Plight of Muslims in Burma in the 21st Century:

An Initiative for Solution & way forward Human Tragedy in Burma: An Emergence for Solution

By Mohammad Sadek Program Coordinator Rohingya Arakanese Refugee Committee (RARC), Malaysia E-mail: [email protected] www.arakanobserver.com Blog: www.arrcinfo.blogspot.com At the very beginning, I would like to provide a brief introduction on Burma. Burma is a country which is situated in South East Asia. Its new name is Myanmar, with 261,218 square miles of its area Burma is consisting of 7 states and 7 divisions which is covered by 55 million people (55,167,330 by July 2012). Out of 144 ethnic races, 135 races are only recognized by the ruling and military backed Government of Burma Of them, entire 7 divisions are fixed for one race know as “Bamar or Burman”. The rest of 7 states are distributed for the ethic minority races in which no any particular regions was specified for indigenous Muslims of Burma at all.

Official Statistics of Ethnic Groups:

Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5% Official Statistics of Religions

Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2% Muslims Groups in Burma • Rohingya (Arakanese) • Surti • Kaman • Patan • Pathy • Gourkha • Panti • Hindustani • Shan • Malay (Poshu) • Karen • Bengali • Cholia

Rohingyas are the major Muslim ethnic and indigenous race in Burma’s State • Rohingyas ancestry to Arakan in BC 3000 years ago • Advent of Islam in Arakan in 788 (7th Century) • Muslims rules in Arakan from AD (1430 to 1638) Names of Muslims Kings in Arakan 1. Sultan Sulaiman Shah (Narameikla) 1430- 1434 2. Sultan Ali Khan (Meng Khari) 1434-1459 3. Sultan Kalima Shah (Ba Saw Pyu) 1459-1482 4. Sultan Makbul Shah (Doulya) 1482-1492) 5. Sultan Mohammed Shah (Ba Saw Nyo) 1492- 1493) 6. Sultan Nori Shah (Min Ran Aung) 1493-1494) 7. Sultan Sheikh Abdullah Shah (Salingathu) 1494- 1501 8. Sultan Ili Shah (Meng Raza) 1501-1523 9. Sultan Ilias Shah (Kasabadi) 1523-1525 10. Sultan Jalal Shah (Meng Saw Oo) 1525-1525 11. Sultan Ali Shah (Thatasa) 1525-1531 12. Sultan Zabuk Shah () 1531-1553 13. Sultan Bahadur Shah 1554-1555 14. Sultan Sikandar Shah (Min Phalaung) 1571-1593 15. Sultan Salim Shah (Min Raza Gyi) 1593-1612 16. Sultan Hussein Shah (Min Khamaung) 1612-1622 17. Sultan Salim Shah-II (Thiri Thudama) 1622-1638 Genocidal actions against Muslims in Burma • 01. Military Operation (5th Burma Regiment) - November 1948 • 02. Burma Territorial Force (BTF) - Operation 1949-50 • 03. Military Operation (2nd Emergency Chin regiment) - March 1951-52 • 04. Mayu Operation - October 1952-53 • 05. Mone-thone Operation - October 1954 • 06. Combined Immigration and Army Operation - January 1955 • 07. Union Military Police (UMP) Operation - 1955-58 • 08. Captain Htin Kyaw Operation - 1959 • 09. Shwe Kyi Operation - October 1966 • 10. Kyi Gan Operation - October-December 1966 • 11. Ngazinka Operation - 1967-69 • 12. Myat Mon Operation - February 1969-71 • 13. Major Aung Than Operation - 1973 • 14. Sabe Operation February - 1974-78 • 15. Naga-Min (King Dragon) Operation - February 1978-79 (resulting in exodus of some 300,000 Rohingyas to Bangladesh; 40,000 died) 16. Shwe Hintha Operation - August 1978-80 17. Galone Operation - 1979 18. 1984 Pogrom in Taunggok 19. Anti-Muslim riots - Taunggyi (western Burma), Pyay and many other parts of Burma including Rangoon - 1987-88 20. Pyi Thaya Operation – July 1991-92 (resulting in exodus of some 268,000 Rohingyas to Bangladesh) 21. Na-Sa-Ka Operation – since 1992 22. Race riot against Muslims – March 1997 (Mandalay) 23. Anti-Muslim riot in Sittwe – February 2001 24. Anti-Muslim full-scale riot in Central Burma – May 2001 25. Anti-Muslim violence throughout central Burma (especially in the cities of Pyay/Prome, Bago/Pegu) after 9/11 – October 2001 26. Joint extermination campaign – June 3, 2012 – to date. 27. Joint Genocidal actions and ethnic cleansing pogrom-June 3, 2012 – to date.

28. Muslim Vanishing action in Meiktila in March 2013 29. Muslims cleansing pogrom in Botataun March 2013 30. Joint extermination of Muslims from central Burma of Aukkan April 2013 31. Two child-limit policy against Rohingya April 2013 32. Succession of “969” slogan to make Muslim free zone in Lashoi of Shan State May 2013. 33. Buddhist clergies combing operation in Mosques in every corner of Muslim worshiping places in Burma.

