The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Maungdaw, Arakan State: An Imam (leader of prayer) of a local mosque of Nari Bill east village of Maungdaw Township was arrested by local Nasaka (Burma’s border security force), on August 22, at about 9:45 pm, while he was returning home after praying Tarabi Namaz (prayer) in the mosque, said a close relative of the victim who preferred not to be named. Dos Mohamed (23), son of Ali Akbar, hail from Nari Bill east village of Maungdaw Township, the an Imam of the local mosque and also Hafezi Quran and religious leader of Tarabi Namaz (especially prayer in Ramadan fasting month). “On that day, at about 9:45 pm, after paying Tarabi Namaz, he was going to his home, but he was halted by the patrol Nasaka personnel and asked him to hand over his mobile set to them, which he denied. But, the Nasaka was taking a photograph of him by giving a mobile set in his hand where the Nasaka personnel had extra mobile sets and camera while patrolling around the villages. Afterwards, he was brought to the...

By KO HTWE Wednesday, August 24, 2011 In this photo taken on Dec. 3, 2008, a Burmese Rohingya refugee boy arrives on a bus for demonstration outside the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo: AP) The Malaysia United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is accused of betraying refugees by conspiring with Putrajaya Immigration Office to take their fingerprints and send them back to their own countries, it has been claimed. On Tuesday, several UNHCR-affiliated organizations in Malaysia instructed refugees to provide fingerprints at Putrajaya Immigration Office, claims Shwe Zin, a Burmese refugee living in Malaysia. “I arrived at the immigration office in the morning and was made to queue up. Then when my turn came, I had my fingerprints and a photo taken. And then I was given a printed document written in Malay that said to go back to our own country,” said Shwe Zin. Many registered refugees came to the immigration office to ...

NEWS -  KALADAN PRESS Teknaf, Bangladesh: The refugee students are barred from going to local Junior High school by camp security police, said the parents of the student.  “On August 20, the police inspector Nurul Islam seized books and mobile set from a student while he was returning to the camp after school was over.” “The student is identified as Abubaker Siddique (16), son of Jalal, MRC No. 01723, shed No. 1127 of Nayapara camp.” “Parents of the school boy went to the police officer to get return the books and mobile phone, but the police officer does not return it yet. So the school boy is not able to go to school without taking books.” The refugee boys and girls have no permission to learn in local government schools, the police officer said. However, about 50 refugee students from Nayapara official camp and Leda (Tal) unofficial camp have been learning in Leda Junior Government High school since last three years ago after passing camp education. However, the students s...

NEWS -  KALADAN PRESS Teknaf, Bangladesh: Camp security police inspector seized a cow from Burmese refugees yesterday, at about 12:30, over the allegation that the refugees have no permission to slaughter cow in the camp, said a refugee committee member from the camp. “On behalf of refugees  of Nayapara camp, Mohamed Sultan (44), MRC No. 2628, Shed No. 1034 of Nayapara camp, bought a cow from local village with Taka 25,000 after getting permission from the Camp-in-Charge on July16  for slaughtering on Lailatul Barat day (on July 17) to take a good dish at night of the holy day. On that day, across the Bangladesh and in Arakan State, every household tries to maintain a good dish that night and to pray whole night.” “In similar way, refugees in the Nayapara camp wanted to make a good dish with beef. But, unfortunately, the refugees’ plan was not implemented on that day so they keep the cow in the camp to slaughter on forthcoming holy night (Lailutul Kadar) on August 28 and...

The Australian  Asylum-seekers are locked in a detention centre on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a nation that is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention.  Source:  AP THE High Court will today formally consider the Gillard government's plan to send asylum-seekers to Malaysia. At the same time, many of the poor and the desperate across Asia have already considered the plan. And many, it seems, have dismissed it. Since Australia signed the deal with Malaysia on July 25, five boats have arrived in Australian waters, carrying at least 338 asylum-seekers. Under the scheme, which has already seen one Labor MP sidestepping party loyalty to express her concerns, Australia will resettle 4000 recognised refugees from Malaysia over four years, and in return send 800 arrivals back to Malaysia. If news spreads that an expensive and dangerous sea voyage will end not in Australia but in the crowded refugee ghettos of Malaysia, the Australian government believes potenti...

Saturday, 20 August 2011 13:32 Mizzima News Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A private meeting with Burmese President Thein Sein and chats with other high-level government ministers were highlights of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s participation in a three-day, national-level economic development forum in Naypyitaw that concludes on Sunday. Suu Kyi is introduced to members of the economic forum by Dr. Myint, back to the camera, an adviser to Burmese President Thein Sein. Photos: Mizzima.         Suu Kyi arrived for the second day of the three-day workshop at 9 a.m. along with Dr. Myint, an economic adviser to President Thein Sein, and other top governmental leaders, members of political parties and businessmen. Suu Kyi left after 10 a.m. in a motorcade accompanied by security personnel provided by the government. During a workshop break, she reportedly discussed political affairs with a few government ministers and businessmen, according to sources....