AN URGENT APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF MYANMAR TO END THE ANARCHY IN ARAKAN

A Test of Genuineness in Democratic Reforms in Myanmar



On behalf of the Rohingya community worldwide, the Arakan Rohingya Union calls on the Government of Myanmar to move swiftly to bring the anarchy in Arakan State to an end, and let the justice to prevail in Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Sittwe, Kyauktaw, and many other cities in Northern Arakan.

The Government of Myanmar must fully cooperate with the international community in accordance with the international law, and jointly launch an immediate investigation to the indiscriminate shootings at unarmed Rohingya civilians by Lon Htein (paramilitary security forces) and police forces. Cooperation with transparency by the Government of Myanmar will be a test of genuineness of the current democratic reforms encompassing the respects for humanity in Myanmar.

The government must give the international media and humanitarian organizations access to the Northern Arakan to provide food and shelter to prevent starvation and disease outbreak in current monsoon season. Currently there are dire needs of food, water, and medicine.

The government must quickly move to return all the bodies of the Rohingya victims who were killed by the Lon Htein and police forces. The government must return the bodies Rohingya victims to lay to rest according to their religious customs. Bodies of all the victims that were collected and hauled away by the Lon Htein and police forces immediately after the shooting by them, must be returned to their families.

The government must provide complete protection of the Rohingya residences from the Rakhine incendiaries.

The government must move swiftly to start rebuilding all the properties that were burned down or destroyed during the riots. Failing to protect Rohingya victims, the government is liable for all the losses, and must provide financial and material supports to the victims.

The government must stop the Rakhine mobs, guarded by the Lon Htein and police forces, from looting the Rohingya shops and properties.

The Rohingya community also calls on the Burmese media in Myanmar and the Burmese language programs in the international media to strictly adhere to their own Codes of Ethnics and serve as the shields to protect lives and the platforms to facilitate bringing justice and peace to Arakan that guarantees safety and security for all people of Arakan.