CAN HILLARY CLINTON AND AUNG SAN SUU KYI CHANGE BURMA ?

16 Pages·2011·1.46 MB·English

CAN HILLARY CLINTON AND AUNG SAN SUU KYI CHANGE BURMA ?

A R A K A N 11 2011
▬

The US Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, right, and T h e U S S ecretary of State Hillary Clinton , left, shakes hands
B urmese Prime Minister U Nu, pose for a photograph in w i t h B u r m ese President Thein Sein during her visit to Burma
Rangoon during Dulles visit to Burma in 1955. i n 2 0 1 1 , w a s t h e h i g h e s t - l e v e l U S Official in 56 Years.
CONTENTS

EDITORIAL : " CLINTON AND THE CHANGES
2 IN BURMA "

3 COVER STORY : CAN HILLARY CLINTON AND
AUNG SAN SUU KYI CHANGE BURMA ?

"CLINTON AND THE CHANGES IN BURMA "

COVER STORY : CLINTON VISIT OPENS
5
BURMA ROAD TO DEMOCRACY

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began her first trip to Burma

PRESS RELEASE : ARNO WELCOMES THE by meeting President Thein Sein and other top officials in Naypyidaw
6 VISIT OF US SECRETARY OF STATE TO BURMA with armed ethnic conflicts and political prisoners top on the agenda.
She was the first US Secretary of State to visit Burma in56 years after
7 NEWS FEATURE : BBC REPORT STIRS ANTI-
the visit of US Secretary of State John Foster Dullas in February,
ROHINGYA SENTIMENT
1955.He was the last American Secretary of State to visit Burma during

the democratic government of U Nu. At that time, Burma was
HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE : ANTI-ROHINGYA
8
considered the jewel of Asia. It is encouraging that Aung San Suu Kyi is
CAMPAIGNS, VIOLATIONS ....

now free to take part in the political process, but that will not be

NEWS ARTICLE :US BASED ROHINGYA sufficient unless all political parties can compete in free, fair, and
10
DELEGATION PARTICIPATES IN CONF ... c r e d i b le elections.

In addition to calling for the release of political prisoners and an end
NEWS : BGB ARRESTS 16 BOAT-PEOPLE, 33 to ethnic violence, Clinton said the US wants to see a truly political
10 PUSHED BACK TO BURMA system and improvement in human rights. She also warned the

NEWS : 47 ROHINGYAS PUSHED country's leaders to break suspected illicit military, nuclear and ballistic
10
BACK TO BURMA missile cooperation with North Korea that may violate UN sanctions.

Thein Sein had outlined his government's plans for reform and asked
11 FEATURE NEWS : THE ROHINGYAS AND THEIR for US help in making the transition from military to full civilian rule.
HISTORIC RIGHTS IN ARAKAN The modest first steps Clinton announced include Washington no

longer blocking enhanced cooperation between Burma and the
12 NEWS ARTICLE : DHAKA SEEKS TO
International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) that could lead to the approval of
REDEFINE BORDER PACTS ......
much- needed loans and support for the Burma. Also, the US would

support intensified UN health and microfinance program and resume
NEWS : 2 ROHINGYAN WOMEN RAPED AND 4
12
bilateral counter - narcotics effort.
VILLAGERS GUNNED DOWN ……..

Following her press conference at Suu Kyi's lakeside villa, the US

NEWS : CLINTON VISIT ‘ WON’T PRESAGE ’ Secretary of State addressed reporters for a second time in Rangoon
12
END TO SANCTIONS that day when she announced that the US has offered Burma US $ 1.2
million in aid to support micro-finance, health care and assistance for
13 NEWS ASSESMENTS :CLINTON’S VISIT the victims of landmines, and would also support US university and
OPENED A NEW CHAPTER IN ...........
foundations to increase academic exchange collaboration in health,

governance and other matters. Hillary told the representatives of
14 NEWS ON REFUGEES : BANGLADESH URGES
minorities (including Rohingya) unity in diversity, recognize to each
UNHCR TO HELP REPATRIATE ....

other, respect to each other and work together.

The assessment team from the World Bank was part of a package
14 NEWS ARTICLE : CHANGES IN BURMA :
A FLICKER OR A FLAME ? that Clinton announced in Naypyidaw offering a handful of modest

political and economic concessions to Burma as reward for its recent

NEWS OF BOAT PEOPLE : ROHINGYA BOAT tentative reforms. Clinton’s visit signifies the Americans' willingness to

15 PEOPLE CAPTURED NORTH ... invest major political capital in Burma. Clinton brings with her not only
the momentum of global outcry for freedom, but also as a leading
16 BACK COVER : BOAT CAPSIZES IN BAY OF
member of the US administration, she can also use her influence to
BENGAL, 17 ROHINGYA RESCUED .... help reconcile Burma's various political factions, including the military,
democracy activists, and ethnic nationalities.
READ ARAKAN ONLINE KNOW MORE
Clinton’s visit signifies the Americans' willingness to invest major
ABOUT ROHINGYA PEOPLE
political capital in Burma. Clinton brings with her not only the
www.rohingya.org
momentum of global outcry for freedom, but also as a leading member

Email : info @ rohingya.org of the US administration, she can also use her influence to help

: arakan.magazine @ gmail.com reconcile Burma's various political factions, including the military,
democracy activists, and ethnic nationalities. Cont. P. 3

ARAKAN MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER ISSUE 2011 2
EDITORIAL www.rohingya.org I info@ rohingya.org

FROM P. 2 Meanwhile, the Chinese were openly worried and concerned of Clinton's visit to Burma. Beijing had taken

it as a move to woo Naypyidaw away from its ambit, intruding into its traditional sphere of influence and seen as the US

encirclement to isolate and limit its rising power. China still has its proxy's armies United Wa Stae Army (UWSA) and Na-

tional Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA). The question of China making use of its proxies to disrupt the warming up of US

relation with Burma still looks quite remote for the time being, but replaying the scenario of aiding them could not be

ruled out The Global Times, a mouthpiece for the Chinese government wrote that China has no resistance toward Burma
seeking improved relationship with the West, but it will not accept this while seeing its interests stamped on. Clinton's
visit has worried China, put the ball firmly in Thein Sein's court and uplift the spirit of democratic and ethnic opposition
camps. Thein Sein should be clear by now that using political prisoners as bargaining chips and keeping armed internal
conflict alive to justify the military supremacy role would not work with the US. And if he wants bigger carrot, which is the
comprehensive lifting of sanctions and increased legitimacy, he will have to deliver more and not just dwell on his recent

piecemeal approach or half-hearted reform process.

