Sunday 31 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.

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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.

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.

Friday 29 March 2013

Continuous attacks against Muslims across central and other parts of Burma

Compiled by Habib,
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.

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(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)
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Wednesday 27 March 2013

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

Source Mayupress, 27 March
1364199818-muslims-in-malaysia-protest-sectarian-violence-in-myanmar_1905984 (1)

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,
 
pic attack

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.

Monday 25 March 2013

Police seized huge guns of Rakhine thugs in Arakan

Source Mayu Press, 24 Mar
 
handmade-guns

By Mohamed Farooq
The Burmese Police got various hand-made weapons of Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) in two different townships of Arakan; Kyauk Taw and Buthidaung on last few days back with the exact information of Rakhine old persons.

On 12th March 2013, a police patrol team found out 18 guns in the forest near Nyung Kron village under Let Way Dak village tract of Buthidaung Township. The other Police personnel grabbed 28 hand-made guns in a valley near Pri long mountain range situated between Myauk Taung and Malar village on 14 March 2013 in Kyauk Taw Township where violence had occurred and slaughtered many Rohingya Muslims. Simultaneously, they had got 29 guns more in the jungle of Alar Taung Mountain, five miles away from Nga Saung Bek village in Kyauk Taw.

Moreover, some Rakhine habitants mostly from rural areas in Arakan have to handover 726 hand-made guns, 130 swords, 506 javelins, 112 cross bows, 611 arrows, 1408 arrows used to slingshot and 398 slingshots to the Police after an official order.

Some politicians and educated persons assumed that the Rakhine terrorist Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) forces covered up so many automatic guns and hand-made guns near the rural areas of different towns of Arakan to shoot Rohingya

There is more than three lakh forces of Arakan Liberation Party (Rakhine terrorist party) live in India, Bangladesh Hill Tract (i.e. Bandarban, Ragamati, Kakachori and Cox's Bazar) and Arakan. They are well trained up by the Shan anti-government arm force. Their prime objective is rooting out all Rohingya Minority Muslims from Arakan then establishing Arakan state to Rakhine Nation including Bangladesh Hill Tract. Rakhine Nation will have to separate from the Burma too.

Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) is led by Dr. Aye Chan and Dr. Aye Maung, acting Parliament member from Rakhine National Development Party. More than 30 years back, the Rakhine Business magnets have to finance ALP group by exporting illegal Yaba Tablets and tax free teak woods to Teknaf Jetty, Bangladesh. Every rich Rakhine person fund to ALP grows up sooner. ALP collected many automatic modern arms from Thailand, India and Bangladesh illegal way. They supply hand-made guns to every Rakhine village of Arakan to brutal attack of Rohingya.

The Rakhine terrorists plan again to rise up open Rohingya genocide after their Water Festival. The Burmese Government regime got the correct news of Rakhine next agenda but the government progress no action against them. So, open genocide of Rohinguya will be state sponsor genocide like past.

Communal unrest spreads sequentially to Muslims in Yamethin, Burma

Source Mayu Press, 24 Mar
 
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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.

Burmese Neo-Nazi Movement Rising Against Muslims

Source Irrawady news, 24 Mar

When Dr. Maung Zarni, an outspoken activist academic, labeled the ongoing anti-Rohingya and anti-Muslim movement in Burma as neo-Nazi, some Burmese said Zarni was exaggerating. Western commentators have also avoided the term.

But Zarni has been proven right by emerging photos of an anti-Muslim riot in Meikhtila in central Burma that broke out on March 20. The riot, which grew from a quarrel between Muslim gold shop owners and Buddhist customers, has taken more than 30 lives, and more than 10 mosques, Islamic schools and houses have been destroyed. Thousands of local residents, both Buddhist and Muslim, have fled the town, leaving Meikhtila with ashes, burnt buildings, flames and dead bodies.

On the evening of March 21, the Rangoon-based Eleven News published photos of a long queue of Muslims being forced to leave the town. What is significant in the photos is that the refugees, including women, children and elders, were ordered to keep their hands up as they were escorted out of the town by security guards. Nearby were local Buddhists and monks holding weapons and watching as many hundreds of Muslims left. These photos resemble the depressing images of thousands of Jewish refugees being escorted by German soldiers to Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

It is not only the photos that make the anti-Muslim movement in Burma a neo-Nazi spectacle. The campaigners' actions and ideologies—especially ethno-religious ideology if not gender and class—resemble what characterized Nazi Germany under Hitler.

