“BRAFA’s Appeal Letter to the President Barack H. Obama, Members of U.S. Congress, Secretary of State John Kerry, and U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Religious violence and human Rights Violations against entire Burmese Muslim population in Burma”

     by BRAFA

 

To,

- The President of the United States

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

- Members of the United States Congress

United States Capitol

Washington, DC 20510

- Secretary of State John Kerry

U.S. Department of State

Washington, DC 20520

- U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Date: March 28, 2013

Subject: - A fervent Appeal to use your good office for the protection and prevention of anti-Muslim Buddhists' massacre against the Rohingyas and Muslims of Burma on humanitarian ground;

Dear Mr. President, Members of Congress, Secretary of State, and U.S. Senate Committee,

Most respectfully, we, the members of Burmese Rohingya American Friendship Association (BRAFA) would like to bring to your kind attention that the current situation of entire Muslim population in Burma is tremendously horrible and at bigger risk and the United States, United Nations, European Union, ASEAN as well as the world communities have been witnessing the anti-Muslim one sided Buddhists' violence against the Muslims of Burma particularly, the Rohingya ethnic community people in Arakan state since June-2012 which is still going on due to the Government of President Thein Sein's intentional blind-eye attitude and failure of appropriate strong exemplary punishment to the culprits of Buddhist religious extremists and racist monks.

Over the past week, Muslim religious buildings, Muslim owned shops, stores, properties and houses are being destroyed and burned down in central Burma of Meiktila, Yamithin, Pegu, Teggone, naypaydaw by the Buddhist extremists and religious monks in front of Burmese security forces and law enforcing agency personnel and then, this violence continued to spread all over the Muslim residing Townships, cities and other surrounding areas along central Burma including the former capital city of Rangoon (Yangon).

Because of current violence orchestrated in pre-planned way by the Buddhist monks, political party leaders and Buddhist extremist groups on March 20, 2013 taking opportunity from a simple argument between a Burmese Muslim gold shop owner and his Buddhist customer who was trying to sell fake gold in central Burma town of Meiktila resulted to at least 30 mosques and Muslim religious schools have been destroyed and burned down. Over hundreds of Burmese Muslims consisting of religious scholars, students, men, women, and children were brutally killed in the violence and set on fire and more than 20,000 Muslims were displaced and now they are sheltering temporarily in sports stadiums in central Burma.

Muslims in Burma are discriminated on the grounds of race and religion and hatred towards Muslims nationwide is a common practice by a group of racist, extremist and xenophobic Buddhist people at this moment because of instigation, false religious speech and mis-propaganda by the Buddhist religious monks, political leaders and Buddhist scholars. With the contemporary history of Burma, there were several anti-Muslim riots to make Muslim free zones in Burma by mass killing and torture time to time with strong master plan and roadmap.

In this sense, we, the members of Burmese Rohingya American Friendship Association (BRAFA) earnestly call upon the President Mr. Obama, members of Congress, Secretary of State Mr. John Kerry, and U.S. Senate Committee to take appropriate action to end the current anti-Muslim sentiment and wrong propaganda in Burma and step up U.S. Government's diplomatic efforts to end the Rohingya and Burmese Muslims crises. The current crises and tragedies have evolved into Burmese government led repression not only against the Rohingya ethnic community people but also the entire Muslims of Burma.

After the extremists Buddhist Rakhines violence and massacre against the innocent Rohingya people in June-2012, in which many Rohingyas died and more than 120,000 Rohingya people were internally displaced and sheltered in the open-air prison like camps in Sittwe, Ratheydaung, Mrebon, Pauktaw, there is a growing humanitarian concern and human rights crisis which is not receiving sufficient international attention resulting the loss of many human lives.

The Burmese police, security forces and soldiers were raping, looting, torturing and arbitrarily killing Rohingya people and there have been mass arrests with Rohingyas who were kept in Burma prisons and police custody without trial, without food or medical services. Even, humanitarian aid is mostly being blocked by the Rakhine Buddhists and the local government agencies in Sittwe. Moreover, Rakhine mobs and Arakan state ruling authorities are refusing to allow the Rohingya people to go back to their own villages, shops and homes using ethnic cleansing tactics and showing unjustifiable reasons of concern against the Rohingya ethnic people.

