Press Release: Rohingyas under fear of Attacks even a head President Obama visit to Burma

Ethnic Rohingya from aik Thae Village, Kyauktaw Township, was almost attacked on Friday night. Approximately 3,000 ethnic Rakhine and security forces surrounded the village. They only left after being warned by Burmese Army soldiers that they would be fired upon if they did not disperse. Today, Saturday morning around 200 security forces and Burmese Army soldiers entered Anaryme Village in Pauktaw and ordered the villagers to leave their houses and the village. They have been evicted from their homes so that the security forces and soldiers can live in them..

An effective policy of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya is continuing on the eve of US President Barak Obama visiting Burma. Displaced Rohingya are not able to return to their homes and villages. The most recent information based on reports by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and others puts the estimate of those displaced at 110,00 people, the vast majority are Rohingya. Violence has swept the country in recent months and reports of killing, torture, rape and the burning of villages have been cited in Kyaukpyu, Kyauktaw, Maungdaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Myebon, Pauktaw, Ramree, Rathedaung and Sittwe.

BROUK President Tun Khin said “President Obama should not have visited Burma so soon, with such serious problems still remaining. Obama is meeting the head of Burma, President Thein Sein who has played a key role in allowing and inciting the attacks against the Rohingya .President Thein Sein gave support and encouragement to those attacking the Rohingya by asking for international support in expelling all Rohingya from Burma. State forces, local and national, are taking part in attacks against the Rohingya. As President he has command responsibility for what is taking place. These attacks would not still be taking place if the government of Burma truly wanted to stop them. It is also President Thein Sein who is placing restrictions on aid”. Meantime We, BROUK urge President Obama during his visit for the followings;

(1) To put pressure on President Thein Sein to stop violence and crimes against the Rohingya and to protect the lives of helpless Muslims in Arakan.

(2) To support UN peace-keeping forces being sent to Arakan for the purpose of preventing further death, killing, rape and destruction of the Muslims.

(3) To support a UN Commission of Inquiry and to send independent international observers to the ground.

(4) To put pressure on President Thein Sein government (i) to allow unhindered humanitarian aid to the Rohingya victims in all parts of Arakan; (ii) to stop its segregation scheme and replace it with a proactive policy of ‘peaceful co-existence’; and (iii) to repeal or amend the Burma Citizenship Law of 1982 in order to conform it with international law standards.

For more information, please contact Tun Khin +44 7888 714 866.