A UK-based NGO is calling on the international community to rethink its policy to the Myanmar military, given concerns over what it alleges are human rights violations.
Burma Campaign UK on December 16 published a new briefing paper, ‘Time for a rethink on policy towards Burma’s military’, calling for a debate on new ways to influence Myanmar’s military.
The commentary briefing paper argues that the international community has yet to develop a strategy for effectively promoting human rights under the new political structure in Myanmar, which now has two power bases, the military, and the National League for Democracy led government. The NGO claims neither is respecting human rights. (Courtesy of mizzima.com)
December 17, 2016
Witnessing the Rohingya's Invisible Genocide
I witnessed three funerals in four days in a small area of the camps in the Rakhine state for the Rohingya, Myanmar’s Muslim minority, in November 2015. Each of those deaths would have been easily preventable with access to basic health care. I followed another woman, Moriam Katu, for five days, and watched her suffocate slowly from asthma, gasping for breath, begging for help from the doctor that hadn’t shown up that day as she sat propped up against the wall in the one accessible emergency clinic, then coughing up blood surrounded by her daughters back at home. She died a few weeks after I left.
An estimated one million stateless Rohingya have been stripped of their citizenship in Myanmar and forced to live in modern-day concentration camps, surrounded by government military checkpoints. They are not able to leave, to work outside the camps, do not have access to basic medical care or food. Most aid groups are banned from entering or working in the camps, leaving the Rohingya to their own devices for sustenance and healthcare. Journalists are also routinely denied access, Myanmar’s way of ensuring the world doesn’t see the slow, intentional demise of a population.
Many Rohingya from Myanmar have managed to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, where an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 people live in dismal, over-crowded makeshift camps and rudimentary settlements along Bangladesh’s southern tip near the Myanmar border. They live in a constant state of fear they will be imprisoned or deported. (Courtesy of time.com)
An estimated one million stateless Rohingya have been stripped of their citizenship in Myanmar and forced to live in modern-day concentration camps, surrounded by government military checkpoints. They are not able to leave, to work outside the camps, do not have access to basic medical care or food. Most aid groups are banned from entering or working in the camps, leaving the Rohingya to their own devices for sustenance and healthcare. Journalists are also routinely denied access, Myanmar’s way of ensuring the world doesn’t see the slow, intentional demise of a population.
Many Rohingya from Myanmar have managed to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, where an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 people live in dismal, over-crowded makeshift camps and rudimentary settlements along Bangladesh’s southern tip near the Myanmar border. They live in a constant state of fear they will be imprisoned or deported. (Courtesy of time.com)
Hoping to go to Rakhine if she could
If given the opportunity, Dr Fauziah Hassan would like to go to Rakhine, Myanmar, on a humanitarian mission. However, it was impossible due to safety reasons.
The consultant at Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital in Kuala Lumpur said she was advised against it because Muslim women, especially those donning head scarfs, are treated differently.
“I would have gone but it is very dangerous. Even in the four previous missions by Humanitarian Care Malaysia, only men were allowed to go,” she said.
Dr Fauziah, 59, was speaking to reporters after giving a talk on her participation in the Women’s Boat To Gaza (WBG) initiative at Hotel Seri Malaysia here yesterday. (Courtesy of thestar.com.my)
The consultant at Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital in Kuala Lumpur said she was advised against it because Muslim women, especially those donning head scarfs, are treated differently.
“I would have gone but it is very dangerous. Even in the four previous missions by Humanitarian Care Malaysia, only men were allowed to go,” she said.
Dr Fauziah, 59, was speaking to reporters after giving a talk on her participation in the Women’s Boat To Gaza (WBG) initiative at Hotel Seri Malaysia here yesterday. (Courtesy of thestar.com.my)
U.N. says it gets reports daily of killings and rapes in Myanmar
The United Nations is getting daily reports of rapes and killings of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar and independent monitors are being barred from investigating, the U.N. human rights office said on Friday.
U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said in a statement that the government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, had taken a "short-sighted, counterproductive, even callous" approach to the crisis, risking grave long-term repercussions for the region.
At least 86 people have been killed, according to state media, and the United Nations has estimated 27,000 members of the largely stateless Muslim Rohingya minority have fled across the border from Myanmar's Rakhine state into Bangladesh. (Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk)
U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said in a statement that the government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, had taken a "short-sighted, counterproductive, even callous" approach to the crisis, risking grave long-term repercussions for the region.
