Saturday, March 30, 2013

CSW, CHRO In Major Push for Ethnic Rights in Burma

By Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Chin Human Rights Organization | March 22, 2013

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) today called on the international community to push ethnic and religious minority rights higher up the reforms agenda for Burma, while wrapping up a week of advocacy in both Brussels and Washington DC.

On Tuesday this week, representatives from CSW, CHRO, Human Rights Watch, and the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand testified at a hearing on Burma at the Subcommittee on Human Rights at the European Parliament in Brussels, which focused on the situation in ethnic

Myanmar: Authorities Must Protect Communities at Risk of Violence

By Amnesty International | March 21, 2013

Violence between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Myanmar that reportedly left several people dead demonstrates an urgent need for Myanmar authorities to protect people at risk, Amnesty International said.

On Wednesday 20 March, violent clashes broke out between Muslim and Buddhist communities in Meiktila, a town in Myanmar’s Mandalay Division, following a dispute at a Muslim-owned gold shop.

According to local sources, several people have been killed. There was also widespread damage to property in the town, including the destruction of mosques and a government building.

Tensions between Muslim and Buddhists have been heightened in certain parts of Myanmar, such as in Rakhine state where violence

11-17 March: Letpadaung Report Does Not Address Concerns, Places Security Forces Above the Law

March 18, 2013

Letpadaung Monywa Mine © JPaing/Irrawaddy

This week the much anticipated report of the Letpadaung investigation commission, appointed by President Thein Sein and chaired by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was finally released. The report acknowledges that the mine lacks strong environmental protection measures and would not create more jobs for local people. It also recognizes that farmers were forcibly evicted from their land to make way for the project. However the report says the copper mine project “should not be unilaterally stopped.” This recommendation deeply disappointed local farmers and activists who angrily rejected the commission’s report while the Wanbao Company welcomed it.

After the release of the report, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi visited the villages affected by the project to explain the findings of the commission. She called for the communities to stop opposing the project and accept compensation for their lost land. “We have asked the company to first give jobs to our people and second to maintain a healthy

4-10 March: Rampant Land Confiscation Requires Further Attention and Action from Parliamentary Committee

March 12, 2013

This past week the parliamentary Farmland Investigation Commission submitted its report on land confiscation to the parliament. The report finds that the military have taken almost 250,000 acres of land from villagers. The commission stated that they had spoken to military leaders about the confiscation, “Vice Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing […] confirmed to me that the army will return seized farmlands that are away from its bases, and they are also thinking about providing farmers with compensation.”

The investigation is a step in the right direction but there still exist very large problems

Burma’s Facade: An Update on Conflicts, Displacement & Human Rights Violations

By Altsean-Burma | March 12, 2013

This briefer, which covers the period from October 2012 to March 2013, includes the following developments:

Regime authorities continue to commit serious human rights violations against Rohingya in Arakan State, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, torture, the rape of women, and restrictions on religious freedom. The regime also tightens restrictions on freedom of movement, and refuses to consider citizenship rights for Rohingya
From December, the regime dramatically intensifies military offensives against the Kachin Independence Army. The Tatmadaw uses fighter jets, helicopters, artillery, mortars, and cluster bombs during military operations. Tatmadaw attacks

Same Constitution, Same Problems

By Burma Partnership | February 18, 2013

The Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, finished his 7th visit to Burma on Saturday and his report highlights the grave human rights concerns in Burma today. The escalation of conflict in Kachin State, communal violence in Arakan State, the continuing detention and torture of political prisoners, land confiscation due to development projects, restrictions on freedom of association and assembly are among the poor human rights conditions stated in his report. The scale of such human rights violations, in spite of the reforms initiated by the government, emphasizes the necessity of the role of the Special Rapporteur.

Many of the human rights violations that Quintana reported have a direct obstacle in the path of correcting these abuses: the 2008 Constitution. The 2008 Constitution was written by the military without Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy or genuine representation from Burma’s ethnic areas. It was described by the 88 Generation

Campaigns: Crimes Against Humanity

Organizations

Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)
Women’s League of Burma (WLB)
Burma Lawyers Council (BLC)
BLC Blog: Criminal Accountability
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Altsean-Burma: Criminal Accountability
Burma Campaign UK
US Campaign for Burma
Nobel Women’s Initiative
Global Justice Center

The military regime’s oppression extends beyond those who oppose it politically, reaching into all corners of Burma. Decades of military dictatorship have wreaked havoc on the country, and ethnic people—especially those in resource-rich areas and areas of armed conflict—have paid the highest price. In the past 13 years, over 3,500 ethnic villages have been destroyed in Burma.