The plight of the Rohingya people remains unchanged, though Thein Sein had promised to change the fate of

Rohingyas on his visit to Buthidaung Town before the election of 2010. All kinds of persecution are still being tried against

them on religious, as well as racial, grounds. It is vital that the US continues to press the regime to recognise the

citizenship and ethnic rights of Rohingya. Meanwhile, the restrictions on their basic freedoms like religious freedom,

freedom of movement, marriage, education and trade and business must be lifted forthwith. In order to instill sense of

security in the minds of terrorized Rohingya people, with freedom from fear, abolish or remove immediately the cruel
Nasaka and SARAPA forces and other repressive functionaries from northern Arakan. ##

COVER STORY

CAN HILLARY CLINTON AND AUNG SAN SUU KYI CHANGE BURMA ? By M.A. ALAM

The three-day (Nov.30—Dec 2, 2011) visit With the assassination of General Aung army took over political and economic
of Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, to San, the father of Suu Kyi, after Burma’s control, and according to commentator
Burma — the first by a US Secretary of State independence from Britain, the dream of a Mary P. Callahan, “after cleaning house
since the visit of Johan Foster Dulles in 1955 peaceful and democratic Burma quickly inside the army, Gen. Ne Win led the

— indicated the growing self-confidence of faded. Even today, while resisting the cen- ultimate offensive against civilian parlia-

President Thein Sein that the cautious policy tral government’s ethnocentric nationalism mentary ruler Prime Minister U Nu’s
of domestic reforms and external opening- and chauvinism for decades, Burma’s vari- Government in March 1962.” Again in
up initiated by him. As the first U.S. Secre- ous opposition groups, while they share a 1990, under a new name and a new set
common goal for democracy, have never of army generals, an even more brutal
tary of State to visit Burma in 56 years,
Hillary Clinton’s trip marks a turning point, unified under a common leadership or set military junta grabbed political power
and there is high expectation that Burma of principles. back from the election-winning National
Distrustful of the population, the Burmese League for Democracy.
may finally be coming out of the cold.
Following the Saffron Revolution of

2007, the Burmese military regime was

viewed negatively by the world at-large.

With the fresh memory of monks’ blood
on their hands, it could no longer use
the blunt force of violence against Aung
San Suu Kyi, as it did during the 2003
Depayin Massacre.
Callahan concluded that there would
be no easy solutions to the problem of

dissembling this security-obsessed

state and replacing it with a new one

that treats citizens with dignity and

accountability. The removal of the
handful of top generals and colonels
from the government, and their
replacement with fraudulently elected
officials, will not transform the century-
old command relationship between the
state and society overnight.

Callahan also rightly noted that many

ethnic minority leaders question

whether a democratic government
based in central Burma would really
commit national resources to develop-
Burmese President Thein Sein, front right, and his wife, Khin Khin Win, left, talk
ment programs in ethnic bon Suu Kyi
with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, front center, between meetings
at the President's Office in Naypyidaw, Burma on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. and her political party, order areas. And
as the world focuses Cont. P. 4

ARAKAN MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER ISSUE 2011 3
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From P . 3 many minority leaders worry his government and ethnic resistance in the ethnic nationality areas.
t hat their needs are not being taken into armed forces, political reform, media Second, we will launch a people-to-
a ccount. freedom, adopting international agree- people exchange program that will include
The political uncertainty in Burma’s ments on nuclear programs leading to a substantial English language teaching
t ortured history rivals that of Gorbachev refrain or forgo its illicit dealings with initiative in partnership with ASEAN and
a nd Deng Xiaoping. Surely a change of North Korea, Clinton responded that the the East-West Center. Third, we will work
c lothes from military uniforms to civilian U.S. will ”match action with action”. with partners here on the ground to provide
g arb cannot, at this stage, be equated with She said:” I encouraged them to assistance to citizens who suffer from the
a true change of heart to embrace genuine continue moving along the path of reform, worst consequences of internal conflict,

democratic reforms in Burma. The army and that is a path that would require e specially land mine victims. Fourth, we

finally released Suu Kyi from house arrest releasing all political prisoners; halting will be supporting the work of American
i n 2010, but it has continued its brutal hostilities in ethnic areas and seeking a universities and foundations to increase
a ssaults on ethnic minorities in conflict true political settlement; broadening the academic exchanges and collaboration on
a reas. However, simultaneously, the new space for political and civic activity; fully health, governance, and other matters.”
g overnment began a concerted charm implementing legislation protecting uni- Coinciding with the visit of Clinton,
o ffensive on all fronts, including its v e r s a l f r e e d o ms of assembly, speech, and Aung San Suu Kyi confirmed Wednesday,
p ursuit of separate cease-fires with armed association.” 30 November, that she will run for
e thnic groups. She also stressed that U.S. support parliament in upcoming elections. One
Regardless, Clinton’s visit signifies for loosening restrictions on health and couldn’t help wonder, if this is again a

the Americans’ willingness to invest major microfinancing programs by the United choreographic move designed to give a full

political capital in Burma. Clinton brings Nations and offered U.S. support for i m p a c t o r impression that President Thein
w ith her not only the momentum of a exploring other international aid, apart Sein’s reform process is a no return
g lobal outcry for freedom, but also as a from the restoration and upgrading the undertaking and on its way to irreversible
l eading member of the U.S. administration, diplomatic relation to a full embassy with journey. Whether it is only a superficial
s he can also use her influence to help an ambassador. In addition, Clinton also gesture or a true commitment on the part of
r econcile Burma’s various political i n v i t e d Burma to become an observer to the current Burmese government, as Ko
f actions, including the military, democracy the Lower Mekong Initiative, a U.S.-backed Myat Soe, a former student leader now
a ctivists, and ethnic nationalities. grouping aimed at discussing the future of living in the United States, observed,
As Suu Kyi says, most Burmese may Southeast Asia's major waterway. twilight is finally descending on the

not understand English, but they all know According to Clinton Press Availability, dictators. This is a perfect time for Clinton

the meaning of democracy and freedom. released in Rangoon, it writes: “This after- to go to Burma and meet with Suu Kyi.
S o far, Suu Kyi seems to have set aside noon, I’m pleased to announce we will Even though she has been released
h er differences with Thein Sein. The t a k e a number of steps to demonstrate our from house arrest, like all other Burmese,
r ecent gains, including the halt of a major commitment to the people. These are in Suu Kyi is not yet truly free. In order to
d am project, the symbolic release of a addition to the more formal government- fulfill her promises and those made by her
h andful of political prisoners, and the to-government actions that I announced father, Burma still has to release all
s light relaxation of press freedoms have yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw. First, we will political prisoners and must bestow equal
b een attributed to their renewed relations. increase assistance to civil society p o l i t i c a l r ights on ethnic nationalities by
While Thein Sein, in his 45-minutes organizations that provide micro-credit laying down the groundwork for a true and

detailed briefing, offered gradual release lending, healthcare, and other critical democratic political process.