In fact, the President of Burma Thein Sein himself has recently proposed a policy that is not different from ethnic cleansing, asking the UNHCR to arrange for Rohingya people to resettle to third countries saying they are not nationals of Burma. The current situation of Rohingyas is incredibly serious and it will continue to deteriorate further if timely action is not taken immediately.

We are fully aware of the US Government's active involvement and role with positive contribution to the cause of Rohingyas and Burmese Muslims since June 2012, but, due to maintaining soft diplomatic tune by U.S. Government, President Thein Sein was emboldened to feel that he would be able to expel all Rohingya people from the country. Without immediate strong international action, the situation will continue to deteriorate beyond the estimation.

A US led appropriate action needs to be taken now to ensure humanitarian aid can be delivered, arrests and human rights abuses can be stop, and the Rohingyas are allowed to return safely to their original homes and villages to start a new life.

We would like to fervently appeal all of you to take the lead in mobilizing the international community to respond to human rights and humanitarian crises against the Rohingyas and Muslims of Burma, but now seems to focus more on positive news with Burmese officials and activists rarely commenting on on-going serious human rights violations.

We would also earnestly request all of you to use every diplomatic and legal tool at your disposal to help bring an end to the current crises of Rohingyas and Burmese Muslims, mobilizing the international community and condemning the current one sided violence of Buddhist extremists Monks and the xenophobic mobs against Rohingyas and Muslims of Burma on humanitarian ground.

Thanking you all for your time and consideration to this appeal letter & wishing you all the success in your mission, we assure you that we are keeping you all in our prayers, and we remain,

Sincerely yours,

The Executive Committee Members

Burmese Rohingya American Friendship Association (BRAFA)4818 South 14^th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53221.

13 Hafiz Muslim Students burnt alive in Botataung, Yangon

Note: Islamic leaders based in Yangon, NLD memebers including prominent leader Min Ko Naing were silent during violences took place in Arakan and they asked to prove evidences because they did fear the violence will be spreaded into central. Rohingya MP also had to bribe about 50 million Kyats to bring the issue at the Parliament.

 

"M-Media could interview two 15-year-old students who had escaped from the burning: "Our school is two-storeyed. We didn't know that it was on fire at first. When we realized that the fire had spread. We ran down the staircase, and we slipped on the oil spilled on the floor. There are about 70 students in our school for the time being. Now (at the time of the interview) 51 students have escaped. The school didn't store any flammables like gasoline or petroleum. The fire started from the shoe cabinet. Our shirts still smell the gasoline now."

"I am now at the burnt place. Fire didn't catch the mosque, it was only inside the school. Three fire engines got here and put out fire. Children who were burnt were found together at one place. To my surprise, one of them didn't catch fire at all but died, and one more thing, as they all were supposed to be asleep in their bed, I cannot understand why they all were burnt to death at one place together. Now, the reason of the fire was told to be wire-shock. Indeed, it cannot be. I talked to people who live in that street, and they told me they heard a loud banging sound two hours before, but they didn't pay attention to where it came from. Later, they said they saw fire from the school, for that at first they thought it was only candlelight, and only sooner they learnt the school was on fire. Now the dead bodies have been taken to the hospital, and those who had escaped were put in a camp. I am sure it was not wire-shock, it was definitely arson", said a witness from the fire-spot to M-Media."

 

13 Hafiz Muslim Students burnt alive in Botataung, Yangon ~ read more http://t.co/P7evveNtg5 2, 1013. — Photo by AFP

 

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Source Mayu Press, 2 April

 

On 2th April 2013, around 2.45 AM, Swardikiyah Islamic religious school was set on fire, and 13 school children were burnt alive in 48th Street of Botataung Township, Yangon.

There was more than one hundred students across the country of different regions study and memorize the Holy Qur'an. For unavoidable circumstances, the school was temporarily closed regular study but there were remained staying about 70 students only, and when the fire broke out, 55 of them could escape from fire. Unfortunately, 13 students who were under thirteen years old burnt alive in fire.

This was reported that the fire was claimed to be arson. Fire comes out from the shoe-cabinet first. When the students ran out on knowing the fire had broken out, they slipped on the staircase as it was wet with the petroleum oil, and they could sense the smell of it. The school was a two-storey building, and it was known that only inside the building was on fire.

The school didn't store any flammables like gasoline or petroleum. The burnt dead bodies found together at one place. One of them didn't catch fire at all but died and seemed they were sleeping in the beds. The authority told that the fire caused by wire-shock but people near the School heard a loud banging sound two hours before the ablaze. People no care where from it came as they were slept. The dead bodies had been taken to the hospital morgue, and escaped students kept in a camp. It was not wire-shock, it was definitely arson told by a resident from the fire-spot.

