Rohingya groups condemn the SPDC's statement on Rohingya

By Kaladan's Webmaster
1 February 2009

Chittagong, Bangladesh: Rohingya groups released statements against the State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC's statement on Rohingya as a non citizen of Burma which issued on January 30, in New Light of Myanmar.

The Rohingya people have the ‘right to exist’ in Arakan, illegitimate SPDC has no rights

Press Release

The Rohingya people have the ‘right to exist’ in Arakan,
illegitimate SPDC has no authority to decide their fate

ROHINGYA ARE INDIGENOUS TO BURMA

Press Release
31 January 2009

We strongly protest and condemn SPDC for its lie in ‘New Light of Myanmar’ dated 29th January 2009 - “Rohinja is not included in over 100 national races of the Union of Myanmar”. This is an evil design to deny us of our rights, and we rebut as follows:

Burmese junta denies rights to exist

Is there a holistic approach to Burma’s refugee problem?

With the Rohingya boat people washing up almost daily on Thai shores, it is appropriate and as well, a welcome initiative for the Thai government to call for a conference, involving and consulting all concerned countries, including Burma, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and India to find durable solutions. In other words, applying a holistic or comprehensive approach, like an opinion piece on 26 January of The Nation rightly pointed out.

Rohingya: Burma’s Forgotten Minority

Among Burma’s ethnic minorities, the Rohingya, a stateless population, stand out for their particularly harsh treatment by Burmese authorities and their invisibility as a persecuted minority. Despite decades of severe repression, there has been minimal international response to the needs of this extremely vulnerable population compared to other Burmese refugees. The United Nations (UN) and donor governments should integrate the Rohingya into their regional responses for Burmese refugees. Host countries should allow the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and implementing partners to provide basic services to all the Rohingya and officially recognize them as a refugee population.