Interview with BROUK President Tun Khin

Min Thein 

RB News 

Recently, we have interviewed Ko Tun Khin, President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation in UK (BROUK), regarding Arakan conflict. 

Ko Tun Khin @ Ziaul Ghaffar was born in Buthidaung Township of Arakan State and did his basic education in Sittwe. He is currently perusing his PhD in civil Engineering in London Southbank University. 

He was one of the founding members of BROUK and leading the organisation since 2005 as a president. During his seven year journey through BROUK, he brought up human rights concerns of Rohingya to the British parliament, European Union, US States Department and Senate, UN Indigenous Forum in New York and UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. 

Regarding Arakan conflict, Ko Tun Khin has contributed few articles in Independent newspaper of Britain and also gave interview to CNN, BBC, and Al Jazeera. 

He is one of the leading activists not only highlighting the plight of Rohingya but also suffering of whole Burma to the outside world. 

Those who understand his view on Arakan, his love and sincerity to the people of Arakan and Burma will clearly demonstrate how the false claims, baseless accusation and arrogant nature of some leading Rakhines nationalist. They are creating misery not only for Arakan, but also for the whole Burma. While the world (and also the ASEAN) is marching towards globalisation, unfortunately Rakhine nationalist are heading for opposite direction and pushing Arakan, the second poorest state of Burma, to further impoverishment. 

Let us see how Rohingyas leaders hold positive thinking and commitment for the development of Arakan, where they lived for generations through in this interview with Ko Tun Khin. 

Min Thein (Question 1): During Arakan conflict, several Rohingya and Kaman Muslims were killed and also lost their businesses and homes. The atrocities committed by Rakhine extremist and local security forces are still continuing. Those Rohingyas in the refugee camps are facing shortage of foods, shelter and also suffering from communicable diseases. As a Rohingya leader, how would you like to appeal Burmese government and the International community? 

Tun Khin (Answer 1): Arakan conflict is well planned by RNDP party organizing extremist Rakhine Buddhist through paranoid ambitions, false targets and unrealistic incentives. Observers can clearly figure out the identical nature of objective and modus operandi of RNDP party to those of Hitler’s Nazi party in Germany. RNDP’s planning are currently carried out by collaboration of (Rakhine) State Government, local authorities, security forces and some ministers from Central Government. This collaboration can be easily seen and voiced out by not only Rohingyas but also International NGOs and Government representatives in the field with solid evidence. I believe that President U Thein Sein is well aware of this truth. 

During Arakan conflict, 90% those in desperate need of assistance are Muslims. 80% those detained by the State Government on allegation of creating conflict are also Muslims. In reality, RNDP is the one obliterating food and security to Muslim refugees. RNDP is continuously campaigning to strangulate business, work and education of Muslims in areas where they have yet to create any clashes. This coward action of RNDP is blatantly ignored by the Rakhine State Government. President U Thein Sein should take necessary action against these trouble makers who tarnish the image of not only the President but also the whole Burmese population in International arena. 

We made an appeal to the United Nations, EU and International community to send UN peace keeping force if Burmese Government fail to protect further escalation of atrocities on Rohingyas. This is because we have received information that RNDP chairman Dr Aye Maung is planning 3rd attempt to instigate riot. In the first riot in June 2012, Rohingya and Kaman lost home, businesses and lives. Rakhines also suffered to some extent. Instead of protecting Muslims, the government gave inconsistent and false allegation towards Muslims. After four months, there was a second rather well planned riot and Muslims suffered extensively. Until today there is no reliable security for Muslims provided by Burmese government. 

Apart from UN Peace keeping force; we have also urged the international Community to form an Independent Commission to investigate this conflict. We need to bring to the justice for those culprits who instigate this conflict. Otherwise we will see an ugly page on the history of 21st century where one small ethnicity is wiped out just because of their religious belief. It is not only the shame for the culprits but also a dark page for the Burmese leaders and International community for failing to protect an oppressed group of people. 

Min Thein (Question 2): The word Rohingya has never been in the Burmese history. Rakhine extremist alleged that there is a big agenda behind this word. How would you like to say about this allegation? 

Tun Khin (Answer 2): I would like to say that someone is either very poor of historical knowledge or terribly racist if he claims he never heard of the word Rohingya. I do not want to say more on this historical dimension. But since when those who call themselves Rakhine adopted the name Rakhine? Before that what was their name? Rakhines have demonstrated that an ethic can choose a name according to their preference. While obliterating the right of sister community to adopt the name of their preference, Rakhines are alleging Bhamas (Burmese main ethnic group) to be chauvinists. Rakhine are claiming them as special race. 

It is true that majority of Burmese are strange about the term Rohingya. The reason behind is that successive Burmese military regimes have been obliterating Rohingyas to reach out other Burmese. Rohingyas were not given a chance to explain about their history and culture. Overall illiteracy, lack of general knowledge, lack of female education, lack of harmony with other sister communities etc.. all are as a result of discriminatory policies imposed on Rohingyas for decades. Rohingya development efforts (in education, health and business) are still hampered by the government. Rohingyas’ demand for human rights at par with other citizens of Burma is just to develop the community. It is not to have a separate state as alleged by RNDP chairman Dr Aye Maung. Rohingyas were loyally participated on nation building during the period of Arakanese Kings, during colonial period and also during post independent democratic Burma. We, Rohingya today only have one ambition that is to participate in development of own community as well as for the nation building with our qualification and workforce. 

Today this civilized world has learned from strength and weakness from the past, unwrapping barriers and boundaries to march towards unified globalised, developed peaceful world with less conflicts. If someone comes with an idea of separation tiny bit of land form the map, he may be seen as an insane person. We will never accept or support such a crazy idea. 

Min Thein (Question 3): Finally in your opinion, do you think what reforms measures required to restore trust, peace and security among different ethnic groups in Rakhine state? 

Tun Khin (Answer 3): In Arakan conflict, not all Rakhines were involved. We can generally say there are two types Rakhine Buddhist. 

The first group is those who are willing to separate Rakhine State from Burma to establish “Father Rakhine State”. This group is made up of only portion of the population led by political parties with some businessman and local authorities and their cronies. If the power is in hands of this group, the situation of Rakhine State will remain in misery. The state cannot go side by side with other people of Burma in nation building. They are branding themselves as a neo-Nazi style ultrapatriotic Rakhine people. 

The other group of Rakhine people are those who follow ideal teaching of Buddhism and willing to live in peace and harmony. Although majority, this group lacks power holders and businessman. This group is true representative of Rakhine people and culture. 

If we are looking for the enduring peace in Rakhine State, the peace loving group of Rakhine (the latter group) should be exposed to the larger Burmese population and international community. Central government also needs to expose the real culprits and give them due course of the law without fear or favour. I am quite confident that although Rohingya and other Muslims lost properties, businesses and lives, they are still willing to live side by side peace loving & trustworthy group of Rakhine people (except the group with ruthless trouble makers). 

I was born and brought up in Rakhine state and currently pursing higher education in overseas. I am still looking forwards to have a chance to contribute for the development of Rakhine State.