KALADAN NEWS

Dated: May 24, 2005

Arakan Bodies Urge Bangladesh to Review its Policies towards SPDC

Chittagong, May 24: Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO) urges upon Bangladesh to review its policies towards SPDC in line with the democratic aspiration of the Burmese people, including Rohingya of Arakan.

ARNO also welcomes the renewed US economic sanction on Burma for SPDC’s continuing grave violations of human rights against Burmese people and large-scale repression of democratic oppositions, while it requests to the US President G.W Bush to take up the matter to the UN Security Council for further necessary actions.

The ARNO stated in a press statement that the ethnic Rohingya are the worst victims of human rights abuses in Burma like other ethnic areas.

Due to the denial of citizenship rights to the Rohingya by the SPDC in their homeland, the status of the Rohingya becomes into “de-facto Stateless” in their own country, while nearly half of their total population has been expelled. Those who are still at home are living in sub- human condition counting their days in utmost miseries with uncertain future.

The SPDC has imposed humiliating restrictions on their freedom of movement, seriously curtailed their economic, social and political rights and has disallowed their children to continue their further studies, while it is paying no heed to the democratic aspirations of the Burmese people and recommendations of the international community. Instead, it is adamant in its refusal to bring about democratic changes.

Besides, the Rohingyas living in Rangoon and Burma proper have been seldom questioned, harassed, punished and deported under false charges. Even they do not spare the Rohingya parliamentarian like U Kyaw Min, who is an elected MP of National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPH) from Buthidaung and a member of the Committee Representing for People’s Parliament (CRPP). He was recently picked up from his residence in Rangoon with U Kyaw Hsan, an MP and the Chairman of NLD Sagain Division. The wife and two grown up daughters of U Kyaw Min were also arrested for their stay in Rangoon, while lawyer, relatives and friends of U Kyaw Min are denied to visit him.

On the other hand, a spokesman from Rohingya Youth Development Forum, or (RYDF) said the renewal of economic sanction on Burma would be helpful for the political changes, though general public face a bit crisis in the country. However, the RYDF members request to the International community to more pressure on Burmese military ruler for immediately democratic changes with unconditional release of democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners including the ethnic Rohingya parliamentarian (MP) and member of CRPP, U Kyaw Min and his family members.

The members of RYDF hope that Bangladesh should review its policies towards SPDC for the restoration of democracy, human rights, peace and justice in Burma.

Moreover, the ARNO appreciating the US President’s renewed economic sanction on Burma and urges upon the ASEAN to disqualify the SPDC from the Chairmanship of the ASEAN in 2006. It also calls upon the SPDC to immediately free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and all other political prisoners and immediately release of U Kyaw Min, a Rohingya MP, and his family members, stopping repression of the democratic oppositions and initiate meaningful tripartite dialogue to bring about political changes in Burma as mandated by the United Nations.

It also urges upon the SPDC to scrap and stop without delay all black laws and genocidal actions against ethnic Rohingyas. #

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