The Stateless Rohingya Blog

By Maung Zarni  Asia Times : May 1, 2013 An official report into last year's violence in Rakhine State, launched on April 29 at the government's foreign donor financed Myanmar Peace Center, is intellectually, ideologically, empirically and analytically flawed, underscoring President Thein Sein's bid to whitewash the recent ethnic cleansing of Muslim Rohingya in the western state, which borders Bangladesh.  Established on presidential order, the Inquiry Commission has been conflicted from the day of its inception on August 17 last year. The five individuals who were hand-picked to launch the report on Monday were a curious mix themselves: the country's most famous political comedian, the former daughter-in-law of the late despot General Ne Win, a well-known former student leader, a well-known former exile, and the president's personal adviser and interpreter.  Thein Sein and his allies are increasingly using various crisis inquiry commissions,

May 01, 2013 Press TV: Press TV has conducted an interview with James Jennings, the president of the Conscience International from Atlanta to shed more light on the issue of Muslims in Myanmar. What follows is a rough transcription of the interview.  Press TV: Mr. Jennings, why is the international community silent on the issue of Muslims in Myanmar? What makes this most persecuted Muslim minority left defend for themselves?  Even we see the police force there standing idly and watching in cold blood how bad these people are being treated by others?  Jennings: This is a major problem, it is a long-term problem, it is one that Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations has said is one of the greatest humanitarian problems if not the greatest one in the world and the reason is this, that the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine province of Myanmar are people who are stateless, not only are they stateless but they are really unwanted in the country and as far as Bangladesh is concerned they

The Rohingya Women's Group turns ribbons of yarn from recycled saris into jewelry. The women, who are refugees as a result of violence against their ethnic group in Myanmar, hope to open up their own shop someday soon.From left, Salimah Bintikalamiah, Zarina Arif, Najihah Arif, Katie Berube from Lutheran Social Services, who started the group, Shamshidah Sultan and Najirah Arif. (SHAWNE WICKHAM/SUNDAY NEWS) Sunday News : May 1, 2013 NASHUA -- They are stateless: persecuted in their own country, shunned in others. Most Americans have never heard of them. But a small circle of refugee women has been quietly weaving a new life here for their families and, perhaps, their people. The members of A Woven Thread meet in a converted mill building on Franklin Street, braiding ribbons of silk into fabric necklaces they can sell to support themselves. They've sold some necklaces already - and they've had the thrill of seeing women wearing t

Local people dismantle the remains of a destroyed mosque in Sittwe, in Burma's Rakhine state, in June 2012. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged Burma to prevent further violence against Rohingya Muslims, during a state visit in late April. [AFP/Human Rights Watch] Okky Feliantiar Khabar South Asia: May 1, 2013 During a state visit to Burma, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urges resolution of communal violence there, and says Indonesia is ready to help. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has urged the government of Burma to prevent further violence against Rohingya Muslims before the tensions infect other countries in the region. SBY, as the president is commonly referred to, delivered the message during an April 23rd-24th state visit to Burma. "My visit to Burma is to encourage some change, encouraging the democratisation process, development and law enforcement in Burma," he told reporters in Jakarta before the trip.

Qatar Charity CEO, Yusuf bin Ahmed Al Kuwari (second left) exchanges documents with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Imran Rida, at Qatar Charity Headquarters in Doha yesterday. Kammutty VP The Peninsula Qatar: May 1, 2013 DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) will donate $2m (QR7.3m) in relief funds for the displaced Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. The aid comes following an agreement signed between Qatar Charity (QC) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) yesterday, which will directly benefit some 10,000 people in the region. The QC donation is part of the humanitarian assistance worth $17m that has been provided by the UNHCR to provide shelter to the displaced. The agreement was signed by Imran Rida, UNHCR regional representative to the GGC, and Yusuf bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of QC in Doha. The UNHCR project will build 1,360 housing units, two multi-purpose facilities, 11 polyclinics, 115 kitchens and 1