of political prisoners, cease-fire between needs throughout the country, particularly Naypyitaw has given a 4-point
proposition: ceasefire, setting up of liaison
offices, freedom of movement without arms
and designation of date, time and venue for
the next higher level meeting which the
SSA-S has accepted. In return, the SSA-S’s
counter-proposal includes 4 point proposi-

tion: ceasefire, political negotiations,

development and cooperation on narcotics,

details of which are still undisclosed.
Meanwhile, the Chinese were openly
worried and concerned of Clinton’s visit to
Burma, which she declared was a
fact-finding mission and evaluating the
sincerity of Naypyitaw’s democratisation
process. But taken by Beijing as a move to
woo Naypyitaw away from its ambit,

intruding into its traditional sphere of

influence and seen as the U.S. encirclement

to isolate and limit its rising power.

Indeed, Beijing still has its proxy’s
armies United Wa State Army (UWSA) and
National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA),
both former Communist Party of Burma
(CPB), which China had armed and trained,
Clinton and Suu Kyi - the Nobel laureate who has come to symbolise the pro-democracy during 1968 to 1985, to overthrow the then
aspirations of Burma's people - held a private dinner on Thursday and met again on Friday Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP)

at Suu Kyi's lakeside home in Rangoon. regime, headed by Cont. P. 5

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From P. 4 General Ne Win. While the CLINTON VISIT OPENS BURMA ROAD TO DEMOCRACY

question of Beijing making use of its
p roxies to disrupt the warming up of U.S. "The United States is prepared to walk the path of reform with you if you choose to keep
r elation with Burma still looks quite m o v i n g t owards road to democracy." “It is encouraging that political prisoners have been
r emote for the time being, the likelihood of
released, but over a thousand are still not free." -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
r eplaying the scenario of aiding the CPB
c ould not be completely ruled out. By M. A. ALAM will let their people live up to their God-
The Global Times, a mouthpiece for the given potential. There is no guarantee how
Chinese government, in an editorial, on 30 "The United States wants to be a partner
that question will be answered. But if it is
November writes: “China has no w i t h B u r m a ," Clinton said at Aung San
answered in a positive way, I think the
resistance toward Myanmar seeking S u u K y i ' s home in Rangoon. "We want to
i mproved relationship with the West, but it work with you as you further democratisa- potential is unlimited.” “[Burma’s] diversity
- its dozens of ethnic groups and
w ill not accept this while seeing its t i o n , a s you release all political prisoners,
languages, its shrines, pagodas, mosques,
i nterests stamped on.” To sum up, a s y o u b e gin the difficult but necessary
and churches should be a source of
C linton’s visit has worried China, put the process of ending the ethnic conflicts that
strength,” Secretary Clinton
b all firmly in Thein Sein’s court and uplift have gone on far too long, as you hold
continued. “We welcome initial steps from
t he spirit of democratic and ethnic e l e ctions that are free, fair, and credible." the government to reduce ethnic tensions ..
o pposition camps. “IF we go forward together, I’m confident ..... But as long as terrible violence
As for returning back the ball which there will be no turning back from the road
continues ..... it will be difficult to begin a
is in his court, Thein Sein would need to to democracy,” Aung San Suu Kyi told the
new chapter.”
come up with a decision of either whole first US secretary of state to visit Burma in
s ale or gradual, selective release of the half a century. “We are not on that road “For decades, the choices of this
country’s leaders kept it apart from the
p olitical prisoners; and nation-wide y e t , b u t we hope to get there as soon as
global economy and the community of
c easefire all at once or waging wars with possible with our friends.” Three points in
nations,” Secretary Clinton concluded.
s ome ethnic armed groups, while offering that statement are worth noting. First,
"Today, the United States is prepared to
c easefire talks with the others. Besides, Aung San Suu Kyi … understands that her
respond to reforms with measured steps to
h e would also need to clarify the regime’s country is not only not yet a democracy lessen the isolation and to help improve the
m ilitary relationship with North Korea. but is not even on the way there. Second, lives of [Burma’s] citizens. As I told
“I am obviously looking to determine that daunting reality has not discouraged
President Thein Sein ... the United States is
for myself and on behalf of our h e r f r o m s e i z i n g a n o p e ning provided by
prepared to walk the path of reform with
government what is the intention of the the liberalisation in Burma in recent
c urrent government with respect to m o n t h s . A n d third, she has welcomed the you if you choose to keep moving in that
direction. And there’s no doubt that
c ontinuing reforms both political and U n ited States’s cautious engagement to
direction is the right one for the people."
e conomic,” Clinton said. “We and many promote further reform.
Historic transformations often happen
o ther nations are quite hopeful that these “President Thein Sein has taken the first
when least expected. Mikhail Gorbachev’s
f lickers of progress ... will be ignited into steps toward a long-awaited opening. His
liberalising policies of glasnost and
a movement for change that will benefit government has eased some restrictions perestroika in the Soviet Union emerged at
t he people of the country,” she said. on the media and civil society, opened a one of the Cold War’s darkest hours. Deng
For Clinton, it’s a little bit of a tightrope dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, the
Xiaoping’s economic opening followed
walk right now. It requires delicate steps, leader of Burma’s democratic opposition,
China’s bloody – and failed – invasion of
one by one. But one thing is certain: it’s rewritten election and labor laws, and
t he twilight of the military dictators in released 200 prisoners of conscience,” Vietnam in 1978. And South Africa’s last
apartheid leader, F. W. de Klerk, was
B urma. Everyone in Burma, including the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said
initially perceived as just another
g enerals, wants U.S. help. Expectations recently in Burma. “It is encouraging that
apologist for the system – hardly the man
a re high. This is a once in a lifetime p o l i t i c a l prisoners have been released, but
to free Nelson Mandela and oversee the
o pening in which the world’s two most over a thousand are still not free. Let me
end of white minority rule.
r espected women can bring positive say publicly what I said privately . . . No Is Burma, like South Africa under de
c hange to Burma. Can history be made person in any country should be detained Klerk, truly poised to emerge from a half-
while the two ladies quietly sip tea f o r e xercising universal freedoms of
century of self-imposed isolation? And can
together and the Burmese generals wait expression, assembly, and conscience.”
Aung San Suu Kyi, the heroic opposition
outside? ## John Foster Dulles was the last Ameri-
can Secretary of State to leader, and Thein Sein, Burma’s new
president, engineer a political transition as
visit Burma. At the time,
skillfully and peacefully as Mandela and de
Burma was considered
Klerk did for South Africa in the early
the jewel of Asia. In the
1990s? Daw Suu Kyi is now free to take
last half century, other
part in the political process and the NLD
countries have raced
recently announced that it will field candi-
ahead and turned East
dates in the forthcoming by-elections to the
Asia into a center of
country’s newly established parliament.
dynamic growth. “The
If Suu Kyi and all other political patties
most consequential
question facing are permitted to campaign free of restraint,
for both her own seat and to boost the
[Burma] . . . is not [its]
electoral chances of her NLD colleagues
relationship with the
and others , it will be clear that Thein Sein
United States or with
and his government are truly determined to
any other nation,”
bring their country in from the cold and
Secretary Clinton Said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a press confer- Gen. Than Shwe’s so-called discipline
“It is whether leaders
ence in Naypyidaw, during her historic visit in Burma. democratic system. ##

