted two hours earlier, she could have been saved.

Her body was handed over to her husband and buried at about 5 p.m.

"We are facing severe difficulties in receiving proper treatment from the Ministry of Health (MOH). If we go to MOH centre with serious patients, the doctors don't provide proper check ups and keep patients waiting for a long time without treatment. Neither do they refer serious patients to the MSF on a priority basis," refugees said.

The MSF is not allowed to admit serious patients without the consent of the MOH. Both medical facilities are controlled by the Bangladesh government. MSF is keen to provide treatment to refugees but they cannot do so without the permission of the government and the MOH. ##

Sources:http://www.bnionline.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1991&Itemid=6

Rohingya Image View

Image view: The Rohingya: Discriminated in Burma, Denied Rights in Bangladesh

The Rohingyas of Arakan State are the worst victims of Human Rights Violations. They are discriminated by their fellow countrymen, particularly the Rakhine Chauvinism, who are locally known as Magh, the decendent of Magadah (presently Bihar) state of India.

Bangladesh currently hosts approximately 28,000 Rohingya refugees.

Sources:http://southasia.oneworld.net/imagecatalogue/imageview/25071/?RefererURL=/guides/refugees

Caught between two tigers: The Rohingyas of Arakan, Burma

Caught between two tigers

Dr Graham Thom reports on the plight of 26,000 stateless Rohingya who have been trapped in refugee camps for 16 years.

The Rohingya refugees of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) are caught between their own government, which forced them to leave their country and won't let them back in, and the Bangladeshi Government that insists they must return. They call it being caught between two tigers.

Arakan State in Myanmar is inhabited by two ethnic groups, the Buddhist Rakhine and the Muslim Rohingya. The Rakhine are close to Myanmar's ruling Burman in both religion and language, while the Rohingya, who make up about a third of the area's population, are ethnically and religiously related to the Chittagonian people of southern Bangladesh and are concentrated in northern Arakan, close to the Bangladesh border.

The Rohingya are not among the 135 'national races' identified by the Burmese Government and the Citizenship Law of 1982 leaves them stateless, effectively making them illegal immigrants in their own country.

In an effort to encourage their departure to Bangladesh, their freedom of religion and movement is restricted, they must apply for permission to marry, their land has been confiscated and they suffer severe economic constraints. The military has murdered fathers and husbands and raped mothers, sisters and daughters. They are routinely subjected to brutal forced labour, arbitary taxation and constant humiliations.

In Bangladesh

In the last mass exodus in 1991–1992 approximately 250,000 Rohingyan refugees (nearly 30 per cent of the population of Northern Arakan) fled to Bangladesh. Of the hundreds of thousands repatriated back to Myanmar between 1992 and 1995 a significant number have subsequently returned to Bangladesh, where they now live illegally in the community.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has not been allowed to assist any Rohingya fleeing persecution after 1992 and can therefore only take responsibility for those remaining from the 1991–92 exodus.

At present there are 26,000 such refugees and they live in appalling conditions in two camps in Bangladesh: Nayapara, near Teknaf, and Kutupalong, near Ukhia. They are housed in sheds made of bamboo and plastic sheeting, with a mud floor and low roof.

Despite the fact they've been in these camps for 16 years and 45 per cent of them were born there, the Bangladeshi Government still regards the camps as temporary holding centres for refugees who will 'shortly' be returning to Myanmar. For this reason no significant improvements have been made to the camps over the past 15 years.

In the camps

The refugees are not allowed to leave the camps and have no right to work. Those willing to risk looking for work pay bribes to leave the camp and, if caught, have been severely beaten. Their children are beaten by local villagers if they go out to collect firewood. Children have also been held for ransom if caught outside the camp.

Education is restricted, with classes only to Grade 5, and only Burmese, English and maths may be taught. Food distribution and medical care are a problem, with more than 15 per cent of refugees malnourished.

A climate of fear dominates, with violence and corruption rife over the past 15 years. A small group of refugees, the Mahjees, appointed by the Government of Bangladesh, keeps control by terrorising the rest of the refugees into submission. Until recently they have acted with impunity, often using brutal methods to deny refugees from organising meaningful activities.

