logoInline image 1 11th November 2014 President Thein Sein Your Excellencies Sbu: Stop the Ethnic Cleansing of the Muslim Minority including the Rohingya We, civil society organisations from ASEAN countries, appeal to Your Excellencies to discuss and take urgent action, during the 25th ASEAN Summit meeting, to stop the systematic persecution, genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority including the Rohingya in Myanmar. We are shocked at ASEAN’s lack of response to the violence and the gross violation of human rights committed against the Muslim minority by extremist Myanmar Buddhists. None of the member States have taken a strong stand to condemn the killing of innocent women, children and men and the destruction of their homes and sources of livelihood. In June 2012, Rakhine Buddhists attacked the Rohingya community, burned their homes and boats. Thousands, fearing more violence, fled from their homes to other parts of Myanmar. According to one report, by 28 June, 650 Rohingya had been killed, 1,200 were missing, more than 80,000 had been displaced, and 3000 homes had been destroyed. In the October 2012 attack, many Rohingya were killed and hundreds injured. Thousands had been displaced, pushing the total displaced to nearly 100,000. According to a United Nations report, some 4600 homes were destroyed. Human Rights Watch released satellite imagery showing a predominantly Rohingya village in ashes. The destruction included more than 800 buildings and floating barges. There are, now, over 140,000 Rohingya refugees living in concentration camps and facing a severe shortage of food and basic amenities. Tens of thousands have left for the neighbouring countries in overcrowded boats, and hundreds had drowned when their boats capsized. From 2013-2014, riots against Muslims have spread from Rakhine state to cities in central and eastern Myanmar. This is the result of the “Buddhist 969” movement, led by the Buddhist priest Sayadew U Wirathu, instigating and inciting hatred and violence against the Muslim minority among the ill-informed Buddhist masses. He has called on them to “defend” Buddhism and expel the Muslims as if Muslims, who constitute about 5% of the population, constitute a serious threat to Buddhism in Myanmar. In September this year, he told a meeting of Sri Lankan Buddhist extremists that he will join hands with them to help combat “Muslim extremists”. His “Muslim extremists” are the poor, discriminated and persecuted Rohingya and other Muslims having small businesses or working for a living in the cities. Through his hate campaign based on lies and falsehood, using the social media, he has succeeded in poisoning the minds of a significant section of the Buddhist community. The atmosphere in Myanmar is so charged with Muslim-hatred that even a traffic accident involving a Buddhist and a Muslim can ignite a communal riot. On the seriousness of the situation, Jack Healey, founder of the Human Rights Action Center, recently wrote in the Huffington Post: “Longtime expats and native-born Burmans have said that they find the climate comparable to Berlin before the rise of the Nazis.” Regrettably, the Myanmar government has taken no effective action to curb Wirathu’s hate propaganda. It has been reported that some members of the Myanmar military and security apparatus are colluding with the Buddhist extremists in the continuing ethnic cleansing of Rohingya and other Muslims. There are eye-witness accounts of Myanmar security forces joining with the Rakhinese extremists to attack Rohingya villages. The government wilfully misrepresents the ethnic cleansing as a conflict between two equally armed ethnic groups and downplays the killings and property damage. It has refused independent human rights observers to be stationed in Rakhine, and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) to set up an office to distribute aid to the displaced thousands who are in dire need of aid. The ethnic cleansing of Rohingya is rooted in the racist and discriminatory policies which the current government inherited from the previous military regime. They are denied citizenship rights, rendering them stateless without any protection. They are demonised by the state media and restrictions have been placed on marriage, domestic travel, employment, property rights and religious rights in violation of law and morality. After independence from the British, the Rohingya were recognized as citizens. Aung San Suu Kyi’s father, General Aung San, had assured full rights and privileges to them. The first president of Burma (now Myanmar) Sao Shwe Theik had stated: “Muslims of Arakan certainly belong to one of the indigenous races of Burma. If they do not belong to the indigenous races, we also cannot be taken as indigenous races.” It is the Ne Win military government that deprived them of their citizenship in the 1980s and began their persecution. With the dismantling of the military regime and the revival of democracy in Myanmar, many had hoped that the previous repressive anti-democratic polices towards the Rohingya would be abandoned and they would be treated as citizens having equal rights with the other ethnic groups. Unfortunately, the Myanmar government has failed to live up to this hope, resulting in the current crisis. The current government has a plan to place thousands of Rohingya, not recognised as citizens by the authorities, in detention camps and deport them although they have lived in Myanmar for generations. The plan has come under criticism from many governments, the OIC and the United Nation. The UN approved a resolution last week urging the Myanmar government to give access to full citizenship to the Rohingya. ASEAN should ensure that Myanmar abides by the UN resolution. ASEAN should take seriously the genocide and ethnic cleansing being committed against the Muslim minority by neo-fascist forces in violation of international law and its own Charter. ASEAN leaders must stop hiding behind the Charter provision against interference in the internal affairs of member states to justify their inaction in the face of