Dated: 18th September 2007
(1) Arakan is a multicultural society with a population of diverse ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious identities. All its peoples are broadly called ‘Arakanese’, irrespective of their language, race, culture and religion. But unknown is the word ‘Arakan’ for its people.
(2) Rohingya and Rakhaing are the two major compact communities and indigenous peoples of Arakan. The Rohingya Arakanese are predominantly Muslims and Rakhaing Arakanese are largely Buddhists. There are other tribal or indigenous peoples distributed among Chin, Kaman, Mro and Khami etc.
(3) We reiterate that Arakan National Council (ANC) is an assembly of Rakhaing which continues to ignore the voice and aspiration of the Rohingya, a large section of the people of Arakan. As such, it has no right, whatsoever, to represent whole Arakan and to decide the fate of the Rohingya people.
(4) The reality of Arakan, therefore, requires a commitment from all its peoples for both unity and diversity, a respect for difference, and willingness to share power among its peoples under genuine federalism. To ensure this commitment the participation of the Rohingya people and other minority groups is vital in all political process, including legislative process, in a manner consistent to democracy.
(5) By all legal standards, the Rohingya are a people entitled to “right of self-determination”. They nevertheless aspire for an ‘indivisible Arakan’, which is an offer of olive branch to work together with Rakhaing in share and share alike. But in the face of the Rakhaing’s “policy of exclusiveness” and continued hostility against them, it is imperative for the Rohingya to self-identify toward forming a state of their own, under the future Federal Union of Burma, in their “Traditional Homeland” — an inhabitable and economically viable contiguous area within well-defined geographical boundaries in North Arakan, where Rohingya still predominate– in order to protect their legitimate interests. Creation of such Rohingya State is a moral and legal right under international law, pacts on human rights and other international practices.
Central Committee
Arakan Rohingya National Organisation
Arakan, Burma.
Email: info_arno@yahoo.com
Phone: +44 79 4785 4652