While the UNHCR has recently undertaken a number of measures to improve conditions in the camps, further initiatives are desperately needed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all the refugees.

The unofficial camp

Even worse-off than the 'official' refugees is a further group of about 9,500 Rohingya who were expelled from rented accommodation in Teknaf in a 2002 eviction campaign and forced to camp out near the Teknaf District Office.

They were threatened with deportation, but the Myanmar authorities would not accept them so they now live in flimsy homes of bamboo, plastic sheets and flattened cement bags on muddy ground, sleeping as many as 16 in a room only slightly larger than a small shed.

The huts are barely a metre apart and are positioned between a river and a busy road. About 25 refugees, most of them children, have been killed on the road in the past two years.

The UNHCR has not been allowed to help them, other than to distribute some plastic sheeting. Medicines Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders) Holland has been allowed to open a health clinic which has reduced the previously high rates of disease and infant mortality.

In Australia

Australia currently has seven Rohingyan asylum seekers detained on Nauru. These men fled to Australia in August 2006 after living illegally in Malaysia for a number of years. Amnesty International has received reports that they suffered persecution and abuse in both Myanmar and Malaysia. After eight months Australia has yet to process their applications; however, if found to be refugees they may be part of the refugee 'swap' with the US recently announced by the Australian Government.

This article was first published in the June/July 2007 issue of the Human Rights Defender, AIA's bi-monthly publication.

Sources:http://www.amnesty.org.au/Act_now/campaigns/refugees/features/caught_between_two_tigers? SQ_ACTION=clear_design_name

Mobile clinics for refugees in Malaysia: Not known either Free or with Charge

U.N. teams up with Czech Republic to provide mobile clinics for refugees in Malaysia

Fri Jun 22, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) _ The United Nations' refugee agency formed a partnership Friday with the Czech Republic and Malaysian volunteer physicians to set up mobile clinics to boost health care for refugee communities.

Doctors and nurses in vans will regularly visit 1,000 refugees, mostly people who fled military-ruled Myanmar, starting July 1 in Klang district near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's main city, said Volker Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees' representative in Malaysia.

Refugees in Malaysia _ who are not legally allowed to find employment _ sometimes have trouble obtaining medical treatment because of financial costs, language barriers and problems in physically reaching hospitals and clinics, Turk told a news conference.

``It's a marginalized and vulnerable group that is not living in the most healthy environment,'' Turk said.

The Czech Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is providing US$20,000 (euro14,934) to pay for medicine, while Mercy Malaysia, a nongovernment group, will supply the medical staff for the nine-month project.

``Foreign humanitarian aid is an integral part of the Czech Republic's policy,'' said Dana Hunatova, the Czech ambassador to Malaysia.

Respiratory infections, hypertension and stress-related illnesses are common among Malaysia's refugee communities, but many of these problems can easily be treated with basic medication, project officials said.

There are about 37,000 refugees registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia, nearly a quarter of whom are under 18 years old.

Some 24,000 are from Myanmar, including people from minority groups such as the ethnic Rohingyas, ethnic Chins and Muslims. Ethnic minorities in Myanmar have long faced persecution from the military, and many hide in jungles or attempt to leave the country.

There are also some 10,000 people from Indonesia's Aceh province, where a decades-long separatist insurgency ended after a 2006 peace deal. The UNHCR says many Acehnese have been returning home, and they are no longer ``considered of concern'' to the agency.

Malaysia has a long history of distrust toward foreign migrants or refugees. The government does not recognize refugees and has repeatedly rejected the UNHCR's call for Malaysia to stop regarding refugees as illegal immigrants who can be deported at any time.

Bangladesh Announces New Refugee Camp for Rohingyas

Three months after Human Rights Watch reported that Bangladeshi authorities had destroyed a camp sheltering 6,000 Rohingya refugees from Burma, Bangladesh announced on June 20, World Refugee Day, that it will build a new camp to house 9,500 people. In addition to denouncing the camp's destruction, Human Rights Watch urged Bangladesh to uphold its obligation to protect Rohingya refugees and allow their unfettered access to humanitarian aid. Over 250,000 Rohingya Muslims from western Burma were forced into Bangladesh by the Burmese military in 1992 in a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Arakan state. Since then, thousands have been detained in crowded camps in Bangladesh, and many have been repatriated to Burma, where they face repression by that country's military dictatorship. We will continue to urge Bangladesh to provide safe refuge and access to services for Rohingya refugees.

