The targeting of rohingya by Myanmar security forces in the name of cracking down on extremists is unacceptable
The October 9 killing of nine Myanmar police officers in Rakhine State has jolted that country and its security apparatus is doing all it can to hunt down the culprits behind the attack, seemingly by just about any means possible.
But the massive security sweep in Rakhine is tainted by allegations of rape, execution, torture and arson attacks on the homes of Rohingya Muslims in the conflict-affected region bordering Bangladesh.
According to the United Nations, so far, about 30,000 Rohingya have been displaced by this operation.
The October attack posed a serious challenge to the government of Aung San Suu Kyi which came to power just six months ago and undermined the country’s military that is constitutionally in charge of national security.
The famous pro-democracy icon is facing serious criticism for failing to deal with the abuse of the Rohingya – who the Myanmar government consider as stateless people – and other Muslims in the country amid a vicious campaign of Islamophobia by radical Buddhist monks and Myanmar nationalists to devastate their livelihood. (Courtesy of nationmultimedia.com)
November 19, 2016
Ma Ba Tha’s U Wirathu: Trump ‘Similar to Me’
Shunned by Burma’s new government and its Buddhist hierarchy, a nationalist monk blamed for whipping up at times bloody anti-Muslim fervor said he feels vindicated by US voters who elected Donald Trump to be president.
U Wirathu, a high-profile leader of the Burma Buddhist organization known as Ma Ba Tha, drew parallels between his views on Islam and those of the Republican president-elect. Trump’s campaign was rife with anti-Muslim rhetoric and proposals that included banning Muslims from entering the country and heightening surveillance of mosques. The form his actual policies will take remains unclear.
“We were blamed by the world, but we are just protecting our people and country,” U Wirathu said. “… The world singled us out as narrow-minded. But as people from the country that is the grandfather of democracy and human rights elected Donald Trump, who is similar to me in prioritizing nationalism, there will be less finger-pointing from the international community.” (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
U Wirathu, a high-profile leader of the Burma Buddhist organization known as Ma Ba Tha, drew parallels between his views on Islam and those of the Republican president-elect. Trump’s campaign was rife with anti-Muslim rhetoric and proposals that included banning Muslims from entering the country and heightening surveillance of mosques. The form his actual policies will take remains unclear.
“We were blamed by the world, but we are just protecting our people and country,” U Wirathu said. “… The world singled us out as narrow-minded. But as people from the country that is the grandfather of democracy and human rights elected Donald Trump, who is similar to me in prioritizing nationalism, there will be less finger-pointing from the international community.” (Courtesy of irrawaddy.com)
November 18, 2016
Silence on Rakhine violence is equal to complicity
The worst is already happening in Rakhine State, Myanmar, with tens of Rohingya murdered, mutilated, and tortured. Unverified accounts have emerged of horrors, including children being thrown into burning homes by the Myanmar military, who are acting with total impunity.
This escalation of violence has been going on for weeks now, with the Rohingya diaspora and human rights advocates appealing for intervention and help through social media.
Yet the world is silent. There has not been a whimper from Asean or its member governments. Malaysia, a country with an added responsibility given its instrumental role in bringing Myanmar into the Asean fold, is quiet. The United Nations has not said very much, and the world superpowers are dismissive. No one believes that the butchering of Rohingya by the military is a worthy enough cause to take up. (Courtesy of bangkokpost.com)
This escalation of violence has been going on for weeks now, with the Rohingya diaspora and human rights advocates appealing for intervention and help through social media.
Yet the world is silent. There has not been a whimper from Asean or its member governments. Malaysia, a country with an added responsibility given its instrumental role in bringing Myanmar into the Asean fold, is quiet. The United Nations has not said very much, and the world superpowers are dismissive. No one believes that the butchering of Rohingya by the military is a worthy enough cause to take up. (Courtesy of bangkokpost.com)
Gov’t Suspicious Activities Trigger Fears among Sittwe’s Rohingya Community
The Burmese government’s suspicious activities including the ban on reading Friday Sermons in Mosques in Sittwe today are triggering panic among the Rohingya community in the township, a reliable source reports.
The Burmese army and the police are currently seizing smart phones, computers and other electronic gadgets from the Rohingyas not only in the villagers but also in IDP (Internally displaced people) camps in Sittwe.
Going by some latest reports, the armed forces are likely to conduct raids on the Rohingya homes in the villages and the IDP camps to dispossess the people from having any electronic gadgets, sticks and knives (including kitchen knives) in their hands.
