The Rohingya Muslim from the Rakhine province in Myanmar was forced to flee his home three years ago when ethnic violence broke out. Now he and his family are stateless, without papers or passports, they have become citizens of nowhere.
Recounting the harrowing journey from Myanmar to India via Bangladesh at the Women in the World Summit in New Delhi on Friday, Nizamuddin said he was desperately worried about the future of his three daughters: “Where is their place in the world? They ask, I have no answer.”
Nizamuddin says his only hope is that the newly-elected leader of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, will offer support and advocate for their return.
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November 22, 2015
Despite “Democratic” Election Hype, Life For Burmese Muslims Likely To Get Worse
On November 8th, many Burmese suffered long lines at polling booths across the nation to vote in elections that are being heralded by world media as “historic,” “fair” and “democratic.” Political leaders have been doing the same: President Barack Obama called them “free and fair,” PM David Cameron described them as a “landmark…step toward democracy,” adding that it was a “triumph for the Burmese people.”
The impulse to celebrate “elections” just because they happen or to revel in the vagueries of “change” as indicative of “democracy” is unfortunately too common in the modern mediascape. Reporting and analysis has followed the government line, rendering it compromised and superficial.
This is true in regards to the recent craze over elections in Burma. How else can we explain the extraordinary disconnect between praise for an election flawed from the beginning and the omission of crucial details regarding the human rights disaster that is Burma?
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The impulse to celebrate “elections” just because they happen or to revel in the vagueries of “change” as indicative of “democracy” is unfortunately too common in the modern mediascape. Reporting and analysis has followed the government line, rendering it compromised and superficial.
This is true in regards to the recent craze over elections in Burma. How else can we explain the extraordinary disconnect between praise for an election flawed from the beginning and the omission of crucial details regarding the human rights disaster that is Burma?
For more information - Click here.
US President Obama draws attention to Rohingya refugees in Malaysia
US President Barack Obama called attention to to the plight of lesser-known refugees Saturday during a visit to a non-governmental educational centre in Malaysia, noting that accepting refugees is not inimical to national security.
Obama met with several refugees from Myanmar, Sudan and Somalia at the Dignity for Children Foundation on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.
"The world is rightly focused on the humanitarian tragedy taking place in Syria, but we can't forget that there are millions of other refugees from war-torn parts of the world," he said.
"In fact, 60 million people are displaced all around the world."
Obama downplayed fears that refugees could pose security problems for the host countries following the Paris terrorist attacks last week.
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Obama met with several refugees from Myanmar, Sudan and Somalia at the Dignity for Children Foundation on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.
"The world is rightly focused on the humanitarian tragedy taking place in Syria, but we can't forget that there are millions of other refugees from war-torn parts of the world," he said.
"In fact, 60 million people are displaced all around the world."
Obama downplayed fears that refugees could pose security problems for the host countries following the Paris terrorist attacks last week.
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Final Vote Tally Confirms Rout by Myanmar Opposition
BANGKOK — Myanmar’s election commission on Friday announced the final tally of the country’s Nov. 8 landmark election, a rout by the opposition, led by the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Her party, the National League for Democracy, won 390 seats compared with 42 for the governing party, a state-run television station reported in its Friday evening broadcast. The remaining 59 available seats in Parliament were won by smaller parties. One-quarter of the seats were not contested and are controlled by the military.
The victory gives Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi’s party a large majority in Parliament and the right to select a new president early next year.
Both the president and the head of the military have congratulated Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi on her party’s performance. But they have also given mixed signals about the timing of the transfer of power, which, according to the Constitution, must be carried out by March. The governing Union Solidarity and Development Party has said it will follow up on complaints of irregularities, a process that could take months.
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Her party, the National League for Democracy, won 390 seats compared with 42 for the governing party, a state-run television station reported in its Friday evening broadcast. The remaining 59 available seats in Parliament were won by smaller parties. One-quarter of the seats were not contested and are controlled by the military.
The victory gives Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi’s party a large majority in Parliament and the right to select a new president early next year.
Both the president and the head of the military have congratulated Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi on her party’s performance. But they have also given mixed signals about the timing of the transfer of power, which, according to the Constitution, must be carried out by March. The governing Union Solidarity and Development Party has said it will follow up on complaints of irregularities, a process that could take months.
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Some stories you might have missed
BUDDHIST-MUSLIM ANTAGONISM: From the standpoint of the West, religious strife usually involves Christians, Muslims and Jews. But sectarianism can rear its ugly, suspicious head anywhere.
#When national elections were held in Myanmar earlier this month the opposition party led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, won a decisive, overwhelming victory. Now as her National League for Democracy bears the fruits of victory they face long-festering religious animosity between the overwhelmingly Buddhist majority and a weak, impoverished and disenfranchised Muslim minority.
