Save the Arakan Muslim Population from Genocide in Arakan-Burma

Hundreds of Muslim girls and women were attacked by rogue Buddhist mobs who also burned villages.

(LONDON) - “War crimes and crimes against humanity are being carried out every day against the Rohingyas and Muslims of Arakan and all of these murderous acts are direct violations of international law under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).” Join Press Statement

We, the Rohingya Diaspora and members of the following organizations strongly denounce and condemn and we express our serious concern over the current news information that Buddhist Rakhine extremists led by Rakhine ruling political party namely, Rakhine Nationalities Development Party-RNDP had started again mass killings of Muslim population of Arakan as well as burning and destruction of Muslims villages and houses, in Minbya, Mrauk Oo, Kyaukpru, Pauktaw, Ratheydaung, Myebone, and Kyauktaw Townships starting from October 21, 2012. This is the second time of genocide and persecutions of Muslims in Arakan in 2012 by the RNDP led Buddhist Rakhine people including Buddhist Monks with the direct help and strong involvement of the Burmese Government security forces of President Thein Sein from both central and Rakhine State Government.

Beginning from the month of October 21, 2012, at least fourteen villages were burnt down and thousands of people killed. Hundreds of Muslim girls and women were raped by the Burmese security forces and Rakhine extremists while attacking the Muslims in those townships. The Burmese Government officials and Security forces did nothing to prevent and stop these mass killings and attacks. President Thein Sein led Burmese Government had claimed that Arakan State is in normal situation but, in reality the situation has become more worsened day after day. These atrocities and mass killings were being committed under the open eyes of the Burmese security forces involving the Police, Lun Htein, and Army. Available reports confirmed that Buddhist Rakhine people led by RNDP President Dr. Aye Maung and Rakhine State Prime Minister Hla Maung Tin are trying to spread this violence across the whole Muslims residing areas of all Townships in Arakan.

According to the latest and available news verification, more than 40 boats load of Muslim Rohingyas from Kyaukpru Township are now floating in the river near the Akyab (Sittwe). The boats tried to land in Akyab as the boats had no fuel, water, foods and medicines, but the Burmese Government officials and Nasaka Authority does not allow them to land. There are more than 22,000 people on the boats and their fate is unknown and insecure. They are now in a very worst situation in the river without any help and assistance from the Government officials. Burmese security forces are surrounding them with arms. Moreover, about five thousand people from Myebone Township are also hiding in the jungle to escape persecutions from the Rakhine extremist Buddhist people. They are without any helps and foods. Their houses and villages are already burnt down and destroyed by the Rakhine people backed by the Burmese security forces. Nobody go to help them in that area.

Regarding this, both Arakan State and President Thein Sein’s central government are doing nothing at this violent situation to prevent such kinds of untold atrocities and mass killings on Arakan Muslims. Extremist and racist Buddhist Rakhine people were given open license to kill Muslims, burn their houses, destroy mosques and looting their properties, rape under-aged girls and women. Even security forces are committing such crimes on daily basis. So, Muslims of Arakan completely lack of confidence and trust in Burmese security forces since they are actively collaborating and supporting the Buddhist Rakhine people to exterminate the Arakan Muslim population.

Almost one million Rohingya Muslims are now living in a terrible and horrendous situation throughout Arakan State. In Sittwe Township, only Aung Mingalar and Mawleik Quarter is the Muslim remaining places in downtown area. All other Muslim quarters were completely burnt down and destroyed and all their residents were shifted to the temporary concentration camps. Buddhist Rakhines are continuously threatening to move out Aung Mingalar and Maw Leik residents to the camps situated at the outskirt of Sittwe Township. Buddhist Monks and Rakhines have openly demonstrated recently to drive them out and they are also demanding the segregation of Muslims in Arakan State setting a new precedent for apartheid system. Buddhist Rakhines and monks also tried to torch historical main mosque of Sittwe. They have destroyed and burnt more than two thousands Muslim holy books belonged to the Akyab Central mosque (Jame Masjid).

Every now and then, Buddhist Rakhines and radical monks hold meetings and issue warning to the Buddhist population not to sell foods to Muslims or do business and deal with Muslims. Anyone who disobeys will meet severe punishment according the recent announcement by the Monks group. Muslims of Arakan known as Rohingyas are totally isolated in the whole Arakan State. Rakhine Buddhist and Monks also block flow of foods, necessary commodities and medical supplies to the Muslim population areas. They even block relief agencies from reaching Rohingyas.

Finally, even Burmese government bowed to the demand of some radical monks to bar OIC from opening liaison Offices in Sittwe and Yangon to provide aid supplies to both effected Muslim and Rakhine community people. On the basis of available news information from inside Arakan, mostly elder people and minor children are passing away day to day basis due to the lack of food and necessary commodities and also insufficient of medical supplies. In such condition death by starvation is imminent for the entire Arakan Muslim population.

Regarding the particulars mentioned above, we would like to earnestly appeal the United Nations, Asean Secretary General and its member countries, US Government, EU,UK,OIC member countries, and all other Human Rights Commissions and organizations worldwide to urgently call the President Thein Sein of Burmese Government putting strong pressure to stop immediately the mass killings of Muslims in Arakan and also ask to deploy international peace keeping force and observer teams in Arakan State to prevent the further loss of lives and property of Arakan Muslim population. We urge the Western media and Burmese news groups to expose and circulate the real situation of Arakan Muslim population to the world for the defense of human dignity and human rights. This statement is endorsed by the following organizations-