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PRESS RELEASE

ARNO WELCOMES THE VISIT OF US SECRETARY OF STATE TO BURMA

Arakan Rohingya National Organisation The regime has black-
(ARNO) warmly welcomes the forthcoming listed the name
visit of US Secretary of State Hillary ‘Rohingya’ despite the
Rodham Clinton to Burma, while inviting fact that Rohingya as
her attention to the grave human rights an ethnic group of

violations and growing anti-Rohingya Burma was recog-

propaganda by U Thein Sein government nized by the former

and sate patronized racists. parliamentary govern-

Grave human rights violations that ment (1948-1962). It is
amount to crimes against humanity are a part of the regime’s
widespread in Rohingya and other ethnic malevolent design to
areas. Most political prisoners are not deny the Rohingya of
released; Burmese military offensive their ethnic rights in
against Kachin and other ethnic peoples Burma. Historically
continued; no significant changes towards and genealogically,

national reconciliation have been done. In the Rohingya are a

addition, ‘systematic racism’ against p e o p l e who developed

Rohingya has been institutionalized; and in Arakan from peo-

religious persecution against non- ples of different ethni-
Buddhist people especially Muslims and cal backgrounds over
Christians has been increased. the many centuries.
It is worth-mentioning that the rejection Democratic and politi-
of Rohingya’s citizenship rights and eth- cal changes in Burma
nic rights by U Thein Sein government is cannot be expected US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton: Her historic
the main contributing factor to the growth unless all oppressive
visit to Burma opens a new chapter. Arakan Rohingya
of the refugee problem and boat people l a w s are scrapped.
National Organisation (ARNO) warmly welcomes the visit.
crisis in the region. The Junta’s policy The regime continues

towards Rohingyas has been intolerable. applying, on the

The extreme situation forced them to R o h i n g y a i n particular, the Burma Citizen- business.
prefer to take perilous voyages by rickety ship Law of 1982 enacted by former 3 ) To find a permanent solution to the
boats across seas and oceans; as a result dictator U Ne Win, in violation of custom- Rohingya boat people crisis
hundreds of Rohingya boat people ary international law. This unjust law has 4) To accept Rohingya as a part of the
drowned over the years. put the Rohingya in a situation of B u r ma’s democratic and political process
Since last week about 140 boat people statelessness. along the line of other ethnic nationalities
have drowned. But the Nasaka border We, therefore, urge upon the U.S. o f the country.

security forces disallow the villagers to Secretary of State to highlight over the 5) To scrap the Burma Citizenship Law of

collect and bury the dead bodies floating following issues during her visit to Burma: 1982.

in the Naf River. The government of U 1) To restore citizenship rights and ethnic 6) To stop attacking ethnic peoples, declare

Thein Sein is responsible for this human rights of the Rohingya people. To stop a nationwide ceasefire; and to release all
t ragedy. It is a regional problem with inter- persecution and human rights violations political prisoners.
n ational dimension; and the regional bloc against Rohingya and other peoples. 7) To engage in a meaningful process of
o f ASEAN in which Burma was awarded 2) To treat Rohingyas as human beings, dialogue with the ethnic nationalities and
c hairmanship for 2014, has an obligation and lift all restrictions on their freedom of the democracy movement led by Daw Aung
f or a regional solution. movement, marriage, education, trade and San Suu Kyi. ##

THREE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL STUDENTS JAILED
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Thursday, 24 November 2011 town in 2010 for religious studies. After Chairman explained. The MLOB appeals to
the madrasa was closed, they were t h e i nternational community, represented
Mrauk-U, Arakan State: Three religious
returning to their homes by steamer dur- by ASEAN, the UN, the Organization of the
students were jailed on November 4,
ing June 2011. However, a Mrauk-U immi- Islamic conference, and all democratic
2011. They were arrested while
gration officer arrested the three for not countries to help stop this persecution of
traveling to their hometowns from having movement passes. the minority Muslims in Arakan. ## Sources:
Kyauktaw where they had been “The three were tried in court, and The Kaladan Press and Press Release of MLOB
studying at a madrasa (religious
each was sentenced to two and half years’
school), according to a Muslim
imprisonment on November 4”, a relative "NICE TO MEET YOU! LET ME HELP YOU
Liberation Organization of Burma
(MLOB) statement. of one of the victims said from Sittwe THROUGH......"
(Akyab), who declined to be named. One
The three were Md. Haleb (32),
was sent to Sittwe (Akyab) jail and the two
son of Ibrahim and Alam Gir (18),
S other were sent to Rangoon, according to
son of Md. Nasir, both from Kong-
the MLBO statement in against the
Wbaung village in Mrauk-U and Noor
Muslims, which continue The Arakanese
EShofi (18), son of Abdu Salam, from Muslim community is concerned by the
Setkya village section of Minbya
continuous persecution even under the
NTownship.”
President Thein Sein’s new civilian
The three first went to Kyauktaw