Mohamed Farooq is an activist and a B.Sc. Engineer on Electrical and Electronics.

Burma offers settlements to Arakan Bengali Buddhists

source Mayupress, 31 Mar

 

The Burmese authority warmly welcomes Bengali ethnic Buddhists mostly from different villages of Ragamati, Bandarban and Kagrachori of Bangladesh Hill tract for permanent residency with the entire necessary living supports to the lands owned by Rohingya in different localities of Maungdaw and Buthidaung in Arakan. At least 300 Bengali Buddhist families have settled in Arakan within last three months.

On 29^th March 2013, ten Bengali Buddhist families having about 70 genders were temporary sheltered inside the Border Security Force (Nasaka) Camp No: 05 named Ngayin Chaung (Boutoror Ghati) in Northern Maungdaw. The Border Security Force (Nasaka) prepared truck and bus to send them Border Security Force (Nasaka) Headquarter for their settlement informed by a resident.

One week back, another 16 Bengali Rakhine families were given permanent resident to Aung Mingalar Model village in Maungdaw, Arakan told by a police personnel. The Burmese government has also provided them a ready made house, two acres of paddy ground (10 Khani), a pair of cows, food supplements, 1.5 million kyat, kitchen materials and clothes per family. The authority confiscates whole paddy ground and land properties near the model villages from the Rohingya possessions.

The Burmese authority trying to drive out and vanish all Rohingya as well as Burmese Muslims from Burma and inviting other Buddhist inhabitant races consist of Chakma, Saak, Kammi, Myu and Rakhine across the Bangladesh to the places of Rohingya. According to a Chakma resident from Maungdaw, authority had sent some Rakhine monks to Bangladesh Buddhists areas with an offer of everlasting transfer to Arakan who are willing to be a new standard life.

31^st March 2013

State involvement reports in Burma unrest

Anti-Muslim Violence spread in Burma: Newly Attacks in Sit Kwin village of Minhla Township

30 Mar, see the video link of burning here 

Muslims in Burma were in hiding and fearful for their lives as sectarian violence led by Buddhist mobs continues to spread across central regions of the country. The anti-Muslim violence has flared up in Sit Kwin and left many homes, shops, and mosques utterly destroyed.

Since 42 people were killed in violence that erupted on March 20, unrest led by hardline Buddhists has spread to at least 10 other towns and villages in central Myanmar. Now dusk to dawn curfews are in effect many areas of the surrounding region, and several townships are under a state of emergency.

Crowds have been fired up by anti-Muslim rhetoric spread by phone and social media websites from monks preaching a so-called "969 movement". The number is derived from Buddhism referring to various attributes of the Buddha, but it has come to represent a radical form of anti-Islamic nationalism.

-------------------------

State involvement reports in Burma unrest

Source Couriermail, 29 Mar

 

THE United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar (Burma) human rights says he has received reports of "state involvement" in some of the recent violence between Buddhists and Muslims in the former army-ruled nation.

 

At least 40 people have been killed and mosques burned in several towns in central Myanmar since fresh sectarian strife erupted on March 20, prompting the government to impose emergency rule and curfews in some areas.

 

"I have received reports of State involvement in some of the acts of violence," Tomas Ojea Quintana said in a statement on Thursday.

 

He also pointed to "instances where the military, police and other civilian law enforcement forces have been standing by while atrocities have been committed before their very eyes, including by well organised ultra-nationalist Buddhist mobs.

 

"This may indicate direct involvement by some sections of the State or implicit collusion and support for such actions."

 

According to the statement, Quintana also received information indicating that the military and police may be arbitrarily detaining people based on religious and ethnic profiling.

 

Myanmar President Thein Sein vowed a tough response to religious extremists in a national address.

 

According to the United Nations, the recent clashes - which were apparently triggered by an argument in a gold shop that turned into a riot - have seen some 12,000 people displaced.

 

It is the worst sectarian strife since violence between Buddhists and Muslims in the western state of Rakhine last year left at least 180 people dead and more than 110,000 displaced.

 

Myanmar's Muslims - largely of Indian, Chinese and Bangladeshi descent - account for an estimated four per cent of the population of roughly 60 million.

