The Stateless Rohingya Blog

By May Sandy  MORE than 3000 Muslims are likely to miss out on making the Hajj unless the Saudi Arabian embassy increases the number of visas allocated to Myanmar pilgrims, a member of Yangon’s Muslim community said last week. “The embassy announced that they would grant only 5000 visas this year and this has raised concerns,” said Hajji U Sein Myint, who provides assistance to Myanmar Muslims who want to travel to Mecca for the Hajj. He said the number of prospective pilgrims had increased significantly this year because of the favourable exchange rate. Last year 4000 visas were issued but approximately 1500 Muslims still missed out, he said. “With the low rate of the dollar, there are 1500 to 2000 more applicants than last year,” he said. “Travel agents have lists of names of the people who have missed out.” Mr Abdulrahman Ibrahim Mohammed Al Zaben from the Saudi Arabian embassy in Yangon said a delegation selected by the Ministry of Religious Affairs travels to Saudi Arabia each...

By Chutima Sidasathian and Alan Morison PHUKET: At least two boatloads of Rohingya are believed to be off the coast near Phuket today, with Thai Navy patrol vessels looking to ''help on'' the would-be refugees in a game of cat and mouse. The ricketty Rohingya vessels, with more than 70 men and boys on board each, departed from Bangladesh on October 24 and October 25, sources say, probably aiming to reach Malaysia. Contacts in Thailand have today confirmed the presence of one vessel close to the Andaman coast, not far off Phang Nga or Phuket, with the second vessel reported to be further out to sea. A sighting yesterday put the second vessel off Koh Ka, near the better-known Surin Island, a popular destination for holidaymaking divers from Europe and Australia.  One boatload of would-be refugees landed on the vacation island of Phuket earlier this year, looking for food and water after a tortuous voyage south for sanctuary from the constant persecution expe...

News by Kaladan Press Maungdaw, Arakan State:  Two Burma border security force (Nasaka) personnel were killed by local Rohingya villagers of Done Pite ( Aung Deik Pyin) while trying to attempt to rape a girl at about 7:00pm on November 1, said an elder from the village.  “Three Nasaka personnel attacked a Rohingya girl – going to fetch water from a pond - to attempt to rape where another Rohingya girl informed to the villagers who beat the Nasaka personnel until they become unconscious.” “Nasaka personnel who had an automatic rifle fled from the angry villagers and hid in a place till 11:00 pm for fear of beating and he reported to their camp number 18, under Nasaka area number 8.” A group of Nasaka personnel went for searching two missing Nasaka personnel who had entered the village in the eve, found their dead bodies on the bank of the pond. Nasaka brought the dead bodies to their camp, said an aide from the Nasaka. “The three Nasaka personnel are; Sergeant Myo...

Remarks Maria Otero Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs  Refugees International Event, U.S. Institute of Peace Washington, DC October 25, 2011 Good morning. It’s a pleasure to be here with you all today. I want to thank Refugees International for hosting this important conference, and to our hosts at the U.S. Institute of Peace. It’s an honor to be on a panel with such distinguished individuals working at every level to improve nationality rights globally.

By JOSEPH ALLCHIN Maung Tun Khin this week became the first Rohingya to brief the US congress on the religious persecution of ethnic minorities at the hands of the Burmese government. The president of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) travelled to the US as part of a delegation, joined by Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s Benedict Rogers.

Kaladan News Chittagong, Bangladesh:   Rohingya with other ethnic groups in London celebrated Ko Min Ko Naing’s 49th birthday by honoring his sacrifices and his unwavering dedication to the people and the country on October 18, 2011 according to Tun Khin, the President, the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK).

News By Kaladan Press Maungdaw, Arakan State:  The new Thein Sein Government in Burma had announced an amnesty to release prisoners where 129 prisoners of northern Arakan were released from jail, but the prominent Rohingya politician U Kyaw Min is still remain in the prison, said a politician from Maungdaw.