Sources: HRW (http://www.hrw.org/about/impact.html)

Rohingya Refugees Hopes for Canada

Eight Burmese Families Given Chance to Resettle in Canada from Bangladesh
7/5/2007
Eight refugee families from the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh have been selected by the Canadian government and the local UNHCR office to resettle in Canada, reports a refugee from the camp.

Authorities from Canada and UNHCR officials selected the eight families out of 14 after conducting interviews with them.

Among the eight families are Mr. Zawhol Rulhouse, refugee number 48145, Mrs. Fartimar Kartoon, refugee number 8744, Sosue Islam, refugee number 21226; they are from Nayapara and Kutupalong refugee camps.

However, the date for their departure to Canada has not yet been fixed.

According to sources, an official from the Canadian immigration department came to the two camps in the first week of June to interview 14 families. After interviews were conducted, eight families were selected for resettlement in Canada.

Last year, the Canadian government brought over 22 Burmese Muslim refugees from the camps under the UNHCR resettlement program.

There are about 26,000 Burmese Muslim refugees in the camps of Bangladesh who fled the discrimination and oppression of the present military government.
In Bangladesh, there are also nearly 200 Buddhist urban refugees who have not been given any opportunities to resettle in third countries. #

Sources: Narinjara News- http://www.narinjara.com/details.asp?id=1331

Mon villagers ordered to relocate by Burmese Army

IMNA, By Banyol Kin
July 4, 2007

About a 100 Mon families settled in Bayoun-ngae village, Khaw-zar Sub Township for many years, have been ordered to relocate last week by the Burmese junta after the military offensive in southern Ye Township, lower Burma .

A villager quoting Infantry Battalion IB No 31 sources said, villagers have been supporting Mon revolutionary group led by Nai Bin, of the Mon Restoration Party (MRP), so the battalion ordered villagers to leave the village.

"They also burnt some houses" said an eyewitness. All houses in the village have been ordered to be destroyed.

The Southeast Command is conducting the military operation in Mon State . An army officer responded to IMNA over telephone by saying "we don't know about this."

"The villagers are moving to other bigger places in Khaw-zar, Sub Township . Some also moved to Hang-gan, said a villager in a neighbouring village.

The village is located in southeast Hang-gan village, isolated from the other villages.

In 2004, during the Military Southeast Command's tactical command military operation, the army relocated two small villages in the area.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Sources: http://us.f522.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=imna_news@yahoo.com , www.monnews- imna.com
Editor: Tel: 66 (0) 034 595 666 Mobile : 66 (0) 81 3659140

Burma News International Web-site: http://www.bnionline.net/

Rohingya refugees refuse to go home

Myanmar refugees refuse to go home
Published: Sunday, 1 July, 2007, 01:36 AM Doha Time

COX’S BAZAR: Imam Sharif and his family have lived in a squalid refugee camp in Bangladesh since they fled Myanmar 16 years ago.

"Life here in the camp is no better. Hunger and disease stalk us day in and day out. Our children are growing up like dogs on the street," Sharif said last week.

refugee children play at the Kutupalong camps in Cox's Bazar, 450km southeast of Dhaka in this file photo

The 21,000 Rohingya refugees living in two camps run by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Bangladeshi government are lucky compared to more recent arrivals from Myanmar who are homeless and live outdoors.

The refugee camps are in Bangladesh’s southeastern Cox’s Bazar district, separated from Myanmar by the Naf river which forms part of the border between the two countries.

Some 250,000 poor and uneducated refugees crossed into Bangladesh in early 1992 alleging rape, killing, forced labour and other torture by troops in Arakan state in west Myanmar, where a large number of residents are Muslims.

Most of the refugees were sent back under the supervision of UNHCR. But the repatriation process has been stalled since July 2005 when the remaining 21,000 refused to go back, fearing renewed persecution and arrest for leaving the country.

