Monks in Myanmar are reportedly trying to fuel ethnic tensions by telling people to shun and block humanitarian aid to the Rohingya community, a Muslim community that has suffered decades of abuse, reports independent.co.uk.
Certain monk organisations have been reportedly issuing pamphlets describing the Rohingya as “cruel by nature” and claiming that the community had plans to exterminate other ethnic groups.
"In recent days, monks have emerged in a leading role to enforce denial of humanitarian assistance to Muslims, in support of policy statements by politicians," said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan project, a regional NGO.
"A member of a humanitarian agency in Sittwe told me that some monks were posted near Muslim displacement camps, checking on and turning away people they suspected would visit for assistance."
The Young Monks' Association of Sittwe and Mrauk Oo Monks' Association have both released statements urging locals not to associate with the group, reports the independent.co.uk.
The Rohingya have been displaced and are currently living in camps as political leaders are working on expelling them from the country.
Earlier this month, Burma's president Thein Sein attempted to hand over the group to the UN refugee agency.
Bangladesh, already home to a Rohingya refugee population estimated at 300,000, had earlier turned away more migrants and has sealed its 200-kilometre border with Myanmar.
The Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for centuries, but were stripped of citizenship in 1982 by military ruler Ne Win.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have also threatened to attack Myanmar to avenge crimes against the Muslim Rohingya, unless Pakistan halts all relations with the government and shuts its embassy in Islamabad.
COMMENTS (72)
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@Rajendra Rana: because the evil always try to overcome the truth...but it will never happen..the evil will always try to drag the innocent people to falsehood,lies,hate...n many other negative things...n the evil will try to comfort the innocent...people so that they would stick his deseption..but...at hte always the truth will..n islam win...in the begning..even i fell to this deseption...but alhamdulila..i started thinking the question why is enough...to search the truth....even i was hindu my name was nikhil...n now m muslim...n m really happy
Stop the Muslim Killed this is very wrong
What all think is wrong for the actual case. We , Myanmar, want to live peacefully under the law. The Bangladesh POP explores , some of them come to Myanmar,another go to India. Now Myanmar and India are facing the problem of accepting the Bangalis( Bangladesh People )
@Bangladeshi
'Bangladeshis were once Indians, They are bengalis. Their land was part of undividied India before partition. If the partition never happened, they would be still moving around just as they are. So they are moving to their own India.'
What logic!!! By the same argument you can be moving around in Pakistan as it was as much a part of undivided India as you were. On a serious note, partition was made becuse you wanted it. And now that you have got it, stay put in your part. Am I asking for too much?
@Rajendra Ran
Why you take it as a religion, take it as CRIME against humanity, what is happening in Burma is a crime against humanity.
To the guy who said, Bangladeshis are spreading all over India. So what ? Bangladeshis were once Indians, They are bengalis. Their land was part of undividied India before partition. If the partition never happened, they would be still moving around just as they are. So they are moving to their own India. So shut up.
we are worry in looking of the condition of muslim rohingnya genocide in Myanmar. we Muslim should unite to solve this uncertain situation in Myanmar. govt as well as NGo should take role with its authority; diplomacy, or even with a reactive action to condemn this tragically ethnic cleansing. and all component that claim as Muslim that this moment to show your sympathy against the racist in Myanmar!
The killing of people, women and children should be stopped as soon as possible!
I am really not surprise about that because so colled Rohingya can make all kinds of fate story. You can see face of Monk and his hand. This is fate monk arrange by Chris Lewa.
But here Arakan situstion is much much better than Islamic Countries like Pakistan, Afganistan and etc. please visit here than you will find many more real story.
www.wontharnu.com
There is no justification whatsoever for subjecting any community to violence or injustice. so pray heardly for Brma
There is no justification whatsoever for subjecting any community to violence or injustice.
I am from Myanmar and I have a lot of Muslim friends. First of all, we all Burmese does not want Rohingya simply because they are illegal settlers from Bangladesh. First, you need to empty your feeling towards Burmese and think properly. This is not religious issue. This is our sovereignty issue. We need to defend our land. Second, what about Muslim residents living inside Burma? They all are Myanmar Muslims and they dont like Rohingya also. And finally, why on Arakhine State?? Because it is bordered with Bangladesh where mass amount of people flows into our western state. Again, even Myanmar Muslims oppose the illegal settlers Rohingya, I do not know why you cannot think properly. Finally, the violence in Rakhine state started by Rohingya. and the scale of violence is 1000 times less than what have happened in Pakistan and Middle East in the Human History and the government controlled very well. When you read the news, free up your mind, try to read from both sides and use your brain a little bit so that you all will have better judgement without being brainwashed by some Machiavellian tactics.
@The Truth: Can you provide the gist of this article in English please in a few lines?
@antony: This is the first time I heard "sky high". I had been hearing deeper-than-oceans or higher-than-Himalayas.
@Usman Malik: after India, US, UK, China, you don't mind adding one more unhappy nation to your list to deal with- Burma???? Wish you were the foreign minister of Pakistan!
Monks are telling that rohingaya is cruel by nature but the peoples who are killing rohingaya are very innocent and peace loving...what a shame for the monks and the whole country burma...
