Ethnic Cleansing on Rohingyas Highlighted at UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

RB News

June 8, 2013

Geneva: Last Thursday and Friday “Ethnic Cleansing on Rohingyas in Burma” became the hottest issue at Geneva UN Human Rights Council. About four side events took place in last two days to discuss about the Human Rights situations in Arakan. 

“Persecutions of Rohingya Muslims in Burma” event was organized by Human Rights Watch. Chris Lewa, Director of Arakan Project, Melanie Teff from Refugees International, Tun Khin from Burmese Rohingya Organization UK and Josh Lyons, Human Rights Watch Satellite Imagery Analyst joined the penal to highlight the ethnic cleansing on Rohingyas.

The missions from about 20 countries attended the events including US Mission, UK Mission and OIC mission. 

Chis Lewa highlighted the Northern Arakan State situation in detail. Melanie Teff raised the issues about the Humanitarian Aid and Tun Khin President of BROUK pinpointed about the 1982 citizenship law and actions that needed to be taken by the International Community urgently. Josh Lyon; HRW Satellite Imagery Analyst explained with the power point presentation how Rohingya and Kaman Muslim were systematically targeted in Arakan.

“It was very fruitful events that encouraged for an international investigation. It also served as a Joint Lobby Group to support the investigation on Arakan violence by about 20 important missions to the UN. Even after one year the safe return of Rohingya IDPs to the original places has not been discussed yet, at the same time the Humanitarian Aids reaching to them has been constantly facing restrictions and blockages by the authorities and local Rakhine extremists.” said Tun Khin.

The 1982 citizenship law which deprived Rohingyas of their bona fide citizenship rights has been strongly criticized by the international human rights advocacy groups abroad. In home, it also faced a serious question being of an international human rights standard by the major opposition party NLD led by Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It is reported that still President Then Sein Government is trying to implement it by force; ignoring international outcries. So far more than 35,000 Rohingya boatpeople have left the country because of the unbearable situation that made by the authorities. It is also seen that the government is encouraging violence against Rohingyas and other Muslims minority in Burma by allowing hatred speeches and by failing to take accountability on the perpetrators.

BROUK president asked the missions to discuss the immediate intervention to stop the crimes against humanities by the Burmese government and to send UN Observers to the effected Arakan region. He also requested to form UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violence and to bring those found responsible to justice. 

On Thursday evening Joint Lobby Group held a press conference in Geneva Press Club.

BROUK President was invited to speak at the UN Panel Discussion on Friday where they discussed on the problem of Statelessness and its severe impact on Human Rights in Burma. Mark Manly, the Head of the Statelessness Unit, UNHCR, Lilianna Gamboa Coordinator of Open Society Justice Initiative, and Zahara Albarazi Researcher from Tilburg University also joined the penal. The event was moderated by Deputy Chief of Mission to the UN in Geneva.

BROUK President highlighted the incompatibility of 1982 Burmese Citizenship Law with International Human Rights Law. He also mentioned about the existence of Rohingya in Burma since early 7th Century A.D and how the Rohingya ethnicity and citizenship rights were stripped of by the previous Military governments and by the current President Thein Sein’s quasi civilian government. He reiterated the intention of all Rohingyas to live peacefully in their home land along side with other ethnic people as dignified citizens of Burma with their ethnic Rights and citizenship rights restored.