"They will kill us or put us into jail for life, if we go back," said Sharif at the Kutupalong camp, 450km from Dhaka.

Their refusal prompted the Bangladeshi government to stop sheltering new refugees, but they continued to flow in.

The new arrivals live in makeshift shelters in the jungles, and mingle with local Muslims, who share a similar language, religion and appearance.

The newcomers eke out a meagre living as labourers, and have no access to clean water or proper sanitation. Local villagers complain the refugees pose serious health and social problems, such as prostitution. Bangladesh authorities are now planning to set up a third camp on the bank of the Naf river to house about 9,000 Myanmar refugees, officials at Cox’s Bazar said.

But the UNHCR said it can’t oversee the camp. "We are just moving them to safer place ... But as long as they do not have refugee status, we can’t help them more," said Pia Prytz Phiri, the representative of the UNHCR in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s government must officially recognise these people as refugees before the UNHCR can look after them, she said. Bangladesh is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations convention on refugee rights, but it does informally recognise those living in the camps as refugees. "We gave permission to shift them on humanitarian ground as the place they are now living is vulnerable," said Ahmed Hossain Khan, Bangladesh’s refugee relief and repatriation commissioner.

"It was very essential because the place is wet. The houses get flooded when the tide come," said Claudia Stephan, the project co-ordinator of aide group MSF. "Most of the houses are made of polythene sheets and sacks. It is not sufficient to protect against rain so cold-related diseases are very common."

"I have visited many refugee camps across the world, most recently in Darfur, Sudan. But the situation here (Damdamia) is worst than that," said Jaap Broersma, the MSF Head of Mission. – Reuters

Sourcess: The Gulf Time--

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=158281&version=1&template_id=44&parent_id=24

Daw Suu Kyi and movement for democracy, freedom and human rights in Burma

Daw Suu Kyi and movement for democracy, freedom and human rights in Burma

Thu, 2007-06-14 02:33
By Dr. Habib Siddiqui

Throughout history, we have seen the importance of personality in shaping the destiny of a nation. These personalities become larger than their lives. They gravitate people to overcome their local and ethnic/tribal/regional inertia towards a common cause. Rarely did a social and national movement succeed that did not have that iconic unifying figure. That unique role has been provided by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for Burma, a country of many races, ethnicities, and religions.

Analyzing from its problematic history, geography, social and economic factors, Burma is not an easy territory for anyone aspiring to become its national leader. Politically, it has more than its share of (almost never-ending) military dictatorships that pale the ugly records of other despots of our time by any indicator. The Junta has used most of the brutal and horrendous methods that were invented by beastly human perverts to prolong its bloody grip of power. The faces of the rulers have changed, but the institution that rules has not changed.

Long gone are the inalienable rights granted under the Charters of the UN Declaration of Human Rights! With Draconian measures implemented one after another inside Burma, the country has become the worst place on earth to live outside war-ravaged countries of Iraq and Afghanistan (and the Occupied Palestine). Taking blood-soaked pages from history, the usurpers have utilized the divide-and-rule policy to fragment the already-fragmented society of nations and ethnicities - rewarding one for its cooperation and punishing the other for its non-compliance – perceived or real. The temptation is often high to bemuse oneself as belonging to the majority - with very little to lose.

After all, the ruling regime is drawn from the majority Burman race. With the loss of the oppressed minority there has to be some gain for the privileged majority! And some human vultures and hyenas from the national/religious majority have taken that cue to benefit from the suffering of people of the minority races, ethnicities and faiths. Similarly, some opportunists and bounty hunters have emerged from the communities that are minority in the national picture but majority in the regional area. They play the same tune as the SPDC plays -- behaving like Quisling and Mir Jafar of olden times, and Chalaby of our time. Naturally, if you are part of an ethnic and religious minority like the Rohingya community of the Arakan state of Burma, you automatically settle for the worst kind of human rights abuses.