What seems to be panicking the people more in the region is the sudden withdrawal of the international and national staffs of the INGOs from the IDP camps. Adding to the fear is the closures of the schools. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)
The Burmese army and the police are currently seizing smart phones, computers and other electronic gadgets from the Rohingyas not only in the villagers but also in IDP (Internally displaced people) camps in Sittwe.
Going by some latest reports, the armed forces are likely to conduct raids on the Rohingya homes in the villages and the IDP camps to dispossess the people from having any electronic gadgets, sticks and knives (including kitchen knives) in their hands.
What seems to be panicking the people more in the region is the sudden withdrawal of the international and national staffs of the INGOs from the IDP camps. Adding to the fear is the closures of the schools. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)
Myanmar bars US photographer ahead of Rohingya show
Myanmar has blacklisted a prominent US photographer and prevented him from attending his own exhibition about stateless people, which would have featured pictures of the persecuted Muslim Rohingya minority.
Award-winning documentary photographer , who asked to keep where he lives private, said he was stopped at Yangon airport on Friday and told he was on a "blacklist".
Mr Constantine said he believed it was linked to his work documenting the lives of the Rohingya, whose status is a major flashpoint in Myanmar.
Many in the Buddhist-majority country revile the million-strong Muslim minority, who are based in western Rakhine state, and vigorously oppose any move to grant them citizenship. (Courtesy of bangkokpost.com)
Award-winning documentary photographer , who asked to keep where he lives private, said he was stopped at Yangon airport on Friday and told he was on a "blacklist".
Mr Constantine said he believed it was linked to his work documenting the lives of the Rohingya, whose status is a major flashpoint in Myanmar.
Many in the Buddhist-majority country revile the million-strong Muslim minority, who are based in western Rakhine state, and vigorously oppose any move to grant them citizenship. (Courtesy of bangkokpost.com)
UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation must cooperate on resolving conflicts, Security Council told
Citing more than 20 years of collaboration between the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a senior UN political official today urged greater efforts by the two entities to draw on each other’s strengths and devise joint strategies to prevent and resolve conflicts.
“The magnitude and complexity of [global and regional] challenges are simply too big for any country or organization to tackle alone,” Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca told the UN Security Council during an open debate, which explored best ways for the two organizations to enhance their strategic partnership in preventing and countering extremist ideology.
“To be successful in preventing and resolving conflicts, we need to join forces with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to devise joint strategies and draw on our comparative advantages,” he added.
The UN has been working closely with the OIC for more than 20 years in promoting a culture of peace, tolerance and understanding, he said, noting that in the last years, the UN, in particular through the Department of Political Affairs, has stepped up its cooperation with the regional organization and has engaged with it to promote a deeper political dialogue. (Courtesy of un.org)
“The magnitude and complexity of [global and regional] challenges are simply too big for any country or organization to tackle alone,” Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca told the UN Security Council during an open debate, which explored best ways for the two organizations to enhance their strategic partnership in preventing and countering extremist ideology.
“To be successful in preventing and resolving conflicts, we need to join forces with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to devise joint strategies and draw on our comparative advantages,” he added.
The UN has been working closely with the OIC for more than 20 years in promoting a culture of peace, tolerance and understanding, he said, noting that in the last years, the UN, in particular through the Department of Political Affairs, has stepped up its cooperation with the regional organization and has engaged with it to promote a deeper political dialogue. (Courtesy of un.org)
Is The Lady listening? Aung San Suu Kyi accused of ignoring Myanmar's Muslims
Women wail in the background as the camera pans across the scene.
"Oh brothers, look at this, look," the narrator says, as he films the remnants of a burned house, bodies clearly visible sticking out of the mud and ash.
The disturbing video is one of a handful that have emerged from northern Rakhine State, in Myanmar, where human rights groups warn of widespread human rights abuses.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in multiple villages amid an ongoing crackdown by the Burmese military following violence last month, according to Human Rights Watch.
Burmese authorities claim the fires were set by local militant groups, and have disputed HRW's account.
Authorities in neighboring Bangladesh said dozens of people have attempted to flee across the border in recent days. (Courtesy of edition.cnn.com)
"Oh brothers, look at this, look," the narrator says, as he films the remnants of a burned house, bodies clearly visible sticking out of the mud and ash.
The disturbing video is one of a handful that have emerged from northern Rakhine State, in Myanmar, where human rights groups warn of widespread human rights abuses.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in multiple villages amid an ongoing crackdown by the Burmese military following violence last month, according to Human Rights Watch.
Burmese authorities claim the fires were set by local militant groups, and have disputed HRW's account.
Authorities in neighboring Bangladesh said dozens of people have attempted to flee across the border in recent days. (Courtesy of edition.cnn.com)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)