At least 86 people have been killed, according to state media, and the United Nations has estimated 27,000 members of the largely stateless Muslim Rohingya minority have fled across the border from Myanmar's Rakhine state into Bangladesh. (Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk)
December 16, 2016
NGOs to organise Pray 4 Rohingya gathering on Dec 23
A gathering against the aggression and genocide on the Rohingya Muslims by the Myanmar government will be held at the Dataran Kemerdekaan Shah Alam here on December 23.
Organised by 17 non-governmental organisations under the Selangor Humanitarian Fund (SHF), the ‘Himpunan Peduli Ummah: Pray 4 Rohingya’ gathering will start at 6pm and last until midnight.
Organising chairman Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, who is also the Selangor exco for Islamic Religious Affairs, Malay Customs & Heritage, Rural & Traditional Villages Development said that SHF calls upon Malaysians to attend the gathering in solidarity for the Rohingyas.
“More gatherings and rallies should be held continuously to pressure the Myanmar government over the violence done on the Rohingyas. (Courtesy of thestar.com.my)
Organised by 17 non-governmental organisations under the Selangor Humanitarian Fund (SHF), the ‘Himpunan Peduli Ummah: Pray 4 Rohingya’ gathering will start at 6pm and last until midnight.
Organising chairman Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, who is also the Selangor exco for Islamic Religious Affairs, Malay Customs & Heritage, Rural & Traditional Villages Development said that SHF calls upon Malaysians to attend the gathering in solidarity for the Rohingyas.
“More gatherings and rallies should be held continuously to pressure the Myanmar government over the violence done on the Rohingyas. (Courtesy of thestar.com.my)
Human rights: Buddhism in Tibet, Rohingya in Myanmar, mass graves in Iraq
The European Parliament condemns the demolition of the Larung Gar Tibetan Buddhist Academy, the imprisonment of scholar Ilham Tohti by Chinese authorities and the persecution of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, while urging the protection of mass graves in Iraq, in three resolutions voted on Thursday.
Halt demolition of Larung Gar Academy, release jailed scholar Ilham Tohti
The Chinese authorities should suspend the demolition of Larum Gar, stop the eviction of its residents and respect the freedom of expression, culture and religious belief of Tibetans, say MEPs. The demolition of monastic homes began on 20 July 2016 and it is estimated that as many as 1,000 monks and nuns have been evicted so far, with at least three nuns having committing suicide in protest. (Courtesy of europarl.europa.eu)
Halt demolition of Larung Gar Academy, release jailed scholar Ilham Tohti
The Chinese authorities should suspend the demolition of Larum Gar, stop the eviction of its residents and respect the freedom of expression, culture and religious belief of Tibetans, say MEPs. The demolition of monastic homes began on 20 July 2016 and it is estimated that as many as 1,000 monks and nuns have been evicted so far, with at least three nuns having committing suicide in protest. (Courtesy of europarl.europa.eu)
Mehdi Hasan’s Barbed Attack on Aung San Suu Kyi Over Rohingya Riles Burmese
How can you displace 30,000 people, make sure 130,000 people don’t receive basic life sustaining aid, and do nothing as 27,000 people flee to Bangladesh ahead of a raping, murdering, and village destroying army? Fairly easily if you are the recipient of a Noble Peace Prize by all appearances.
In this edition of Al Jazeera’s Upfront British political journalist, Mehdi Hasan, tackles Myanmar, the Rohingya, and Noble Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Hasan starts off by pointing out that everyone loves Aung San Suu Kyi; that she has “captured the hearts of leaders across the globe.”
US President Barack Obama who abolished most of the sanctions that had been imposed against the Southeast Asian nation almost two decades earlier in an attempt to bring an end to human rights abuses in the country by the Tatmadaw would be a testament to that. (Courtesy of aecnewstoday.com)
In this edition of Al Jazeera’s Upfront British political journalist, Mehdi Hasan, tackles Myanmar, the Rohingya, and Noble Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Hasan starts off by pointing out that everyone loves Aung San Suu Kyi; that she has “captured the hearts of leaders across the globe.”
US President Barack Obama who abolished most of the sanctions that had been imposed against the Southeast Asian nation almost two decades earlier in an attempt to bring an end to human rights abuses in the country by the Tatmadaw would be a testament to that. (Courtesy of aecnewstoday.com)
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