TOWARDS ETHNICS CLEANSING By Myo Chit Maung Introduction It was exactly after Jumaa, Muslim-Weekly-collective Prayer, while like

every other Fridays, I was sitting on my computer desk and doing customary activities, one of my face book friends messaged me that one man was shot dead in Maungdaw by the police. Who could have ever thought that that incident would take the whole of Rohingyas freedom, security and peace away? I remained unconcerned (as seriously concerned as now I am) about the incident as thought that it was a minor problem and will soon be settled. The next day when I rang to my home, he was explaining me the whole incident that police open fired the Rohingya Muslims people while they were on their way to other Mosque for congressional prayer as they missed it in the Central Mosque. From that point, the sectarian violence has erupted the whole of Arakan between the two sister community Rohingya and Rakhines (Moghs) burning each others homes, destroying properties and killing innocent people. It is confirmed that the violence has got its pregnancy from the Taunggoke massacres; still one community is blaming the other. Whatever the reason and whoever is liable for the violence it is undeniable that the Muslim minorities of Rohingyas are passing their moments in deadliest situation while the Rakhines are being guarded and secured by the Government forces. Whereabouts is not known The last time I had conversation with him was two days before they were taken to an unknown location. I did not enjoy the last time phone conversation with him as if some fear was in each mind. I recognized this. That doubt was growing in my mind from that very time. After 6/8 and before 6/16 they have attended two three meeting as village prominent leaders in sector head quarter organized by col. of sector HQ in concern of the current situation. Every time I talked with him on the phone it seemed to me that he knows something wrong will be going to befall on the whole community. On 15/072012 the combined force including army and NaSaKa raided all the villages and tortured every one young, old alike leaving all into the condition of partial or total disability. At that time they were preparing for Juma prayer at home as it was not allowed by authority to collectively perform Juma and were lucky enough to escape from being captured leaving house full of women and children whom were later driven out from the houses for checking against the family list and questioning by the combined forces and gathered in school like chickens threatening very inhumanly. The family list was confiscated and returned after one month. This was a close shave indeed. On 11/07/2012 the shop line in front of the house was destroyed and looted the goods by the combined gang of army, NaSaKa and local Rakhines. No attack was made to the family members at that time. Still no one was aware of that the family was on the target. On 16th of June they were invited for the meeting as usual together with village chairman after which they still not return to their dearest ones. Again on 25th of June the village was second time raided and 24 innocent people were arrested and tortured. Six people including one woman were later released on the same day after severely tortured. Their beard were burnt and tortured till bleeding from the mouths and noses making them life long suffering and disability. The other elderly man was punched on the face
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making him blind because eye ball has come out of the spot. Another child was wounded in shooting. They (combined force of Army,NaSaKa and Mogh) set fire on my beards and at the same time punched me over my faces till I got bleeding from nose and mouth (One of the victims) Making the nights in the open-flooded-farm land The military camped in the village school for 5 days and always took their regular patrol along road. Every adult are making their nights in flooded farm land in the fear of arrest and tortured, leaving children, mothers and sisters in the home defenseless and helpless. This is what the situation demanded. During the raids some jump into the tidy creek and died due to strong flow of current. Some managed to get ashore after two three hours voyage in the dark cloudy night. During the raids they (combined forces) took away all the valuables found on their way. Cattles and Goats of Rohingya Muslims were slaughtered and celebrated as good dishes while those of the Rakhines were safeguarded. The human rights violation against the Rohingyas was immeasurable and grievous. I jumped into the tidy creek in dark cloudy night and after ride of several hours I managed to ashore by the Grace of ALLAH at last. (One of the victims) The situation of people especially children and elderly who were caged in the villages was very critical and are dying the everyday due to the starvation and lack of medical care. No one can out for food and no one work for money as the curfew is imposed only for Rohingyas. While Rohingya children are starving to death Rakhines are celebrating with full bundle of foods looted from Rohingyas shops and homes, and donation from international communities. At the time of writing this article Rakhines Moghs are selling 50 kgs of rice bag with 50,000 Kyat (Myanmar Currency) taking advantage of the situation the curfew being imposed on Rohingyas. All the Mosques are locked from the concerned authority barring the Muslims from praying during the Holy Month of Ramadan. What is the root cause? The main root cause is that they perceive the Muslim community especially Rohingya with doubt and fear due to their difference in religion and culture. The main architect of todays-Rohingya-systematic-cleansing is General Ne Win. His ancestors, the successive military regimes are also obedient enough to their old master to whole heartedly involve in this wicket plan of ethnic Rohingya cleansing which was, though some doubted before, recently testified to the whole international community by the President Thein Sein during the meeting with UNHCR chief in Nay Pyi Daw, who once was also military dictator. There is also mistrust and misconception from the side of Myanmar Government that anytime Bangladeshi people from the bordering area with Myanmar will be entering to Islamize Myanmar. So Ethnic Cleansing Master Plan founded by Ne Win still in action by the successive governments is now in its Golden Jubilee. The 1982 citizenship law intensified the cleansing program leaving all the Rohingya people effectively stateless which in turn denies all the basic rights of Rohingya. As per the article of Aung Htoo (Lawyer) recently published on

