Date: 4th
May 2013
1. Under U Thein
Sein’s government, Muslims in Burma have been targeted animosity andhostility
to unprecedented level, in the form of distributing malicious
pamphlets,disseminating of hate speech videos, organising public sermons by
extremist monks whichfanning enmity and hatred wide spread.
2. The level of verbal abuse, physical assaults, lootings and arson attacks on Muslims women,children and elders are to the highest historical peak under U Thein Sein’s government.
3. The same U Thein Sein's government have used live bullets, crushed and crack down thepeaceful protest of farmers from Letpadaung, who have been farming their own farms andstanding up for their rights and livelihoods whereas heartlessly and immorally neglected toprotect and safeguard Muslims of Meiktilar; watching coldly when the mobs attack andkilled brutally including children, who were burned alive with wounds. All of these barbaricacts of commission and omission have been documented in videos, which have beenwitnessed in Burma including the whole world.
4. Although, President U Thein Sein has repeatedly stated and promised that effective actionwould be taken against to those who instigate hatred among citizens of different religionsand people of different ethnic backgrounds. Until today, he has been knowingly and with fullawareness neglected to take appropriate action against various individuals including monksand politicians who are responsible for spreading hatred and violence in the country.Furthermore, his government never took any preventive measures even though informed of imminent outbreak of trouble to avoid communal violence. Besides, this government hasfailed to provide adequate safeguards and security measures continuously during theperiods of violence.
5. In fact, the negligence of U Thein Sein’s government on repeated acts of hatred and violence targeting against the religion of Islam and Muslims in Burma, has affected honour anddignity of our nation among the international community, to the extent that leads extremistin Indonesia plotted to blast Burmese embassy. We, as Burmese Muslims consider it ahighly regrettable. We unequivocally condemn the violence and terrorism. At the same time, we would like to highlight U Thein Sein’s government that the government of Indonesia hasprotected and provided security for the Burmese embassy and the citizens of Burma residingin Indonesia, so has the government of Bangladesh, which has provided effective security for its Buddhist minority in safeguarding their lives, their homes and their religious sanctuaries.It is absolutely imperative that U Thein Sein's government should follow these examples andtake effective and honourable actions in providing safety for its own citizens and minorities.
6. We strongly believe that, Burmese Muslims are not only would eschew violent activitiesunder any circumstances, but also are fully prepared to resolve our internal differencesamong our own citizens with reciprocal respect and equitable dignity. But we are nevergoing to acquiesce in the injustice shoved down our throats by a group of illegitimatemilitary cohorts by 1982 citizenship law, branding our faith as ‘guest’ faith and our people as‘guest people’ or alien entity, with total disregard our great history. All citizens of Burmahave mixed heritage and ethnicity, and it is a total travesty of justice and an absolutelyillegitimate act with full of prejudice and bigotry, to regard those with mixed Indian heritage as ‘guest citizen’ denied rights, while those with mixed Chinese heritage are in the ministerposition. We, Burmese Muslims will never accept this hypocritical perspective.
7 .For a long time, there has been systematic and methodical, plotting and targeting, andvictimization of Burmese Muslims, resulting in the loss of lives and livelihoods, to the extentof total desperation and utter dissolution for those who are at the receiving end. AlthoughBurmese Muslims have been living in great mental anguish on a daily basis, due to lack of security and dignity, except from a handful of individuals, there has not been adequatesupport and sympathy from any significant quarters among national, political, religious andhumanitarian top leaders, including the members of parliament; therefore their state of helplessness and agony has deepened and intensified immeasurably. We record theirindifferences with heartbroken sorrow.
8. We strongly condemn the report of the Inquiry Commission on the Sectarian ViolenceRakhine State which neglected the case of cold-blooded murder of ten Burmese Muslims inbroad day-light in Taunggauk; which sated the Rohingya, the abused and victimized asdishonest illegal immigrants, stateless vagrants and vagabonds and failed to blame enoughthe Rakhine hate-mongers and extremists who were prime responsible for spreadingviolence in Rakhine State.
9. The welfare of Burmese Muslims is the welfare of the nation. The security of BurmeseMuslims is the security of the nation. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the government toprovide safety and security to Burmese Muslims. Under the jurisdiction of International Law,engaging in factional fighting and violence is tantamount to crime against Humanity if basedon ethnicity or religion. We warn that the ultimate responsibility rests with the Governmentof Burma if the worsening situation is not remedied in time.
