ARU-DG Dr. Wakar Uddin Meets With U.S. Officials; Massive Arrests, Human Smuggling Via Sea Routes, and UNGA Highlighted
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| US Deputy Secretary of State Kelly Clements receives ARU-DG Dr. Wakar Uddin at US State Department. |
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| ARU-DG Dr. Wakar Uddin meets with US Ambassador to OIC Rashad Hussain. |
RB News
September 18, 2013
ARU-DG DR. WAKAR UDDIN MEETS WITH U.S. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE AND PRESIDENT OBAMA’S SPECIAL ENVOY TO OIC; MASSIVE ARRESTS, HUMAN SMUGGLING VIA SEA ROUTES, AND UNGA HIGHLIGHTED
Washington - The Director General of Arakan Rohingya Uunion (ARU) met with the United State’s Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kelly Clements and President Obama’s Special Envoy to OIC Rashad Hussain at U.S. State Department in Washington D.C. In the first meeting with DAS Clements, who heads the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration in State Department, Dr. Uddin extensively discussed the dramatic increase of smuggling of Rohingya victims by Rakhine cartels to remote areas in Thailand. Dr. Uddin detailed the intricacy of the smuggling of Rohingya victims who have been facing widespread abuse, harassments, and torture by Burmese police and security forces. “The setup by the Rakhine smuggling cartel was that it brings in large vessels from Thailand that are anchored several miles off-shore Arakan, and the victims are transported from the land to the large vessels in small boats with assistance from the Burmese police and security forces”. Dr. Uddin explained. “Upon arrival at the destination in Thailand, the victims are taken to camps in remote forests, and have them call their relatives in Thailand and Malaysia for ransom; sever beatings, abuse, and torture reportedly take place if the ransom money is not received as promised by the victims” Dr. Uddin further explained. “This is a well-devised scam to transport Rohingya to Southeast Asian countries that is used as part of ethnic cleansing operation, as Bangladesh no longer provides refuge for the victims due to overcrowding of current Rohingya refugees in camps in Bangladesh and some instances of returning the Rohingya refugees to Burma in the past” he added. Dr. Uddin sought assistance from State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration to help solve this issue, and to pressure Myanmar Government to cooperate with international teams for launching an investigation to this scams in the high seas that is rising at an alarming rate.
In the discussion with Ambassador Rashad Hussain, Dr. Uddin explained the recent events in Arakan including the night-time raids of Rohingya households by Burmese police and security forces, massive arrests of Rohingya and rapidly sentencing them to life imprisonment or long term sentences up to 30 years. “Most of these Rohingya are actually victims of violence who lost homes, properties, and family members; yet they are being arrested and sentenced with false accusation of inciting or committing violence” Dr. Uddin explained. Dr. Uddin and Ambassador Rashad Hussain exchanged views on Rohingya issues at upcoming General Assembly of the United Nations. Ambassador Hussain assured Dr. Uddin that he is dedicated to finding a peaceful solution to the Rohingya political and human rights issues through all diplomatic means with close coordination of U.S. engagement with the OIC on these issues.
