New UNHCR Head Meets With Refugee Leaders, Assures Greater Dialogue

source ; http://www.unhcr.org.my/News_Views-@-New_UNHCR_Head_Meets_With_Refugee_Leaders,_Assures_Greater_Dialogue.aspx

New UNHCR Representative Alan Vernon met with some 50 refugee group representatives here on Friday.

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 February 2009 – New UNHCR Representative Alan Vernon met with some 50 refugee group representatives, here on Friday. This marks his first large-scale public meeting with these communities since becoming head of the UNHCR Office in Malaysia four months ago.
In his address, Alan Vernon assured refugee communities of greater dialogue and cooperation between them and his Agency in order to find solutions to the issues and concerns they face.

“UNHCR values your role as leaders. Not only do you help organise your communities so that the members can better help themselves, but you represent their concerns to organisations like UNHCR,” said Vernon to the group. “We hope to continue this meaningful dialogue with you.”
Unlike smaller community meetings held in the past, this consultation demarked itself by involving individuals from many different communities.

“What was most significant about this meeting, was the fact that refugees of several nationalities and ethnic groups came together to discuss their concerns,” said Vernon. “Not only were there representatives from most of the Myanmar refugee communities, for the first time there were also representation from the Somali and Sri Lankan groups.”
“For me, this meeting was a good way of getting to know the representatives of the refugee groups we interact with on a daily basis,” said Vernon. “It was also an opportunity for community leaders to voice their concerns to us and share information with other refugee groups.”
Sri Lankan refugee Ravindran, a representative from the Society for Displaced Refugees, described the event as being very useful.

“We don’t always know if our messages are being passed on to the Representative,” he said. “Here is a face to face chance with officials; we know that we’re being understood.”
These feeling were echoed by L Mya Yin, a community leader from the Organization of Karenni Development. She explained that participating in such a forum made her want to connect with non-Myanmar communities to better understand the larger refugee situation in Malaysia and what else could be done.
“I’m interested in contacting other communities so we can exchange. I wonder if they have the same problems as us? Does RELA cause them as many problems, what do they do to stop it?”
Responding to questions with his customary candidness, Vernon explained that UNHCR was working to improve the conditions of refugees in Malaysia, but that outside factors often prevented a quick resolution of problems.

“We are continuously working to prevent arrests, to regularize status of refugees and to speed up the registration process,” said Vernon. “In regard to registration, for example, over 17,000 new cases were registered last year. That’s a 23 percent increase over the previous year. We expect the same in 2009.”
The UNHCR head concluded by addressing the often contentious subject of resettlement. He explained that UNHCR would pursue all new possibilities to expand the programme, but asked for understanding and patience regarding the likelihood of significant improvements in the short term.

“The reality is that we resettled 6,000 people last year, which is roughly 10 percent of the global resettlement number in 2008,” said Vernon. “I would like to be able to say that everyone who wants to be resettled will be. But the reality is that we can’t do that. What we can do, however, is work with you and with other partners to help improve your lives while you are here.

Thailand Warns Angelina Jolie Over Comments On Rohingyas

Source from thaivisa, 11 Feb 2009


BANGKOK: -- Thai government is not happy with US actress Angelina Jolie and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees for criticising that Thai government did not respect Rohingya boat people's human rights

Thai Foreign Ministry's Permanent Secretary Virasakdi Futrakul said the Rohingya's presence in Thailand is a hot issue. ""It was a coincidence that the Rohingya was a hot news issue at the time. We must warn UNHCR that they should not comment on the matter because they have no mandate."

The warning came after UNHCR's goodwill ambassador Jolie who visited Burmese camps along Thai border last week criticised Thai government of ignoring the plight of Rohinyas and suggested that Thai government should take better care of the Burmese ethnics.

Virasakdi told reporters that Angelina was not focused on the Rohingya, but was visiting Burmese refugee camps.

"The UNHCR should not have brought Jolie, its goodwill ambassador, to one of the nine refugee camps stringing the border which are run by Thailand's interior ministry."