The 'Burmese bin Laden' fomenting violence against Myanmar's Muslims

Source thenational, 29 Mar

 

BANGKOK // He emanates the soft-spoken calm expected of a Buddhist monk, but the venom that Sayadaw Wirathu directs at Myanmar's Muslim population has led many to see him as one of the chief instigators of the violence that has convulsed the country in the past two weeks.

A man salvages items in the courtyard of a partially-destroyed mosque after sectarian violence spread through central Myanmar, in Gyobingauk. Ye Aung Thu / AFP

(A man salvages items in the courtyard of a partially-destroyed mosque after sectarian violence spread through central Myanmar, in Gyobingauk. Ye Aung Thu / AFP)

 

Wirathu, a monk based in the northern city of Mandalay, has described himself as "the Burmese Bin Laden", even though he is stridently and noxiously anti-Muslim.

The misnomer notwithstanding, Wirathu has become a key figure in a growing movement of extremist Buddhists who have taken advantage of increased freedom in Myanmar to foment communal tensions.

A video that circulated on the internet this week shows Wirathu addressing a crowd and declaring, "We Buddhists let them freely practise their religion, but once these evil Muslims have control and authority over us they will not let us practise our religion.

"These Islamists have been buying land and buildings all over the country. They use that money to get our young Buddhist women."

His inflammatory speeches are seen as one of the sparks for the violence that erupted last week in the town of Meikhtila, where Buddhists and Muslims have coexisted peacefully for generations. Mobs of armed Buddhists, some led by monks, rampaged through Muslim areas for two days, destroying homes, shops and mosques. At least 40 people have been confirmed dead and 12,000 others have been forced to flee their homes to temporary camps.

The government of President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency last Friday and sent the army to the town in a bid to restore calm. But further anti-Muslim attacks were reported in three nearby towns over the weekend and spread into several towns in Bago township on Monday and Tuesday. Curfews were imposed on three more townships north of Yangon on Wednesday following further reports of violence.

At first, the attacks were said to have begun with an argument between locals in a Muslim-owned gold shop in Meikhtila, but many believe they were deliberately orchestrated.

After visiting the devastated town over the weekend, the UN's top adviser in Myanmar, Vijay Nambiar, told reporters: "There is no doubt much of this violence was planned. It seemed to have been done, in a sense, in almost a kind of brutal efficiency."

Released in 2012 after serving a nine-year prison sentence for inciting anti-Muslim violence, Wirathu has been at the forefront of a new campaign calling for a boycott of Muslim businesses, with stickers appearing on shops and vehicles across the country. The campaign takes the name 969, a reference to the nine qualities of the Buddha - six of his teachings and nine of the monkhood.

The campaign's use of religious terminology obscures its fiercely nationalist heart, which is fueled by unsubstantiated fears that Muslims are out-breeding the ethnic Burmese and infiltrating political parties, including the opposition National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

"NLD offices in most towns are now run by the bearded Muslims," Wirathu said in his February speech. "As NLD becomes powerful … they approach Aung San Suu Kyi. When she came back from United States or Europe that Muslim guy always picked her up with his fancy car, always. Even coming to Mandalay she used same guy and same car. They've got her. They've surrounded her."

Wirathu began to draw wider attention last year for his diatribes against the stateless Rohingya Muslims in the south-west of the country, who bore the brunt of communal clashes that left at least 180 dead and 120,000 displaced. In his interpretation, the Rohingya burned down their own houses to earn a place in internationally-funded aid camps.

Myanmar's burgeoning communal tensions threaten to undermine its transformation from an international pariah to the new darling of the world's business and diplomatic community.

The easing of repression and censorship has given extremist groups more political space to operate and promote their causes, analysts say.

"The democratic opening has allowed groups with grievances the opportunity to advance their interests. This is not unique to Myanmar," said Aung Naing Oo, of the Myanmar Peace Centre in Yangon.

He said the situation was complicated further by increased attention on security forces. In the past, Myanmar's police would likely have responded with brutal heavy-handedness to control the unrest.

But the Mandalay division government, which oversees Meikhtila, was heavily criticised after a brutal response to environmental protests against a copper mine in nearby Letpadaung in November, when police were accused of using white phosphorus grenades against protesting monks and civilians.

