The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Rohingya & Rakhine Women take part in sewing training funded by UNHCR in Maungdaw, Myanmar. © UNHCR/K.Lynn By  Aung Aung  February 12, 2014 Inter-communal peace is acceptance of cultural and religious identity. Cultural diversity is inevitable both in Western and Eastern democracies. But over the past three decades, the term ethnic and religious has been being misused by the regime of Burma that caused 100s of violence against humanity throughout Burma. After 2nd World War, communal conflicts in the World took place known as Cold War which caused lost of millions of lives. Following the 9-11 terrorist attacks, new communal conflicts were systematically conducted by the particular politicians all over the World in the name of “War on Terrorism”. Myanmar regime took advantages of “War on Terrorism” started Buddhist propaganda by building Dhammaryun (Buddhist preaching house) in every street, every ward, every village and every school. Real road to peace and ju

By KPN February 12, 2014 Maungdaw, Arakan State : The deputy Judge is extorting money from Rohingya who faced trial in Maungdaw Judge Court, said Halim, Human Rights Watchdog from Maungdaw.  U Than Htun Oo, the deputy judge of Maungdaw judge court used his power in trials to extort money from Rohingya who case was hearing under his supervise, starting 500,000 kyat to 1000,000 kyat depended on the person, the watchdog said. U Than Htun Oo used his power when a case was able to bill or dismiss – release temporarily (by a court of law) and unconditionally release- but he used the law to extort money from person, saying he will send him to jail and sends his assistant to negotiate for demand money to release, said Anno, a victim of the Judge. The judge also issued trial date very near which harmed the people didn’t able to prepare for next date trial and asking money  for day long time,  Anno, more said. Recently, the judge extorted 1000,000 kyat from Kiasar, a y

Basara IDP camp near Sittway, Myanmar. Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013. Recent tension in Myanmar have forced thousands of ethnic Rohingya Muslims into makeshift camps.  © David Longstreath/IRIN  By  IRIN News February  13, 2014 SITTWE, 13 February 2014 (IRIN) - More than 170,000 people remain displaced and in need in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State after two rounds of inter-communal violence between Buddhist ethnic Rakhine and Muslim Rohingya communities in 2012. The vast majority - 138,000 - are Rohingya, while close to 5,000 are ethnic Rakhine. Another 36,000 people are living in 113 isolated villages, with minimal access to livelihoods and basic services.   View slideshow According to government figures, a total of 167 people were killed in the violence (78 in June and 89 in October), while 223 were injured (87 in June and 136 in October), and more than 10,000 buildings and homes were damaged or destroyed. IRIN visited two camps for internally displaced per

By KPN  February 12, 2014 Maungdaw, Arakan State: Maungdaw high level officers ordered to village admin officers to list all mobile phones which was issued by Myanmar Post and Telegram department (MPT), said Haroon, a student from Maungdaw.  The ordered was issued after visiting of Arakan State chief minister visited Maungdaw to see the ground situation of Du Chee Ya tan ( Kila Dong) village , Maungdaw south, Haroon more added. The GSM mobile SIM cards were issued by the authority to the people and now the authority collecting the list of mobile in the villages – only Rohingya villages- to harass the Rohingya and the gateway to extort money with false allegation, said Hamid, a school teacher from Maungdaw. The authority will impose or tract Rohingya who are using the MPT mobiles to control the flow of information through the mobile network –like recent violent attacked on Kila Dong Rohingya villagers by security forces and Mogh from Kharay mine Natala village, Hamid

A Rakhine man during conflict between Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim communities, northwest Myanmar, June 2012. REUTERS/Staff By International Crisis Group February 12, 2014 The nationwide census planned for 30 March to 10 April 2014 risks inflaming tensions at a critical moment in Myanmar’s peace process and democratic transition. The census process should be urgently amended to focus only on key demographic questions, postponing those which are needlessly antagonistic and divisive – on ethnicity, religion, citizenship status – to a more appropriate moment. By doing so, the government, United Nations and donors can demonstrate that they are sensitive to the serious risks presented by the census as currently conceived, and that they are willing to respond to the deep reservations expressed by many important groups in the country. While the collection of accurate demographic data is crucial for national planning and development – it has been over 30 years since th