The 2nd Rohingya National Council (RNC), the congress of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO), was held between 5-7 October 2000. It was attended by party delegates and representatives from home and abroad, including Ulema, elite and commanders of the Rohingya National Army (RNA).
All the participants expressed that their future looks bleak and the problem of the people of Arakan, particularly that of Rohingya, can not be solved under colonial rule of the Burman imperialist. And they were unanimous to opt for the independence of Arakan.
The RNC hereby declares the policies and programme of the ARNO and appeal to the world organization and governments to provide support in carrying out its humanitarian Cultural and Social programs to save the community from being handicapped and exterminated by the government of Burma :-
That the national liberation struggle of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) is but a continuation of the Rohingya people's long and heroic resistance movement and is to be continued till the inalienable right if the people of Arakan to 'self-determination and independence" is achieved.
That we are committed to the preservation and growth of Islamic culture among the Muslim community in Arakan without prejudice to the preservation and growth of other religious and indigenous culture in Arakan
That about 1.5 million rohingya, who have been expelled from the country, are taking shelter in many countries of the world while hoping to return to their ancestral homeland of Arakan. The Rohingya masses, whether in the homeland or in the place of Refuge, comprise one national front. They are an internal part of Ummah as well as part the third world and of the oppressed colonised humanity everywhere in the world.
That we will organize, inspire and activate the entire people of Arakan and undertake necessary programmes to train and motivate them for improving their basic human qualities and consciousness. In this connection, we urge upon all the strengthen national unity for the steady victory of our national liberation struggle for self-determination and independence.
That we will undertake all programmes that may be needed from time to time fro the uplift of the people of Arakan in socio-cultural, economic, educational and technical fields.
That the military regime is trying to obliterate and erase Muslim entity in Arakan by distorting historical facts, destroying archeological remains, mosques, madreasssah, shrines and graveyards in order to wipe out the Islamic cultural heritage. The regime is engaged in statistical genocide in an effort to make our people look insignificant as part of an evil design to deny us of our rights and prepare the minds of the peoples of the world for the appalling consequences of genocide. We shall leave no stone unturned to preserve the true history of Arakan and cultural heritage and their actual statistical figures.
That we will establish a welfare society based on equality, liberty, democracy, human rights and freedom for all people without distinction as to race, color and religion. Economic deprivation, exploitation, injustice and discrimination of any kind will be eradicated.
That we will revive and strengthen our traditional friendship and work hand in glove in full cooperation and understanding in the interest of all people of Arakan, including that of the highlanders distributed among different trines or indigenous people — such as Chin, Mro, Hami, Dainnet, Thet, etc. –so as to charter the future of the all people of Arakan and that of their generation to come. Meanwhile, we urge upon all to be vigilant against the machination of the enemies.
That we support all the national liberation movements and democratic forces in Burma and aspire to co-operate and fight together against the common enemy and to put the dastardly military autocratic rule to an end.
That Bangladesh is our neighborly country which practically shares the experience of tragedy besetting the people of Arakan. Having deep traditional and historical relationship in the bonds of Islamic fraternity and contiguity in geographical position, the people of Bangladesh have had the opportunity to closely view the historical process that led to the present position of our people. Besides, the atrocities upon our people have direct affect on her; particularly a huge number of Rohingyas have been taking refuge in Bangladesh over the decades to escape persecution at home. We, however, believe that Bangladesh being a neighborly country has historical and moral obligation to endeavor for a permanent and viable solution of the problem in the interest of peace and regional stability.
That it is well known that our women and girls have borne that brunt of oppression by Burma's military regime. The soldiers and officers of the regime in systematic campaigns have most horrendously abused them. We salute the female Rohingyas' courageous efforts to survive, even as refugee, widows and orphans. For the future, we support the rights of our women and girls to education, health and economic empowerment, in a new atmosphere of utmost respect and absolute safety and security.
That as the dangerous narcotics flowing out of Burma with its military regime's full involvement poses a terrible hardship to all peoples of Asia and the world. We oppose this deadly trade. We will educate our youths of the dangers of drugs (including AIDS infection) and firmly obstruct any such narcotics trafficking through our land.
That we call for a halt to the present grievous ravaging of the forests of our homeland by greedy Burmese military regime. For our future generations' heritage we pledge to protect our environment, including forests, rivers, wetland, coastline ocean. We shall save our land from unsustainable logging, killing of endangered species, all forms of pollution, and over fishing, to preserve a green haven fro our children and the world.
That we reject and boycott against all multinational corporate investment with the Burmese military regime. In the future, any investment and development must only be done with the wishes and welfare of our people in mind and with their full informed consent and oversight. Future development must be sustainable, appropriate, clean and beneficial to t eh common people.
That we appeal for all out support of the international community, the Governments of the world and World Bodies, including United Nations Organisations (UND)), Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), South Asia Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC), ASEAN, Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), other humanitarian and human rights Organisations.
Dated: 25th October 2000
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