"The tactics against copper mine protesters backfired, and I have heard the Mandalay government did not want to use force this time around," Aung Naing Oo said.

foreign.desk@thenational.ae

Rathedaung Juma Mosque’s brick fence destroyed

Source Kaladan Press, 29 Mar

 

Rathedaung, Arakan State: The Rathedaung Juma Mosque (Zedi Pyin)'s brick fence was totally destroyed on March 28, night by local Rakhine villager ( anti-Rohingya), according to a local leader said on condition of anonymity.

"A group of mob went to the Mosque and destroyed the brick fence of it on March 28, at about mid-night, where police, Nasaka (Burma's border security force) and army camps are stationed near by."

Nearby Mosque, there are only 25 Rohingya houses are existed; but the villagers were not able to protect the Mosque. It is only a big brick building Mosque in Rathedaung Township. Earlier, the houses were driven out to other village, but later, some Rakhine elders brought them again and re-settled there, said a village administration officer.
Villagers believe the Mosque will be demolished by the local Rakhine villagers with the help of security forces tonight (March 29), said a village youth who declined to be named.

Last year, in June, the local neighboring Rakhine villagers tried to destroy this Mosque and to set fire the Rajar Bill village, but a local Buddhist monk and some elder Rakhines gave obstacle from burning the village. It has about 400 houses, but the villagers are not allowed to go out for marketing or working for their livelihood, according to a religious leader preferring not to be named.
The concerned authorities neglected to take rapid and effective action against the culprits who carelessly committed crimes in front of security forces," a local trader said.

It is the worst conflict since violence between Buddhists and Muslims in the Arakan State last year left hundreds of people dead and more than 120,000 displaced.

The villagers want to stop the attack of Mosque and villages of Rohingyas in future by local Rakhine villagers. It is very needed to give security by the concerned security forces.

Continuous attacks against Muslims across central and other parts of Burma

Source Unreported News of Rohingya,

The central government is directly supporting its buddhist people and similar attacks like in Arakan, are progressively taking place across central and other parts of Burma. Like in Arakan, no Buddhist perpetrator is arrested yet and security police arrive in every scene to protect its buddhist people ad arresting muslim leaders. The so call Law & Order just installing additionally to confine muslims.

The next target is in Yangon; top muslim business companies, famous ancient mosques and muslim houses in main areas. Buddhists people of Yangon are saying that they don't need to buy muslim houses, they will soon get free.

It is like there is no body to protect the muslims of Burma, nor International communities and world UN bodies are exist for them. US government warns its citizens to evacuate from Yangon in good time. UN SG Ban Ki-moon wanted the same to rescue its international staffs from Arakan state during June last year. The government and the buddhist people of Burma witness the action taken by the world for Arakan crises that is why they are very vigillantly carrying more genocidal attacks.

(captued action of police forces in the scene)

"Report of continuous attacks against Muslims across central and other parts of Burma"

Pago(Pegu) Division:

27 Mar (Irrawaddy News): The ttackers destroyed Muslim quarters in Monyo and Padigon townships located about 100 miles (170 km) north of Rangoon. In Monyo "riots started at 7:10 pm. A mosque was totally destroyed and nearly 100 Muslim-owned houses were ransacked. Similarl incident, a mosque and 20 houses were destroyed in Padigon Township, located about 30 miles (50 km) away from Monyo town.

The violence subsequently spread to a total of six Mandalay Division townships before hitting Muslim communities further south in Pegu Division. Okpho, Gyobingauk, Zigon, Minhla and Nattalin townships were affected there on Monday and Tuesday, and hundreds of homes and several mosques were destroyed.

The mosque at Gyobingauk Township, Pegu Division, was attacked by a mob on Monday night, who used a bulldozer to ram through one of its walls. To see more photos click on the box below. (Photo: Steve Tickner / The Irrawaddy)

25 Mar: A gang of Buddhist extremists destroyed a Mosque, Muslim houses and shops in Oaak Tha Kone Town at the mid-night of 24 March. A day before, the gang broke the windows of Mosque with throwing stones and also destroyed teashops, departmental shops, five houses and one Bakery that all were belong to Muslims.

More in Yay Kyaw village, another Islamic religious school was vandalized by a group of buddhist gang.
Similarly in Nattalin township, a mosque and a few muslim houses were burnt down by mid-night.

The Muslim villagers are very minoirty in this areas so they could not resist the mob while security forces were just watching the activities and behaved as uncontrollable but then the Military personnel control the situation.

