Muslim Patients Taken From Sittwe General Hospital And Placed In Camps Following Violence

Andrew Day

RB News 

November 5, 2013

Sittwe, Arakan - 20 Muslims were transported out of the Sittwe General Hospital by Hlun Htein (police) as a Rakhinese mob, armed with sticks, poles and swords threatened to kill all Muslim patients sent there by INGO's. They warned the doctors not to treat them. Doctors discharged the patients, stating that they could not be held responsible for their safety. 

Police took the 10 patients and their caregivers from the hospital and made a brief stop in Aung Mingalar before taking them to their final destination, the Man Si (Bawdupha) camps. These camps are used for Rohingyas who become displaced due to violence. There will be no medical treatment for them there. 

Local villagers in Aung Mingalar gave them some food and water. They took a list of names of the people. Those who were able, took photos and hunched over their overheating cell phones, sending emails and social media messages, trying to get the word out of the injustice. This act is a punishable offence for Rohingyas. 

The villagers interviewed them. The displaced patients said that despite being taken to the hospital by UN members, they had been in the hospital for many days without treatment and little food. One said that they received two cups of tea and two pieces of cake per day. One said that they had been without any food for four days. Women who had gone to the hospital for deliveries gave birth to still born babies. At least one other is pregnant now and need serious medical attention. Some are suffering from disease. When asked about the women who had had their babies die,one villager told RB News "It's most of the time happened in the (Sittwe General) Hospital as they don't want any Muslims to be born and delivered."

The list of the people sent away from the hospital has been circulated and is as follows:

1. Mamad Rofique, (Father) Mamad Isaac, (37yrs) (M), Set Yune Su quarter, (Patients).

2. Armina, (Father) Adu Zaw Baw, (40yrs) (F), Set Yune Su quarter, (Care taker).

3. Ha Si Na, (Father) Mamad (35yrs) (F), Thet Kay Pyin village, (Patients).

4. Sara, (Father) Islam (25yr) (F), Thet Kay Pyin village, (Care Taker).

5. Janura, (Father) Eisuf Zalal (21yr) (F), Dabaing village, (Patients).

6. Hazara Khatu, (Father) Abul Kaseim (30yr) (F), Dabaing village, (Care taker).

7. Foreda Khatu, (Father) Adunawbi (23yr), (F), Thay Chuang La Ta Ma village, (Patients).

8. Dildar Begum, (Father) Mawgul Ahmed (35yr) (F), Thay Chuang La Ta Ma village, (Care taker).

9. Say Man Khatu, (Father) Eumor Ali (60yr) (F), Thay Chuang village, (Patients).

10. Rayheyna, (Father) Nawziramad (19yr) (F), Thay Chuang village, (Care taker).

11. Sarjida Begum, (Father) Eiman Huson (20yr) (F), Thay Chuang village, (Patients)

12. Maw Ram Khatu, (Father) Mamad Yasein (48yr) (F), Thay Chuang village, (Care taker).

13. Noor Begum, (Father) Noor Huson (19yr) (F), Thet Kay Pyin village, (Patients).

14. Noor Arsha, (Father) Adu Raman (40yr) (F), Thet Kay Pyin village, (Care taker).

15. Mamad Nuru, (Father) AduShukur (9yr) (M), Thet Kay Pyin village, (Patients).

16. Arbayda, (Father) Mamad Shafi (35yr) (F), Thet Kay Pyin village.(Care taker).

17. Montas Begum, (Father) Sweyad Alom (30yr) (F), Minbya Township. (Patients).

18. Begum, (Father) Sweyad Alom (25yr) (F), Minbya Township,(Care taker).

19. Mamad Junite, (Father) Eumar Mya (3mnth) (M), U Yanta village, (Patients). 

20. Noor Begum, (Father) Aduraman (30yr) (M), U Yanta village, (Care taker).

Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine (Arakan) state are not permitted to visit local hospitals. Sittwe General Hospital has a ward designated for Muslims. Due to to travel restrictions placed on Rohingyas, it becomes the responsibility of NGO's and INGO's to arrange safe passage for those in serious need of medical attention. 

The mob was supposedly angry with organizations who they had thought were being biased against them. This, in reaction to the ICRC (Red Cross) transporting Rohingya victims of violence while cutting firewood. ICRC transferred the injured to the hospital in Rakhine state's capital. Later, in a separate case of violence with that saw a 6 women attacked and Rakhine girl killed. The mobs accuse the ICRC failing to transport the girl for treatment as they did with the Muslims. The accusation of bias is fairly dismissible as most of the field workers are Burmese and Rakhinese. Despite this, on the evening of the violence, an angry mob march toward the ICRC office with the ambition to set fire to the building. They were dispersed by police. 

Reactions could be found in many villages. Reportedly, Chairman of North Rupa Quarter in Sittwe, announced that no one is to to rent buildings to any NGO's. Many Rakhines are calling for the removal of the organizations from the area. 

There were reports of police beating and threatening Muslims. Pressuring someone to take the blame for the killing of the Rakhine girl. One man, 27 year old Nur Kabir, decided that although innocent, would turn himself in to police the save the villages from the violence. 

Fear of Muslims is being propagated all along Rakhine (Arakan) state by government with the help of anti Muslim groups. If there is violence against a Buddhist, mobs demand a Muslim takes the fall for it. When groups try to help Rohingyas specifically because of the overwhelming need, it becomes opportunity for these groups to teach the mindset that the organizations only care for Muslims, therefore should not be trusted.