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NEWS FEATURES

BBC REPORT STIRS ANTI-ROHINGYA SENTIMENT By FRANCIS WADE

9 November 2011 (BBC) preferential treatment Amended map first published on BBC
by groups like the Inter-
A BBC report from last November that
carried a map depicting Arakan state as national Organisation on 6 November 2010 (BBC)
populated by the ethnic Rohingya minority for Migration, and that
money is given to them
has caused anger in Burma, and once
at the expense of other
again brought to the fore accusations of
Arakanese, but we feel
entrenched racism within Burmese
this is a misconcep-
society.
tion,” he said.
Although published a year ago, and
Unlike many
since corrected, the BBC report has
Arakanese, Rohingya
circulated rapaciously on the internet in
are prevented from
recent weeks, and has become the subject
of a number of blog posts either criticising travelling freely outside
the BBC for implying the Rohingya are of specially-designated
zones, and are often
part of the Burmese population, or
subject to racial and
lamenting Buthe vitriolic responses its
religious persecution.
report has attracted.
Up to 400,000 are living
The map in question demarcates areas
as refugees in
of Burma as belonging to specific ethnic
neighbouring Bangla-
groups, albeit somewhat erroneously: the
desh, having fled
Shan, for instance, are said to inhabit only
decades of maltreat-
a third of modern-day Shan state, and the
Karen are shown as the main ethnic group ment at the hands of the
in Irrawaddy division. military and local
civilians.
Following the publication, the BBC’s
An article last week on
B urmese Facebook page was hit with
the New Mandala blog,
h undreds of complaints, some from
run by academics from
m onks, calling on the organisation to
the Australia National
issue a public apology and even remove
University, said the
any reference to Rohingya from the map.
cries of protest were
Failing to apologise should result in a boy-
somewhat hypocriti-
cott of the BBC, some even argued.
The BBC has since amended the map cal.“…although Arakan
t o include ‘Rakhine’, the name given by ethnic members very
often talk against major-
t he government to Arakanese, as also
ity ethnic Bur-mans (or
p opulating the state, but anger continues
Bamar) for what they
t o boil.
call the ‘colonization of
Many Burmese believe the Rohingya to
Arakan’ ‘Burmanization’
be of Bengali origin that over centuries
and Burmese chauvin-
have migrated to western Burma, a senti-
ism, they now mobilize
ment shared by the Burmese government
the entire Burmese
which denies them citizenship and which
f or decades has meted out hefty treatment population against Ro-
a gainst the group, forcing hundreds of hingyas to ‘protect
Burma and its ‘national
t housands to flee the country. Rohingya
races’.”
s upport groups say however that there is Among critics of the Rohingya are was intended to flag up minority peoples in
evidence that Islam existed in high-profile Burmese, including Berlin- Burma’s border regions who are prominent
Burma prior to the now-dominant based historian Khin Maung Saw, whose because they are engaged in either
Theravada Buddhism, and that the
Rohingya’s roots in Arakan state go paper, “Islamization of Burma Through disputes or conflict with the Burmese gov-
S Chittagonian Bengalis as ‘Rohingya e rnment.
back centuries.
E Refugees’, triggered angry responses. The line linking the Rohingya to Arakan
Rumours circulated in Rangoon
R today that a protest would be held Widespread anger was also vented at state was not intended to imply ownership
U outside the British embassy over current Burmese ambassador to the UN, of the stste or to marginalize the Rakhine
Ye Myint Aung. During his tenure as p eople, but simply to the readers the state
the BBC report, although except for
T Consul-General to Hong Kong, he wrote in in which Rohingya live. The text linked to
A a number of local and foreign a letter to other heads of mission, and the image of the Rohingya makes it clear
E journalists, little appeared to c o p ying in international newspapers, that that they are not granted Burmese citizen-
happen. Jeremy Hodges, deputy
F head of mission at the embassy, Burma’s ethnic Rohingya were “ugly as ship. We have now adjusted the line on our
ogres”. map to give a clearer picture of where the
told DVB that he had made himself
S On Saturday, October 29, 2011 BBC Rohingya are to be found. We have also
available to accept any petition that
W may have been circulated among replied News Online Complaints as below: added a section featuring the Rakhine
people.
E protestors, but that nothing was in Thank you for your comments. The map Thank you for reading the BBC News
sight. was not intended as an exclusive look at
N website. Regards/ BBC News Website. ##
Rohingya are singled out for every minority group in Burma. Rather it

A ARRAAKKAANN M MAAGGAAZIZNINE E I I SNEOPVTEEMMBBEERR I S SISUSEU E2 0 21011 1 7 5
HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUSE

ANTI-ROHINGYA CAMPAIGNS, VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS BY NURUL ISLAM , UK.

In recent months, series of anti- to use the words Arakan/Arakanese for include U Khin Maung Saw of Berlin, start

E
U Rohingya campaigns afloat inside them. About 16 Rakhines had, on 16 a r g u i n g without shame that ‘Rohingya’ is
S and outside of Burma. To the N o v e m ber 2011, protested in front of the the other name of Rakhine as it derived
S surprise of everyone, inflammatory BBC in London demanding apology from from ‘Rohang’, a Bengali name for Arakan.”

I writings are often posted on a few BBC for suitably spotting the Rohingya as 1 But Dr. Michael W. Charney, School of
S websites, face books and blogs that an ethnic group in Arakan in a report with Oriental and African Studies (SOAS),
T
reveal deep-seated ill-will against a map, made in October 2010, by its U n i v e rsity of London, writes,
H
G the peace loving Rohingyas. reporter Anna Jone. Why this protest after “The earliest recorded use of an
I Propaganda against Rohingya nearly a year of its publication! It was due ethnonym immediately recognizable as
R
has long been launched by the t o t h e government’s intimidating attitude Rohingya is an observation by Francis

N Burmese military dictatorship with and instigation of some Rakhine B u c h a n a n i n 1799. As he explains, a dialect
A some Rakhine intellectuals and poli- xenophobic academics and leaders. One that was derived from Hindi …is that
M
ticians. Now it reached the new wonders whether similar protests would spoken by the Mohammedans, who have

