Many Rohingyas Tortured for Speaking to International Observers

Report by Sindhi Khan | Written by M.S. Anwar

September 28, 2013 | Maung Daw, Arakan

Many Rohingyas were severely beaten up and tortured bythe tactical operation commander at the military regiment in Taung Phyo sub-township, northern Maung Daw for speaking to some international observers.

“Jafar Alam S/o Shomsul Hoque (Age 45), Rahimullah S/o Karimullah (Age 38) and Ayub S/o Ali Chand are local residents of the village of Ye Aung Chaung of Mi-Htaike village tract, Taung-Pyo sub-township, northern Maung Daw. On 18thSeptemeber 2013, the former two Rohingyas visited the latter’s home and were having some discussions. And it was at around 1:30PM of the day.

Meanwhile, Military and Security Force raided the house of the above-mentioned Ayub (who is a 100-household leader) under the banner of Guest-Check operation. They arrested and detained the three Rohingyas respectively for visiting and hosting without the permission of the village administrator. Afterwards, Military released them having extorted Kyat 500,000 in total.

On 21st September 2013, some international observers visited the region. The villagers recounted what had happened earlier to the observers. (The observer team were visiting all over Maung Daw in the third week of Septemeber 2013)

The next day, the Tactical Operation Commander (Bhyu-Haa-Hmuu) at Taung Byo Military Regiment called up the administrators and elders of the village and its neighboring villages to his office. Then, many Rohingyas present werebeaten up and tortured for speaking to the observers. He beat up the people saying why they (people) told the observers about his officers’ behaviour instead of him” said a local of the region.

“Even though people had complaint to him, he would not have taken any action. It happened so many times before. It was just his excuse to torture people.

And we are now facing restrictions to visit our neigboring houses within our villages even at daytime. It might be the worst form of travel restrictions in the world” he added.

Taung Byo Sub-Township, Maung Daw Township (Photo: edenhilltravels.com)

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.

The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Search This Blog