June 17, 2016

Over 100 NID holders listed as 'Myanmar citizens'

Over 100 people of 18 families in Kuakata reserve forest area have been listed as 'Myanmar citizens' although they are living in the area for decades and they have national identity (NID) cards as Bangladeshi citizens.

On June 4, men of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) distributed a slip to each family in this regard as BBS in their Rohingya census listed these people as 'Myanmar citizens'.

Protesting the matter, the families arranged a press conference at Kuakata Press Club recently. They demanded that the authorities revoke the decision immediately. (Courtesy of thedailystar.net)

‘Green cards’ distributed to stateless Muslims

On top of handing out the green cards to those who are eligible, officials are counting the number of people already holding the cards. Citizenship scrutiny in line with the 1982 Citizenship Law is expected to follow after this initial step, as part of the government’s 100-day plan to conduct citizenship scrutiny nationwide.

The project was meant to start in three Muslim-majority townships on June 7, but disagreements over the cards in Ponnagyun township have obstructed verification there thus far. The cards that are handed out do not mention race or religion, and the Rohingya community in the township has reportedly refused to cooperate because they cannot self-identify. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)

Myanmar censors ban movie at human rights film festival

Myanmar's film censorship board said Wednesday it banned the screening of a love story featuring an ethnic leader over fears it could derail an ongoing peace process with the country's rebel armies.

The ban highlights the lingering limits on free speech in the former junta-run country, despite its new civilian government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Austrian-directed film, "Twilight Over Burma: My Life as a Shan Princess," is set in mid-20th century Myanmar. It tells the true story of an Austrian woman and her marriage to a Shan prince who was arrested in the wake of the 1962 military coup before dying in mysterious circumstances. (Courtesy of nationmultimedia.com)