"The Thai government will issue a reprimand letter to UNHCR, asking why it allowed Angelina Jolie to visit the refugee camps," Virasakdi told reporters.   -- The Nation 2009-02-11


Jolie chastised by Thai government over ‘Myanmar migrants’ comments
Source from buzg.com, 12 Feb 2009

London, Feb 12 (ANI): American actress Angelina Jolie has earned herself the ire of the Thai government after she commented on the plight of Myanmar migrants.
Jolie and Brad Pitt had visited a refugee camp on the Thai-Myanmar border last week, as part of her role as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations (U.N.), and the migrants there told her that the Thai military was mistreating them.

Upon hearing their story, Jolie issued an emotive plea to the Thai government urging the authorities to respect the rights of the Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic group from Myanmar.
In her plea the Tomb Raider star asked the Thai government to be “just as generous to the Rohingya refugees who are now arriving on their shores” as they were to the Ban Mai Nai Soi camp’s, 18,000 other refugees from Myanmar.

The Thai army has been accused of detaining and torturing hundreds of Rohingya who, in recent months, fled to Thailand to escape poverty in Myanmar.

But now Jolie has been reprimanded by Thai officials for her comments, and they have stated that the United Nations refugee agency should not have allowed her to visit the centre.
“Angelina was not focused on the Rohingya, but was visiting Myanmar refugee camps,” the Daily Express quoted Virasakdi Futrakul, permanent secretary of the Thai foreign ministry, as saying.

“It was a coincidence that the Rohingya was a hot news issue at the time, therefore we must warn (U.N. refugee agency) UNHCR that they should not comment on this issue because they have no mandate on this issue.
“The Thai government will issue a reprimand letter to UNHCR asking why it allowed Angelina Jolie to visit the refugee camps,” he added.
A representative for UNHCR claims that the Thai Ministry of Interior issued camp passes for both Jolie and Pitt. (ANI)

Myanmar Envoy Brands Rohingya "Ugly As Ogres"

Source AFP, 10 Feb 2009

HONG KONG (AFP)-- Myanmar's senior official in Hong Kong has described the Rohingya boatpeople as "ugly as ogres," as a high-profile refugee case has highlighted the group's plight, a report said Wednesday.

The country's Consul General Ye Myint Aung wrote to heads of foreign missions in Hong Kong and local newspapers insisting the Muslim tribe should not be described as being from Myanmar, the South China Morning Post reported.

"In reality, Rohingya are neither Myanmar people nor Myanmar's ethnic group," he said.

The envoy contrasted the "dark brown" Rohingya complexion with the "fair and soft" skin of people from Myanmar, according to the Post.

"It is quite different from what you have seen and read in the papers.

(They are as ugly as ogres)," Ye Myint Aung was said to have written. It is not immediately clear why the phrase was in brackets in the original letter.

The Rohingya are stateless and face religious and ethnic persecution from Myanmar's military regime, forcing thousands to take to rickety boats each year in a bid to escape poverty and oppression, rights groups say.

But Myanmar's junta denies the existence of the Rohingya as an ethnic group in the mainly Buddhist country and says the migrants are Bangladeshis.

Thailand's military was accused in January of towing hundreds of Rohingya out to sea in poorly equipped boats with scant food and water after they tried to flee Myanmar, a charge Thailand has "categorically denied."

The accusations surfaced after nearly 650 Rohingya were rescued off India and Indonesia, some saying they had been beaten by Thai soldiers.

Hundreds of the boat people are still believed to be missing at sea.

The case has raised the profile of the group's struggle, prompting Ye Myint Aung's letter, the Post said.

No one from Myanmar's Hong Kong consulate was immediately available to comment when contacted.

.........................

Pl see the letter attached by BRAT

 

Rohingya refugees in Malaysia protest Thai actions against boat people

Source from channel news asia, 12 Feb 2009

KUALA LUMPUR : Rohingya refugees in Malaysia held two protests in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday to highlight the plight of their compatriots.

Less than 100 of them turned up at the Thai Embassy to protest against the alleged abuse of Rohingya boat people seeking refuge in Thailand.

They forwarded a memo to embassy staff in which they "condemned Thailand's atrocious human rights record".

On the alleged mistreatment of the boat people by the Thai military, they called for the issue to be brought before the International Court of Justice.

The group then moved on to the Bangladesh Embassy, where they protested the mistreatment of Rohingya refugees detained in Bangladesh.