Given the reality of the troubling situation inside Burma, the role of true leadership become so crucial! Who can unite rival factions, tribes and nations, fractious communities and yet take them to a higher glory that is win-win for all? It is an almost-impossible task requiring vision and well chalked out plan, epitomizing sincerity of propose and action, which is motivating and fulfilling. Very few have succeeded in this epoch-making trial of genuine leadership.

Is Daw Suu Kyi that person for Burma? No one can deny the fact that she is best recognized - both inside and outside Burma - to provide that glue-some attraction. She has essentially become the face of Burma in its struggle for freedom, democracy and human rights. No one comes even remotely close to her in that role of leadership. She is uncontested. In Suu Kyi, the majority sees her as one of their own, who understands them and can talk face to face in the same language. They see her as the daughter of their venerated leader.

How about the minority? It is in Daw Suu Kyi that the minority communities like the Rohingya, Karen and Shan look for leadership, as do many other communities that form today's Burma. They aspire for democracy, freedom and human rights - something that has been snatched away from them by the military regimes that have ruled Burma for most of its post-colonial period. She is their answer to decades of deprivation, dispossession and dehumanization. She is their hope for return from exile -- from the bushes, jungles and refugee camps -- to ancestral homes. It is around her that they dream of reconstructing torched homes and uniting with family members. She is their leader, comrade, and sister. She is also a fellow-traveler tasting pain and suffering in the long march to freedom, democracy and human rights. She is their last chance to redress their old grievances and elevate their status from statelessness to statehood, denial to acceptance, non-entity to entity, and become effective citizens in a federal system that respects and protects their unique place in history, culture and religion. There is none that they can look for providing that unifying leadership.

What undeniably is the strength of the movement for freedom, democracy and human rights, unfortunately, is also its greatest weakness. It is Daw Suu Kyi. This fact is known to the regime and all those who have studied history vis-à-vis the unique role of leadership. The Burmese democratic movement has no one to replace Daw Suu Kyi. There is no Boumedienne, no Mbeki, and no Nehru for Burma who can effectively lead the movement if Daw Suu Kyi is no more.

That is why many of the measures taken by the SPDC regime are nothing more than foot-dragging tactics to buy time, hoping that with the death of Daw Suu Kyi the dissident movement will cease to exist or lose its legitimacy as the unifying force. The measures that they tout are hypocritical and part of a long term strategy to solidify their grip over power. If they were sincere to make a positive change, knowing how well Daw Suu Kyi is respected by all dissidents, they would not have ignored or neglected her. They would have consulted her on the so-called roadmap for democracy in Myanmar.

The SPDC's tactics to ignore Daw Suu Kyi on its proposed roadmap shows their naked hypocrisy or insincerity. This so-called blue-print for democracy will not have any better luck than dozens of other efforts that were tried out before that did not have people's support. The sooner the SPDC planners understand the importance of Daw Suu Kyi in restoration of democracy, human rights and freedom, the better. Without her consent, there is no buy-in from the various communities that make up today's Burma, and not even from the majority Burman community.

The greatest flaw with the SPDC leadership is in its miscalculation about the very state that they have ruled for years. They forget that Burma is an artificial state of diverse peoples that cannot be kept united by brute forces alone. It needs a unifying figure that fosters mutual trust and unity, and strengthens the whole. Nobel Peace prize winner Suu Kyi is that figure. With her, there is a united Burma. And without her, only disunity and break-up! In her, the regime has the last chance to unite various communities under one federal system.

Will this realization sink in with the SPDC regime? I doubt it.

When hypocrisy and brute force become the guiding principles, their practitioners try to hoodwink all hallucinating that everyone else is fooled and their means are justifiable. In these, they fool none but themselves and dig their own graves of ignominy!

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/6152

Severe restrictions imposed on Rohingya community in Arakan

KALADAN NEWS
Monday, July 18, 2007
Severe restrictions imposed on Rohingya community in Arakan

Maungdaw, Burma: Severe restrictions have been imposed on the Rohingya community in Arakan by the local authorities, said a local from Maungdaw.

The authorities are harassing the Rohingya community by restricting their movement. For instance a Rohingya youth slept at his grandfather's house near his home, but local authorities alleged he had no permission to stay overnight at his grandfather's home in the same village. He was fined, he added.