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his face book page, the 1982 citizenships law contains so many confusion that the authority actually is not on the law but on the officer who is dealing the issue. The ignorance of the Rohingya issue by the successive government fuels the Rohingya more vulnerable to the torture, discrimination, and force labor, religious, social and business restrictions. At the same time this violation of human rights by the Government itself on the Rohingya has exerted mental and spiritual strength on Rakhines Community to attack Rohingya. In a more clear terminology, it is issuing killing license for genocide. Their main accusations (what the author belief) on Rohingya includes that (1) They are illegal immigrants. If you branded the Rohingyas as illegal immigrants then what will you say regarding the very recent illegal Mogh immigrants (this has been the case since before) if you are honest enough to accept the truth? There are many illegal immigrant Bengali Mogh families in NaTaLa villages that were settled in Maungdaw and Buthidaung from 1990s. On the interview about Rakhine violence, Ko Ko Gyi, 88 generation student said that there are illegal immigrants in Maungdaw and Buthidaung border area. On the recent interview with BBC, his view become one step smarter than before, saying that there are illegal immigrants along the border area and the area which has coastal contact with Bangladesh. This comment come exactly the second visit of 88 generation student to Yanbyae, Kyaukphyu and kyuaknimaw. Its like saying that Bengalis are super human and they can enter any border area land or sea any time. One can imagine how ridicules it is. They are saying Every one that has Bengali-like facial appearance is Bengali from Bangladesh and not Rohingya from Myanmar. That is the motto what they have in action now. Key points (a) After independent of Burma, there were clashes between the government and all ethnic groups in Burma. Who will put knowingly their life in danger by entering into war zone? Also in post independent-era the Mujahids themselves persecuted the local Rohingya people in various ways.
(b) Actually there are cultural differences between Rohingya of Myanmar and Bengali

