The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Border security force (Nasaka) is looting money from Rohingya villagers in Maungdaw Township by giving false and fabricated accusations against them, said a local business man who denied to be named. “Nasaka personnel from Nasaka area No. 6, arrested Nabi Hussain (45), son of Sultan Ahmed, hailed from Nari Bill east village of Maungdaw township on suspicion of that he had a mobile set of Bangladesh, on September 2.” “However, he was released on that day after paying Kyat 250,000 to the authority.” “Rohingya will be tortured continuously until to death if authority didn’t get the money. Rohingya people, who are arrested by the authority, will try to be released after paying money as they know that the authorities are killing recently for money, with this advantage, the authority makes arbitrary arrests the Rohingya people to get money”, said an elder from Maungdaw. “If the authority is sincere, they will file cases against the arrestees and will hand over to th...

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) killed another Rohingya villager on August 24, over the allegation that he had involved in money exchange, said a close relative of the victim. “The victim was identified as Mohamed Hussain (55), son of Kader Hussain, hailed from Shwe Zaar Village tract of Maungdaw Township.” “Hussain was arrested by  officer of  Nasaka camp No. 14 under Shwe Zaar village Nasaka out-post, Nasaka Sector # 6 of Maungdaw Township on August 21, over the accusation that he had been involved in illegal money exchange.” “Hussain was severely tortured by the Nasaka personnel to take confessional statement while he was detained in the Nasaka outpost camp.” However, on August 24, at around 3:30 pm, he was handed over to his relatives while the victim was serious condition. Receiving the victim, the relatives immediately took the victim to the Maungdaw General hospital for medical treatment. But, he was dead at about 5:00 pm, while taking t...

It is time the EU work to establish a UN-led Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and other crimes under international law in Burma. Four years ago this month, the people of Burma rose up in what became known as the “Saffron Revolution,” named after the Buddhist monks who eventually led the demonstrations. While the world initially condemned the security forces’ violent crackdown that followed, several months later the Burmese authorities managed to deflect international criticism by announcing it would hold national elections and form a civilian government. The international community, including the European Union (EU), has been distracted ever since, despite an abundance of information that Burma’s government has continued to violate human rights on a massive scale. “Wait and see”—what the government will do before the elections, how the elections will be conducted, whether the new government will make any changes—has been the prevailing and irresponsible approach....

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...