U quasi-military government’s highest b e m ade against UN, USA, U.K. and E.U. long been settled in Arakan, and who call
H
political institution, the parliament for their use of the word “Rohingya” for themselves Roainga, or native of Arakan”.
in Naypyidaw. The regime and M u s l im Arakanese. He further mentions, “it can be asserted,

xenophobes denied the existence of I t i s almost seven decades now (from however, that one claim of the Buddhist
Rohingya as an ethnic group and alleged 1942) the extremist Rakhines are harping school in Rakhaing historiography, that
that Rohingyas are illegal Bengalis o n t h e tune of Muslim extermination Rohingya was an invention of the colonial
e ntered into Arakan from Bangladesh. prompting state terrorism. Half of their period, is contradicted by the evidence.”2
T his concocted propaganda was met with population have either been expelled or Thus, the word “Rohingya” was not
s trong condemnation from Rohingya h ave had to leave their homeland for their coined but a historical name for Muslim
communities worldwide. There were lives. Despite colossal damages in terms Arakanese. There is still Muslim village in

global protests in front of the Burmese of human lives, properties and civilization, Akyab (Sittwe) city by the name of

embassies on 15 September 2011. The the Muslim Rohingya are still living site by Rohingya Para.

protest rally held in London was joined by site with their Rakhine compatriots. Unknown is the word ‘Arakan’ for its people
l eaders and activists belonging to almost Anti-Rohingya propaganda A r a k an is the name of the country, not
a ll Burma ethnic groups and democracy is like a boomerang the name of its people. Accordingly,
m ovements, some local supporters and unknown is the word Arakan for its people.
Misinformation and actions against
N GOs. Speakers emphasised that the But now Rakhines are calling themselves
Rohingyas recoil on the regime, particu-
R ohingya are a part of the Burma’s also Arakan, which is a distortion never in
larly when it claims to have been taking
s ociety, and identified that they are worst use before. Arakan is a place name; and it
measures for political and democratic
v iWcthimy iss tohfi sh uamntai-nR roihgihntgsy av iporlaotpiaognasn. da? rcehfaonrmges ,i s adltohnoeu. gThh e uinnttiel rnnaotiwon avle cryo mlmittule- bcoelmomngusn ittoie sa lol f iRtso hpienogpylae sa.n dIt sR atwkhoi nme aajorer
The propaganda against Rohingya is to be called as “Rohingya Arakanese” and
nity will continue identifying the regime
an undemocratic campaign. The intention “Rakhine Arakanese” when attributing the
committing crimes against humanity.
behind is to deny the Rohingya of their name of their homeland to their respective
Similarly the extremist Rakhines will be
rights and freedom -- their ethnic rights names.
and citizenship rights. For the regime it is branded as non-state actors committing Muslim rule in Arakan
international crimes. Their fanatical
(i) to divert the minds of the Burmese p atriotism is a contributing factor to the Muslims played the phenomenal role of
people away from the current political growth of anarchism, violence, chaos and kingmakers in Arakan. Its heyday began
stalemate and ongoing civil war, where lawlessness in the country. It is really with the spread of Islamic civilization.
chemical weapons were used against the sham and shame to speak of democracy “Islam spread and deeply rooted in Arakan
Kachin people, causing outflows of w i t h o u t practice. In a democratic society, since 8th century from where it further
refugees and grave humanitarian crisis; there is no room for discrimination, s p r e a d into interior Burma”. 3 In fact,
(ii) to continue dividing the two sister exploitation, social injustice, the degrad- “Arakan was virtually ruled by Muslims
communities of Rohingya and Rakhine on ing concept of ‘prime nation’ and f r o m 1 4 3 0 to 1531” 4 to the extent that it
cultural and religious lines. For the
‘sub-nation’, on ground of race, religion, was turned into a sultanate. Arakan was
Rakhines, it is an opportunity to make a
colour, culture and political opinion. depicted as an Islamic State in the map of
clean sweep of the Rohingyas, using the
The word ‘Rohingya’ The Times Complete History of the World,
state oppressive apparatus, for their
showing cultural division of Southeast Asia
Like former military regimes, U Thein Sein
exclusive ownership of Arakan without (distribution of major religions) in 1500.
government has blacklisted the word
Muslims, in line with their popular slo- (Edited by Richard Overy, eighth edition
“Rohingya” in Burma. It might want to
gans. Arakan is for Rakhine; Rakhine and 2010, page 148.). These are enough
appease Rakhines under the policy of
Buddhism are synonymous”. Few
“divide and rule”. It might also be due in evidences that the Muslims or Rohingyas
misguided people are seemed to have
part to the influence of xenophobic a r e i n d i g enous to Arakan.
been allured to the anti-Rohingya trap. Acceptance of Rohingya as
Rakhine politicians and academics. How-
Upon knowing the Thein Sein
ever, the analysts say that it is a neces- an ethnic nationality
government’s hostile attitude towards
R ohingyas, the Rakhines backed by the sary evil for the dictatorship to make the On the basis of the historical evidence,
R akhine National Democratic Party Rohingyas scapegoats. They lied that the the Rohingya as an ethnic group was rec-
( RNDP) organized anti-Rohingya meetings word “Rohingya” is nonexistent, unheard ognized by the parliamentary government
i n the cities of Rangoon and Akyab and and a creation of Mujahids (Muslim rebels) that ruled Burma from independence in
s ome towns in Arakan preaching extreme and/or Rohingya leaders in 1951. When 1948 to 1958 and 1960 to 1962, which
hatred against the Rohingyas. They the name ‘Rohingya’ is substantiated with stated, “The Rohingya is as the same par in
w arned that the Rohingyas have no rights historical evidence, the imposters, who the status of nationality with Cont. P. 7

ARAKAN MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER ISSUE 2011 8
HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE www.rohingya.org I info@ rohingya.org

From P.6 Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Mon, Rohingya as an ethnic group. All these are by some Rakhines, “why the Muslims of
R akhine and Shan.” As such, together well documented, yet the regime and Arakan did not call themselves Rohingya
w ith other ethnic nationalities of the coun- vested interest groups behave like an b e f ore and during Burmese independence”.
t ry, the Rohingya representatives partici- ostrich. They are blind to see and are deaf The answer is simple and pure. During
pated as state guests in the Union Day to hear. Human rights or nationality rights independence period, the Rohingya offered