of Bangladesh. The most common differences are dress code and dish items. For example, dal is used in almost all meals of Bengali and you will never find Rohingyas using this as regular items. Moreover, in Bengali dishes fishes and chickens are cooked after being fried often. But this practice is never found in Rohingya. If Rohingya are from Bangladesh, these practices will surely be found in their daily life.( not aimed for derogatory purpose) (c) Who will ever stay in danger zone under various discrimination and torture if the land is not their ancestral? If Rohingyas actually are from the Bangladesh, they might all have gone to Bangladesh by this time. Even the previous refugees are day and night crying to return to Arakan, their ancestral land. (d) After takeover of Ne Win in 1962, illegal immigrants are driven out by various operations at that time. (2) They got entered the country by giving Huge bribe to the immigration officers.
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Yes, the immigration officer did take bribe for handling Rohingya immigration issues. But not in the sense all including 88 generation students, are accusing of. They took bribe by formulating the white as the black and making-up the black into white though it originally was white. They immigration officers never involved in bribery for an outof-authority and illegal issues like issuing ID cards to the families illegally entered the country (which never was possible though). Yes, I do confess that they took a huge bribe to reissue the family list that had returned to home country after staying abroad for five or ten years. Because, for all Rohingyas the list of the person who left the country is deleted from the family list. So, to add to the family list the officers took huge bribe. This is not issuing the entry permit to the illegal Bengali for entering Myanmar. There are so many cases along the border area. Another instance that immigration officers squeezed money from Rohingya is in reissuing temporary ID cards (white cards) in case of lost. Key points (a) Till today Myanmar never was economically and politically as feasible and stable and freedom as Bangladesh. From the country where even vegetables peddler can have mobile phone (from Saw Nit face book Mg Tha Noo Ei Tayawsar Tabote), is it ever logical to say that the people are entering a country where all people are fleeing from due to persecution? Well, lets say ok for the sake of argument, from where did these poor Bengali will get that huge amount of money? (b) No, no,.. Rich people have entered the country by giving huge bribe for the business purpose. Even a child knows that no Rohingya can do business in Arakan. All who are doing is under sponsorship and surveillance of government and Local Buddhist? (c) So, who will leave the green business pasture in Bangladesh in exchange of dangerous and unsafe business pasture? (3) The name Rohingya was an invention during 1950s. So, you have well remembered when the Rakhine was invented. If Rakhine can be invented from Mogh then why Rohingya cannot. Leave it. This is contra question. According to the Nyein Chan Luu Lins video speech on YouTube, the then government called for Muslim leaders from Rakhine and Yangon and advised that the race name Rakhine Muslim and Bamar Muslim comprise of religious and racial essence so the name should be changed. According to that advice, Rakhine Muslim was changed into Rohingya, which was first documented by Francis Buchanan in his book A comparative vocabulary of some of the languages spoken in Burma Empire in 1799 and Bamar Muslim was changed into Pathi. If this was an invention then why successive government has recognized that name. Would you say the then government was crazy? Would you say this was for the sake of internal stability of state? If so why are you not establishing the stability in state by bringing cessation of war in various ethnic regions now? Key points If the word Rohingya has no historical background and was invention of 1950s, so why (a) It was there in Burmese encyclopedia volume (9) 1964, page 89 and 90?
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(b)
(c)

It was there in High School geography prescribed text book? It was allowed to broadcast from Myanmart Radio from 1961 May (15) to 1965 October (30) in Rohingya Language? There was registered Rohingya Student Association in Yangon University in 1959 with registration no. 113/59 December and in 1960 with registration number 7/60 September?

(d)

These are some historical facts from many. (4) Rohingyas facial appearance is not same like any other national races and cannot speak any language of national races in Burma. To a learned person, it is no need to explain that the facial appearance and language has nothing to do with citizenship rights. Its Myanmar and her people who blindly are beholding such superstitious idea for citizenships. For example in Afghanistan, there are people with Chinese-like facial appearance. Nor the Afghan government is driving them out and nor discriminating against them. For a race whose language had been allowed to broadcast on the national TV program, there is no need to know other language. Though still there are so many Rohingyas who can speak Burmese Language much better than Rakhine and Rakhine Language much better than any other races of Myanmar. Key points (a) Even there are different forms of facial appearance that are born from the same womb? So how is it a big deal that Rohingyas facial appearance should be like as any other national races of Myanmar? Ridiculous!!!! (b) Is there any law in the world prescribing that to become a nationality of a country facial appearance should be same as major races? (c) How many percentages of other non-Burman races of Myanmar can speak Burmese Language? Their fear and doubt are based on the following perception (what the author comprehend) but not practical grounds. (1) Muslims are very much hard working and they will be able to dominate the whole Myanmar if given equal rights. This perception is purely childish, cowardness and lack of self-endeavor. The world is more than enough for all people coming till the Last day and there are ways for those who strive hard in a proper way irrespective of religion, race and culture. It is illogical and ridiculous to behold that Rohingya will eat up all the Rakhine opportunities. Just try faithfully and systematically. Rewards will be there for everyone. In a more straight way, getting success or dominance over other is not by means of suppression of other but by competitions in equally opportunized environments. In more practical terms, if only for the fear of success of others, the discrimination and suppression are exerted on the other party, this civilized open world is not for them. Spiritually, getting success over the weak by force or discrimination is not genuine whic is the teaching of all faiths.
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(2) Muslims are very serious about their religion and will be Islamized the whole