First, there is a series of consistent and observable actions. The most crucial element is the new "969 campaign" invented early this year. In a country where numerology has a powerful appeal, it is a mass-based Buddhist movement led by extremist monks including a firebrand named Wirathu. The number, 969, was derived from Buddhist tradition in which the Three Jewels or Tiratana is composed of 24 attributes (9 Buddha, 6 Dhamma, 9 Sangha).

However, it is said by the movement to follow the model of the Muslim "786," which is only used in South Asian Muslim tradition, a representation of a Quranic phrase "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful."

The Burmese have long misinterpreted 786 as a Muslim conspiracy to take over the world in the 21st century, as they see 786 to represent 21 (7+8+6=21). In opposition to 786, the movement invented 969 as a symbol of a religious movement. Stickers are the flags of the movement and can be seen in many cities and towns across the country, as this is a public campaign. In the past few weeks, more taxis and motorbikes have been seen with the stickers.

To the campaigners, 969 is about protecting race and religion by peaceful means. In practice, it is explicitly an anti-Muslim campaign, not about preaching people the Buddha-nature of all beings, as taught and practiced by Lord Buddha himself. In many townships across Burma, including capital regions, there are local 969 committees that organize events and religious sermons and distribute anti-Muslim materials such as CDs, books and leaflets.

The 969 campaign targets economic aspects by alleging that Muslims are dominating the Burmese economy, and that therefore Buddhists must not trade with Muslims. Instead, the campaigners recommend that Buddhists buy and sell at Buddhist shops that display 969 signs and stickers. In Karen State, Buddhists are even forced to trade only with Buddhists. There are local reports about Buddhists being beaten by members of 969 civilians and monks for trading with Muslims.

As of now, 969 covers a range of shops and stores from medium-size restaurants and teashops to food stalls and street vendors.

Many sermons of Buddhist monks across the country these days are about 969. Audio and video CDs of the sermons as well as anti-Muslim stickers and notes are being sold at grocery stores, phone shops, teashops and so on. Information about where the stickers and 969 materials can be bought is available online as well. The CDs are played in the streets and even at grocery stores in Rangoon. In short, 969 messages are spreading everywhere as the monks and campaigners travel across the country.

Muslims in Burma are portrayed as dangerous foreigners who came to the country only to dominate its every aspect. They are accused of dominating the economy, destroying the cultural fabric of society by spreading Islam in every way possible, luring women into Islam, and then monopolizing political power. The prime anxiety is that the Burmese race/nation will become extinct if liars, aliens, ruthless people, and those who bite the hands of their own masters (referring to Muslims as dogs) are not expelled.

Self-victimization seems to be a key. The consistent theme is that it is Muslims who are doing all the harm to communities and the country. Even supposedly one the most recognized peace advocate monks, Ashin Nyanissara, told the Democratic Voice of Burma on March 21, the second day of the riot, that Muslims as guests should respect and be polite to their hosts as if the ongoing religious tension was the Muslims' fault.

There are other important elements. Different volumes of anti-Muslim books written by Buddhist monks are all similarly titled: "Fearful of losing race/nation". These books, being circulated for the past few years, are the guidebooks of the campaign, featuring stories of dangerous and hateful Muslims unfairly marrying Buddhist women or marrying without consent, attempting to replace Buddhism with Islam, and undertaking universal missions to dominate the world economically, politically and culturally. Muslims allegedly will take over the Buddhist nation unless effective actions are taken to neutralize them and destroy every Muslim establishment. Citizenship is supposed to be defined in term of bloodline, as Immigration Minister Khin Yi said recently.

But a neo-Nazi movement doesn't work without popular support. That hundreds of people listen to the 969 sermons attests to its rise. This is not just public acceptance, but follow up to actions such as destroying Muslim shops in Mon State early this month after a 969 summons.

On social media websites, particularly Facebook, various groups relate to the 969 movement such as private groups with group names spelled in Burmese. Members range from 90 to a few hundred. There are public pages such as the Myanmar National Movement Committee, which has recorded 15,499 likes. Popular support is also reflected in the comments of the Burmese Facebook users. The following English translation of comments made to the Facebook pages of two local Muslim news websites reveals the seriousness:

"Happy, hey happy. Let's drive out dog-kind, dog-sons, prostitutes."

"Good news, all Muslims must die!"

"It's too few that only 20 people died. They all have to die. Also, all mosques in Myanmar must be destroyed."

In short, the neo-Nazi movement that Dr. Maung Zarni has been crying out against is on the rise. Those behind the movement are freely traveling the country, mobilizing supporters and distributing hate messages at an alarming level.

