The Staggers

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Britain must defend Burma's Muslim Rohingyas

The abuse of the Rohingyas by the Burmese government is a human rights catastrophe.

By Rushanara Ali Published 30 July 2012 13:15

The Rohingyas are not recognised as citizens by Burma. Photograph: Getty Images

The Rohingyas have lived in Burma for generations, but under the 1982 Citizenship Law they are not recognised as citizens. Photograph: Getty Images.

The past year has seen impressive progress in Burma – the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and hundreds of political prisoners, preliminary ceasefires with many ethnic minorities in Burma and the first elections in 20 years which saw pro-democracy candidates elected to parliament. Alongside this internal progress, international progress is being made with sanctions being suspended and political relationships starting to form, not least with an invitation from Prime Minister David Cameron to Burma’s President Thein Sein to visit the UK later this year.

Burma’s President Thein Sein has been working hard to convince the world his government is changing. Yet this story of progress and reform hides a far more complex and troubling truth. Burma is taking some initial, fragile steps towards democratisation, but there is still a very, very long way to go. Several hundred political prisoners remain in jail, a brutal war continues many ethnic minorities including the predominantly Christian Kachin people in northern Burma, and there are still systematic human rights abuses – civilians in Kachin talk of forced labour, torture and extra judicial killings and at least 75,000 people have been forcibly displaced.

And there is the tragedy that is the plight of the Muslim Rohingyas. In June, a devastating cycle of violence spiralled out of control in Arakan State in western Burma. Sparked by the rape and murder of a Buddhist Rakhine woman allegedly by Muslim Rohingyas, decades of racial and religious hatred erupted into several weeks of sectarian violence in which hundreds were killed, dozens of villages torched and at least 90,000 people displaced. Both communities committed violence, but the Rohingyas were the primary victims.

The effects were seen far wider than Arakan State. Throughout Burma, and among Burmese exiled communities abroad, including in the UK, blatant and shocking anti-Muslim racism came to the fore with threats against Rohingyas as well as those who campaign for them and crude comments on social media depicting the Rohingyas as “Bengalis” and “terrorists”.

Back in Burma, as the violence subsided, the security forces began a violent crackdown going house to house arresting Rohingyas who have now seemingly disappeared without charge and without trial. Those who could flee had nowhere to run except the jungle. Those who could not flee faced jail or death. This is a human rights and humanitarian catastrophe in the making.

Underlying this entire issue is the question of citizenship. The Rohingyas have lived in Burma for generations, but under the 1982 Citizenship Law they are not recognised as citizens. The Burmese government, and many in Burmese society, describe them as “illegal immigrants”. For years, they have faced severe restrictions on marriage, movement, education and religion in Burma, because they are deemed “foreigners”. They are among the most persecuted, marginalised people in the world.

Bangladesh, however, will not take them either. Although an estimated 200,000 Rohingya refugees have lived in dire conditions along the Bangladesh-Burma border for years, Bangladesh refuses to give sanctuary to any more. Those fleeing the current crisis have been turned back from the border, sent to face an uncertain fate. Those who have escaped from Burma on boats have been turned away from Bangladesh’s shores, often to die in stormy seas or be shot at by Burmese troops.

In early July, President Thein Sein escalated the crisis even further, by reportedly telling the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that his government will not recognise them. On the same day Britain opened a trade office in Naypyidaw and the US lifted sanctions, Thein Sein wanted to hand the entire ethnic group to the UNHCR to look after until they could be resettled in a third country. He described the 800,000 Rohingyas in Burma as “a threat to national security”.

There is an urgent need for international pressure on President Thein Sein, to repeal the 1982 Citizenship Law and introduce a new law that is based on international norms and human rights. No one born in Burma should be denied citizenship. No ethnic group should be written off as “a threat to national security”. Such racial and religious intolerance is unacceptable.