Over the years, hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh to escape persecution in Myanmar. But they receive little or no support from the Bangladeshi government. - CNA /ls

....................................

some photos of one of the protest in relation to boat people added by NDPHR(exile).

.............Burmese protest at Burmese emabssy, KL


1. STATEMENT ON ATROCITIES OF BURMESE MILITARY REGIME

On behalf of all Burmese people regardless of race, religion, color and sex, we, at the All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF), based in Malaysia strongly condemn the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the ruling military of Burma for its brutal behaviors against it own people and humanity.

It is the 62nd anniversary of Burma’s Union Solidarity Day that was inked by the Burma’s Independent hero Bo Kyoke Aung San in the spirits of Pinglong Agreement on February 1947 but the people of Burma never got change to enjoy fruits of this historical instrument, since the coup of Dictator Ne Win in 1962.
It is the military that they have turned the fate of Burmese people into hardship and dangerous living within the state or forced them to leave ancestral homeland.

In period of 47 years, almost, entire Burmese people have gone into dire situation as military never considered the wills of people’s freedom of their mind, thoughts, and every other interests.
Since the eve of military coup, Burmese military has been changing their names as like Burma Revolutionary Council, Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP), State law & Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and the State Peace & Development Council (SPDC) but never thought to change its objectives of atrocities against people. It also did not leave respected Buddhist clergies September 2007 in times of saffron revolution.

Ignoring the calls of international community, the regime held sham constitutional referendum on May 10, 2008, when the country’s important delta was devastated by Cyclone Nargis on May 5, 2008. The regime is also stepping towards for holding another sham election in 2010 in order to legitimate it power and to indulge the wills of people that proved in 1990s Multi-Party Election.

Indeed, the SPDC is an illegitimate gang of military that is bringing unexpected economic hardship in the country and pushing the people into the endless tyranny of military. Following these, tens of thousands of Burmese people were victimized as internal displacement and refugee outflows.
The gang of military must review their policies towards reality, if they need to do a sustainable development of country, even for their families.. Otherwise, country’s economy may reach to the worst proportion of crises.

Currently, the country is facing food crises, as military does not have well-management of food and commodities. The SPDC only know the things of price hike-up rather adopting international standard mechanism to alleviate poverty and to have changes in the country throughout the sustainable economy.
The military is also wasting country’s vast natural resources to buy sophisticated weapons by which they kill its own people without any hesitation that only to control power. The military also has nuclear ambition in order to fight against world bodies, particularly against those who are assisting country pro –democracy movements and human rights activists.

Besides, the regime is extremely involved in gross human rights violations through various circles and tactics including ethnic cleansing, rape, torture, extortion, extrajudicial killings and inhuman pogroms. In all walks of the regime, ethnic minorities like Rohingya, Karen, Karenni, Kachin, Shan Mon, Chin, Pa-o, Palong, Kuki, Naga and etc. are the worst victims of such human rights violations.

On the recent statement of SPDC against ethnic Rohingyas of Arakan State, Burma, made us shocked that how the illegitimate authority can justify others concerns and how can it hide the reality of history of Rohingyas existence in Burma, staying in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)? In fact, the Rohingyas are indigenous people of Arakan, as per their deep rooted history.

Anyway, the ABDF express our firm stands that we will continue our peaceful and legitimate struggle for the restoration of democracy in Burma and to reveal the truth about real history up to our last breath. It is also our firm deed that we must end the military dictatorship in Burma in order to let a chance for the entire people to enjoy their birth and democratic human rights that accorded in various international instruments.

In these regards, we call upon SPDC:
1. To unconditionally set free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners including prominent students Min Ko Naing and ethnic leaders like U Kyaw Min, U Kun  Htun Oo and etc;
2. To immediately take step towards for urgent democratization in Burma, respecting 1990s election result;
3. To cease all kinds of human rights abuses against the people of Burma, particularly against ethnic minorities like Rohingya, Karen, Karenni, Kachin, Shan Mon, Chin, Pa-o, Palong, Kuki, Naga and etc.;
4. To stop misuse of country’s natural resources, especially, Arakan Natural Gas, Yadana and Yetagong Piple line of Mon State; and etc. for the benefits of people and country and to reduce the hardship of the people;
5. To abolish fascist, and brutal leading of the regime in order to ensure peace, justice and freedom for all regardless of race, religion and etc.

