WASHINGTON - A prominent Muslim civil rights and advocacy organisation Friday sent letters to the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh seeking protection for Rohingya Muslims who are facing a renewed wave of ethnic and religious persecution.The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also urged the international community to address the suffering of the almost one million Rohingya in Myanmar (formerly Burma), as well as those who have fled to neighbouring
Bangladesh.According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), which Wednesday released a report on the humanitarian crisis, “Even when Rohingya Muslims are able to flee to the relative safety of Bangladesh, they face hostility and rejection.” On Thursday, Bangladeshi authorities ordered three international aid agencies not to help the Rohingyas fleeing to that nation.In its letter to Myanmar President Thein Sein, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad wrote in part:“Your government must take urgent steps to end human rights violations by its security forces and to allow unimpeded access for relief organisations and international monitors seeking to enter affected areas. Once calm is restored, Myanmar must revise its 1982 Citizenship Law, which effectively denies citizenship to Rohingya Muslims.“We urge you to cooperate with the international community to take immediate measures to address the ongoing killings and abuse of Rohingya Muslims.” In a similar letter to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Awad wrote: “The government of Bangladesh, with the support of the international community, must offer full humanitarian assistance to those forced to flee Myanmar. Denial of this assistance will inevitably result in even greater suffering, which we should all seek to prevent.” AFP adds: France said Friday it regretted a decision by Bangladesh to stop three non-governmental organisations from helping Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in neighbouring Myanmar.“Until a lasting peace is established in (Myanmar’s) Rakhine state, we urge the authorities in Dhaka not to send back from the border people whose lives are under threat,” a French foreign ministry spokesman said.Two of the three charities affected by the Bangladesh government’s decision are French: Doctors Without Borders (Medecins sans Frontieres, MSF) and Action Against Hunger.Britain’s Muslim Aid UK has also been told to suspend its services in the Cox’s Bazaar district bordering Myanmar. The Bangladesh authorities maintain that the aid provided by the charities has encouraged the Rohingya - a Muslim minority in predominately Buddhist Myanmar - to cross the border.Aid workers say the Rohingya have little option but to flee in the face of sectarian attacks in Myanmar and fear the latest move could result in a humanitarian disaster. Bangladesh estimates that there are now some 300,000 Rohingya living on its territory after having fled Myanmar.
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Bangladesh.According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), which Wednesday released a report on the humanitarian crisis, “Even when Rohingya Muslims are able to flee to the relative safety of Bangladesh, they face hostility and rejection.” On Thursday, Bangladeshi authorities ordered three international aid agencies not to help the Rohingyas fleeing to that nation.In its letter to Myanmar President Thein Sein, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad wrote in part:“Your government must take urgent steps to end human rights violations by its security forces and to allow unimpeded access for relief organisations and international monitors seeking to enter affected areas. Once calm is restored, Myanmar must revise its 1982 Citizenship Law, which effectively denies citizenship to Rohingya Muslims.“We urge you to cooperate with the international community to take immediate measures to address the ongoing killings and abuse of Rohingya Muslims.” In a similar letter to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Awad wrote: “The government of Bangladesh, with the support of the international community, must offer full humanitarian assistance to those forced to flee Myanmar. Denial of this assistance will inevitably result in even greater suffering, which we should all seek to prevent.” AFP adds: France said Friday it regretted a decision by Bangladesh to stop three non-governmental organisations from helping Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in neighbouring Myanmar.“Until a lasting peace is established in (Myanmar’s) Rakhine state, we urge the authorities in Dhaka not to send back from the border people whose lives are under threat,” a French foreign ministry spokesman said.Two of the three charities affected by the Bangladesh government’s decision are French: Doctors Without Borders (Medecins sans Frontieres, MSF) and Action Against Hunger.Britain’s Muslim Aid UK has also been told to suspend its services in the Cox’s Bazaar district bordering Myanmar. The Bangladesh authorities maintain that the aid provided by the charities has encouraged the Rohingya - a Muslim minority in predominately Buddhist Myanmar - to cross the border.Aid workers say the Rohingya have little option but to flee in the face of sectarian attacks in Myanmar and fear the latest move could result in a humanitarian disaster. Bangladesh estimates that there are now some 300,000 Rohingya living on its territory after having fled Myanmar.
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