Every attempt has been made by the Government of Burma since the days of General Ne Win to ethnically cleanse the Rohingya people and deny their human rights. They were declared stateless, thus licensing every crime directed against them; not a single Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was honored. Here below is a shortlist of such crimes against the Rohingya people:

• Denial of Citizenship • Restriction of Movement or Travel • Restriction on Education • Restriction on Ability to work • Forced Labor • Land Confiscation • Forced Eviction • Destruction of homes, offices, schools, mosques, etc. • Religious persecution • Ethnic discrimination • Restrictions on Marriage of Rohingyas • Prevention of reproduction and forced abortion • Arbitrary Taxation and Extortion • Registration of births and deaths in families and even of cattle, and the associated extortion • Arbitrary arrest, torture and extra-judicial killing • Abuse of Rohingya Women and Elders • Rape as a weapon of war • Depopulation of Rohingya community • Confiscation of residency/citizenship cards • Internally displaced persons or undocumented refugees and statelessness • Destruction or alteration of historical Muslim sites and shrines to erase its symbolism or Islamic identity • The practices of military backed or reformist Government of Burma are well documented to the International Community. Rather taking remedy against criminals, many quarters are trying to give award to the Burmese Government in consideration with “Democratization Process—achievement onward”.

• On the other hands, many prominent international human rights organizations, observers and human rights champions are condemning and criticizing the Government. The Burmese authorities are completely ignoring the calls and stepping towards continuous violence under the name of Buddhism.

• In such circumstances, we must find out a clear way in solving the plights of Muslims in Burma. With a view to achieving the goals of this International forum, entire civil societies, regional and international community would take following measures as urgent as possible: Current Situation in Arakan

• Unknown numbers of extremists Buddhist are increasing in Northern Arakan who are openly moving with swords, knives and various kinds of weapons.

• Muslim Rohingyas and Kaman are forced to stay at home, while putting severe restriction on them.

• Average death rates is calculated 3 in every hour in IDP/refugee camps in Arakan for the matter of malnutrition and severe hygienic problems

• Forcible expulsion from the ancestral homeland of Rohingyas and Kaman are very high who often lost their lives in perilous plight.

• Entire worshiping places (Masques) and religious education centers are forcibly shutdown under state emergency act. The 969 Movement

• The 969 Movement under Wirathu is effecting the whole Southeast Asian region.

• Activities of 969 movement have left several dead in Malaysia in the recent weeks, while the rest of vulnerable refugees are unable to move freely, even could not go for works.

• There is no security of lives in Malaysia for Muslim refugees and asylum seekers as the numbers of 969 follower groups is higher than 350,000, while the member of Muslims victims are around 50,000. • Unidentified numbers of the 969 followers are holding UNHCR document who are often take option in targeting Muslim activists and social workers.

• Registration of Muslim asylum seekers at the UNHCR is very slow who do not have any alternative way for their protection upon their escape from sectarian violence and genocidal actions.

• Resettlement quota for the genuine victims of persecution still remain very low and thus Muslim refugees from Burma could not properly.

• Opportunist groups of smugglers and NGO members are taking advantages under the banner of humanitarian aids and safer lives.

• Muslim victims who are being detained in various parts of Malaysia are starving and suffering from severe diseases for the matter of slow determination process. From this international forum, I would like to request the partners as participants to take following initiatives:

1. Quick registration of the Muslim refugees of Burma in order to ensure international protection under the United Nations Mandates.

2. Must ensure the safe guarding of Muslim refugee activists and social workers under respective mechanism and mandates

3. Establishment of strong networking of both civil society groups and diplomatic affairs for effective advocacy, diplomacy and humanitarian assistances to the vulnerable Muslims in Burma

4. Enhance strong solidarity to save the vulnerable lives of Muslims in Burma

5. Introduce strong foundation towards an alternative mechanism to stop crimes against humanity and to ensure human rights, human security and dignity.

This is very much important time to find urgent and immediate solution through out the following points:

1. To initiate tripartite Dialogue among Government authorities of Burma-Muslim Victims and the Regional/International Community

2. To establish alternative ASEAN Task Forces for Burma

3. To adopt public campaign

4. To submit petition to both regional and world leaders for the protection and safety of Muslims in Burma

5. To organize more and more forums, seminars and exhibitions on the plight of Muslims in Burma The Key Goals of this International Forum: • To focus sectarian violence, segregation, displacement, forcible expulsion and intolerance against Muslims minorities in Burma;

• To create better atmosphere in exile with a view to develop sympathetic treatment on the victim of genocide and humiliations;

• To exert effective pressure on Burmese authorities to stop maltreatment and violence against the Muslims of Burma and to ensure their respective rights of citizenship and human dignity. Conclusion:

1. We call upon the International Community, particularly the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Government of United States, United Kingdoms and their western allies, European Union (EU), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and neighboring countries to put pressure on Burma and to exert concerted efforts to protect and save the Muslims in Burma though meaningful and diplomatic engagement. 2. Request to conduct an UN Independent Inquiry and bring the perpetrators before the justice. 3. Request for assistance and cooperation from the International community to ensure the fundamental rights of Muslims in Burma 4. To replace Burma Citizenship Law of 1982 with a new law that conform to the International law standard and ensure citizenship rights of Muslims in Burma. 5. Request to Declare Protectorate State for the Region of Muslim dominated Arakan, Burma in order to save the Rohingya minority, the most persecuted people in the world.

Thank you.