Without addressing this movement, perpetual violence and communal tension in such an ethnically diverse country is the future. That a personal quarrel at a shop ended up as large-scale violence in Meikhtila is a troubling alert.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Irrawaddy.

Sunday 24 March 2013

Buddha Buzz: Dagger-Wielding Monks and Mindfulness in Service of the Bottom Line

Source Tricycle, 22 Mar
 
Just hours ago, Burmese President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency in central Burma due to killing, destruction of property, and general rioting in the streets of the town of Meikhtila. Violence erupted following a dispute between a Muslim gold shop owner and Buddhist customers. After four nearby gold shops were burnt to the ground, a 1,000-strong mob of Buddhists ran riot through the Muslim neighborhood. The death toll is currently being reported at at least 20, but this number will likely rise. TIME reports:
 

Journalists attempting to report in the area have been threatened. A photographer for the Associated Press reportedly had a foot-long dagger placed against his neck by a monk who had his face covered. The confrontation was defused when the photographer handed over his camera's memory card. Late on Friday, the Burmese government said that nine reporters trapped amid the unrest had been rescued by local police and evacuated from the area.

On social media, residents reported seeing bodies scattered by the side of the road and women and children lying helpless, their homes destroyed. U Aung, a Muslim lawyer living in Meikhtila, told TIME that the violence was already spreading to nearby townships. "They are burning mosques and houses and stealing Muslim property," said Aung.

Tricycle readers will be familiar with the Buddhist-led violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority in western Burma from the article "Buddhist Nationalism in Burma" in the current issue. In the article, Burmese dissident and democracy activist Maung Zarni makes a convincing argument for the characterization of recent anti-Rohingya violence as genocide. Zarni highlights the harnessing of the same sangha-led forces that occasioned the "Saffron Revolution" (2007) to accomplish these ends.

Recent unrest in Meikhtila suggests two important things. First, anti-Muslim violence and rioting has spread beyond the western Burmese Rakhine state and into the heart of Burma. Second, since the violence appears to be directed at Muslims of Indian origin—not Rohingya Muslims—this would seem to corroborate Zarni's assertion of the anti-Muslim, religious sentiment of these riots, repeatedly dismissed as "sectarian violence" by many mainstream media outlets at the time of the outbreak of violence last year. (TIME quotes Chris Lew, founder of The Arakan Project: "the perception of last year's unrest as sectarian rather than religious was inaccurate.") Zarni makes this contention in his article for Tricycle and reiterated the point when I interviewed him over Skype from Indonesia the day before the last. We also spoke about his objection to the term "communal violence," which TIME has used in the article quoted above, and the reasons why the conflict hasn't been called a genocide. The anti-Muslim racism we're currently witnessing can be tracked back to Burma's colonial past, which Zarni adumbrates in the article and further elaborates in our interview. Zarni's article for Tricycle can be found here and our interview will run on the Tricycle blog on Wednesday.

Images:

Meikhtila, Burma, March 21, 2013 - Soe Zeya Tun / REUTERS

Meikhtila, Burma, March 21, 2013 - AP

Ariana Huffington

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.

Friday 22 March 2013

Hundred of Muslims killed and Eight Mosques destroyed in Meiktilar, Mandalay, Central Burma

Source Mayu Press, 21 Mar

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There is no stability of racism under the Act-144 imposed by the Burmese government authority. The Buddhist racists continued vandalizing Muslim’s ancient Mosques and Religious school and also houses one after another. Muslim families are leaving and fleeing to avoid the life hazards from their respective own houses. The Buddhists had burnt down Mingalar Zayyu Hafiz School at midnight of 21 March 2013. According to eye-witness, Myo Oo Mosque was torched up by throwing diesel bottles and fire sticks. Muslims are under Act-144 whereas Buddhist racists are moving crowdedly with heavy iron rods, swords, sharpens knife and diesel bottles by motorcycles and three-wheel autos.
Name of Mosques burnt down and destroyed by Buddhist racists:
  1. Nyeinn Gyann Yaye Mosque (Peace Mosque)
  2. North Pye Thaya Mosque
  3. Thiyi Mingalar Mosque
  4. Mingalar Zayyu Mosque and Hafiz School
  5. Myo Oo Mosque
  6. Pakistan Mosque
  7. Hman Lon Mosque (Glass enclosed Mosque)
  8. Western Market Zamay Mosque
Watch The video:
--------------
The Buddhist mobs killed 28 religious students and 4 teachers in Hamayatul Islam Religious Arabic School (Maddarasa) of Mingalar Zayyu village under Meiktilar Township at about 6.30 AM, 21st March 2013.
Among the burnt down houses and buildings, Maddarasa Hamayatul Islam was the biggest one in Mingalar Zayyu village. The Buddhist extremists were entire night feeling free to mass kill, and attack Muslims and torch up houses with the Marshal Law Act-144 not to out but there is no barrier and attachment for Buddhist racists by security personnel and Army. At the night of 3 AM, a Buddhist merciful family situated near the Religious School had called and brought all the Muslim religious teachers and students to his house for the life safety. The Muslim religious school burnt into ashes around 4 AM by the racists.
 