Celebration held in Rangoon on 12 Febru- of a people can be promoted and further an olive branch to fellow Rakhines and

ary every year. enhanced, but in no way it can be revoked tried to develop an integrated political
Before the Rakhine language was put in or downgraded. culture, based on the common national
t he programme, the Rohingya language Rohingya ethnic identity aspiration of “Arakaneseness”, through
w as relayed trice a week from the indige- deserves protection rapprochement with the spirit of “Rohingya
n ous language programme of the official It was the democratic government Rakhine Bhai Bhai” or “Rohingya Rakhine
B urma Broadcasting Service, Rangoon, which recognized Rohingya as an ethnic Twin brothers.” But the Rakhine politicians
f rom 15 May 1961 to 30 October 1965 that group. So, every responsible and credible were not receptive to the proposal. They
i s, nearly four years further beyond the government that comes to power has c l a i m ed that Arakanese and Buddhism are
s eizure of power by Gen. Ne Win. The r e s ponsibility to safeguard, protect and synonymous and the Muslims or Rohingya
R angoon University Rohingya Students promote Rohingya’s ethnic identity in are outsiders. By bad luck, the extremists
Association was one of the many ethnic Burma. Similarly good oppositions or a m ong them preferred to serve as the
s tudent associations that functioned from political parties have moral obligation to instrument of Rohingya oppression. This
1 959 to 1961 under the registration num- look into it. To this concern we earnestly terrible predicament, arising out of the
b ers 113/99 December 1959 and 7/60 i n v i t e the attention of Burma’s democracy ‘policy of exclusiveness’ of the Rakhine,
S eptember 1960 respectively. In official icon and the leader of the National League called for the use of their exclusive ethnic
M yanmar Encyclopaedia Vol.9, 1964, for Democracy (NLD) Daw Aung San Suu name “Rohingya” in order to protect their
p ages 89/90 the historic narration was Kyi. Daw Suu may be aware that the l e g i t i m a te rights and privileges. They
g iven in detail concerning Rohingya while Rohingya people have been supporting cannot be blamed or deprived of their his-
a ffirming that 75% of the population in NLD with a high expectation on her. torically inherent ethnic name “Rohingya”
M ayu Frontier is Rohingya. In the map of Alleged terrorist links, a conspiracy for not claiming it at a given time in the
the High School Geography, published in interest of solidarity and peaceful coexis-
B SPP period, giving the distribution of against Rohingya tence among the peoples of Arakan.
n ational races in Burma, northern Arakan It is paradoxical to accuse the Rohingya Last Words:
i s spotted as a region of Rohingya o r g a n i z a tions and freedom fighters to The Rohingya with a long history in
s ettlement. There are many other evi- have link with terrorist organizations. The Arakan are an integral part of Burma’s
sources they have referred to include
d ences. Over and above, the Special Mayu society. They are peace-loving; yet they are
SLORC/SPDC; and they are highly
F rontier District was created for not tolerated and are persecuted in Burma
controversial as they are largely unsub-
R ohingya’s development. for their religion and ethnicity. Rohingyas
stantiated. They are simply guesswork to
They are blind and deaf are living together with their Rakhine

hoodwink the international community to
The regime and xenophobic Rakhines serve the interests of the Burmese regime compatriots in the same place, drinking the
continue to reject Rohingya simply same water and breathing the same air.
and vested interest groups.
alleging that they are illegal immigrants There is no reason to be antagonistic to
It is important to take cognizance of the
from Bangladesh. Some members of the each other; it will damage both Rohingya
democracy movement agree with the a c t u a l situation of the Rohingya people, and Rakhine, and their children. Unless
regime and critics that Rohingya do not who are victims of state terrorism. Their both peoples cultivate a political will to
movement is a struggle for their survival
exist, and that they are not Burmese change this miserable condition, they are
and existence with human dignity and
citizens. Like the regime, they will only bound to end up with humiliation in the
rights. They have time and again
accept the existence of foreign Bengali abyss of their history. Let us revive our
condemned terrorism of any forms and
Muslims in Arakan. They lack political will traditional relationship for the future of our
declared that they were (and are) not part
to accept the recognition of Rohingya by of any other movement(s) or group(s) succeeding generations. Let us work
U Nu parliamentary government. Similarly together on democratic principles with
outside of Burma. In spite of that, for
they never notice what the former mutual respect, love and affection. This is
being Muslims, the regime and vested
President of Burma, Sao Shwe the only way to salvation!
interest groups are trying to stain them to
Thaike, said, “Muslims of Arakan Notes and References :-
have link with terrorist groups or terrorism
certainly belong to one of the in-
particularly after 11 September. 1.“Islamization of Burma Through Chittagonian
digenous races of Burma. If they do The human rights violations against the Bengalis as Rohingya Refugees”, U Khin
not belong to the indigenous races, Rohingya are systematic, persistent and Maung Saw.
E we also cannot be taken as 2. Dr. Michael W. Charney, “Buddhism in Arakan:
U widespread that amount to crimes against
Indigenous races.”5 Theory and Historiography of the Religious
S humanity. Despite this, can anyone cite a
S The declaration of Rohingya as an single example that the Rohingya ever did Bofa Asirsa koaf nth We oErtkhsnhoonpy,m 2”3,- 2F4o rNgoovtteemnb Keirn 2g0d0o5m,
I ethnic group, along the line of other any excess, wrong and injustice in Bangkok, P.15; In Buchanan, “A comparative
S ethnic nationalities by a Prime Min-
Burma? Rohingya organizations are dead Vocabulary,” p.55
T ister of sovereign State was essen-
H against narcotic trade and any activities 3.“Sasana Ronwas Htunzepho” a book published
G tially a matter of national impor- causing instability in the region. But they by SLORC in 1979.
I tance with human rights or national- are made scapegoats. It requires in-depth 4. Ba Shin, “Coming of Islam to Burma 1700 AD”,
R ity rights concern. So far, no quarter A research paper presented at Azad Bhavan,
study before anyone is writing on
N or political parties, including New Delhi in 1961, p.4.
Rohingya who are dying alive only be-
A leading Rakhine Ra-Ta-Nya party, 5. “The Rohingyas: Bengali Muslims or Arakan
M had opposed it. Not this merely causeM oufs tlhimeisr dreidli gniootn c alanidm e‘Rthonhiicnigtyy.a ’ M Puaspleimr N”,o E.2u,r 2o0 B09u.r m aIn O Dfrfi.c Sea (nE BOOo )A Burniegf.i n g
HU btiount aAlsFoP FcLo u(nSttrayb’sle )l eaodf inUg Boap pSowsie- before Burma independence, why? http://sanooaung.wordpress.com 22 January
2008. ##
and U Kyaw Nyein had recognized There is an argument posed specially

ARAKAN MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER ISSUE 2011 9
www.rohingya.org I info@ rohingya.org
NEWS ARTICLE

US BASED ROHINGYA DELEGATION PARTICIPATES IN CONFERENCE ON BURMA IN WASHINTON, DC.