Memo handing over to a senior staff from Burmese emabssy, KL

Burmese protest at Thai emabssy, KL

2.A MEMORANDUM TO THE ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT

On behalf of all Burmese people, we at the All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF, an umbrella organization of different political, ethnic, socio-cultural and religious organizations of Burma based in Malaysia express our dissatisfaction over the role of Thailand towards Burma and Burmese people.

Currently, Thailand is carrying out the responsibilities of ASEAN chairmanship but not thoroughly going into ASEAN human rights charters.

Despite respecting ASEAN and other international human rights charters, Thailand is involved in violation of human rights in various means including spoiling of neighboring Burma and Burmese people.

We believe that it is the time to take step to review the policy of both ASEAN and Thailand towards Burma in order to let Burmese people chance to enjoy their democratic rights in their country.

Thailand should see back to the history of Burma which is historically dictator or occupier. Once, the Burmese ruler occupied Ayudaya (SIAM) of Thailand for its own benefits but now the regime has occupied the people’s rights and power, wasting the country’s natural resources.

We believe that Thailand is taking revenge against Burma, to enjoy the facilities of Burmese natural resources, especially Gas Pipeline of Yandana and Yetaggon of Mon State, timbers from Karen, Karenni and Shan States respectively, while it allows Burmese regime to set up missiles factory along Thai border line which is not far than 15 kilometer from Maela refugee camp of Thailand. Thailand is also using Burmese people in its labor sectors for its interest but never thought to have changes in Burma as Thailand may fail to enjoy certain benefits.

It is well known to the world that Thailand has reached to uphold oppressive policy towards Burmese refugees and migrant workers in the recent dates, especially against Rohingya Burmese boat people who were sent back to the sea without engine.

These are the life evidence of genocidal killings and thus we propose to bring this case to international Court of Justice.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is still denying the abuses of Thai authorities over the Rohingya Burmese boat people who would be considered as genuine refugees. Instead of allowing the independent screening into the matter, the Thai officials are stepping forward for ignoring the real issue.

In spite of calls to international community, Thailand took decision against humanity. Therefore, we call upon the Royal Thai Government that:-

1. To boycott support to Burmese military in order to meet ASEAN human rights charter;

2. To stop using of Burmese natural resources and give up it for the benefits of Burma and Burmese people;

3. To extend effective supports towards Burmese pro-democracy movement in order to bring an end military dictatorship in Burma and to ensure the rights of all people regardless of race, religion and etc.;

4. To protect Burmese refugees and migrants workers, particularly the Rohingya boat people and to ensure their refugee status for the betterment of ASEAN region;

We encourage for hosting international agencies to help boat people and to screen their cases in order to extend international protection and to help to achieve the goal of democratization in Burma from the field of Thailand.

.memo handing over to a senior staff from Thai-embassy in KL

3.A MEMORANDUM TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH

On behalf of all Burmese people, we at the All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF, an umbrella organization of different political, ethnic, socio-cultural and religious organizations of Burma based in Malaysia express our sincere gratitude towards the authorities and people of Bangladesh for hosting tens of thousands Burmese people in the country.

We also express our dissatisfaction for some sorts of brutal and inhuman policies of Bangladeshi Government in detaining hundreds of Rohingya and other Burmese undocumented refugees in different prisons of Bangladesh without any reasons.

Despite being a member state of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and vast majority Muslim country, Bangladesh is reluctant to comply Islamic obligations for the causes of Muhajereen (refugees) that accorded in the universal Law Book of The God “The Holly Quran” and the best guideline of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) “The Hadiths”.

As a Muslim state, it would not neglect Quranic and Hadith orders without any hesitation to set free of refugees from their uncertain detention prisons, while the Bangladesh should not deny the actual plights of Rohingya Burmese people who were compelled to take refuge in their over populated and poor country.

It is true that Bangladesh is a close effected country from the desperated Rohingya and experiencing on their ongoing plights in their country of origin (Burma) through various kinds of human rights abuses, including denial of citizenship rights, severe restrictions on freedom of movement, education, marriage and religion, forced labor, rape, land confiscation, arbitrary arrests, torture, extra judicial killings, settlement of model villages and extortion on daily basis.

