The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Burma  has told a UN rights envoy that it rejects accusations of abuse by security forces in the wake of communal unrest in western  Rakhine   State . Burma has told a UN rights envoy that it rejects accusations of abuse by security forces in the wake of communal unrest in western Rakhine State. The United Nations had raised fears of a crackdown on Muslims following violent conflict between the minority Muslim  Rohingya  community and the Buddhists in early June.

Rohingya Muslims in Burma complain of a catalogue of discrimination in their homeland By  Nay San Lwin BERLIN – The ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims was initiated in the 1970s with a long-time plan. Rohingyas were one of the recognized ethnic groups in Burma during the parliamentary government after the independence of the country. But a 1982 citizenship act was implemented by the world’s most notorious dictator Ne Win to make the Rohingya a ‘stateless” minority. The act imposes restrictions on Rohingyas in terms of marriage, travel, business and so on.

The UNHCR has started building shelters in several internally displaced persons camps in Rakhine State, a spokesman said on Friday. Some 80,000 people are estimated to be displaced as a result of clashes in communities in Rakhine State in western Burma, said the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). In Geneva, UN spokesperson Andrej Mahecic Mahecic also expressed concerns over three UNHCR staff members who have been detained in Rakhine State by the authorities.

"There are several hypocritical attempts ans steps taking by the government in Arakan to deceive the visiting UN Special Rapporteur, Mr. Tomas OjeaQuintana about the actual situation of Arakan and to cover up the crimescommitted against Rohingyas. Attempt 1 The authority are forcing the leaders of Rohingyas in Maung Daw and Buthidaung to say to Mr. Quintana that they are in peaceful situation and government has only arrested those who involved in the violence. 

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  Maungdaw authorities- Township and district administration offices – are designing the town with full of Human rights to welcome UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Tomas Quintana visit  the areas , according to an elder from Maungdaw. “We heard Mr. Tomas Quintana will visit tomorrow Maungdaw and Buthidaung and the Town authorities are preparing all things are under the control and town people –Rohingyas – are getting all facilities – movement, foods and religious.”

By Shibani Mahtani Greg Constantine  A woman and her grandchild sit on the side of the road at the Tal Makeshift Camp near the town of Teknaf, Bangladesh. Photojournalist Greg Constantine has spent the past seven years documenting the world’s stateless, from the Bihari people in Bangladesh and the Dalit in Nepal, to ex-Soviets living in Ukraine.

UN Human Rights Special Envoy Tomas OjeaQuintana, center, arrives at a hotel in Rangoon at the start of a seven day visit on Sunday, July 29, 2012. Quintana will visit the conflict-ridden Rakhine state and will meet with Burmese President Thein Sein. Photo: AFP The UN expert on human rights in Burma arrived in the country on Sunday, as dozens of Muslim governments and organizations have called on Burma to stop human rights abuses against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.

A leading expert on the Rohingya issue has said the international community should keep the pressure on the government of Myanmar to solve the ongoing crisis in Arakan state. "International actors should keep the pressure on the government of Myanmar. Moreover, the international community should assist victims," said Rohingya expert Chris Lewa, who is also the Director of the "Arakan Project", while commenting on the violence against Rohingya Muslims in an interview with AA. 

BROUK today called on the international community to protect Rohingya people immediately. During the last two days, BROUK has received the following information from the ground; 1. In Buthidaung Jail 43 dead bodies of Rohingya Muslims were buried in a mass grave near the jail's fencing on the 24th of July they were tortured jointly by the Rakhine and jail’s authorities. There are over 500 Rohingya prisoners arrested from Maung Daw and Buthidaung recently. BROUK received reports that most of them have been tortured, leaving without food and drink which leading to death.