At the morning 6 AM, Buddhist extremists group surrounded the house of Buddhist where Muslim students and teachers were sleeping with fear and tiredness. They asked the house owner to get out all the Muslims and shouted with iron arrows, swords, knife, iron rods, long bamboo and wood sticks. The Buddhist kind-hearted family requested them not to attack those Muslims as most of them are orphans and parentless came from far distances to acquire religious education and nothing else. The terrorists torched up the Buddhist house to come out all the Muslim students and teachers.
 
The Buddhist mobs brutally hit with their handed dangerous instruments till to death 28 students and 4 teachers in front of Army, Police and Hlun Tin (Riot police).
List of teachers killed by Buddhist mobs:
  1. Maulana Mohammad Shafi,45,
  2. Maulana Zakaria,40,
  3. Mufti Wazib,30, and another one
---------
The Beginning of attacks against Muslims in Meiktilar, Mandalay
Source Mayu Press, 20 Mar
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A Buddhist old woman accompanied with two young ladies came to Jewellery Shop of Haji U Tun Aye located at the eastern of Meitkilar Myoma Market to sell an imitated gold ornament (not first class gold) around 11 AM, 20 Mach 2013. The shop owner had checked the class of gold by testing then replied it was not a number one gold type. The Buddhist woman bargained and shouted to pay the sale rate of number one gold although it is not worthy to be class one. She called up a crowded Buddhist racists group accused that the shop owner destroyed her gold. It was preplanned to create communal riot by Buddhist to Muslims.
 
About 200 Buddhist extremists attacked and destroyed his shop into pieces including another five Muslim Shops. The security personnel detained the shop owner in the custody.
Some Buddhist racists jointly Monks from Pagodas had spread fake news as Muslim attacked Buddhists in the market which stimulated all the Buddhists to kill and hit Muslims too much. They burnt down three Mosques having a big one named as Dahehten and also torched up so many Muslim houses. Muslims frightened and left homes to safe lives.
 
The Buddhist extremists killed Muslims but exact quantity is not known yet. The wounded Muslims are not allowed to admit in the Hospital and clinic. The authority imposed Act-144 at the time of 09 PM in Meiktilar, Mandalay.

25 Rohingya arrested in Phuket

Source Bankok Post, 20 Mar
 
PHUKET - Twenty-five Rohingya from Myanmar have been arrested and charged with illegal entry, police said on Wednesday.

The Rohingya migrants, comprising both men and women, were arrested about 11am at Ban Khok Tanot in tambon Chalong of Phuket province, where a tour bus they were travelling on was stopped for a search.

The migrants said they travelled via Bangladesh to Malaysia before taking the bus, which was heading for Phuket, according to police.\

Twenty-five Rohingya are arrested on the Phuket-bound bus from Malaysia. (Photo by Achadtaya Chuen niran)

Monday 18 March 2013

Three Rohingya killed in Minbya, Arakan

Source Mayu Press, 17 Mar
 
The Burmese authority had imposed curfew only to Rohingya not to move one place to another since June 2012 racial violence in Arakan state. It causes Rohingya facing difficulties with hygienic foods, proper treatments, and necessary house hold materials and so on.

Amongst the suffering people shortage with daily survival food stuffs, three Rohingya men from Sinn Gyi Pyan helmet of Barbutaung village, Minbya Township leaved with engine boat to buy foods for the own villagers towards Letmagye , Nagaya Village on Thursday, 14 March 2013.

Those three Rohingya were brutally killed on their water way by the Rakhine extremists. The dead bodies were found near Maroung Bwe Chaung Bridge of Bu Talonk village under the track of Mauk Oo on 16 March 2013.

There were also some security personnel based in Myauk Oo Ka-ma-ya (380) when the dead bodies picking up from the water to the land. They got the dead bodies with many injures and wounds of knife cuttings to necks, ears, noses and also sex organs.