For all these reasons, we call upon the Government of Bangladesh:-

1. To immediately review the policies towards persecuted Muslim Rohingya refugees and to give full respect to the Islamic obligations that accorded in the Quran and Sunnah;

2. To unconditionally set free all Rohingya and other Burmese refugees from your prisions and handover them to United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or other refugee concerned quarters;

3. To allow international agencies to observe the situation of Rohingya in Bangladesh and along the border in order to work with international standard mechanism that may bring an end of their miserable plights;

4.To immediately bring the Rohingya issue before the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) resolution in order to bring it to the United Nations General Assembly;

5. To adopt a frame work of international campaign to advocate the plights of Rohingya to the world and to find permanent solution to their long-standing problems.

 These  memorandum are endorsed by:

1.All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF)

2.All Burma Muslim Organization (ABMO)

3.Arakan Rohingya Refugee Committee (ARRC), Malaysia

4.Burma Muslim Community (BMC)

5.Burma Youth Liberation Front (BYLF)

6.Christian Community Clinic Center (CCCC)

7.Chin People’s Organization (CPO)

8.Community Rohingya Islam Pro-Democracy Organization (CRIPDO)

9.Democratic Federation of Burma (DFB)

10.Karenni Future Generation (KFG)

11.Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization in Malaysia (MERHROM)

12.National Democratic Party for Human Rights (exile)

13.National League for Democracy (NLD-LA)

14.Rohingya Information Center (RIC)

15.Rakhaing Patriotic Forum (RPF)

16.Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF), Arakan

Thank you,

Executive Committee
All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF)
Union of Burma

For further information, please contact:
Mohammad Sadek,  Tel: 016-3094599

Habib,       Tel: 012-2595185

Myanmar envoy brands boatpeople 'ugly as ogres': report

Source from AFP, 10 Feb 2009

HONG KONG (AFP) — Myanmar's senior official in Hong Kong has described the Rohingya boatpeople as "ugly as ogres," as a high-profile refugee case has highlighted the group's plight, a report said Wednesday.
The country's Consul General Ye Myint Aung wrote to heads of foreign missions in Hong Kong and local newspapers insisting the Muslim tribe should not be described as being from Myanmar, the South China Morning Post reported.

"In reality, Rohingya are neither Myanmar people nor Myanmar's ethnic group," he said.
The envoy contrasted the "dark brown" Rohingya complexion with the "fair and soft" skin of people from Myanmar, according to the Post.
"It is quite different from what you have seen and read in the papers. (They are as ugly as ogres)," Ye Myint Aung was said to have written.

The Rohingya are stateless and face religious and ethnic persecution from Myanmar's military regime, forcing thousands to take to rickety boats each year in a bid to escape poverty and oppression, rights groups say.
But Myanmar's junta denies the existence of the Rohingya as an ethnic group in the mainly Buddhist country and says the migrants are Bangladeshis.
Thailand's military was accused in January of towing hundreds of Rohingya out to sea in poorly equipped boats with scant food and water after they tried to flee Myanmar, a charge Thailand has "categorically denied".

The accusations surfaced after nearly 650 Rohingya were rescued off India and Indonesia, some saying they had been beaten by Thai soldiers. Hundreds of the boat people are still believed to be missing at sea.
The case has raised the profile of the group's struggle, prompting Ye Myint Aung's letter, the Post said.
No one from Myanmar's Hong Kong consulate was immediately available to comment when contacted by AFP.
...................

Photo added by NDPHR(exile)

 

Over 90 organisations worldwide call for Rohingya and Bangladeshi protection

Statement on the treatment of Rohingya and Bangladeshi ‘Boat People’ in Asia - February 6, 2009
Source from asi-pacific-solidarity.net,
 
We, the undersigned organizations, are extremely concerned about the treatment of over a thousand Rohingyas from Burma and migrants from Bangladesh who have been forcibly expelled and abandoned in international waters by the Thai security forces since December 2008.
 
