Date 24 October 2012
Joint Statement by Rohingya organisations

ROHINGYA CLEANSING CONTINUED  IN ARAKAN UNDER STATE PROGRAMME, U.N. PEACEKEEING FORCE MOST URGENT

While strongly condemning the renewed violence and carnage by the extremist Rakhine Buddhists against the Muslims or Rohingyas in Arakan, we jointly state as follows:
1.    Since 21 October organized gangs of the Rakhine extremists headed by monks have burned down over 1000 houses, killed hundreds of Muslims and injured many more in the townships of Myinbya, Mrauk-U, Pauktaw and Kyaukpyu. These genocidal actions have been carried out with the backing of the police, army and security forces with intent to destroy the whole Muslim population of Arakan.

Statement of ARNO dated 23 August 2012 on the current situation in Arakan:

“Religious persecution intensified alongside ethnic-cleansing in Arakan”

1.Since June brutal violence, the Burmese security forces barred the Muslim Rohingyas from worshipping in mosques across Rakhine (Arakan) State. The authorities have shut down almost all mosques in northern Arakan while prohibiting the daily 5 time congregational prayers. During the holy month of Ramadan the clampdown intensified. On the Annual Eid Festival Day of 20 August, the anxious Muslims have to remain inside their homes without congregating for prayers.

ch12/07/2012

Joint press release                                                                                         

We the undersigned organizations have strongly condemned President Thein Sein for his disowning the Rohingyas. It is an irresponsible action that the President had proposed UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres that sending the Rohingyas to refugee camps run by the UNHCR was the “only solution” to the issue. He also nonsensically said, “We will send them away if any third country would accept them”.

ARAKAN ROHINGYA NATIONAL ORGANISATION

ARAKAN, BURMA

PRESS RELEASE

(08 July 2012)

ARNO welcomes OIC Secretary General’s call for international intervention

Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) has welcomed the efforts of the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu “calling on the Myanmar government to order an immediate probe into the slaughtering of Rohingya Muslims as well as to bring those responsible to justice”, and “to ensure the legitimate rights of the minority Muslims and put an end to the suffering they have been experiencing for years”.

Date: 02/07/2012

Joint Statement:

Apartheid against Rohingyas in Arakan should be a concern of international community

The undersigned organisations have strongly condemned the Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) for revitalizing ‘apartheid’ in Burma against the Muslim Rohingyas of Arakan.

In its statement dated 26 June 2012, the RNDP has dubbed the entire ethnic Rohingyas ‘illegal Bengali intruders’ and urged the people and Government of Burma, inter alia, “to segregate Rohingyas from the Buddhist Rakhines in every town and village of Arakan by relocating them in separate areas away from Buddhist Rakhines’ localities”. It has further demanded “to resettle the non-national illegal Bengalis in third countries within a fixed short period of time through negotiation with the United Nations and international cooperation.”

Joint Statement by Rohingya organisations:

Dated: 18 May 2012

Rohingya welcome Indian Government’s decision and request to grant official refugee status to Rohingya asylum seekers

The undersigned Rohingya organisations have welcomed the decision of the Indian government to grant long-term visas to the Rohingyas. The UNHCR called it “a huge step forward for their protection and safety in India”.

Joint Statement by Rohingya organisations:

Dated: 05/05/2012

2014 Census in Burma must be universal and inclusive of Rohingya

Recently the United Nations Population Fund UNFPA) has agreed to support Burma’s proposed 2014 population and housing census. But ‘Rights groups worry that if not conducted properly, the census could marginalize minorities such as the Rohingya or those living in one of Burma’s many conflict areas.’

No true census has ever been taken in Burma, and great injustice has been done to the ethnic Rohingyas. The government of U Thein Sein is beyond exception. His current wind of change has not touched the Rohingyas yet. Rather racist and xenophobic plans have been patronized and projected against them.

ARAKAN ROHINGYA NATIONAL ORGANISATION

ARAKAN, BURMA

PRESS RELEASE

(24 April 2012)

ARNO welcomes European Parliament Resolution on Burma

Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) has welcomed the European Parliament resolution of 20 April 2012 which calls for changes to the 1982 law on citizenship to ensure due recognition of the right to citizenship of the Rohingya ethnic minority in Burma; for the release of all political prisoners without delay and conditions, and access of ICRC and international human rights bodies to Burma’s prisons; to introduce amendments to the 2008 constitution; to guarantee free and independent media; to initiate legal reforms in order to ensure a truly independent and impartial judiciary and to establish process of justice and accountability for past human rights abuses. The whole Rohingya people feel encouraged by this resolution.