The name of Rohingya killed by Rakhine extremists are:

  1. Mohammad Ullah,38, s/o Amin Ullah
  2. Manzur Alam,37, s/o Noor Alam
  3. Mohammed Ayub,20, s/o Rashid

BRCA Delegates Attended Burma Forum in ANU and RNDP General Secretary Said He Sympathize Rohingya Muslims

Source Mayu Press, 17 Mar
 

BRCA delegates together with special guest Mr. Htay Lwin Oo, Rakhine and Rohingya history researcher from USA and U Maung Ba from Singapore attended to the forum "Debating Democratisation in Myanmar/Burma" held on Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, Australia in 15-16 March 2013.

BRCA contacted to ANU a day prior to the forum and raised the concern over RNDP party participation in the forum and informed that BRCA delegates would be joining to the forum. Upon arrival to ANU forum, ANU gave a chance to BRCA to present our statement in the forum to audience for three minutes.

BRCA Delegates Team In front of

BRCA Delegates Team In front of "Exiled To Nowhere; Burma's Rohingya" Photo Exhibition

The forum had discussion of different topics and aspects such as Political & Economic, Democratisation in big picture, Lunch of "Exiled to Nowhere: Burma's Rohingya" and Ethnic politics in transition etc. On second day (16.03.2013), U Oo Hla Saw from extremist Rakhine National Democrtic Party (RNDP) gave speech on how Rakhine state has numerous natural resources and Rakhines had their own dynasty in the history and now it is all controlled by central government and Rakhines people do not get any benefit from it etc. In his last speech, he focused on Rohingyas and said that "there were small Muslim community in Rakhine state in last dynasty and majority of Muslim population arrived during British colonial time were Chittagonian Bengalis. Rohingyas are the descendent of those Bengalis and Rohingya term is appeared after 1950s and whole Rakhine community initially supported to President Thein Sein's words to deport Rohingya people to a third country." However in his last speech, he clearly mentioned that Rakhines people like Rohingyas to get citizenship, move freely and settle down anywhere in Myanmar. It is noticeable point that he used Chittagonian Bengalis term to explain the initial history but used Rohingya Muslim term in the following speech.

After U Oo Hla Saw finished his speech, Mr. Htay Lwin Oo was invited to give speech for three minutes on behalf of Burmese Rohingya Community in Australia (BRCA). Mr. Htay Lwin Oo explained to the audience that Rohingyas are the native of Rakhine state by showing the ancient stone script, the evidence before and after colonial time and the family censorship evidence etc. Some of the points made during his speech are "At the beginning of British colonial time, Rohingyas were one third of the population which was 30000 and with high birth rate as the Burmese government mentioned, it should be in millions. I am also a Rakhine ethnic but a Rakhine muslim. Rakhine leaders are lack of historical knowledge and giving wrong information to the public, media and international communities. When I challenged to Rakhine historian Dr. Aye Chan in a conference in Thailand organized by Rakhines, he had to accept finally Rohingya term existence and but tried to deceive the audience by saying Rohingya name was used for Rakhines. When asked to Dr. Aye Chan whether he is a Mohameddan (Muslim), he could not answer." During his speech, Mr. Htay Lwin Oo also requested to audience to take the copies of historical evidences of Rohingya existence and BRCA distributed it everyone in the room.

After Mr.Htay Lwin Oo speech, the questions and answers program was started and from BRCA, Mr. Mohammed Anwar (President), Mr. Tin Maung, Mr. Maung Hla, Dr. Hla Myint and Mr. Thein Moe Win (Burmese Muslim) asked various questions in regard to Rohingya existence in Burma throughout history, violence committed by Rakhine extremists, police forces and security forces etc. and who is responsible for violence against Rohingyas and what RNDP did to prevent the violence against Rohingyas if RNDP respect human rights and sympathize Rohingyas etc.

U Oo Hla Saw answered that the current Rakhine conflict issue is very complicated and RNDP do not have any power in Rakhine state and therefore Central Government is responsible for all the chaos, committed crimes and creating conflicts between Rohingyas and Rakhines. He also mentioned that he respect and sympathize all Muslims including Rohingya Muslims and do not like any oppression against these people.

It is quite remarkable that U Oo Hla Saw only used the term Rohingya and Rohingya muslims during his answers in front of all Burmese and international communities. He also did mentioned that Rakhines want to live peacefully with Rohingyas Muslims.

After the questions and answers section finished, BRCA delegates team took a picture together with U Oo Hla Saw as per above photo to send the message to everyone that Rohingyas and Rakhines can live together peacefully again as before in Rakhine state.

