ARAKAN ROHINGYA NATIONAL ORGANISATION
ARAKAN, BURMA
(10 October 2010)
The Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) has welcomed the resolution introduced by the Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey on September 30, 2010 in US House of Representatives.
The draft resolution, among other things, (i) calls on the Burmese regime to recognize the Rohingya people as “full and equal citizens” and to lift restrictions of movement, marriage and access to education imposed on them; (ii) calls on the Government of Bangladesh to address “the dire humanitarian conditions and food insecurity in the makeshift camps” for Rohingya refugees on the border and to stop forcing unregistered Rohingya back to Burma;
(iii) calls on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to allow Rohingya access to education; (iv) calls on the United State Government to provide increased humanitarian assistance and continued support for education for Rohingya refugees; to consistently raise the plight of Rohingya with Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Malaysia and other ASEAN countries, as well as to raise their plight within the United Nations at every opportunity; to put consistent pressure on the SPDC for the release of all political prisoners, including Rohingya Member of the Parliament U Kyaw Min and his family; and to proactively support the recommendation of UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the violations perpetrated against the Rohingya people.
The ARNO, with the Rohingya people of Burma, expresses its profound gratitude to Mr. Smith and all other congressmen for tabling this wonderful resolution which Mr. Smith rightly described as “an international call to action to alleviate their sufferings and persecution”. In this connection, we invite the kind attention of all Congressmen and parliamentarians of the United States to support this resolution, available for discussion, in the interest of democracy, human rights and freedom in Burma. It will be counted upon as an action of encouragement rescuing the “dying alive” Rohingya people now in danger of extinction.
Last not least, we appreciate the outstanding effort of the members of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), and note, with due acknowledgment, the remarkable contribution and persistent voice of Mr. Ben Rogers, the Advocacy Officer of the Christian Solidarity Worldwide, for the voiceless Rohingya people. Meanwhile, we value and appreciate the earnest attempts being made by the Rohingya community and friends of Rohingya in the USA to acquire necessary support for this resolution.
For details, please contact:
Nurul Islam: +44-7947854652
AFK Jilani: +880-16748110
Email: info@rohingya.org
Website: www.rohingya.org