The British government must make this issue a priority. If Burma is to become a truly free nation, with all the responsibilities and benefits that come with that, it must respect human rights for all its people. Britain must push for open access for humanitarian aid and human rights monitors to all areas of Burma, the release of all political prisoners and for an immediate stop to the violence and persecution - including rewriting the Citizenship Law. Without this, the process of reform and reconciliation in Burma cannot move forward.

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Tags: Burma

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45 comments

Wed, 2012-08-08 05:47 — shahrukhhh (not verified)

if u kill dem 2day den GOD wil kil u 2marrrooo!! understanDDDD????

Sun, 2012-08-05 23:08 — JAVEED ISMAIL MAMSA (not verified)

MY REQUEST FOR ROHINGYAS ,ACCORDING TO THIN SEIN ,ROHINGYAS PEOPLE ARE NOT CITIZEN OF MYMAR , KEEP YOU CITIZEN OF MYANMAR WITH YOUR,BECAUSE NOBODY NEED YOU CITIZEN OF MYANMAR. YOU ARE WORLD NO 1 POUR COUNTRY ,EVEN USA. CANADA, BRITAIN AND MANY WEST COUNTRY,THEY GIVE THEIR CITIZEN IF ANY ONE LIVE THERE 3 YEARS ,BECAUSE THEY KNOW TRUE MEANING OF DEMOCRATIC .YOU MYANMAR NEVER CAN KNOW THE MEANING OF DEMOCRATIC ,BECAUSE YOU USE TO LIVE IN COMMUNISM , NO BODY CAN CHANGE YOU LUCK UNLESS YOU WENT ,FOR ROHINGYAS ENTIRE MUSLIM WORLD ARE PREPARING TO HELP SUCH AS FINANCIAL AND SETTLE IN MANY MUSLIM COUNTRIES ,THERE ARE GOING TO MEATING IN MAKHA FOR SOLUTION OF YOUR, TELL THEN STAY THEY WITH PAISAION , AND FOR BURMA GOVERMENT STOP ATTATCK TO MUSLIM PEOPLE IN MYANM OR MUSLIM WORLD DECLAR WORE ( JEHARD ) WITH BUDISH MYANMAR..

Sun, 2012-08-05 23:08 — JAVEED ISMAIL MAMSA (not verified)

Sun, 2012-08-05 15:55 — true (not verified)

how many of you individuals on here slating muslims and Islam have actually taken the time to read up on the religion......(not media articles)... but actual scripture....mr joe bloggs!!!!!!.........calling an entire religious entity "paedo" is non sensical look at the history of England or France or the states and at that time approx 1400 years ago and look at the ages of individuals getting married then.....?????
as for Burma and the Goverment and the Rakhine people violating the basic humman rights of Rohingye people. im afraid it is religious hatred and genocide.
and its prevalent throughout the world look at the poor palestinians who have been taken over by israel to the extent, that world maps have changed and it is now called isreal and the gaza strip( 70 yrs ago it was all palestine)In international law they are seen as occupants of palestinian lands. it is a shame that the world leaders support these countries. how can one not think that its a war against a religion. To be honest the media just perpetuate this hatred.
"One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter"...................

Fri, 2012-08-03 16:34 — Bernd Eberlein (not verified)

The socalled Rohingya are BANGLADESHI. They are overhelmingly economic refugees from Bangladesh.
There is only ONE SOLUTION to that problem:
The Bangladeshi have to be repatriated in their country of origin: That is Bangladesh. The REPATRIATION should be financed from richer countries of the world community. The refugees should get a piece of land, a small house and some capital to start a livelihood.
In NO CASE Myanmar should be burdened with that problem as that would mean endless future conflicts and bloodshed.