#Though Myanmar is 90 percent Buddhist a very conservative group of Buddhist monks, the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion, has successfully pushed Myanmar to restrict conversions to other faiths and to make illegal interfaith marriage. The targets of these harsh laws are the powerless Rohingya people, even forbidden to vote in Myanmar. Suu Kyi will be called upon to denounce this hate-filled movement and to take steps to begin to include the victimized, isolated Rohingya into a newly democratized nation.
For more information - Click here.
#When national elections were held in Myanmar earlier this month the opposition party led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, won a decisive, overwhelming victory. Now as her National League for Democracy bears the fruits of victory they face long-festering religious animosity between the overwhelmingly Buddhist majority and a weak, impoverished and disenfranchised Muslim minority.
#Though Myanmar is 90 percent Buddhist a very conservative group of Buddhist monks, the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion, has successfully pushed Myanmar to restrict conversions to other faiths and to make illegal interfaith marriage. The targets of these harsh laws are the powerless Rohingya people, even forbidden to vote in Myanmar. Suu Kyi will be called upon to denounce this hate-filled movement and to take steps to begin to include the victimized, isolated Rohingya into a newly democratized nation.
For more information - Click here.
November 20, 2015
Trafficking of Rohingyas continues over land: Activist
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is home to more than 150,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR. More than 90 per cent of them come from Myanmar, of which ethnic Rohingya Muslims account for more than 50,000.
Among them is Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani from Myanmar's Rakhine state, who arrived in Malaysia in the 1990s and has never left. He now leads a non-government organisation advocating for the rights of the Rohingya Muslims.
A number of them continue to arrive in Malaysia, the 45-year-old said. Although no smugglers' boats have been sighted in the Andaman Sea during the past few months, Rohingya Muslims are being smuggled from detention centres in neighbouring Indonesia by local traffickers, he said.
"It's still ongoing. Malaysia has freedom. Refugees can survive. But those living in Indonesia's Aceh, they live in refugee camps and cannot go out; no freedom," Zafar said.
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Among them is Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani from Myanmar's Rakhine state, who arrived in Malaysia in the 1990s and has never left. He now leads a non-government organisation advocating for the rights of the Rohingya Muslims.
A number of them continue to arrive in Malaysia, the 45-year-old said. Although no smugglers' boats have been sighted in the Andaman Sea during the past few months, Rohingya Muslims are being smuggled from detention centres in neighbouring Indonesia by local traffickers, he said.
"It's still ongoing. Malaysia has freedom. Refugees can survive. But those living in Indonesia's Aceh, they live in refugee camps and cannot go out; no freedom," Zafar said.
For more information: Click Here
November 15, 2015
Arakan Muslims are Under Systematic State Torture
President of Bangladesh originated Feyz Aid Foundation, which provides help to the Muslims in Arakan, Muhammed Idris has explained the Muslims in Myanmar and the policy of Bangladesh towards the Muslims.
In his interview to Times of Turkey, Idris said that Muslims living in the Arakan and other regions of Myanmar are under the systematic oppression of state. Idris said: “State does not want Muslims to be educated or to enrich themselves”. Idris gave information about Muslims in Arakan and Myanmar in general: “There are 2 million Muslims in Myanmar. 1,5 million of them are living in Arakan. The Muslims in Arakan are under oppression. But, none of the newspapers or media organs in Myanmar report about this. Muslim kids in Myanmar have to change their names after fourth grade. Because they cannot go to school if others know they are Muslim. Therefore, Muslim children who wish to be educated are obliged to change their names. Also, those who have Muslim names such as Muhammad cannot obtain passports. For instance, when a Muslim whose name is Osama receives a passport, his name is changed as Piyasono. After the massacre in 2012, madrasahs were shut down. State does not want Muslims to be educated or to become rich.”
For more information - Click here.
In his interview to Times of Turkey, Idris said that Muslims living in the Arakan and other regions of Myanmar are under the systematic oppression of state. Idris said: “State does not want Muslims to be educated or to enrich themselves”. Idris gave information about Muslims in Arakan and Myanmar in general: “There are 2 million Muslims in Myanmar. 1,5 million of them are living in Arakan. The Muslims in Arakan are under oppression. But, none of the newspapers or media organs in Myanmar report about this. Muslim kids in Myanmar have to change their names after fourth grade. Because they cannot go to school if others know they are Muslim. Therefore, Muslim children who wish to be educated are obliged to change their names. Also, those who have Muslim names such as Muhammad cannot obtain passports. For instance, when a Muslim whose name is Osama receives a passport, his name is changed as Piyasono. After the massacre in 2012, madrasahs were shut down. State does not want Muslims to be educated or to become rich.”
For more information - Click here.
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