Over the past few weeks, several boats have been rescued off the coasts of Indonesia and the Andaman Islands of India. Survivors tell of having been detained in Thailand, beaten, and towed out to sea on boats without engines or sufficient food and water. Several hundred remain missing and are feared dead.We are also concerned about the fate, including possible refoulement, of the Rohingya who remain in detention in Thailand, Indonesia and India. If Rohingyas are returned to Burma they could face widespread human rights violations, including forced labour, forced eviction, land confiscation and severe restrictions on freedom of movement. Refoulement of such individuals is prohibited under customary international law.
Background
Over the past two years, the number of people leaving Bangladesh and Burma by boat for Southeast Asia has grown. They have fled in search of protection, safety and/or work. Most are Rohingyas, a Muslim minority from western Burma.
The Rohingya have been rendered stateless in Burma and have experienced systematic discrimination, exclusion, and human rights violations in Burma for decades, prompting hundreds of thousands to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, most notably Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand. Most are without legal status and are vulnerable to arrest, imprisonment, detention and deportation.
Aside from the Rohingya, millions of ethnic minorities and political activists have fled Burma, fearing persecution, violence and human rights abuses.
Specific Concerns
We are concerned by the following reports about the Rohingya:

• The ill-treatment and failure to provide adequate assistance to hundreds who were arrested and detained in Thailand. Since December 2008, those captured at sea by the Thai Navy were directly transferred to the custody of the Thai Army at Koh Sai Daeng. Despite their weak condition, they were not provided with adequate food, were forced to sleep outside under armed guard, and were subject to ill-treatment such as kicking and beatings with a stick. They were then forced to board boats that were not seaworthy, were given inadequate provisions, and then towed out to sea and abandoned.
• Those who initially refused to board the vessel were threatened at gunpoint. Four men were thrown overboard with their hands tied.
• Hundreds, perhaps thousands, remain missing, including children.
• Thailand and Indonesia have announced their intention to deport the Rohingya in their custody.

We recognize that:

• The Indonesian and Indian Governments have conducted rescue at sea operations, providing relief and medical attention to rescued Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.
• On 26 January 2009, the Thai Government transferred 78 new arrivals to Police and Immigration authorities rather than the Army.
• The Thai Government has indicated that it will postpone the deportation of the 78 Rohingya arrivals until further investigation of their injuries. The Thai Government has also called for a regional solution to the plight of Rohingya.

Recommendations

Given the gravity of situation, we recommend that:
The Burmese Government:

• End the systematic persecution of the Rohingya ethnic minority and recognise them as citizens with full rights and protection.

The Thai Government:

• Cease forcibly expelling the Rohingyas, which is in violation of international law. Investigate serious allegations of mistreatment by the Thai security forces which may be in serious violation of Thailand’s obligations under the 1984 the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and bring to justice those responsible.
• Ensure that detainees have access to humanitarian assistance, protection and independent legal counsel by relevant international and local agencies. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees) should have access to all detainees to ensure fair determination of their status.
• Facilitate an open and independent inquiry by the Thai National Human Rights Commission and/or an international body into the allegations of human rights violations, providing them with full access to survivors and detainees, relevant government and army officials, and records related to the events.

The Indonesian and Indian Governments:

• Respect the principle of non-refoulement in relation to those rescued at sea and currently being detained.
• Ensure that detainees have access to humanitarian assistance, protection and independent legal counsel by relevant international and local agencies. UNHCR should have access to all detainees to ensure fair determination of their status.

The Bangladeshi Government:

• Uphold its international obligations as a country of first asylum to ensure the protection and assistance of Rohingya with the support of the international community.

The members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Bay of Bengal Multi-Sectoral Initiative for Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC):

• Launch immediate search and rescue operations for the remaining boats pushed back into international waters, as well as other boats of migrants reported to have left Bangladesh.
• Work with the UNHCR, the international community and civil society groups to find equitable regional solutions that meet the protection needs of those forced to leave Burma, with responsibility-sharing arrangements regionally and internationally.
• Urge the Burmese Government to stop the systematic persecution of the Rohingya minority, which is the root cause of their flight to neighbouring countries.
• Meet their obligations as state parties to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the 1979 International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR).
• Urge all members to ratify the 1951 Convention Related to the Status of Refugees, its 1967 Protocol, the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, and the 1990 International Convention for the Protection of the Right of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.

