Aid Will Be Denied If The Term “Rohingya” Used, Says Rakhine StateChief Maung Maung Ohn

RB News 

November 15, 2014

Sittwe, Arakan – According to Radio Free Asia Burmese Service, the Rakhine State Chief Minister, Ex-Major General Maung Maung Ohn said the aid provided by the international community will be denied if the term Rohingya is used by those providers.

The announcement was made during a press conference that was held at the Rakhine State government office today. 

“We will not accept at all if the term ‘Rohingya’ is used. We will take them with an agreement from the group that consists of state government officials and town elders if the humanitarian aid is for ethnic Rakhine and IDP [Internally Displaced Person].” Maung Maung Ohn said at the press conference.

He added that they have to deal with the international community for the development of Rakhine State but at the same time they will try to prove that Rohingya didn’t exist in Rakhine history. Furthermore, he said they will do citizenship scrutiny for the Muslims in Rakhine State beginning in 2015 twice a year, which will be supervised by the Department of Immigration. 

During the official visit of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. President Obama used the term “Rohingya”. It was purposely mentioned in their speeches and in responding to reporters. As the Burmese government has been trying to wipe out the ancient identity of Rohingya since 1974, the usage of U.N. Chief and President Obama is a very big challenge to them. 

As the humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya IDPs in Sittwe is highly needed, the quasi-military government is trying to change the terminology used by international NGOs by threatening to refuse aid.