Shan state:
24 Mar: Moreover, the Mine Tauk village Mosque (the first Mosque in Shan State built by Turkish Muslims in 260 years ago) of Innlay Lake region (Nyaungshwe Township) was also burnt down by buddhist gang on 24 Mar. It is very surprise to know about the security police alerted not to engage religious confrontation by morning and soon after a gang appeared to torch the roof of the mosque.
The locals say the rioters were Buddhisms from central Myanmar who were working in a construction site situated near by.


Mandalay Division:
24 Mar: Muslim villagers of Minn-hla village in Pyay township were attcked by eveing 19:00pm. A mosque and about 20 houses were burnt down.


23 Mar: Muslim villagers of Ywar Tan village of Yamethin township were attacked by extemist buddhists. The attacks began from early moring and about 58 muslim houses plus a mosque( Zaygone Mosque) were burnt down. More than a dozen muslims were also killed in the attacks and a few youths were set fire alive by pouring fuel. The attacks resumed by eveing and muslim shops in the market were vandalized.


20-23 Mar: Following a minor dispute between a muslim goldshop owner (U Tun Aye) and a buddhist woman at around 11am of Wednesday(20 Mar) Myoma Market in Meiktila township, about two hundred buddhists who were gathered thereby were immediately began destropying that gold shop plus five other muslim shops, beatings and killings of muslims. From then the buddhist mob led by '969' monks spreaded anti-muslim propaganda and began destroying mosques and muslim houses through throwing diesel bottles and fire sticks.
By eveing, 3 mosques plus about hundred muslim houses were burnt down and about 30 muslims dead. After all, the government installed 144 Act. Becasue of such act is just installed to protect its buddhist own people, the buddhist people have able to carry continuous attacks by the following morning and the next day night again and on..
By 23 Mar, the total death toll reached to about hundred including 28 students and 4 teachers killed in the Religious Arabic School of Mingalar Zayyon village at about 6.30 AM, 21 Mar, 14 mosques and about 200 muslim houses total destructed across the town.
Accoding to Mohd Farooq reporting at Mayu Press, total mosques destructed in Meiktila township alone are listed as below;
1. Jamae Mosque (In Ashaepyin Quarter at the west of Bazaar)
2. Bengali Mosque (In Yadanar Maung Quarter)
3. Nyein Chan Yay Mosque ( In Yadanar Maung Quarter)
4.Turkish Mosque ( In Yadanar Maung Quarter, Tat Nae, Military ground)
5. Myoma Mosque ( In Yadanar Maung Quarter)
6. Hmanlone Mosque (a) Thiri Mingalar (Ka Gyi) Mosque ( In Thiri Mingalar Quarter)
7. Pakistan Mosque ( In Thiri Mingalar Quarter)
8. Myo Oo Mosque ( In Aung Zayyar Quarter)
9. Nandawgone Mosque and Arabic Institute ( In Nandawgone Quarter)
10. Tharyargone Mosque ( In Nandawgone Quarter)
11. Chan Aye Tharyar Mosque ( In Chan Aye Tharyar Quarter)
12. Pyi Tharyar and Pyi Tharyar , Places of Worship ( In Pyi Tharyar Expanded Quarter)
13. Mingalar Zayyone Mosque ( In Mingalar Zayyone Quarter)
14. Arabia Mudia School ( In Thiri Mingalar Quarter)
15. Azizia Arabic Institute ( In Nandawgone Quarter)
16. Arabi High School ( In Mingalar Zayyone Quarter)
-----------------

Around 2000 people joined in a mass protest in Kuala Lumpur against the religious violence in Burma/Myanmar.

Source Mayupress, 27 March

By Mohammad Sadek
Most of these people are Muslims from Burma, consisting of various ethnic backgrounds including the Rohingyas and Kamans from Arakan State, Pathy, Chulia, Surti and etc. from proper Burma.

During the times of their protests, protesters played different types of play cards, posters and etc, demanding to end religious violence, Muslim hate speeches and discriminations, establishing peace and stability in the country.

These Burmese Muslim groups shouted that "we need peace and harmony in Burma". We need justice. Save our innocent lives and properties and etc."

The whole protest, observed silently for more than 1 ½ hours, who were actively watched by the Malaysian enforcement agency and helped 5 representatives to approach to the embassy premise of the Union Republic of Myanmar in Off Jalan Ampang at about 2:25pm, while protest began at 1:30pm and ended by 3:00pm peacefully.

The memorandum was handed over by Mr. Abdullah of Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic NGOS to the Deputy Head of the Mission, who declined to mention his name.

