ARAKAN ROHINGYA NATIONAL ORGANISATION
ARAKAN, BURMA
Press Release
(16 March 2010)
Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) sincerely welcomes and supports the recommendation of the United Nations Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojeea Quintana to establish a UN Commission of Inquiry with a specific fact-finding mandate to address the question of international crimes perpetrated by the ruling military SPDC in Burma.
As a state policy, the Burmese military regime has long been committing grave human rights violations and abuses across the country and are widespread, systematic and consistent, particularly against the ethnic peoples, which amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes under the terms of Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court.
We appreciate that Mr. Quintana is the first UN Special Rapporteur to visit northern Arakan State, and that he is deeply concerned about the systematic and endemic discrimination faced by the Rohingya, which is framed as an immigration problem, leads to basic and fundamental human rights being denied to them, and urges the regime to end the unacceptable discrimination, human rights abuses and resultant severe economic deprivation they face, including denial of citizenship, under 1982 Citizenship Act, which contravenes generally accepted international norms to ensure that there is no State-sanctioned discrimination on the basis of religion and ethnicity.
Mr Quintana’s third visit to Burma from 15 to 19 February 2010 is a significant mission and his report on the situation of human rights in Burma is based on factual findings. Likewise, his recommendation for an UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity and war crimes is very timely to save the people of Burma from the scourge of international crimes.
The 2010 general election will not benefit the people nor will it advance democratic reform in Burma. The government formed after the election will not be democratic, because it will be formed in accord with the 2008 SPDC Constitution, which is a distortion of democracy and is to uphold military dictatorship to enslave the people.
We call upon the UN member states to support Mr. Quintana’s move and efforts in the interest of international peace and security, and for the protection and promotion of democracy and human rights in Burma.
For more information please contact:
Nurul Islam: +44- 79 4785 4652
Email: info@rohingya.org,
www.rohingya.org