After the forum section, Rohingya delegates visited to the photo exhibition "Exile to Nowhere: Burma's Rohingya

It is reported that there were around 150 audiences in the forum.

Reported by

BRCA Team

Sunday 17 March 2013

Turkey to pay university expenses of Rohingya Muslim students

Source World Bulletin / News, 15 Mar

Turkey to pay university expenses of Rohingya Muslim students
(File Photo)

The Turkish Religious Affairs Foundation (TDV) started a project for the Rohingya Muslim students in order to cover their university expenses.

A hundred students are to be supported at two universities, with which agreements have been concluded. TDV Deputy Director General Mustafa Tutkun told AA that the Rohingya Muslims faced serious problems about receiving education and that they could not make their voice heard when they did not have access to higher education.

"As long as the Rohingya Muslims stay uneducated they can not contribute to their cases on solving their problems," said Tutkun.

Tutkun said that they met with officials from the International Islamic University Chittagong in Bangladesh and made an agreement on covering the educational expenses and scholarships of the Rohingya Muslims that are to study there. He said that the project was conducted together with the Rohingya Solidarity Organization and that TDV would pay for the expenditures and scholarships of these students.

Stating that they valued the departments in which the students were going to study at, Tutkun said they supported the law department for the Rohingya Muslims to claim their rights, medicine for the wide-spread health problems Rohingya Muslims faced, and public relations for making their voice heard to the world.

Muhammed Yunus, president of the Rohingya Solidarity Organization, said that the Myanmar administration did not allow Rohingya Muslims to receive higher education.

"Without education, it is not possible for people to step out of their problems and have a look at it from the outside. Therefore, it is substantial that our people are educated at any cost," Yunus said.

Thursday 14 March 2013

Villagers decry 'slaughter' of Rohingya as Thai PM vows inquiry

 
Fishermen say they saw up to 20 bodies floating in the water, near where Rohingya refugees claim the military opened fire on their group
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More damning evidence has emerged of what villagers describe as the "slaughter" of Rohingya refugees by members of the Thai military near the holiday island of Phuket, with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra pledging to investigate the incident.

A fisherman said he and others saw 15 to 20 corpses floating off the coast close to Hinlad village, near the port of Kuraburi, where four Rohingya survivors and villagers say shootings took place on February 22.

The four survivors, who were among about 130 boat people who arrived in the area from Myanmar on February 21, said last week that the shooting occurred as members of the Thai military tried to separate the refugees between two boats.

Some Rohingya refused. When the troops fired a warning shot, about 20 jumped overboard. The troops then opened fire on those in the water, survivors and villagers claimed.

"I saw three bodies, one of the bodies was a woman," fisherman Yutdana Sangtong said yesterday. "But my friends on the other side of the bay said they saw about 15 to 20 bodies all together."

I saw three bodies, one of the bodies was a woman,. But my friends on the other side of the bay said they saw about 15 to 20 bodies all together

Sangtong said a friend described the bodies as being in a decomposed state. He believes the currents have since carried the dead out to sea.

Red Cross Rescue Service leader Manat Aree said that he recovered two bloated bodies from the area on February 26 and 27, after being told their location by fishermen.

The South China Morning Post saw photographs of the two male corpses, one of which clearly bore a wound to the head.

"We would have liked to fetch the other bodies but we could not because we had no money for fuel for our boat," Manat said.

The bodies were taken to Kuraburi hospital, then reclaimed by villagers for a swift burial according to Muslim custom. Villagers showed the graves to reporters.

Hinlad's deputy chief Aduwat Ahamad works in a paramilitary role for Thailand's Internal Security Operations Command, which oversees border security and has been linked to previous mistreatment of the Rohingya.

"In the past, we closed one eye to the people-trafficking that has been going on in secret all along the coast. But I cannot stay silent with the deaths of innocent Muslims. My heart is broken by this slaughter," he said.

Aduwat was among eight villagers who support the account of the incident provided by the four Rohingya who made it to shore. They said a military patrol boat arrived on the scene soon after the refugee boat arrived and towed the Rohingya vessel. The next morning, villagers reported hearing gunfire.

A video shot by locals shows the Rohingya boat under tow by a patrol boat with the hull designation 214.

The four survivors disappeared at the weekend from the village where they were being sheltered. They have since telephoned their former protectors in Hinlad to say they are safe and in Malaysia.

The village imam, Alit Damchor, said many Rohingya had come ashore around the Kuraburi district because word had spread that people there were tolerant and generous. Hinlad and other villages nearby are predominantly Muslim.

"Our direction and the government's direction are totally different," Alit said. "Our concept of how to treat the Rohingya is also very different."