During this times of memorandum submission delegates spoke and demanded 7 points as follows:

1. Demand that the government end forthwith all killing, violence and terrorization against the Muslims in Burma/Myanmar and ensure full religious freedom with their security of life, property and dignity;
2. Also demand that the government stop spreading of such pre-planned violence against Muslims in other places of Burma;
3. Request the international community, United Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Governments of United States, United Kingdoms and their western allies, European Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and neighboring countries to put pressure on Burma and exert concerted efforts to protect and save the Muslim community in Burma;
4. Rapid lifting or suspension of sanctions on Burma is premature in this stage; and request to reinstate sanctions in order to protect the Rohingya and other minorities, promote human rights and inclusive democratic and political reforms in Burma;
5. To replace Burma Citizenship Law of 1982 with a new law that conform to international law standards and ensure citizenship rights of Muslims in Burma;
6. Request to conduct a UN independent inquiry and bring the perpetrators before justice.
7. Request for assistance and cooperation from international community to ensure fundamental rights of Muslims in Burma.

Delegates affirmed that more than 20,000 Muslims were displaced in central Burma town of Miektila, 4 Islamic scholars and 28 Religious Students were brutally killed, while at least 14 Mosques and hundreds shops, houses and properties were destroyed. It is not only in central Burma but also in various parts of Burma including Arakan State where over a quarter million of Rohingya were killed; more than 140,000 Rohingyas and Kaman were displaced who are being kept in segregation under Government's neo-apartheid policy. ##

The Buddhists attack Muslims in Tharyarwadi, Bago Division

Source Mayupress,  March 25,

 

By Mohamed Farooq
The Muslims in Aok Pho town in Tharyarwadi, Bago division are being attacked according to information at 12:30AM. About 400 Buddhist terrorists are burning Mosque and Houses. The police have failure to control the racists told by the Police chief as rioter numbers are high.

The Buddhist terrorists have been destroyed a Mosque and a religious school (Madrasa) and also deadly hit Muslims. The Muslim villagers tried their outmost to stop the violence but Muslims are few amount compared to Buddhist extremists. The police personnel and other riot security forces watching the activities of racist Buddhists as like as football match watching in the Television program.

There are more than 70 Muslim households with the Muslim population of approximately 200 people with a Mosque and a religious school.

Communal unrest spreads sequentially to Muslims in Yamethin, Burma

Source Mayu Press, 24 Mar

 

by Mohamed Farooq
On 23 March, 2013 at about 8 PM, the complete Ywar Tan village in Yamethin had been burnt down into ashes by Buddhist rioters. Zaygone Mosque in Ywar Than village had been set on fire. They had burnt down some Muslim youths alive with pouring kerosene to their bodies.

One Mosque and 50 houses were torched up. The campaign racists resumed to attack Muslims at 5 PM yesterday, the stormy assaults carried out at night. The Buddhist thugs also vandalized Muslim shops in the market and looted properties. They had obliterated some of their own Buddhist storage goods and shops.
The new conflict has been connected with Meiktila violence led by 969 Buddhist campaign and extremist Buddhists.

Details of Muslims refugee rising in numbers:
1. Football stadium = 2,342
2. Number 1 High School = 3,620
3. Education College = 1,361
4. Number 5 High School = 875
5. Number 3 High School = 1,443
Total= 9,641

The total displaced quantity of Burmese Muslims is 9,641. Moreover, there are hundreds of Muslim refugees in other localities too.

Press Release: STOP SYSTEMATIC KILLING OF MUSLIM IN BURMA

Source ARNO, 23 Mar

Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) strongly condemns the increasing anti-Muslim propaganda and organized killings of the Muslims in Burma/Myanmar.

Since Wednesday March 20, many Muslims were killed, at least 14 mosques with hundreds of Muslim homes were destroyed, shops damaged and looted, and more than 20,000 displaced in the central Burma town of Meiktila and around the airport area of capital Naypyidaw. The violence spread to Yameithein tonight where a mosque was destroyed. A lot of Muslim residents have fled their homes. Extremist Buddhist mobs with Buddhist monks armed with sticks and lethal weapons are prowling the streets and hunting the Muslims. 4 Islamic religiousteachers and 28 madrassa students, who included children as young as 12 years old, were among those killed.