Burma’s community organizations, international organizations and the United Nations have compiled extensive documentation providing evidence of the severity of the junta’s crimes, including forced relocation, forced labor, sexual violence, extrajudicial killings,

Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar

By United Nations Human Rights Council | March 19, 2013

A/HRC/22/L.20/Rev.1

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights, and reaffirming previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, the most recent being Human Rights Council resolution 19/21 of 23 March 2012 and General Assembly resolution 67/233 of 24 December 2012,

Welcoming the work and reports of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar,1 as well as the cooperation of the Government of Myanmar with the Special Rapporteur, including the facilitation of his visits to the country from 30 July to

Human Rights Council Highlights International Law Violations in Burma

By Burma Campaign UK | March 24, 2013

Burma Campaign UK welcomes the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution on Burma, passed by consensus on Thursday 21st March.

The resolution highlighted serious human rights abuses which could violate international law, including ‘…arbitrary detention, forced displacement, land confiscations, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as violations of international humanitarian law,…. violence, displacement and economic deprivation affecting persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities… armed conflict in Kachin State and the associated human rights violations and allegations of international humanitarian law violations, desecration of places of worship, sexual violence

Religious Violence in Myanmar, the Consequences of Government Inaction in Tackling Prejudice and Discrimination – UN Expert

By United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights | March 28, 2013

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, today expressed serious concerns over the spread of violence between Muslim and Buddhist communities in Myanmar and urged bold steps by the Government to counteract this frightening trend.

“The Government must take immediate action to stop the violence from spreading to other parts of the country and undermining the reform process. This includes stemming campaigns of discrimination and hate speech which are fuelling racist and, in particular, anti-Muslim feeling in the country. And it involves holding to account those responsible for acts of violence and destruction against religious and ethnic

Statement by Vijay Nambiar on Violence in Meiktila Township

By UN Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Myanmar | March 21, 2013

The Special Adviser of the Secretary-General, who reached Yangon this evening, expressed deep sorrow at the tragic loss of lives and destruction in Meiktila township in Mandalay division.

While firm action by the authorities was needed to prevent further loss of life or spread of violence, the continued fostering of communal harmony and preservation of peace and tranquility among the people was the most urgent priority and this was the responsibility of all sections of society. Religious leaders and other community leaders must also publicly call

BURMA: President Too Quick to Proclaim State of Emergency

By Asian Human Rights Commission | March 23, 2013

The Asian Human Rights Commission has been following with concern news of the latest outbreak of communal violence in Burma. Although the circumstances of how the violence began are clouded, the president on 22 March 2013 declared an indefinite state of emergency over four townships of Mandalay Region–Meikhtila, Wundwin, Mahlaing and Thazi–after the imposition of an order under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code on March 20 to shut down businesses until the situation improved failed to quell growing conflict that has officially left eleven people dead. Eyewitness accounts put the number of dead possibly in the dozens, with many people besides injured.

It would be disingenuous of the authorities in Burma to describe the violence as unexpected. Throughout the latter part of 2012, they permitted demonstrations by thousands of persons calling for the expulsion from the country of Muslims in the west alleged

Urgent Action Needed to Save Muslims in Burma from Pre-Planned Violence

By Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK | March 22, 2013

On 20th March 2013 at 10am, a Buddhist couple from Meiktila Township entered a gold shop to try and sell some fake gold and started to threaten and abuse the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper, who tried to defend himself with a stick, suffered a head injury.

After half an hour, a crowd gathered and started stoning the shop and destroyed it. Two hours later, a big crowd came to the town and started destroying property, Muslims’ shops, mosques and houses were burnt down.

The death toll is 47, including 11 women, 28 madrassa students and 5 teachers. Security personnel are not protecting. One reliable source said the killing, burning and looting is still going on in Meiktila as well as other towns and villages. There are over a 1000 Muslims taking refuge in the football field with no food. Food cannot be sent to them because of “security”.

