Amid the government’s efforts to arrange peace talks, and an ongoing controversy over terminology for religious minorities in Rakhine State, Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said the Tatmadaw would help shoulder the burden of protecting Myanmar’s predominantly Buddhist character.
In a speech to recruits at the military’s Officer Training School in Bahtoo, Shan State, on June 21, Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing noted Myanmar’s majority Buddhist demographics, pledging to safeguard that religious heritage for future generations.
The comments, reported in the military-owned Myawady newspaper, come as the government grapples with the sensitive topic of how to refer to the Muslim community that self-identifies as Rohingya, as well as prepares to undertake peace negotiations with a handful of ethnic armed groups that identify as Christian. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
June 25, 2016
Despite Criticism, Suu Kyi Offers Hope to Rohingya
If we see each other as humans and show mutual respect, then it is easy to solve problems. But when one side looks at the other as if they are sub-human, it is almost impossible to come up with a solution. This is what is happening in Arakan State, where the UN has accused Burma of human rights violations.
The Rohingya are Muslims and are also perceived as having darker skin than the local ethnic Arakanese Buddhists, who believe that the Rohingya are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. They call them “Bengali,” despite their own wish to be identified as “Rohingya.” This has left the government and the UN powerless to bring the two communities together. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
The Rohingya are Muslims and are also perceived as having darker skin than the local ethnic Arakanese Buddhists, who believe that the Rohingya are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. They call them “Bengali,” despite their own wish to be identified as “Rohingya.” This has left the government and the UN powerless to bring the two communities together. (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
An open letter to the state counsellor and foreign minister of Myanmar, her excellency Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
On the occasion of your visit to Thailand during June 23-25, we, the Coalition for the Rights of Refugees and Stateless Persons – composed of academic institutions and civil society organisations in Thailand dedicated to providing support to refugees and stateless people, and researching the issue of migration into Thailand, particularly the Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh – would like to make the following recommendations to Her Excellency as the state counsellor and foreign minister of Myanmar:
1. Revise the 1982 Myanmar Citizenship Law to address statelessness of the Rohingya ethnic population and to reinstate nationality to Rohingya who used to be bestowed with the Myanmar nationality prior to the enforcement of the law.
2. Allow international organisations access to provide humanitarian assistance in the control areas for the Rohingya in Rakhine State who have been deprived of human rights and access to basic services. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
1. Revise the 1982 Myanmar Citizenship Law to address statelessness of the Rohingya ethnic population and to reinstate nationality to Rohingya who used to be bestowed with the Myanmar nationality prior to the enforcement of the law.
2. Allow international organisations access to provide humanitarian assistance in the control areas for the Rohingya in Rakhine State who have been deprived of human rights and access to basic services. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
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