The police and security forces did nothing to control the situation. The government is fully responsible for allowing such a former Yugoslavia-like genocide encouraging anti-Muslim propaganda and Islamophobia in Burma/Myanmar. This is the worst carnage after the genocide carried out in the western state of Rakhine/Arakan last year that left more than 5000 Rohingya and Kaman Muslims killed, missing or drowned and about 140,000 displaced, who have been kept in segregation under government's 'neo-apartheid policy'. It is apprehensive that the Rakhine academics and monks backed by the local administration are inciting a third massacre of the Muslims in Arakan.

It has been observed that crimes against humanity against Muslims have escalated when some powerful countries are trying to reward the ruling civil-military hybrid government while lifting or suspending sanctions on Burma under the label of democratic progress. It is worth-mentioning that human rights are universal; racism and human rights violations are foreign to democracy; and most importantly genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid are international crimes. We, therefore:

Demand that the government end forthwith all killing, violence and terrorization against the Muslims in Burma/Myanmar and ensure full religious freedom with their security of life, property and dignity;

1. Further demand that the government stop spreading of such pre-planned violence against Muslims in other places of Burma
2. Request the international community, United Nations, OIC, USA, UK and their western allies, EU, ASEAN and neighbouring countries to put pressure on Burma and exert concerted efforts to protect and save the Muslim community in Burma;
3. Rapidlifting or suspension of sanctions on Burma is premature in this stage; and request to reinstate sanctions in order to protect the Rohingya and other minorities, promote human rights and inclusive democratic and political reforms in Burma;
4. To scrap Burma Citizenship Law of 1982 and to replace it with a new law that conform to international law standards;
5. Request to conduct a UN independent inquiry and bring the perpetrators to the book.

For more information, please contact:

Nurul Islam: + 44 7947854652

Aman Ullah: + 880-15584 86910

Email: info@rohingya.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.rohingya.org

Phuket Rohingya: 108 Land on Island Off Southern Phuket from India

Source Phuketwan, 23 Mar

 

Phuket UPDATE

The Rohingya have been brought ashore to Phuket's Chalong Police Station, with no clear indication whether they will be 'helped on' to Malaysia or trucked back towards the Burma border.

Original Report

PHUKET: A boatload of Rohingya refugeees came ashore near Phuket early today after a remarkable 45-day journey via India.

The 108 boatpeople split into two groups, with about 60 swimming to shore on an island off southern Phuket, not far from the popular tourist daytrip port of Chalong.

One group of 44 men and boys accompanied the wooden open boat to a pier at Lon island, where a small Thai Muslim community lives.

Five women were among the 108, with the youngest boy aged five, one of several children under 10. The oldest passenger was a man aged 73.

It was the fourth group of Rohingya to have landed on Phuket this year as thousands flee oppression and race-hate in Burma.

A spokesman for the group said they had set off from a refugee camp in the troubled township of Sittwe, where the Burmese government tacitly encourages a policy of ethnic cleansing.

''We ended up going the wrong way and we were picked up by the Indian Navy in the Andaman and Nicobar islands,'' the spokesman said. ''The Indian Navy gave us food and helped us restart our journey.''

The Thai Navy also 'helps on' boats of refugees apprehended off the Andaman coast of Thailand.

The Navy had not arrived to join the 44 refugees gathered at the pier off Lon island today. They showered under a hose at the pier, washed clothes and sat down to eat a simple meal of reconstituted rice.

Many of the refugees had telephone numbers with them, sometimes written on the inside of shirt collars or on small scraps of paper.

They were keen to have the chance to call relatives or friends in Malaysia to say they were safe and in Thailand for the time being.

The boat seemed relatively well-equipped compared to other boats that have been intercepted off Phuket.

It had a large supply of dried rice and a simple wood-fired cooker sat on the open deck. Most of the men and boys seemed quite healthy.

Soon after, the other 64 people from the boat were all ferried by longtails, the traditional Thai all-purpose vessel, to join the others about 9am.

At 9.20am, a Marine Police vessel arrived to tow away the Rohingya boat. It's likely the motors - the Rohingya boat has two - will be repaired and the boat will be ''helped on'' as soon as possible, despite the presence of women and children among the passengers.

The landing off Phuket comes with more violence wracking the Muslim communities of Burma and Thailand holding about 1700 Rohingya men, women and children while a decision is made about their status.

That could take another four-and-a-half months.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra last week promised an investigation into a controversial incident in which Rohingya who landed north of Phuket were allegedly shot at by the Thai military.