The Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) strongly condemns the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) for its continued repression on the Rohingya Muslims and re-engineering of the predominantly Rohingya populated areas in Arakan.

Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) strongly condemns the Burmese ruling military SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) for systematic and pervasive use of rape and other forms of sexual violations by junta’s officers and soldiers against the Shan girls and women and other non-Burman ethnic minority girls and women across the country.

We reiterate that it is pleasure to welcome the release of Daw Aung  San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD). But any positive changes that translate the hopes and aspiration of the people of Burma will only be possible through a meaningful dialogue with the representatives of the all non-Burman ethnic nationalities.

Dated: 7th May 2002

Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) warmly welcomes the unconditional release of Nobel Peace laureate and pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from 19 months of house arrest in Burma on 6th May 2002.

Our attention has been drawn to the news item(s) appeared in BurmaNet dated October 23, 2001 and other international media, including the Burmese SPDC press, implicating Rohingya groups to have connection with terrorist organisation. So far Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) is concerned, we strongly reject any direct or indirect link with any terrorist organisation.

Dated: 7th June 2001

In Burma frequent outburst of anti-Muslim riots in different parts of Arakan and Burma resulting in the death of Muslims and plundering their properties. The present ruling military junta State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) by and watched the looting of Muslim properties.

Several anti-Muslim riots took place in Sittwe (Akyab), from 4th to 8th February 2001, the provincial capital of Arakan,  and other towns of Kyaukpru, Pauktaw and Maybon.  In this riots at least 40 Muslims were dead and over 30 injured including one Buddhist monk. About 80 houses were burnt down including 30 shanty-houses of Buddhist community and 10 shops, one boarding owned by Muslims were razed to the ground.