The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Pro-democracy students holding a banner shout slogans during a demonstration outside the Burmese     Embassy in Bangkok, on Aug. 7, 2011. (Photo: AP)    IRRAWADDY WASHINGTON — Even after the formation of a new government following last year's general election, further reform in Burma is needed before the US can lift sanctions on the country, a key US lawmaker has said. “Sadly, Mr. Speaker, the regime in Burma has not made the necessary progress to justify lifting the restriction,” Californian Congresswoman Laura Richardson said in her speech on the floor of the US House of Representatives on Friday. Speaking in favor of House Resolution No 66, which if passed would extend US sanctions on Burma for another year, Richardson argued that in light of continuing human rights abuses in the country,  lifting economic sanctions at this time would send the wrong signal to the Burmese regime, the international community, and, most importantly, to dissidents working to bring real democrat

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  Maungdaw Township General Administrator (earlier known as Mayaka in Burmese) U Aung Kyaw Oo on July 22 released an order against the Rohingya community calling them Bengalis, said a local elder from Maungdaw Town. “In this notice, he mentioned that though an order has been released earlier for the Bengali people who have been living in Arakan State to use Form (4) when they want to go from one place to another, they do not use Form (4) for traveling. They carry temporary ID cards without taking Form (4).” In reality, Form (4) is only for foreigners, but the authorities force the Rohingya people to complete this form when traveling to other places. Otherwise, Rohingya travelers are not able to go other places. The authorities also force them to take Bengali names in place of Rohingya, said a trader from the locality. As a result, it is learnt that the travelers committed crimes against existing law Act No. (188), and the concerned authorities give punishme

Tekanf, Bangladesh:  The bodies of two fishermen, one Bangladeshi and one Rohingya, were recovered at the Naf riverbank of Shapuri Dip under Teknaf Union yesterday, said a local from Teknaf. On August 6, five fishermen went fishing in the river with a small engine boat from the east side of Shapuri Dip. The boat sank in the heavy rains and wind. After the boat sunk, three of the fishermen were rescued by another fishing boat, but two went missing. However, the two fishermen’s bodies were found at the Naf riverbank of Shapuri Dip after one day, said a fisherman. A trader from Teknaf said, “Heavy rainfall has continued along the border area for three days. There is plenty of water around the roadsides and farmlands of locals.” Mahabul Haqu, a police officer from Teknaf Police Station, confirmed that five fishermen went fishing with an engine boat, but their boat sank in the river. Three fishermen were rescued, but two were found dead. Besides, three days of heavy rain has des

The bullet holes at the Rangoon General Hospitals that snuff out the lives of doctors and nurses tending the wounded have long been fill up and the pools of blood in front of the American embassy has been washed away. The White Bridge at Inya Lake has cleansed, while Kyandaw crematorium where the Junta troops burnt both the dead and wounded has been renovated and green vegetation has grown tall over the mass graves. But for the Burmese people they are still hearing the silent moan of the wounded, the epic calling of the dead and the clarion call of the persecuted crying out for help or at least to do something so that the atrocities which they have suffered at the hands of the Burmese army will not repeat again to their younger generation.  One and a half decades have passed and still the men in uniform who have committed these indescribable atrocities are still in power and still continuing its brutalities as the Depayin episode indicates. There is no remorse, no request for forgiven