This was a pre-planned attack on minority Muslims of Burma. During recent weeks anti-Muslim campaigns have been getting stronger in Burma. President Thein Sein’s government has incited the attacks and ignored the growing anti-Muslim campaigns. A monk, who was arrested for similar acts in 2003 and subsequently released, has been preaching the ‘cleansing of Muslims from Myanmar’ for months now.

BROUK President Tun Khin said, “It is very clear that security forces are just watching while the mobs are destroying and burning Muslim’s houses. Cleansing of Muslims in Burma is happening under the noses of the international community. These are not communal clashes; this is not equal sides fighting. These are organized attacks to cleanse of Muslims where the vast majority of those killed and displaced are Muslims.”

We urge the United Nations, European Union and ASEAN to put effective pressure on the Burmese regime to stop the killings and violence against Muslims in Burma, to restore peace and security in the region and to allow the international community and NGOs to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the victims.

As Burma is manifestly failing to protect its Muslim population, we also urge the international community to use the “responsibility to protect” or the duty to prevent mass atrocities. This responsibility now lies with the international community.

We call for pressure on the President Thein Sein’s government to ensure that displaced people can return to their original villages safely and freely. We call on the international community to pressure the Burmese government to stop anti-Muslim activities and racism in Burma. There should be laws on racism if the government wants to see durable peace in Burma.

For more information, please contact Tun Khin +447888714866.

Tags: Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, Mandalay Division, Meikhtila, Muslims, Violence

CSW Urges Burmese Government to Take Action to End Rising Religious Intolerance

By Christian Solidarity Worldwide | March 23, 2013

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is deeply concerned about a dramatic increase in religious intolerance in Burma, illustrated most dramatically in the recent crisis in the central Burmese town of Meiktilar. CSW calls on the Burmese government to take decisive action to secure the safety of citizens in Meiktilar, where a state of emergency has been declared following three days of sectarian violence that has resulted in at least 20 deaths.

On 20 March a dispute between a Muslim shop owner and his Buddhist clients escalated, resulting in the destruction of Muslim homes, businesses and mosques by Buddhist mobs. Local police failed to stem the violence. Hundreds of Muslim residents have reportedly fled their homes to seek shelter in a sports stadium.

According to Reuters, martial law has been imposed in four townships amid concerns of the violence spreading. An estimated 2,000 people are in refugee

Communal Violence Spreads as Security Forces Stand By

By Burma Partnership | March 25, 2013

Starting on Wednesday, 20 March, Burma saw a shocking return to the communal violence that engulfed Arakan State last year. In the central town of Meikhtila, Mandalay Division, attacks on people and property, have left at least 32 dead, religious and residential buildings burned to the ground, and more than 6,000 displaced. They are mainly Muslim people who are now living in a temporary refugee camp in a football stadium, 2 miles out of town.

The spark that lit the fuse in Meikhtila was an argument in a gold shop on Wednesday between the Muslim owner and Buddhist customer. A fight broke out and later that day a mob arrived to destroy the shop and nearby Muslim-owned businesses. Fighting in the street escalated as sections of the two communities fought, and by the end of Friday, an unconfirmed number of people had been

Burma Briefing: An International Task Force is Needed to Help Tackle Growing Religious Violence in Burma

By Burma Campaign UK | March 25, 2013

The consequences of failing to address the growing religious tensions in Burma are so serious that they justify the urgent creation of a task force which helps Burma’s political and religious leaders, both in government and in opposition, learn from the past experience of the international community in addressing these problems.

Current Situation

On 20th March violence erupted in Meiktilar, central Burma, between Buddhists and Muslims. While atrocities were committed on both sides in the ensuing violence, the majority of victims were Muslim, and Muslim shops, Mosques and people were systematically attacked. Many lives have been lost and thousands of people have fled their

Fanatical Buddhist Monk Saydaw Wirathu Calling for Boycott of Myanmar Muslims [VIDEO]

To watch VIDEO under the link click

ဦ၀ိရသူအေၾကာင္းဗီဒီယုိၾကည္႔ရန္ေအာက္ပါလင္႔ကုိႏွိပ္ပါ။

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/450375/20130326/saydaw-wirathu-myanmar-969-burma.htm

By Gianluca Mezzofiore: Subscribe to Gianluca's RSS feed

March 26, 2013

Buddhist Monk Saydaw Wirathu, the self-styled "Burmese bin Laden", has called for a national boycott of Muslim businesses in Myanmar in a controversial video that emerged on YouTube.