2. The level of verbal abuse, physical assaults, lootings and arson attacks on Muslims women,children and elders are to the highest historical peak under U Thein Sein’s government.
3. The same U Thein Sein's government have used live bullets, crushed and crack down thepeaceful protest of farmers from Letpadaung, who have been farming their own farms andstanding up for their rights and livelihoods whereas heartlessly and immorally neglected toprotect and safeguard Muslims of Meiktilar; watching coldly when the mobs attack andkilled brutally including children, who were burned alive with wounds. All of these barbaricacts of commission and omission have been documented in videos, which have beenwitnessed in Burma including the whole world.
4. Although, President U Thein Sein has repeatedly stated and promised that effective actionwould be taken against to those who instigate hatred among citizens of different religionsand people of different ethnic backgrounds. Until today, he has been knowingly and with fullawareness neglected to take appropriate action against various individuals including monksand politicians who are responsible for spreading hatred and violence in the country.Furthermore, his government never took any preventive measures even though informed of imminent outbreak of trouble to avoid communal violence. Besides, this government hasfailed to provide adequate safeguards and security measures continuously during theperiods of violence.
5. In fact, the negligence of U Thein Sein’s government on repeated acts of hatred and violence targeting against the religion of Islam and Muslims in Burma, has affected honour anddignity of our nation among the international community, to the extent that leads extremistin Indonesia plotted to blast Burmese embassy. We, as Burmese Muslims consider it ahighly regrettable. We unequivocally condemn the violence and terrorism. At the same time, we would like to highlight U Thein Sein’s government that the government of Indonesia hasprotected and provided security for the Burmese embassy and the citizens of Burma residingin Indonesia, so has the government of Bangladesh, which has provided effective security for its Buddhist minority in safeguarding their lives, their homes and their religious sanctuaries.It is absolutely imperative that U Thein Sein's government should follow these examples andtake effective and honourable actions in providing safety for its own citizens and minorities.
6. We strongly believe that, Burmese Muslims are not only would eschew violent activitiesunder any circumstances, but also are fully prepared to resolve our internal differencesamong our own citizens with reciprocal respect and equitable dignity. But we are nevergoing to acquiesce in the injustice shoved down our throats by a group of illegitimatemilitary cohorts by 1982 citizenship law, branding our faith as ‘guest’ faith and our people as‘guest people’ or alien entity, with total disregard our great history. All citizens of Burmahave mixed heritage and ethnicity, and it is a total travesty of justice and an absolutelyillegitimate act with full of prejudice and bigotry, to regard those with mixed Indian heritage as ‘guest citizen’ denied rights, while those with mixed Chinese heritage are in the ministerposition. We, Burmese Muslims will never accept this hypocritical perspective.
7 .For a long time, there has been systematic and methodical, plotting and targeting, andvictimization of Burmese Muslims, resulting in the loss of lives and livelihoods, to the extentof total desperation and utter dissolution for those who are at the receiving end. AlthoughBurmese Muslims have been living in great mental anguish on a daily basis, due to lack of security and dignity, except from a handful of individuals, there has not been adequatesupport and sympathy from any significant quarters among national, political, religious andhumanitarian top leaders, including the members of parliament; therefore their state of helplessness and agony has deepened and intensified immeasurably. We record theirindifferences with heartbroken sorrow.
8. We strongly condemn the report of the Inquiry Commission on the Sectarian ViolenceRakhine State which neglected the case of cold-blooded murder of ten Burmese Muslims inbroad day-light in Taunggauk; which sated the Rohingya, the abused and victimized asdishonest illegal immigrants, stateless vagrants and vagabonds and failed to blame enoughthe Rakhine hate-mongers and extremists who were prime responsible for spreadingviolence in Rakhine State.
9. The welfare of Burmese Muslims is the welfare of the nation. The security of BurmeseMuslims is the security of the nation. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the government toprovide safety and security to Burmese Muslims. Under the jurisdiction of International Law,engaging in factional fighting and violence is tantamount to crime against Humanity if basedon ethnicity or religion. We warn that the ultimate responsibility rests with the Governmentof Burma if the worsening situation is not remedied in time.
Burmese Muslim Association
Media Contact;Kyaw
Win +44-740-345-2378(UK) kyawwin78@gmail.com; Ms. Yasmin +1 408 2506227(USA)
yasnohana@sbcglobal.net; Kyaw Swa +44 782 842 6801(UK) kyawzwa@b-m-a.org; Ms.
Molly +1 416 516 7383 Canada law4women@gmail.com;
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