country if given rights of freedom and movement. How is it logical 4% of Muslim Rohingya will be able to Islamize the whole Myanmar? There is no compulsion in the religion. Nobody can be forced to accept any religion. As there is mouth saying that there is freedom of religion in Myanmar, let one may accept and follow any religion he likes. Its up to his soul to accept whichever he likes and no one can be authorized to force one to accept anything against ones will. Come out from the narrow-minded world and philosophy. Just look around the changing world. Till to date how many Buddhists have forcefully converted to Islam by the Islamic preachers? They are Christian missionaries who are successful in their mission in converting the hilly tribes into Christian. (3) Muslims have high birth rate and can have up to four wives hence increasing the population which they believe a threat to the Buddhist community. It again is ridiculous. As far as justice is guaranteed no threat or menace is expected from the other community. Till today how many terrorist acts have taken place in Arakan against Rakhine Community? Its Rohingya community who are 24/7 making their life on the threat of Rakhine community and Government. Just see plain example. How much it would be logical and practical to say that Rakhine community in Bangladesh is a threat to the Muslim community of Bangladesh? The whole world will laugh at you.

Why the Government did not control at the early stage of the violence though it could do so? Whatever has finished is finished. Just got ready for punishment. This was a testimony from a renowned village influential who have attended the meeting in sector HQ. The above words were told to them by the Naymyeymu (sector in-charge colonel) in the meeting. The violence took place in Maungdaw at about 1:30pm on 8th of June. Later, from that point it spread to the south and north. Some witnessed that sector (7) Naymyemu himself saw people marching towards the Kainggyi village. At this point he himself did not take any effective step to bar from violence taking place. Why? In Maungdaw, the communication is nowadays not that much hard enough that the security polices cannot communicate and coordinate information about the violence. Only half-an-hour drive is enough to reach the last affected violence spot. But they did not. Why? Why the violence took place in Sittwe and other cities despite the State of Emergency? The violence erupted in Sittwe after 48 hours that is starting from Sunday. It could normally say that the concerned authority should get alerted about the violence in Maungdaw. Two days time is not enough to get alerted for modern Myanmar Government? Then how Rakhines managed to burn thousands of houses of Muslim Rohingya and killed so many innocent people. If the Government would have neutrally handled the situation the case would have not been that much worse. But it did not. Why? But there are some rare cases that some army personnel personally helped the Rohingya people. Why the local Moghs could have looted all the Muslims shops in broad day light and in the night despite of the curfew from dawn to dusk?
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In Maungdaw, Muslim shops were looted by the gang of Police, Lone htein and local Rakhines. Was it not the time that kingless hood is on its zenith? Is it the solution to the violence to loot and detroy Muslims properties? It is not responsibility of the Government to safeguard the properties of both Rakhine and Rohingya if it has wanted a fair play? But it did for Rakhines but not for Rohingyas. Why? In post-violence period, why Mogh can travel for shopping but Rohingya cannot? After the violence no Rohingyas are allowed to travel for shopping. Taking advantages of this, the Rakhines people took the control of trade. They carried all the commodities and selling to the Muslims Rohingya with the very high prices. Only a few days before and during the visit of Quintana, Rohingya day laborers are allowed to work around the central market area of Maungdaw but the police collected the tolls for all items purchased(kaladan press news). In Kyaukdaw and other townships it is totally prohibited not to make any deal with Rohingya. In spite of witnessing all these happenings, the Government is not taking any just measure to ensure the justice. Why? Why Rakhines are allowed to held demonstration during the visit of Human Rights perpetrator? While the UN human rights representative was in Maungdaw 200 Rakhines held demonstration showing placard written Respect the decision