Arakan Rohingya Union Warmly Welcomes the Release of Rohingya Community Leader, Dr. U Tun Aung

January 22, 2015 (#20JR15)

PRESS STATEMENT

Arakan Rohingya Union Warmly Welcomes the Release of Rohingya Community Leader, Dr. U Tun Aung

Arakan Rohingya Union warmly welcomes the release of Rohingya physician and community leader, Dr. U Tun Aung, after a prolonged period of unjust imprisonment by the Government of Myanmar.

Dr. U Tun Aung was arrested by the Buddhist Rakhine police following the violence against Rohingya by the Buddhist Rakhine mobs in Maungdaw, Arakan State, in June of 2012, on false allegation of inciting the riots. On the contrary, Dr. U Tun Aung was trying to intervene and stop the violence as per the request of the authorities. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison that was grossly unfair and racially motivated.

The Arakan Rohingya Union unequivocally endorses Dr. U Tun Aung’s statement on his continuous efforts to bring peace, stability, and communal harmony in Arakan State, during his interview with media groups following his release.

Rohingya people expresses their deep gratitude to the international community, particularly US Congressman Aaron Schock, Assistant Secretary of State Tom Malinowski and the US State Department team, UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee and the UN officials, OIC Officials, and a number of NGOs and right groups worldwide, for their relentless efforts that have resulted in the release of Dr. U Tun Aung.

Arakan Rohingya Union greatly appreciates the just and fair decision made by President Thein Sein for the release of Dr. U Tun Aung. This is a positive step forward to bring peace and stability back to Arakan state. The Rohingya people appeal President Thein Sein to take immediate steps for the release of hundreds of Rohingya prisoners in Arakan who are unjustly imprisoned. Rohingya people also call on the Government of Myanmar to address the political and human right issues of the Rohingya ethnic minority and reinstate their full citizenship.