The Thai navy has denied reports of the February 22 incident, without elaborating. However, on Monday night Yingluck pledged to investigate.

"Our government has a policy to take care of the Rohingya on humanitarian grounds, so they won't be pushed back," she said. "We will investigate this."

In a statement issued yesterday, US-based Human Rights Watch said the Thai navy had shot at the Rohingya and caused at least two deaths. The group called for an immediate government investigation.

"Rohingya fleeing Burma should be given protection, not shot at," said Brad Adams, the group's Asia director. "The Thai government should urgently investigate why sailors opened fire on boat people helpless in the sea, and prosecute all those found responsible."

The rights group also called on Thai authorities to reveal the whereabouts of the remaining 100-plus Rohingya, who it said were last seen in navy custody.

Thai authorities have adopted a policy of "helping on" Rohingya boats which are apprehended in Thai waters, providing them with fuel, food and water on condition they do not land in Thailand. Thai security forces also co-ordinated a secret policy of towing the Rohingya out to sea in unpowered boats and casting them adrift.

Hundreds died in 2008 and 2009 before the policy was exposed and repudiated.

Wednesday 13 March 2013

Rakhine racists killed a Rohingya University Student in Buthidaung

Source Mayu Press, 12 Mar
 
A group of Rakhine terrorists brutally killed a second year Rohingya University student in Thayet Pyin village, Buthidaung today at about 1 PM.

U Ali is one of the employees of department of forestry. He accompanied his beloved son, Elias @ Maung Than Lynn, second year University student to carry on his duty in the sentry box of the forestry. A number of twelve Rakhine racists with long swords and knives had instantly emerged from the Sainn Tin waterfall and cruelly attacked those father and son. Ali was escaped by forcibly running to the bushes but son was caught up and deadly cut him with sharp swords and knives before his death they tied up his legs and hands with ropes then thrown into the Sainn Tin Stream. The dead body does not find yet in the flowing water of the stream.

Among 12 Rakhine terrorists; Aung San Thein from Immigration Department of Buthidaung, San Tin from land registry office, Hla Tun, Tin Soe @ Thein Soe, and Aung Myint from Forestry Department, Zarni Aung and Nay Linn from Agricultural Department, San Thein from general Town Administration Department and others four were unknown. Full team conducted by Aung San Thein who is from the Department of Immigration.

This is clear that Immigration Department favoring to attack and kill the Rohingya in Buthidaung told by a villager.

200 Rohingya refugees picked up in Malaysian waters

Source NST, 12 Mar
 

ALOR STAR: About 200 Myanmar nationals, believed to be Rohingya refugees, were forced to swim for about 1km when they entered the country through Pantai Kuala Jerlun near here this morning.

The foreigners, who had arrived at the Malacca Straits on a fishermen boat, had swam through muds before they arrived at the shore at about 7am.

The foreigners, including women and children, were picked up by some 50 enforcement personnel comprising officers from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Immigration Department and the police.



Read more: 200 Rohingya refugees picked up - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/200-rohingya-refugees-picked-up-1.233354#ixzz2NTMWU1vH

Monday 11 March 2013

No Rohingya in Rakhine state???

by Abid Bahar,
 
A Rakhine sponsored seminar took place in Bangkok at Mahidol University on March 9, 2013. The objective it says was: " the introduction of Rakhine history to the international community, to correct a continued description of Rohingya by international media that is not recognised by successive Myanmar governments, and to bring reliable references of Rakhine history from international historians," said Kyaw Thaung, one of the seminar's organisers." So far so good but a detailed understanding shows the seminar wanted to prove that there were no Rohingya in Arakan. In dealing with this issue several items need additional focus:

(1) The point is, if there were no Rakhine in Arakan why the racist Military junta by Ne Win had to pass the 1982 law? Why lately Arakanese historic Rohingya names had to be changed into Rakhine Mogh sounding names? Why there are historic Rohingya mosques and monuments in Arakan? Why UN was involved in dealing with Rohingya facing persecution? Rohingyas are being labelled as "Bengalis" If Rohingyas are from Bangladesh why Bangladesh doesn't want to accept them? Also why are there boat people in the sea? So the question was not about Rohingya existence in Arakan but was to deny Rohingya existence in Arakan. Surely the present seminar by the known sponsors was to comply with the government's official policy of Rohingya genocide.

(2) Furthermore, this is a Rakhine sponsored conference. Knowing it very well the Western speakers Jet Pilder, Stephen van Galen were keeping their agenda in line with the sponsors and tried to be more superficial to scratch on the surface of Arakan history. Unfortunately however their names were cleverly abused by the Rakhine sponsors.

