KALADAN NEWS

Dated: March 16, 2004

Rohingyas’ concern over “ANC”

Chittagong, Mar. 16: The Arakan National Preconvention was held in New Delhi, India, on March 1-6, 2004 and it formed Arakan National Council (ANC) that claims to have been given political leadership role to represent the Arakan people and national interest, but the Rohinghyas of Arakan express their concern over it.

The ANC is comprised with Arakan League for Democracy (ALD-Exile, Arakan Liberation Party (ALP, Rakhine Sangha Union (RSU), Rakhaing Woman Union (RWU), All Arakanese Students and Yuths Congress (AASYC), Arakan Women Welfare Association (AWAA), the people of Arakan in exile and academics from all over the world, said a press-release dated March 7, 2004, issued by Coordination Committee for Pre-convention of Arakan National Convention (CCPCANC).

In a press release dated March 15, 2004, the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) stated, “ANC does not represent all the peoples of Arakan as no Rohingya and other non-Rakhaing organizations, academics, Members of Parliament (MPs) were invited to participate at the Arakan National Preconvention….Any forum formed exclusively with Rakahings, without the representation of the Rakahing people and other ethnic groups, can not represent whole Arakan or all peoples of Arakan”.

To ensure freedom, democracy and justice in the Arakan State and in Burma under genuine federalism the ARNO further stated, “Arakan is not a “monocultural society”. It is a state with a population of diverse ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious identities. Rakhaing (Buddhist) and Rohingya (Muslim) are the two major compact peoples of Arakan. There are other tribal or indigenous peoples distributed among Chin, Kaman, Mro and Khami etc. in the Arakan State. It, therefore, requires a commitment for both unity and diversity, a respect for difference and willingness to share power in Arakan State and in Burma”.

Appreciating the unity achieved among the Rakahing people the ARNO expressed its willingness to resolve all the issues and problems with Rakhaing, other ethnic nationalities and Burmese oppositions in the spirit of peaceful co-existence and brotherhood and strongly demands for an “Arakan Conference” to be participated by Rakhaing, Rohingya and all other communities of Arakan so as to charter the future of the peoples of the future Arakan State under genuine federalism.

On the other hand, all sections of Rohingya people, including the refugees and those in exile, fill with apprehension about deprivation their rights and freedom. “We must get our ‘due share’ in the future political arrangement under the Federal Union of Burma and it must be guaranteed by the constitution” said NLD (National League for Democracy) Arakan State organizer AFK Jilani.

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