The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Report by Ali Kyaw  |  Written by M.S. Anwar RvisionTV.com September 16, 2013 Severe marriage restriction against Rohingya community was put forward by the abolished NaSaKa (Border Security Force). Despite the need to pay ransom amount of money for marraige permission, Rohingyas had to got through red tape which could take months to years. As NaSaKa department was abolished by the government of Myanmar on 12 th  July 2013, Rohingyas thought there would be no more restrictions against their marraiges. But all hope in vain!! On 16 th  August 2013, the head of the department of General Adminstration, Rakhine State, announced that Rohingyas have now to get marriage permission from the village admininstration. The problem here is that although Rohingyas are majority in Maung Daw and Buthidaung Townships, most of the villages in these townships are administered by Rakhines. Even if there is only one Rakhine living in a Rohingya village, he is chosen as the administrator of the villa

A young woman casts her vote at a polling booth during Myanmar's historic general election held after 20 years in 2010. Photo: Mizzima By Nan Hnin Lwin Mizzima News September 15, 2013 The status of white card holders' right to vote in the forthcoming 2015 general election is still uncertain. The Election Commission (EC) and Immigration Department are playing the blame game by denying their responsibility on the issue. The white cards are provisional identity cards issued by the Immigration Department to citizens whose identity and nationalities could not be ascertained. Khin Yee, Minister of the Ministry of Immigration and Population said, “The Immigration Department is responsible for granting citizenship. Setting rules on the  right to franchise is not our job. We cannot decide who can and cannot cast votes,” to Mizzima's query on September 15 at a press conference held in the Yangon Region Legislative Assembly building. Similarly, the Union Ele