The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Members of the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) and the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) hold a press conference on Monday in Rangoon, announcing a decision to merge the two parties. (Photo: Zarni Mann / The Irrawaddy) By ZARNI MANN I rrawaddy News : July 1, 2013 RANGOON—Two leading political parties in west Burma’s Arakan State have agreed to unite as one party, the Arakan National Party (ANP).     The Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP), which won 34 seats in Parliament in 2010, plans to merge with the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), a popular party which re-registered last year after being outlawed by the former military regime, party leaders announced on Monday.   “We have long been enthusiastic about uniting,” ALD deputy chief Kyaw Myint said at a press conference in Rangoon, Burma’s biggest city.   “This agreement will be remembered in history, as we abandon our mother parties and unite as one for the entire Rakhine people,”

This file picture taken on June 12, 2012, shows a resident riding her bicycle past burned houses amid communal violence in Sittwe, the capital of Myanmar's western state of Rakhine. AFP PHOTO / FILES By Mratt Kyaw Thu          Mizzima News: July 1, 2013 At least three houses belonging to Muslims have been burned down in Ann Daw Township in the seaport city of Thandwe in Rakhine State, following an altercation between members of the Rohingya community and Buddhist Rakhines on Sunday evening. No deaths of injuries have so far been reported, and a curfew has now been called in the township. Mizzima confirmed at 9:30 pm on Sunday that three homes belonging to Muslim families were on fire. Rumors circulated that other buildings in the nearby quarter of Kalarsu had also been set alight. No security forces appeared to be present; sources said that police had been mobilized in the downtown area of Thandwe. Gangs of people carrying swords and batons were seen

Rohingya hamlet Ah Nauk Pyin is surrounded by a ring of Buddhist villages By Jonathan Head BBC News , Rakhine  July 1, 2013 It has been a year since sectarian fighting broke out in Burma's westernmost state, forcing 140,000 people from their homes and casting a dark shadow over the promising start made by the new reformist government. Ugly anti-Muslim sentiment that was evident in those first clashes between Buddhists and the Rohingya minority in Rakhine state last June and October has now spread, setting off assaults on Muslim communities in several parts of the country. Nearly all of those displaced in Rakhine state were Rohingyas, and their plight has drawn in substantial international assistance, channelled through major NGOs and UN agencies. The Burmese government has become conscious of the negative publicity created by the long-standing discrimination against Rohingyas. It has authorised one official inquiry into the violence, and is co-operating w

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos Burmese military has been accussed of attacking Kachin BosNewsLife June 30,2013 YANGON, BURMA (BosNewslife)-- Burma was under pressure Sunday, June 30, to halt violence against the predominantly Christian Kachin minority after at least two civilians were reportedly killed by government troops. Rights group Christian Solarity Worldwide (CSW) identified one of those killed as Zahkung Lum Hkawng, 45, who it said was "tortured, beaten and shot dead by the Burmese Army" in the Asian country's Northern Shan State on June 14. The attack shortly after the Burmese government and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) signed an accord aimed at ending hostilities between the two sides. CSW investigators said that Lum Hkawng's ordeal began as he was taking his turn as security guard for his village, Nawng Hen, when Burmese troops entered the area, demanding that the vill

Naikhon Chari,Bangladesh: A Rohigya man was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Jarulia Chari area under Naikhonchhari upazila of the Bandarban district on Friday night, said Nazir, a friend of the victim. “The victim was identified as Mohammad Hussain (67), son of late Mokalas Rahman of the area. His son Bodi said,” My father is attacked by a wild elephant while returning to home after praying Esha Namaz (prayers) from a mosque. No one was accompanied by him.” Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Naikhonchhari Police Station, said a wild elephant attacked Hossain as he came out of a mosque after offering Esha prayers. He died instantly. He was a devoted man for Rohingya revolution. He left his wife, two sons, four daughters,  relatives and friends to mourn his death. Source KPN