NGO: Expel Myanmar nationals if violence against Rohingya continues

By Rashvinjeet S. Bedi & M. Kumar

The Star Online

August 30, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: An Islamic non-governmental organisation has called on the Government to expel all Myanmar nationals from the country if the violence against the Rohingya people there does not stop.

In the face of fresh violence against the Rohingya community, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islam Organisations (Mapim) said such atrocities could no longer be tolerated.

"You have nothing to do with us and you must go back. We are not going to have problems without you here. You don't have to be here," Mapim president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said after handing a memorandum to the Myanmar embassy here on Wednesday morning.

There was heavy police presence around the embassy after protesters gathered at Ampang Park at around 11am to demonstrate against the treatment of the Rohingya people by the Myanmar government.

The Rohingya were not allowed near the embassy, with a number of them seen congregating at the Ampang Park LRT and Tabung Haji building here.

A representative from the embassy received the memorandum and the group dispersed about two hours later, although several were arrested after they allegedly became unruly.

Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Sukri Kaman confirmed the arrests, saying that some of the protesters started hitting passing vehicles, and caused massive traffic jams in the area.

"I do not have the exact number of arrests at the moment but several were arrested," he said after the rally.

ACP Mohd Sukri said police also arrested several protesters who did not have proper travel documents.

Considered to be stateless and often subjected to arbitrary violence and forced labour in Myanmar, the Rohingya are considered by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.

As of June this year, there were 59,100 Rohingya refugees registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia, although unofficial estimates are considerably higher.

"It's not only affecting the Rohingya, it's affecting the whole of Myanmar. We want a peaceful region. We want a peaceful country. We want to have a good relationship," said Mohd Azmi.

He said that Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi was also to be blamed for the atrocities and called for her Nobel Peace Prize to be revoked.

"You are now the culprit. You are with the military. You are responsible… You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

"The Myanmar people stood up for you, for democratic and human rights, but now you have shown your true colours," he added.