November 16, 2011, West Coast, USA
.

The Director General of Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU),

Prof. Dr. Wakar Uddin, and the Co-founder of Free Rohingya

Campaign, Nay San Oo, attended the Conference on Burma
t itled “China-Myanmar Relations: The Dilemma of Mutual

Dependence” in early November, at the Georgetown University

in Washington, D.C. The conference consisted four different

Panel Sessions, and the Panel Session II focused on the
m inority issues titled “Myanmar/Minority Perspectives”.
A significant component of this session covered the
m inority issues in the eastern frontier regions of Burma; how-
e ver, Rohingya issue in the western frontier also captured the
attention from the audience and the panel when ARU
Director General Prof. Dr. Wakar Uddin raised human

rights and citizenship issues faced by the Rohingya

ethnic minority in Arakan State in Burma. Dr. Uddin spe-
E
cifically directed his questions to Tom Kramer of Trans-
L
national Institute who addressed the Rohingya issues at
Prof. Dr. Mary Callahan (University of Washington), Prof. Dr. David
C a great length based on his experiences in Burma.
Steinberg (Georgetown University), Prof. Dr. Wakar Uddin (Director
I Addressing Dr. Uddin’s questions about the ploys
T by the ultra-racist Rakhine National Democratic Party General, Arakan Rohingya Union) and Nay San Oo (Co-founder, Free
Rohingya Campaign) at Burma Conference in Washington, D.C.
R (RNDP) to discredit the Rohingya parliamentarians and
A RNDP’s hostile moves against Rohingya ethnic N a y S a n Oo had an opportunity to meet separately with Mr. Frank
minority, Mr. Kramer provided transparent and in-depth Jannuzi, (Policy Director) East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the United
S assessments of the post-election situation in Rohingya States Senate on Foreign Relations Committee. Nay San Oo specifi-
W regions in Northern Arakan. Mr. Kramer’s assessment cally expressed where Rohingyas have been brutally discriminated

accurately reflected the rapidly deteriorating situation in by Burmese Regime and briefed about how 1982 Citizenship Law
E Arakan. The reports of RNDP’s approach to some major renders the Rohingya stateless. A number of journalists from the
N ethnic parties to form an alliance was discussed in press in Washington had spoken to Dr. Uddin and Nay San Oo to
Panel Session II that substantiate the earlier reports of arrange for interviews similar to that of the Radio Free Asia with Dr.
anti-Rohingya maneuvering of the radical RNDP in U d d i n in October. ## Source : ARU Secretariat, USA.
Arakan and Naypyitaw at a high level.

BGB ARRESTS 16 BOAT- PEOPLE, 33 PUSHED BACK TO BURMA 47 ROHINGYAS PUSHED BACK TO BURMA

Monday, 21 November 2011, KALADAN NEWS Thursday, 24 November 2011 Kaladan News
Teknaf, Bangladesh: Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested 16 boat-people Teknaf, Bangladesh: The Border Guard

while going to Malaysia with rickety engine boat from Shapuri Dip and another 33
Bangladesh (BGB) arrested 47 Rohingyas on
Rohingyas - arrested from Whaikong BGB check-post - were pushed back to
November 21 at several border points. All were
Burma on November 19, according to BGB official statement.
sent back to Burma the same day at about 2:00
“Among the arrested 16 boat-people are seven Rohingya and nine Bangladeshi.
pm, according to a BGB official.
BGB of Shapuri Dip, outpost camp seized a boat with suspected from the Shapuri “The BGB arrested the Rohingyas between
Dip jetty which was boarding some people who were coming from Burma and Shapuri Dip and Taungbro as they entered
waiting some people who will come from Cox’s Bazar and local Shapuri Dip to Bangladesh for a variety of reasons. They
join the trip at noon.”
arrested 17 Rohingyas in the Nayapa area, 8 in
The owner of the boat is Ismail, son of Haji Salay, hailed from Barmaya Para
the Dum Dum Meah area, 21 at Zeman Khali and
of Shapuri Dip, said a fisherman from Shapuri Dip. Most of the engine-boats were
1 at Shapuri Dip, in total 47 members,” the

going to Malaysia after getting understanding among Dalals (agents), local BGB
official said.
m embers and Coast Guards, otherwise, the boat-people will be arrested, said a
The BGB has increased its border patrols.
l ocal elder from Shapuri Dip who denied to be named. “The well-known agents
Rohingya people are frequently caught and sent
f rom Shapuri Dip are:- Dolu Hussain, Mozi Bullah, Monna, Shaker, Amin, Shobbir,
back to Burma, said a local elder from border
K ana Jaffar, Kobira, Jaffar, Rejaul Karim, Nurul Alam, Rahim Ullah Younous, a r ea who didn’t give a name.
N azir Ahmed Bulu, Amin.” The Whaikong BGB also seized medicine
Besides, on November 18, at night, three agents were arrested including Nurul valued at roughly Taka 361,500 being smuggled
Islam and Belal by police from Nonna Sara of Cox’s Bazar while preparing to
through the border to Bangladesh from Burma,
board on some boat- people into an engine trawler. But, nearly 40 persons were
the BGB official stated.
fled after sensing the presence of police and coast-guard. It is learnt that it will go
The BGB also seized about 1,000 yaba

to Shapuri Dip for boarding boat-people after boarding people from Cox’s Bazar.
tablets on Teknaf—Cox’s Bazar road. The drugs
M ost of the people are Rohingya refugees, said SI of Cox’s Bazar police station.
originated in Arakan State, Burma. This informa-
Abdullah (36) – a refugee - son of Abdul Amin from D-2 Block of Kutupalong camp
tion was confirmed by the 42 BGB Battalion
w as arrested with suspicion and released after interrogation for not involving in
Commander, Lt. Col Zahid Hassan of Teknaf. ##
t he human trafficking, said Zahirul Islam, an officer of Coast Guard. Police super
(Model cycle) of Cox’s Bazar Sayed Tofayel Ahmed confirmed the incident. It is a
s uitable time for the boat-people as the sea is calm in winter, so that boat-people
can go easily to Malaysia by sea route, said a trader from Shapuri Dip. ##

ARAKAN MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER ISSUE 2011 10