of the president. In contrary to that Rohingyas are not allowed to meet with the UN Human Rights Envoy freely and whoever spoke regarding the current situation are being hunted by the Authority. Only selected persons who the Government believes will say in favor of it are allowed to meet with Quintana. Recently Union immigration Minister U Khin Yee, who repeatedly was uttering that Rohingyas illegal Bengali immigrant said in the press conference with Mr. Quintana in Yangon that the dispute between Rakhines and Muslims are like brotherly dispute and will be settled. Very simple lame man can understand what sorts of policy the Government is practicing against Rohingya. Why all the Mosques are locked if the violence is not based on religious discrimination? The government has locked all the mosques at the beginning of Ramadan, the Muslims holy month to prevent the Muslims from offering Salah during the fasting month. Moreover, the Imaams of the mosque are arrested. The government should have given security in the village to help perform prayers during this holy month to prove that the Government is also for Rohingya. Taunggoke massacre is reported as Taunggoke death How illogical and unreasonable it is to report the massacre as natural death? From where did all these 300 people come for the horrific killings of 10 Muslims? Came down from the sky? Or busted out from the ground as one writer put argument? For the same kind of situation in Maungdaw all the Rohingya villages are raided and arrested everyone seen on the way. But it was not the case for Taunggoke. Why? Not a single person is reported to have arrested so far in Taunggoke. Why? Illegal Bengali Moghs are not branded as illegal Bengali immigrant. During 1990s, the Government itself has settled many Mogh families in NaTaLa villages in Maungdaw north and south. They are recent illegal immigrant to Myanmar sponsored the Government plainly because they are Buddhist. Not a single word is uttered the 88 generation students like Ko Ko Kyi and other. They are very recent illegal immigrants. To the worst
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extend, these illegal Bengali Moghs are settled on the land of Rohingyas namely in Ba Gonenar,Thayekonebaung, Chienkarli,U daung and many other villages. If Ko Ko Gyi is clever enough to adore and respect the truth, he should have talked about those Bengali immigrants Mogh. Almost all Myanmar Buddhist and government officers are saying that the violence was due to the illegal immigrants. So if this was the case, there was no utterance that illegal Bengali Moghs should also be handed over to the country of Origin or UNHCR. Why? Is that not racial and religious discrimination? Why the government allowed dishonest interpreter for interpretation during the visit of Turk Foreign minister? Please listen to the following video from YouTube to see how the interpreter leaves or misinterprets the conversion between the Turk foreign minister and Rohingya Refugee in Sittwe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt-pS-Uf5-w. Or search in YouTube as Turkey Foreign Minister & Mrs. Emine Erdogan Visit Arakan To See Situation Of Rohingya. Anybody with a little knowledge of English and Burmese can on the spot point out the error. What actually he (the refugee) said was we are very much discriminated. But the interpreter translated it We need your assistance. So, how much the government is neutral in handling the issue. From this point, international community easily can imagine on what base Myanmar people and Government stand. Its actually is a shame indeed. What has told in various occasions? In the start of June, The president said to UNHCR officer: The Rohingyas entered illegally after 1948.We take the responsibility of our ethnic but not of other who entered illegally. ..And should be send to a third country Dont carry on, if do so, punishment is there. These are the words of commander-in-chief told at the meeting on 8/8/2012 with Rakhine Parties in Nay Pyidaw. Was not it as if they knew all what is happening in Arakan state? In the interview with VOA Burmese program on 14th of August, the President said: They have been living there for long long time. Such things are hardly happened before. We have never encountered this type of violence in our life. .
. In the answer to another question the President said: Which mean according to our research there are

almost no illegal immigrants in that place. Birth rate of those who was there before is very very high. For example there is 70 or 80 member in a single family