The United Nations and the International Community:

• Continue to support the governments of Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand and its neighbours to find a durable solution to the protection needs of Burmese refugees throughout the region, ensuring consultation with civil society.
• Engage the Burmese Government to solve the ongoing human rights crisis there, including amending the 1982 Citizenship Law which renders the Rohingya stateless.
• Ensure that urgent humanitarian assistance is provided to Rohingyas and Bangladeshis who have fled on boats.
• Ensure that human rights complaints related to the treatment of these people are thoroughly investigated and reported to the Human Rights Council

This statement was written by members of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), and has been endorsed by the following organizations and individuals:

Australia

1. A Just Australia
2. Act for Peace, National Council of Churches Australia (NCCA)
3. Austcare
4. Burmese Rohingya Community in Australia (BRCA)
5. Children Out of Detention (ChilOut)
6. Dr Savitri Taylor, School of Law, La Trobe University
7. Rosie Scott, International Detention Coalition
8. The Association of Survivors of Torture and Trauma (ASeTTS)
9. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
10. The Ethnic Communities Council of WA and the Multicultural Services Centre of WA
11. The Refugee Council of Australia
12. The South Australian Refugee Health Network
13. The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture
14. Union Aid Abroad APHEDA
15. West Coast Refugee Sanctuary Group Inc.
16. Westgate Baptist Community

Bangladesh

17. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)
18. Empowerment through Law of the Common People (ELCOP)
19. IMA Research Foundation
20. Odhikar

Burma

21. Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO)
22. Shan Women’s Action Network

Egypt

23. The Egyptian Foundation for Refugee Rights

Hong Kong

24. Hong Kong Refugee Advice Centre

India

25. Centre for Development and Human Rights

Indonesia

26. Human Rights Working Group
27. Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI)

Kenya

28. David Dickson, Solidarity House International

Korea

29. Korea Women’s Hotline
30. Korean Public Interest Lawyers Group (GONGGAM)
31. The Refugee Pnan

Lebanon

32. Frontiers Ruwad Association

Malaysia

33. All Women’s Action Society
34. Amnesty International Malaysia
35. Borneo Child Aid Society/Humana
36. Building and Wood Workers International (BWI)
37. Center for Orang Asli Concerns
38. Civil Rights Committee of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
39. Coalition of Burma Ethnic Groups in Malaysia (COBEM)
40. Community Residents Association of Selangor and Federal Territory (PERMAS)
41. Council of Churches of Malaysia
42. Health Equity Initiatives (HEI)
43. Empower (Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor)
44. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
45. Justice, Peace and Solidarity In Mission, The Good Shepherd Sisters
46. Kumpulan ACTS
47. Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
48. Organization of Karenni Development (OKD)
49. Pusat Jagaan Kanak Kanak NurSalam, Chow Kit
50. Pusat Komas (Community Communication Centre)
51. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
52. Tenaganita (Women’s Force)
53. The National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
54. Women’s Aid Organisation
55. Workers Organisation

Mongolia

56. National Center Against Violence

Nepal

57. All Nepal Women’s Association
58. INHURED International

Pakistan

59. ESCR-Asia
60. Pakistan International Human Rights Organization (PIHRO)

Philippines

61. Center for Migrant Advocacy
62. Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA)
63. The Pax _Romana-International Movement of Catholic Students
64. Virgilio “Boy” Hernandez

Singapore

65. Singapore Working Group for Asean Human Rights Mechanism (MARUAH)
66. UNI Apro

South Africa

67. Lawyers for Human Rights

Sri Lanka

68. Andrew Samuel, Community Development Services, Colombo
69. Commission for Justice and Peace (CJP) of the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka
70. South Asian Network for Refugees, IDPs & Migrants (SANRIM)

Thailand

71. Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma
72. Arakan Project
73. Mekong Ecumenical Partnership Program, Christian Conference of Asia
74. Serge Auguste, Maryknoll
75. Shining Som Mekong Alumni Network
76. U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)

United Kingdom

77. Forest Peoples Programme
78. The Equal Rights Trust

United States

79. Asylum Access (US/Thailand)
80. Church World Service, Immigration and Refugee Program
81. Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center
82. Refugees International
83. U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)

Zambia

84. Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice (Africa IDP Voice)
Regional/International
85. Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development (APWLD)
86. Asian Solidarity for Peoples’ Advocacy (SAPA)
87. Christian Conference of Asia
88. Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility (CARAM Asia)
89. Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW)
90. International Detention Coalition
91. Nonviolence International Southeast Asia (NISEA)
92. The Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples
93. The Asian Human Rights Commissionl

United States Says United Nations Should Screen Rohingya Migrants

Source from US Policy, 03 Feb 2009

United States has resettled some Rohingya referred by U.N. agency.