(3) The high light of the conference was Aye Chan a Rakhine war criminal, who has been active as an xenophobe provocateur. The report says: "history Professor Aye Chan of Kanda University of International Studies, Japan, traced the increased cross-border settlement from 1826 to 1975 as Chittagong natives moved in to become the majority in Maungdaw and Buthedaung townships. In his talk "From Rakhine cross-border settlement to ethnic violence." History tells us otherwise. There were waves of Rakhin Mogh and Rohingya influx into Chittagong as a result of Bodapawa's invasion in 1784. Then the 1942 Rakhine killing of Rohingya led to further influx that continued through the 50;s through 1978, 82-83 and till now but Chan said the Bengali Muslim population increased from 58,255 in 1871 to 178,647 in 1911, when they represented 94 per cent of the population in Maungdaw and 84 per cent in Buthedaun. He also explained Muslim rebels' destruction of Rakhine villages." (1) What can you expect from Aye Chan who is a known xenophobe and coauthored a book identifying Rohingyas as " Viruses."(2)

(4) In addition to their exaggerations, the poor performance of the speakers as historians is noticeable in their deliberate ignoring of Arab settlements from the 8th century, Muslim General Wali Khan and Sind Khan's army setting in Arakan and particularly, ignoring Francis Beauchanan's reference of " Roongya" in 1799 and also ignoring the existence of Rohingya Muslim names, such as Arakan and Akyab which were lately changed. Further, Aye Chan's denial of the term Rohingya. His denial of the name "Rohingya" which originally derived from the name Mro-haung "Mro haung gys" and terming the Rohingya is only shocking to say the least.

(5) While Aye Chan said the name Rohingya was officially coined from the 50's but didn't say before which they were known as "Muslims of Arakan" In doing this he cleverly ignored the fact to the people present that the name "Rakhine was also a new term officially adapted during the 1920's before which they were identified as the "Mogh."

Based on the above, in the name of an international seminar, this conference was a deliberate attempt at manufacturing misinformation. Two things however were not expected (a) The impolite gesture of Aye Chan toward Htay Lwin Oo who asked him a question. The later is a respectable Arakanese historian (b) Eleven Media Group 's present report identifies Htay Lwin Oo as a Bengali activist which is not true. He is a racially Rakhine scholar. (3)

All in all what can we expect from a seminar organized by the Rakhine racist extremists and reported by a media that promote hatred.

Thus, deliberately ignoring historical facts, including a xenophobe among the speakers, the latter is likely to ignore the reliable references of Rakhine history. Thus, the hidden objective of the seminar was served providing disservice to humanity. It in the name of a history seminar served the Rakhine racists to reenforce their extremist views.

References:
(1) For an expert analysis of the topic see.
http://drhabibsiddiqui.blogspot.ca/2011/10/muslim-identity-and-demography-in.html
(2) Racism to Rohingya http://www.rohingyablogger.com/2012/12/racism-to-rohingya-in-burma.html
(3) http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/No-Rohingya-in-Rakhine-academic-30201669.html)

126 famished Rohingya refugees rescued from leaky boat

Source nst, 10 Mar

GEORGE TOWN: One hundred and twenty-six Rohingya refugees were found famished by local fishermen, as their cargo boat was on the verge of sinking at 2.5 nautical miles from Muka Head, Teluk Bahang here yesterday.

The refugees, comprising 51 men, 35 women and 40 children, had spent 25 days sailing from Myanmar to Malaysia.
Following a report lodged by the fishermen about 2pm, the Rohingyas were rescued by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
MMEA (Northern Region) enforcement chief First Admiral Tan Kok Kwee said, at the time of rescue, the refugees, aged between two months and 50, were found cramped in their boat.
"The Rohingyas looked tired and famished because food supply had run out, three days earlier, and they had to make do with just sea water.
"The MMEA found a leak in the boat and mobilised a maritime ship, KM Nyireh, to rescue the refugees and tow their boat.
Investigations are underway to determine who had brought them in," he told reporters here today.
He said the Rohingyas were taken to the Limbungan Batu Maung Jetty about 10.30am and given food, as well as health check-ups.
The refugees are now held at the Penang MMEA headquarters in Jalan Sri Bahari, pending a remand order. - BERNAMA


Read more: 126 famished Rohingya refugees rescued from leaky boat - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/126-famished-rohingya-refugees-rescued-from-leaky-boat-1.232213#ixzz2NEzmpVs9