ANOTHER FINAL SOLUTION?THE CALLS MADE in the wake of June 2012, deadly sectarian violence in western Myanmar’s Arakan State between the ethnic Arakan Buddhists and the Rohingya (and non-Rohingya Muslim) communities is part of a long running saga of tension, racism and oppression, which has seen thousands die and hundreds of thousands displaced over the last many decades.

The current cycle of violence broke out after unconfirmed reports of the rape and murder of an Arakan woman in the town of Ramri, allegedly by three Muslim men, were circulated on the 28th May 2012. Details of the crime were listed in a local incendiary pamphlet, and on 3 June, a large group of Arakan villagers in Toungop stopped a bus and brutally killed 10 Muslim pilgrims on board. However the tensions and the oppression of Rohingya minority far predates the incident of 28 May 2012.

What was the Myanmar Government’s Response?

Human Rights Watch have confirmed that local police and soldiers stood by and watched the killings without intervening.1 On 10 June fearing the unrest would spread beyond the borders of Arakan State, the Myanmar President, Thein Sein, announced a state of emergency, transferring civilian power to the army in the affected areas of the state.2

A wave of concerted violence by various state security forces against Rohingya communities began. Rohingya in Narzi quarter — the largest Muslim area in Sittwe, home to 10,000 Muslims

— described how Arakan mobs burned down their homes on 12 June while the police and paramilitary Lon Thein forces opened fire on them with live ammunition.3

In northern Arakan State, violence towards the Rohingya was also systematically directed, where the Nasaka border guard force, the army, police, and Lon Thein committed killings, mass arrests, and looting against Rohingya.4

President Thein Sein in July told the United Nations that refugee camps or deportation was the “solution” for the Rohingya.5

Who are the Rohingya?According to the United Nations, the

Rohingya people live in Myanmar and are one of the world’s most persecuted minorities.6

The Rohingya’s historical presence in Myanmar was first documented in 1799 by Dr Francis Buchanan. Buchanan, a Scottish Physician, recorded in a “Comparative Vocabulary of Some of the Languages Spoken in the Burma Empire” how he came across Mahommedans settled at Arakan who call the country Rovinga.7

The Rohingya face widespread animosity from broader Myanmar society, including from

long-time pro-democracy advocates and members of ethnic nationalities who themselves have long faced oppression from the Burmese state. The Burmese state has categorically denied that the Rohingya are an ethnic group of Burma.

There remains deep-seated prejudice within Burma’s own ranks and Burmese society that manifests itself in discrimination and violence against the Rohingya population.8

MYANMAR PRESIDENT CALLS ON THE UN TO ESTABLISH REFUGEE CAMPS AND ALLOW FOR THE DEPORTATION OF ETHNIC ROHINGYA AS THE ‘ONLY SOLUTION’ TO WHAT HAS BECOME PERCEIVED IN BURMA AS THE ROHINGYA PROBLEM. A DANGER OF HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF?

WHAT CAN WE DO?This unfolding humanitarian tragedy has an

international dimension and requires determined support from all. By applying sustained pressure on the appropriate authorities, through our local communities, we can bring about change to this apartheid.

This is a human tragedy, and one which affects us all, irrespective of our colour, creed, race or religion. Therefore, please be generous with your time, wealth and support.

We can all help in raising awareness of the plight of the Rohingya people. Some of the practical steps and measures we can take are:

Raise the Rohingya people issue in your local communities, mosques, churches (and other faith institutions) and gatherings.

Seek to meet with members from the Rohingya communities in order to learn from them directly.

Contribute to media outlets including social networks. In particular the interfaith networks need to be mobilised to ensure that religious differences are not abused by the ethnic tensions

Lobby your local MP and bring local community pressure on them about the Rohingya people issue. To find out who your MP is go to http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

Local lobbying campaigns include Res t l ess Be ings who are active in media. visit: restlessbeings.org/petitions/2-lobbying-the-british-government-ethnic-cleansing-of-rohingya-in-myanmar

Write letters of protest to the Myanmar Embassy: Myanmar Embassy, Consulate Section, 19A Charles Street, Berkeley Square,London W1J 5DX Tel. 02033974463.

Lobby the Bangladesh Embassy in London and the Government to allow aid agencies to continue to work with existing refugees.

Encourage and contribute to charitable fund giving for the Rohingya people through registered charities, e.g. Muslim Aid.

MYANMAR (BURMA) EMERGENCY APPEAL

VISIT www.muslimaid.org/ramadan-2012/case-category/emergency-appeal

EMAIL mail@muslimaid.orgTEL +44 (0) 20 7377 4200

BY POST Muslim Aid, PO Box 3, E1 1WP

Make prayers for the safety and well-being of the poor, the weak and the vulnerable. Remember the woman, children and orphans of the Rohingya people.

What happens next?We will shortly be running a national

campaign highlighting the plight of Rohingya. Your local communities’ support continues to be welcomed and appreciated.

1. Human Rights Watch Report “The Government Could Have Stopped This - Sectarian Violence and Ensuing Abuses in Burma’s Arakan State” Published August 2012 hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/burma0812webwcover_0.pdf retrieved 7 August 20122. Democratic Voice of Burma– AFP report “Emergency rule declared in Arakan state” first published: 11 June 2012. dvb.no/news/emergency-rule-declared-in-arakan-state retrieved 7 August 2012.3. Human Rights Watch Report “The Government Could Have Stopped This - Sectarian Violence and Ensuing Abuses in Burma’s Arakan State” Published August 2012 hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/burma0812webwcover_0.pdf retrieved 7 August 20124. Ibid5. Agence France Presse “Myanmar Troops Opened fire on Rohingya

Muslims” published 1 August 2012 – news.yahoo.com/myanmar-troops-opened-fire-rohingya-muslims-085401909.html?_esi=1 retrieved 7 August 20126. Radio Free Asia “Government Forces Linked to Rohingya Abuses” published 1 August 2012 www.rfa.org/english/news/burma/rohingya-08012012152016.html retrieved 7 August 20127. SOAS Bulletin of Burma Research, Vol. 1, No., 1, Spring 2003, ISSN1479-8484 www.soas.ac.uk/sbbr/editions/file64276.pdf retrieved 7 August 20128. Human Rights Watch Report “The Government Could Have Stopped This - Sectarian Violence and Ensuing Abuses in Burma’s Arakan State” Published August 2012 hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/burma0812webwcover_0.pdf retrieved 7 August 2012

Where can I get further information?www.rmcg.org.ukinfo@rmcg.org.uk 07947 787 222 (SMS only)

07862 276 050

Rohingya Minority Crisis Group (RMCG) is a broad coalition consisting of community groups, charities, mosques, human rights groups and campaigners, which was formed

to campaign and raise greater awareness

around the plight of the Rohingya.

/rmcg1

@rmcg