Fri, 2012-08-10 04:32 — tahid (not verified)

I can understand why you saying this...you being a jew want all palestians out of their homeland,same way you want rohingya out from country in which they lived for centuries

Fri, 2012-08-10 04:32 — tahid (not verified)

I can understand why you saying this...you being a jew want all palestians out of their homeland,same way you want rohingya out from country in which they lived for centuries

Fri, 2012-08-10 04:32 — tahid (not verified)

I can understand why you saying this...you being a jew want all palestians out of their homeland,same way you want rohingya out from country in which they lived for centuries

Wed, 2012-08-01 16:50 — JSmith (not verified)

Groups like the Taliban, instead of rattling their sabres should do something beneficial for a change, if they can understand that concept. Ask their governments to take in the Rohingya. These countries use their immense wealth to buy all sorts of ludicrous luxuries but they can't offer their Muslim brothers a home?

Wed, 2012-08-01 16:36 — Texan (not verified)

Over in Texas we push back the Mexicans across the Rio Grande everyday. No one complains.

Wed, 2012-08-01 10:52 — haja (not verified)

1982 Citizenship Law should be change ....,give human right to all religious people especially muslim and christian in burma

Wed, 2012-08-01 07:50 — The Sail

The truth can't be hidden, the world know who are the most persecutors historically. Quasi-gov and Rakhine leaders trying to portray the matter is not ethnic cleansing. But from the beginning, the Law and Order have not been applied on aggressive Rakhines, the local security forces have been permitted to shot Rohingyas, seizing Rohingya people's lands and forcing them into tents, rejecting their rights, blocking aid and compelling to die from starvation, and handing over to relocate at another country, are very clear part of undeniable fats.
Yet the government indulges the Rakhine people while Rakhine people party- RNDP is being the in-charge for Arakan state.

Let see how the both sides affected here;
-in the whole Sittwe there are less than 500 Rakhines displaced are from about 40 houses of Mingan village, and
-less than 5,000 Rakhines from 6 Rakhine model villages of Maungdaw.
But the government and RNDP authority gathered all of Rakhines and wrongfully presenting as homeless. We long experienced social workers are not blind, even we don't talk we see them all..

From muslims side, about 20,000 of Rohingya houses from (55) villages and at least (43) mosques from seven different towns of Sittwe, Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Rambre, Myebon and Pauktaw townships were burnt down and more than (100,000) Rohingyas are displaced and shelter- less in these regions.
The homeless muslim people of Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Rambre, Myebon and Pauktaw townships are suffering the worst because the gov blocked us from distribution aid.

Don't ever blame on Rohingya or muslim of Burma, they never attacked other group in the history. Now trying to portray the murder of Rakhine girl by 3 Rohingyas was also wrong. The muslim in Rambre town are mostly Kaman muslims but not Rohingya. And a suspect case of murder was swiftly charged death sentence. The funny thing like thousand of the other political prisoner serve?
And the local news and anti-Rohingya groups repeatedly airing this single individual crime case, is just trying to cover up the ongoing genocide against Rohingyas in Arakan? None of those Rakhine involved in violent attacks is yet arrested??
The following groups arrested were also released;
1) 17 Rakhines who worn muslim religious dresses and leaving after attacking of Rohingya village- Khaungdok (Khondol), were arrested by military on 17 June.
2) 9 Rakhines from Nagaya village who were arrested with arms at around 18:00pm of 16 June and for involving in an arson attack of Rohingya village, were released after the protest of about 500 Rakhines protested in a park of Kyauktaw town on 17 June.
3) a groups of 7 Rakhines arrested with arms from Maungdaw,
4)several groups of Rakhines with deadly weapons and fule bottles during the riots in Sittwe.
We are not stupid man..
5) arrested about 100 from 300 of those attacked police station in protest relating to Nazi market tendering on 3 June 2012..
Let is what is the next move of Rakhine and the quasi gov.. We are not stupid man..
The case is very clear that only aggressive Rakhine people went to attack Rohingya village???

The reality is there are also ongoing wars in other parts of Burma with minorities. The gov and majority could not hide them even they can blame on defenseless Rohingya. But no mater what ever happen with these minorities of Christian or Muslim, the UN and US and its UN will not involve effectively so they might defend by themselves. Nevertheless, UN and its members have to arm them.