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 meaning education is importantthere

is no effective schools in that area. Only religious schools are there. Education is the foundation..we will establish the effective education system. Education will make them knowledgeable and visionary. Please
read full link here: http://www.burmese.rohingyablogger.com/2012/08/blogpost_5567.html.

Very good idea and proposal. One thing here is to be noted. Who successively is barring Rohingya from going universities in professional subjects like Doctors, Engineers, law, economics, geology and many others? Here one of Myanmar traditional saying is remembered: If offspring have no good code of conduct then the accountability is on the parents head. So, who makes the whole Rohingya community go astray in morally, educationally, economically, socially? Still the Rohingya community from among so many barriers and restriction has attained certain level of status which is not average less than other races of Myanmar. If we analyze the above extract, one will easily see that there are some contradictory points taking turn from red to yellow. Also in the interview the president said: Lets say Bengali. Its like solving mathematical problems for unknown variables which is solving the problem till to the solution and assign the solved value for that variable. Likewise, President is trying to prove that the race Rohingya is unknown race (variable) and will assign Bengali to that variable if there is no external pressure exerting on the Government. Conclusion Times that white are far superior than black are left behind. Nazism has vanished. Slavery has demolished at the advent of Islam. Poor has no more to be inferior. Rich has no more to be Gov proud. Time has changed. The world now is on a click. You can see around the world, for So they also t. are indirectly example in America, Obama is the first black president. Germany has no more such racist Equal or directly policy. Slavery is no more in world.
rule of law Its the time for the Government of Myanmar and almost all her people to embrace the changes perceiving spiritual and challenges to join the streamline of democracy. The problem of the people of Myanmar is Rohingya with support to Has been feeling that is barring to openly that they have some psychological discriminating and violating and hastily engage with doubt and harass rights of current world challenges. This actually is not their problem but the problem created by Ne Win hatred without Rohingya by disconnecting his people from the outside world. By the name of state security and blind knowing actual Witnessed these rights extremist patriotism almost all its people are acting on their personnel belief and superstitious history violation perceptions. Rakhin Other Ethnics in Myanmar e insulting and treatment and Exerts moral,

Make feel others that Rohingyas are intruders Rohing ya

Executing sponsored violations, many a times in combination and falsifying Rohingya History

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Communal Harmony and towards modern developed nation

Fig. perceived conceptual diagram Referring to the Khin Yees word It is a brotherly dispute an example is cited here. For example in a family of many brothers and sisters, if the head of the family is giving more favor to any of the brothers or sisters or any one is discriminated from the other, the favored one will try to make more harm to the discriminated one. The discriminated one will feel inferior and helpless and will remain patient for a certain period of time. If the discrimination is open and serious in the witnessed of the head then the matter become worse to worst. Rohingya problem is in this kind of situation. The Government is discriminating the Rohingya from the very beginning of military rule and taking this advantage, the Rakhine community is also attacking the Rohingya by all the possible ways since long time. The violation become on its zenith when combined forces (Government and Local Rakhine) attack the Rohingya creating the situation very grievous and unbearable for the Rohingya. The problem is very simple to solve if the Government is willing to play parentally if the dispute was brotherly one as told by Immigration Minister in a press conference in Yangon. If the Government ensure equal treatment and rules of law only then all inclusive communal harmony will be achieved which in turn will be propelling towards a modern developed nation. Myo Chit Maung August 2012

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