By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer

Washington — The Obama administration says countries to which Burmese Rohingya migrants have fled should carefully screen them — with the involvement of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) — to determine if they need protection.

The United States considers the Muslim Rohingya people, who live mainly in the Burmese state of Northern Rakhine, to be a religious and ethnic minority that is being persecuted by the country’s military regime.
Burma does not recognize them as citizens, despite their centuries-long presence in the country. The junta also has placed severe economic, travel and other restrictions on the community and forcibly converted some to Buddhism. (See “Burma’s Muslims Are Long-standing Victims of Military Regime.”)

Agence France Presse (AFP) reported February 3 that Indonesian fishermen had found a group of nearly 200 Rohingya men adrift off the northern tip of Sumatra weeks after the men attempted to flee to Thailand in makeshift boats. The survivors told AFP they had been detained and beaten by Thai military personnel before being sent back to sea on boats without motors or adequate food and water supplies.
An additional 650 Rohingya were found in Indonesian and Indian territorial waters in January, AFP said, and nearly 1,000 Rohingya attempted to flee by sea to Thailand in 2008.

Laura Tischler, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, told America.gov February 3 that a small number of Rohingya who had been referred by UNHCR had been accepted by the United States for resettlement. The Obama administration also will “consider additional referrals … on a case-by-case basis,” she said.

Along with urging countries to work with UNHCR to determine who needs protection, the United States called on Burma’s neighbors to “press the government of Burma to end its persecution of Rohingya,” so that “those who have already fled can return home safely,” Tischler said.
She added that the Obama administration welcomes efforts by other concerned governments to work together on a common approach for protecting Rohingya people.

United States Says United Nations Should Screen Rohingya Migrants

3 February 2009,  source from http://www.america.gov

United States has resettled some Rohingya referred by U.N. agency

 

 

Burmese Rohingya who were rescued in Indonesian waters claim the Thai military forced them out to sea without adequate food and water.

 

By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer

Washington — The Obama administration says countries to which Burmese Rohingya migrants have fled should carefully screen them — with the involvement of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) — to determine if they need protection.

The United States considers the Muslim Rohingya people, who live mainly in the Burmese state of Northern Rakhine, to be a religious and ethnic minority that is being persecuted by the country’s military regime.
Burma does not recognize them as citizens, despite their centuries-long presence in the country. The junta also has placed severe economic, travel and other restrictions on the community and forcibly converted some to Buddhism. (See “Burma’s Muslims Are Long-standing Victims of Military Regime.”)

The Burmese junta does not recognize the Muslim Rohingya as citizens and places severe restrictions on the community.

 

Agence France Presse (AFP) reported February 3 that Indonesian fishermen had found a group of nearly 200 Rohingya men adrift off the northern tip of Sumatra weeks after the men attempted to flee to Thailand in makeshift boats. The survivors told AFP they had been detained and beaten by Thai military personnel before being sent back to sea on boats without motors or adequate food and water supplies.
An additional 650 Rohingya were found in Indonesian and Indian territorial waters in January, AFP said, and nearly 1,000 Rohingya attempted to flee by sea to Thailand in 2008.

Laura Tischler, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, told America.gov February 3 that a small number of Rohingya who had been referred by UNHCR had been accepted by the United States for resettlement. The Obama administration also will “consider additional referrals … on a case-by-case basis,” she said.

Along with urging countries to work with UNHCR to determine who needs protection, the United States called on Burma’s neighbors to “press the government of Burma to end its persecution of Rohingya,” so that “those who have already fled can return home safely,” Tischler said.

She added that the Obama administration welcomes efforts by other concerned governments to work together on a common approach for protecting Rohingya people.