The Rohingya youth, Mohammed Ismail (22), son of Ruhul Amin belongs to Shweza village-tract in Maundaw Township in Arakan State , Burma , said a relative of the victim.

Similarly, the authorities also imposed restrictions on a bride who married and shifted to her husband's house. The authorities alleged that she was not enlisted in her husband's family list, said a cousin of the victim on condition of anonymity.

The bride, Dilnawas daughter of Deen Mohamed, hails from Guna Para, under the Shewza village track. She was fined for living with her husband by the authorities on June 3 and for not enlisting her name in her husband's family list and not having permission to stay overnight.

According to the culture of the Rohingya community, after marriage, the bride leaves her home and goes to her husband's house.

The family of the bridegroom applied to the authorities to transfer the bride's name to her husband's family list. But the authorities delayed the transfer and then fined her.

Such rules are only imposed on the Rohingya community of Arakan, not other communities, said a teacher from Shewza village, Maungdaw.

Sources: Burma News International
http://www.bnionline.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1860&Itemid=6

The Economist: Unlikely sanctuary; Myanmar’s Muslims

The Economist: Unlikely sanctuary; Myanmar’s Muslims
Mon 2 Jul 2007

Myanmar’s Muslims thrive in China, Huddled masses, yearning to be free and going to China. At first glance, Yunnan would seem the sort of place a pious Muslim should avoid. AIDS is rampant in this province in south-western China and Beijing’s efforts have failed to curb the drugs and prostitution that spread the disease. Moreover China has an appalling record of suppressing religious freedom, including that of Muslims. In its western region of Xinjiang some have taken up arms.

Yet Muslims from neighbouring Myanmar flock to Yunnan. In cities such as Jinghong and Liuku, they sell Burmese gems in shops decorated with Arabic calligraphy and pictures of Mecca. A jeweller in Jinghong, who has lived here for six years, says that in Myanmar "the Buddhists fight us Muslims and don’t let us work. The government is very evil. Here in China you can work in peace."

No one knows how many Burmese live in Yunnan. Many enter illegally. Official statistics suggest that Muslims make up about 4% of Myanmar’s population of around 47m, but that is almost certainly an underestimate. The ruling junta has a history of discrimination against Muslims, particularly the Rohingya ethnic group, more than 250,000 of whom fled from Arakan province into neighbouring Bangladesh in the early 1990s.

Mosques and schools in Myanmar are shut down arbitrarily. Many Muslims find their movements restricted unless they pay hefty bribes; others languish in detention after officially instigated clashes with Buddhists. It does not help that their political sympathies often lie with the democratic opposition, whose leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, remains in detention.

In China, in contrast, the Burmese find that, as long as they make no trouble, their faith is immaterial. Compared with other countries of refuge, such as Bangladesh, China offers

Source http://www.burmanet.org/news/2007/07/02/the-economist-unlikely-sanctuary-myanmars-muslims/

11 Burmese Rohingya Arrested in Bagladesh

Monday,02 Jul,2007
11 Burmese Citizens Arrested in Bangladesh
6/30/2007

Bangladesh Army personnel arrested 11 Burmese citizens on Friday in Bandaban, located in the south of Chittagong Hill Tract near the western Burmese state Arakan, according to official reports.

The army patrol team rounded up the 11 while they were holding a meeting under a passenger shade in Sualak Bazar in Bandaban Township Friday morning.

Army personnel later handed the arrestees over to the local police in the town.

The arrested are identified as Ismail Hossain, M Monir Ahmed, Abul Hossain, Sona Ali, Jalil, Mohammed Alam, Nezamudin, Mohammed Ismail, Abdul Monaf, Abdur Rashid, and Baru.
The men were sent to jail Friday afternoon following a court order.

The arrestees told police during questioning that they crossed over into Bangladesh from Burma via the Teknaf border point a few days ago in search of work.

Security has been very tight on the Bangladesh-Burma border since three officials from a Danish NGO were abducted by an unknown group of armed men in the border area on 25 June.

Since the abduction, many locals and Burmese nationals have been arrested in the area as suspects.#

Soucres: Narinjara News

http://www.narinjara.com/details.asp?id=1321