The Stateless Rohingya Blog

By Joseph Allchin The Immigration Minister was chosen to answer a question in parliament brought by U Zarad Rawmam aka U Htay Win of Arakan constituency seven, in which he enquired about why “indigenous Rakhine Muslims” still had their freedom of movement curtailed by having to apply to the military’s border force, Nasaka, to move between towns. Failing to do so can result in jail time as a Muslim National League for Democracy (NLD) member found out near Mandalay. Htay Win was quoted by the New Light of Myanmar saying that; “indigenous Myanmar Muslim voters in Maungtaw District of Rakhine State cannot travel freely; to travel other Regions or States for economic, education, health and social reasons, they have to take out Application Form (4) of Immigration Department under the directive of Na-Sa-Ka, forcing them to face many difficulties in socio-economic life; and how the state will help address this issue.” The response came from the immigration minister, U Khin Yi, a former...

NARINJARA NEWS Dhaka: The Bangladeshi government has announced that the Burmese government affirmed its intention to take back Burmese nationals sheltering in Bangladesh during a recent bilateral meeting between the two countries, but no confirmation of this has been reported in the Burmese official newspapers. The 5th Annual Foreign Office Consultation Meeting was held on the 25th of August in Burma’s Capital Naypyitaw.

Teknaf, Bangladesh: A refugee woman was attempted to rape by a local youth on August 28, while she was in his shop for recharging her mobile set in the evening, said a refugee leader from the camp. “The victim was identified as Jarina Khatun (not real name) (35), Block # A and Room # 303, of Leda unofficial camp.”

Chittagong, Bangladesh:  The members of Canadian Burmese Rohingya Organization (CBRO) had held a meeting with coordinators of Amnesty International, Canada regarding mistreatment and human rights violations on Rohingyas in Burma and in the refugee camps in their host countries on 25th, August, 2011 at 2:00 pm, according to Nur Hasim, Chairperson of CBRO. The members of Canadian Burmese Rohingya Organization (CBRO) with coordinators of Amnesty International, Canada “We had met Mr. Brian John, Coordinator for Burma Amnesty International, Canada and Mrs. Gloria Nafziger refugee coordinator of Amnesty International Canada.” “We had submitted two petitions against human rights violation on Rohingyas in Burma, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia.” We, CBRO are requesting to the Canadian government through Amnesty International Canada to increase Rohingya in Canada as humanitarian ground, according to CBRO’s petition which submitted to Amnesty International Canada. “A total number o...

Some 15 million people worldwide are stateless and without rights, but the UN hopes to change that BY EMMA BATHA, ALERTNET VIA REUTERS Rejected by the countries they call home and denied the most basic of rights, stateless people live in a shadowy limbo - in the words of one such person, like being "between the earth and the sky".Up to 15 million people are stateless, not recognized as nationals by any country. They are some of the most invisible people on the planet - an anonymity the United Nations hopes to lift  A Rohingya boy bathes in a common bath place in a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. In 1982, Myanmar passed a law that made it impossible for Rohingyas to get full citizenship. Many fled to Bangladesh in 1991 and 1992 following a government crackdown. Today, an estimated 800,000 Rohingyas live in Myanmar, and up to 300,000 in Bangladesh. through an international campaign it launched Thursday to highlight their plight. "One of the big problem...

Chittagong, Bangladesh :  Burma has shown readiness to take back its registered refugees and undocumented Burmese nationals who have illegally crossed into Bangladesh for years, according to an official newsletter yesterday in Dhaka. “Burma Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Maung Myint showed the interest during the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in the Burmese capital of Nay Pyi Taw on August 25." The annual consultations are so far the highest level connections between the officials of Bangladesh and Burma since the new government took office in Burma. Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes led Bangladesh delegation in the meeting, where he referred to the full list of residual Burmese refugees living in Bangladesh camps and requested Burma for early verification and commencement of repatriation, reported in the newsletter. “He also requested Burma to take effective steps for the repatriation of undocumented Burmese nationals illegally entering and living inside Ban...

Dublin, Ireland: Rohingya Community Ireland held a demonstration in Dublin in front of both British and Australian Embassies on 24th August. The demonstration was jointly organized by Burma Action Ireland and Bangladesh community in Ireland with the primary reason of showing the concern over the 16th July attack on Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.   The attacked occurred when a group of villagers from Fawliyapara attacked and robbed both registered and unregistered camps armed with knives, swords, wood and bamboo sticks, which led to at least death, injured more than twenty and destroyed many huts.                  The demonstration successfully underwent with the presentation of a letter and a copy of the report written by the Irish Centre for Human Rights to each ambassador. Although Australian ambassador was away with duty, the other has given full attention on the concerns and issues raised by the community; and promised Deomo...