MMEA Arrest 128 Rohingya Boat People In Langkawi Waters

The MMEA had arrested 128 Rohingya people in Langkawi waters some 5 nautical miles from Pulau Rebak on December 24. The group include 4 women and 9 children. The arrest was made by an MMEA patrol boat at around 1700H. The coast guards on board the patrol boat became suspicious when they saw a cargo boat here in the local waters. The boat people were then taken to Bukit Malut jetty for further investigation.

This has been the second incidents involving Rohingya people and the MMEA within a period of a few days. Earlier on December 18, the MMEA has sent a patrol boat to fetch 40 Rohingya people that were rescued by a Vietnamese ship after their boat had shipwrecked at Bay of Bengal about two weeks earlier.(here)

Many of the ethnic Rohingya from Myanmar had tried to seek refuge and asylum in Malaysia in order to evade prosecution from the majority ethnic Rakhine in their homeland. At least 300 people have died trying to get to Malaysia in two separate incidents. (here and here)

Source Malaysia Flying Herald:

Amnesty International's T. Kumar to Speak at the Islamic Society of North America's Convention

Amnesty International's T. Kumar to Speak at the Islamic Society of North America's Convention Advocacy Director T. Kumar to Speak on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma) Contact: Carolyn Lang, clang@aiusa.org, 202-675-8759 /EINPresswire.com/ (Washington, D.C.) -- Amnesty International Advocacy Director T. Kumar will address the Islamic Society of North America's 49th Annual Convention "One Nation Under God: Striving for the Common Good," in regards to the minority community of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma) on Saturday, September 1, at 11:30 am at the Washington DC Convention Center.

American Buddhists Promote 969 Movement With Website

Irrawaddy News: July 9, 2013 A group of American Buddhists has launched an English-language website promoting the 969 movement, in response to negative media surrounding the ultra-nationalist Buddhist campaign in Burma. The website aims to dispel “myths” about the movement, with a letter from nationalist monk Wirathu to a Time magazine reporter whose article about 969 was banned in Burma. “We’re not officially endorsed by Ven Wirathu at this time but will send a delegation to his monastery soon,” a spokesperson for the site said via email, adding that the group would create a nonprofit to coordinate “969 activities worldwide in response to religious oppression.”

Rohingya Activist Nominated for Human Rights Award

PHR congratulates Zaw Min Htut, a Burmese Rohingya activist, on his nomination for the 2011 US State Department Human Rights Defenders Award . Zaw Min Htut has been working for Rohingyas’ rights through the Burmese Rohingya Association of Japan since he fled Burma in 1998. Prior to that he was a student activist in Burma, and was detained for his participation in protests in 1996. In Japan, Zaw Min Htut has organized protests at the Burmese embassy and has written books on the history of Rohingya.

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