Rohingya Dilemma: a ruthless vicious circle in so-called civilized world Abdul Hamid M.V. Musa Ali Arakan, Burma

Anak-Anak Pengungsi Rohingya di Shelter Pathum Thani Bangkok Oktober 2009

Introduction  Prior to Burman occupation of Arakan in 1784,  Ruled by Hindus, Buddhists and Muslim  Muslim Sultanate beginning in 1430 lasted for more than 350 years  Until it was invaded and occupied by Burman king Bodaw Paya in 1784.

The map of ancient Arakan A map showing cultural divisions of South-East Asia in 15th century A.D. as shown in the Time Atlas of World Histoiy indicating Arakan as an Islamic Stale by Geoferry Banadough P- 133

 In the year 1824, British occupied Arakan put under India  In 1937, separated form British India  Arakan became a province of independent Burma in 1948.

Map of present Arakan

Persecution minorities  Since after the 1962’s coup by general Nay Win  He confiscated the properties of Indian and nationalized, later target Chinese  Finally aimed at Rohingyas  However, in the present regime the situation atrocities reach at its peak

The problems of the Rohingyas  are the result of the forcible expulsion from their homeland  by means of persecution, genocidal massacres, torture and harassment in the most inhuman manner.  It is a problem of religious and political persecution  a systematic elimination of an ethnic Muslim community from their own homeland of Arakan

Operation against Rohingyas  Military Operation (5th Burma Regiment) November 1948  Burma Territorial Force (BTF) Operation  Military Operation (2nd Emergency Chin regiment) March  Mayu Operation October  Mone-thone Operation October 1954  Combined Immigration and Army Operation January 1955

 Union Military Police (UMP) Operation  Captain Htin Kyaw Operation 1959  Shwe Kyi Operation October 1966  Kyi Gan Operation October-December 1966  Ngazinka Operation  Myat Mon Operation February  Major Aung Than Operation 1973

 Sabe Operation February  Nagamin Operation February  Shwe Hintha Operation August  Galone Operation 1979  Pyi Thaya Operation  Na-Sa-Ka Operation (border security forces) (presently going on)

Na-Sa-Ka operation  Headquarters is at the border town of Maungdaw to implement the following objectives:-  Socio-economic deprivation of the Rohingyas;  Effective control on the growth of Rohingya population;  De-muslimization of Arakan through ethnic cleansing;  Spread of Buddhism and Burma Buddhist culture in Arakan with prejudice on Islam and Rohingya culture.

Mechanisms  Extra judicial killing: Since 1989 thousands of Rohingya youths and madrasah students were killed.  Arbitrary arrest and extortion: is a daily routine of business of Na-Sa-Ka and police. It is popularly known as Kalar Hmu  Confiscation of properties: Land, and cattle confiscated and distribute it among Burman model villagers.  Now, there are 100 model villages. Each village has household and  Each house was provided with 4 acres of land and 2 pairs of cows.

 Anti-Rohingya and anti-Muslim propaganda: The junta incites communal riots by allowing to distribute books and taped records insulting Islam and Muslims.  Rape: Rape of women is widespread. It was an official strategy to terrorize and compel the Rohingya community to flee.  Forced labor: Although forced labor is prevalent throughout Burma, in North Arakan, it is only imposed on the Rohingyas.  Restriction on movements: Rohingyas are not allowed to travel freely from one place to another, even within the same locality.

 Restriction on marriage : take years to obtain permission, requires payment of bribes. Some brides are forced to undergo a pregnancy test. Unauthorized marriages are criminalized and are sentenced with 4 to 7 years.  Restriction on employment: As non-citizens, we are barred from all kind of employment and therefore people are jobless.  Restriction on education : Illiteracy is at 80%. Primary and secondary education is neglected. Due to restrictions of movement, we are prevented from attending higher education.

Resttriction on religious practices  Many mosques have been destroyed and closed down.  No permission is given even to renovate Masjids and madrasahs while building new one is totally forbidden.  It means within more and less than twenty years there will not be seen any Islamic symbolical housings  Most of them are build of woods and bamboos.

 Contrary to it there is no hill-top left that there is no pagoda on it.  100 new Buddhist settlement  The demography of Arakan change into Buddhism appearance

Discrimination out of Burma A. Bangladesh  Refugees are treated as sub-human being  Donations are not reach to  Destroyed their huts  Rape refugee woman  No education for children  No water

Unregistered camps, Kutupalong, One view of refugee camp before destroyed

Another view side of refugee camp before destroyed

At raining season, the view of refugee camp

These huts were destroyed  On 15/06/2009  Join oppression by  Police  Ansar  Forest department

View of camp area after destroyed Destroyed area from south-west side

Women build their hut as no man in the family

Dangerous journey  Due to endless persecution in Burma  Unwelcoming attitudes of neighboring Bangladesh  Prompted many Rohingyas to seek refuge elsewhere.  In the past, Rohingyas used Saudi Arabia, UAE but as Bangladesh not issue passport; almost impossible,  The only option since 2006 became a risky boat trip to reach Malaysia via Thailand.

B. In Thailand  In December 2008 and January 2009, as more and more Rohingyas fled on boats and reached Thai waters,  Thailand changed policies and the Thai military, after torturing them on a deserted island,  Towed them back to high seas with little food and water on boats with no engines. 850 were rescued in India and Indonesia but hundreds perished in the ocean.  Survivors are now detained in Thailand, India and Indonesia and their fate remains uncertain.

Asian summit, Thailand  Failed address the problems  Non-interference policies make Asian nation to shy away from the matter  Surprisingly, they were branded illegal immigrant caught in Andaman sea  Level as Bangli and accept them if they can porbe Burmese Bangali  Why Bangali Why not Rohingya? Think!

C. How about Malaysia?  Caught and deported  Employment problems  No education for children  Even not admit into the religious school  No medical facilities

Our humble Appeal  International bodies UN, EU, OIC, ASEAN, NGOs  Countries such as UK, USA, India, China, Australia and  To explore a permanent solution to the outstanding Rohingya problems  Within the frame work of the international law, pacts on human rights and other international practices.

To pressurise the Burmese Junta:  1. To recognise Rohingyas as an indigenous ethnic  2. To issue immediately national identity cards  3. To give permission to build Mosques and other---  4. To admit into higher education including-----  5. To stop extra- Judicial Killing, raping Rohingya women, any form of harassing

 6. To stop arbitrary arrest, torture, arbitrary taxation  7. To lift ALL form of restrictions  8. To stop forced slave labour  9. To lift restrictions of Marriage  10. To stop forced Eviction and House Destruction  11. To give back forced confiscated land to their owner.  12. To call back all model villagers to their original places

Our appeal to host countries  To give temporary protection  To issue document  To give chance for education  Permission for employment  Assess for treatment

Our appeal to NGOs  To highlight Rohingya problems  To form a working team among NGOs  Work collectively  To find a way  To formulate a mechanism for permanent solution  To approach government

Acknowledgement ● Universal Justice Network ● Citizen International, Penang, Malaysia ● Islamic Human Rights Council, UK ● Honorable chairman, Dr. Muhideen Abdul Kader, Vice president, Consumer’s Associaton Penang. ● Ustaz Cikgu Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, President TERAS, and also Training Coordinator ● All staff members, for their hardworking

Thank you