serious human rights violations in Myanmar. Ethnic cleansing and genocide are not mere “internal affairs” of Myanmar but serious crimes under international law which require intervention by ASEAN and the international community to stop them. By Article 14 of its Charter, ASEAN is committed to promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms and, in pursuance of this commitment; the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) was established. AICHR is mandated to uphold the right of the peoples of ASEAN, which includes the Rohingya and other Muslims, to live in peace, dignity and prosperity but it has failed to stop the violation of this right by the extremist Buddhists supported by rogue political and military leaders. ASEAN’s failure to respond to the cries and screams of the women and children of the Muslim minority for protection and justice has irreparably damaged its standing among the public. If no action is taken by ASEAN and the international community to stop the ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Muslim minority including the Rohingya, it will inevitably lead to violence and tension in Myanmar which could derail the on-going democratic process there. The victims would be forced to resort to armed resistance to defend themselves, their women and children rather than submit meekly to the butchering by the extremists. The resistance would attract support from people in ASEAN member States and other countries. Such a development would destabilise the region and negate ASEAN’s mandated purpose to maintain and enhance peace, security and stability. We hope ASEAN leaders realise the seriousness of the situation and take urgent action to stop the violence and crimes against the Muslim minority and restore peace. We appeal to you to take urgent action to urge the Myanmar government to: 1. Abide by the United Nations resolution and restore the citizenship status and rights of the Rohingya. 2. Take firm action against the “Buddhist 969” movement, led by the Buddhist priest Sayadew U Wirathu, for instigating and inciting hatred and violence against the Muslim minority. 3. Allow free and unfettered access for regional and international humanitarian agencies to provide relief and support to the victims of the violence and internally displaced people. 4. Facilitate the return of Rohingya refugees from the ASEAN region and other parts of the world, and resettle them and the internally displaced people. 5. Establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate and deal with the crimes committed against the Muslim minority and promote national reconciliation. 6. Take appropriate action to stop the hate crimes and violence against the Muslim minority. 7. Pay adequate compensation to the victims of ethnic violence and their dependents. Signed: SM Mohamed Idris , Chairman Citizens International Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid , President Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization Mohideen Abdul Kader , Director Universal Justice Network Dr Mardani Ali Sera , Universal Justice Network , Indonesia Dr Heru Susetyo , PAHAM ( Pusat Advokasi Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia - Legal Human Rights Advocacy Center) Indonesia Ust Jamal Abdul Nasir , President , Cambodian Humanitarian and Justice Organization. Endorsed by : MALAYSIA Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations ( MAPIM ) Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia ( ABIM ) Federation of National Malaysia Muslim Students ( PKPIM ) Muslim Scolars Association of Malaysia Secretariate for the Assembly of Ulama of Asia SALIMAH ( Muslimah Brotherhood Association ) of Malaysia Movement for Democracy and Peoples Mobilization of Malaysia TERAS Association For Malay Education and Welfare Perak Muslim Ngo Network of Malaysia Penang Peoples Welfare Association of Malaysia Rahmat Care Malaysia Ummare Care Malaysia Kedah Muslim NGO Network , Malaysia THAILAND Council for Humanitarian Networking of Sheikhul Islam Office Thai Muslim media network Council of Muslim Organization of Thailand Thai Islamic Medical Association Young Muslim Association of Thailand Assalam Institue , Thailand Ummatee Group , Thailand INDONESIA PAHAM ( Pusat Advokasi Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia - Legal Human Rights Advocacy Center) Indonesia YPPK ( Yayasan Pusat Pemberdayaan Keluarga - Family Empowerment Center Foundation ) Indonesia FLP ( Forum Likar Pena - Writers Forum ) Indonesia Salimah ( Persaudara Muslimah - Muslim Women Network ) Indonesia LK3I ( Lembaga Kajian Ketahanan Keluarga Indonesia - Family Strengthening Research Board ) , Indonesia Center for Islamic Studies in Finance , Economics dan Development ( CISFED ) , Indonesia Yayasan Cendekia Ikhlas Madani ( Madani Scholars Foundation ) Indonesia CAMBODIA Cambodian Humanitarian and Justice Organization SHURA ( Ulama Network of Cambodia ) , Cambodia Cambodia - Malaysia Muslim Student Association ROHINGYA ORGANIZATIONS Union of World Rohingya Orgqnizations (UWRO) which represents all the following 32 Rohingya NGOs signatories as follows; a.Burmese Rohingya Association in Queensalnd Australia ( Braqa) b.Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand ( BART) c.National Council For Rohingya ( NCR) d.Arakan National Council ( ARC) e.Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan ( BRAJ) f.Civil Rights Mobvement for Burma ( CRMB) g.Arakan Rohingya Union ( ARU) h.Rohingya Information Centre ( RIC) i.Majlis Ulama Rohingya ( MUR) j.Ethnic Rohingya Refugees Community Malaysia (ERRCM) m.All 19 Rohingya Social Welfare Organizations under UWRO;s direct supervision. n.Rohingya Youth Council Malaysia. o.Rohingya Students Association. p.Rohingya National Developmenet Foundataion q.Rohingya Women and Orphans Protection Centre. MALAYSIA , Members of Parliament : YB Chua Tian Chang YB Dato Kamaruddin Jaafar YB Datuk Mahfur Omar YB Nurul Izzah Anwar YB Hanipa Maidin YB Dr. Mujahid Rawa
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 03:21:43 +0000
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