Wirathu, who has led numerous vocal campaigns against Muslims in Burma and was arrested in 2003 for distributing anti-Muslim literature, urges Burmese people "to join the 969 Buddhist nationalist campaign" and "do business or interact with only our kind: same race and same faith".
"Your purchases spent in 'their' (Muslim) shops will benefit the Enemy," says Wirathu. "So, do business with only shops with 969 signs on their facets".
The numerology of 969 is derived from the Buddhist tradition in which 9 stands for the special attributes of Buddha; 6 for the special attributes of his teaching or Dhamma and 9 for the special attributes of the Sangha or Buddhist order.

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In the footage filmed from Mandalay's Ma-soe-yein teaching monastery, Wirathu accuses Muslims of entertaining ties with the military junta that ruled Myanmar for five decades. The apartheid-like speech stirred shocked reaction on Twitter, with users calling the monk a "neo-Nazi" inciting anti-Muslim pogroms in Burma.

Wirathu played an active role in stirring tensions in a Rangoon suburb in February, by spreading unfounded rumours that a local school was being developed into a mosque, according to the Democratic voice of Burma. An angry mob of about 300 Buddhists assaulted the school and Muslim-owned businesses and shops in Rangoon. The monk said that his militancy "is vital to counter aggressive expansion by Muslims". He has also been implicated in religious clashes in Mandalay, where a dozen people died, in several local reports.

Sectarian clashes erupted this week in the central Myanmar city of Meikhtila, where mobs of Buddhists, some led by monks, have attacked a Muslim neighbourhood leaving at least 20 people dead.

"Buddhist monasteries have been distributing leaflets that were critical of Muslims on various things, and that has been going on for months" said Burma Campaign UK's director Mark Farmaner. He maintains there were individual reports, around 10, of monasteries around Rangoon and in the Rakhine state distributing anti-Muslim leaflets.

Muslims in Myanmar represent the 4 percent of a total population of 60 million, according to government census. However, according to the U.S. State Department's 2006 international religious freedom report, the country's non-Buddhist populations were underestimated in the census. Muslim leaders estimate that as much as 20 percent of the population may be Muslim.

READ: Burmese Bin Laden: Is Buddhist Monk Wirathu Behind Violence in Myanmar?

Buddhist Monk Saydaw Wirathu (Facebook)

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Thursday, March 7, 2013

The Best Doccuments of Rohingyas in Burma, အေကာင္းဆုံးရုိဟင္ဂ်ာ အေထာက္အထားမ်ား : Compiled by N.D.P.D. (Revised and New addition)

N.D.P.D. presentation for the native inhabitants (Whose Faith Is Islam) residing in Rakhine State (Arakan State) as the citizen by law and by natural or birth right as well as the indenous national of Republic of Union of Myanmar

Go to the Burmese Version - Link

Very Important ရခုိင္ၿပည္ရွိမြတ္ဆလင္မ်ားသည္သဘာဝအေလွ်ာက္တုိင္းရင္းသား၊
နဳိင္ငံသားၿဖစ္ေၾကာင္း၊ၿပည္ေထာင္စု လႊတ္ေတာ္သုိ႔ တင္ၿပသည္႔စာတမ္း …

Khaleda accuses govt of ‘genocide’

Urges people to take to streets, calls hartal for Tuesday The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, addresses a press briefing at her office at Gulshan in Dhaka on Friday.The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, addresses a press briefing at her office at Gulshan in Dhaka on Friday. — Indrajit Ghosh
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, on Friday termed the current spate of killings across the country as ‘genocide’ and asked the people to come out on the streets to ‘resist’ it.
She reiterated that BNP wanted trial of war crimes but it would have to be ‘transparent’ maintaining domestic and international standards.
‘We do not support serving political purpose in the name of holding the trial,’ she told a crowded press conference at her Gulshan office in the afternoon.