The international media groups have been unfair to Myanmar and to the Rakkhine victims of the Rohingya attack. It is obvious that the Rohingyas are the attackers. Why would the majority Rakkhine leave their homes, and get their properties torched if they were the attackers? I strongly feel indignant by how the photos of artifice are flooding the world media. I am miffed by how the photos of what is really happening in Arakan State are published nowhere on the world media channels.
I would like to ask the international entities who speak up for Rohingyas. Who would speak up for the Rakkhines whose homes were ablazed? Who would seek justice for the Rakkhines who were brutally murdered by the Rohingyas during the Arakan massacred? You suggested the government of Myanmar of accept the Rohingyas. Were you there when the Rohingyas raped our women? Were you there when they splashed kerosene at our homes and burnt them down? Were you there when they brutally murder our people? Please do not be fooled the Rohingya proganda set up the group of despicable media groups. Get up and set your foot on our Arakan land. Hear our cries. Feel our sorrow. Touch our tears. Touch our blood. See the carcasses. See the faces. It is for real. None of these are fabricated nor manipulated. The victims are the Rakkhines, the innocent villagers who were killed by the Rohingya terrorists. Why did Rohingyas kill the villagers? The answer is simple. It is because Rohingyas are not one of us, not one of the ethnic group of Myanmar. In fact, they are terrorists!
Where's Suu Kyi voice in this? Oh I forgot, she fought for Burma (the race)
This has more of an ethnic reason to it, but this does not please people who want to inject a religious color to it.
Secondly, We Pakistanis should be the least qualified to talk of the plight of Rohingya.
From the stranded Biharis to the suppression of Bahrainis should put us to shame.
Ansar Burney@AnsarBurney
The human rights situation of massacre and ethnic cleansing of innocent people in Pakistan is worst than in Rohingya, Burma.
@mr. righty rightist
people being fought in Syria are similar to what Indian army is doing in its north Eastern states, fighting armed rebels, every country would do that, even the US if the time comes. but in Burma ethnic cleansing is being done against poor unarmed people.
@mr. righty rightist: You are 1.5 billion muslims. Why don’t you influence Assad ans stop the bigger genocide that’s taking place in Syria? I will tell you why? Because you 1.5 billion muslims are the biggest chunk of hypocrisy on earth.
So the killing of these muslims is wrong because there is genocide in Syria? You sir are even a bigger hypocrite then muslims as you put it :)
@Hardliner: your comments are so sad and disillusioned. Calling others atheist just because their political views are different from yours? Every Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jew if has some humanity will condemn this ghastly act of violence and human rights abuse. P.S I might consider myself a liberal but my belief in God is strong, that doesnt make me an Atheist. And I consider "hardliners" of any religion a nuisance and consider them religionless.
Balkanisation of Burma has become a necessity now. Let us see how much time is required for that.Wrong headed burmese generals & Mrs Su Kyi are responsible for that.What would happen if Rakhains of Cox`s bajar & Patuakhali & Chakmas of CHT (Their forefathers migrated to this region from Burma) are pushed back to Burma?Burmese leaders should understand that we are living in 21st century & not in the middle ages.
@Faisal Goraya: "threaten" !! Like what?
@Junis
"There a 1.5 billion of us and we cannot do anything about it or do not want to because the victims are not white. The world is also a racist place where dishonest, vile, racist Australians can count on international aid during the 010 Storms but persecuted Rohingya community cannot."
You are 1.5 billion muslims. Why don't you influence Assad ans stop the bigger genocide that's taking place in Syria?
I will tell you why? Because you 1.5 billion muslims are the biggest chunk of hypocrisy on earth.
If it was brutality against Muslims then it is said as a country's right, interesting to note the silence of OIC, NATO, UN
The criminals are not just the Buddist monks and their governement, we Muslims are so cheap and useless we cannot come to the aid of the small Rohingya community. There a 1.5 billion of us and we cannot do anything about it or do not want to because the victims are not white. The world is also a racist place where dishonest, vile, racist Australians can count on international aid during the 010 Storms but persecuted Rohingya community cannot.
It is also of worthy to note that Burma is one of the extremely few non-white countries that recognizes Israel and rejects Palestine. Most non-white and non-Western countries (Russia)are prepared to recognize Palestine.
Migration from overpopulated Bangladesh has been going on for the last 100 years which has gained accelerated momentum in the last 25 years. It is changing the ethnic composition in border states of Burma and India creating hostility and fears in the local population. The problem is not solvable unless the demographic bomb in Bangladesh is taken care of. Unless this problem is addressed we are looking in future to internecine conflict which will exceed the killing fields of Africa and Cambodia. The basic fact is the resources and land of Bangladesh cannot sustain the population . Bangladesh has one of the highest densities of population to area in the world. We can see illegal migrant Bangladesh encampments in Delhi and all the way into deep South India . Just remember Pakistan a Muslim homeland has not accepted repatriation of stateless Biharis in Bangladesh for the last 40 years on the basis of cultural dissimilarities with the resident Pakistanis and the fear that they will not be integrated into society despite their common religion
Myanmar Muslims and Myanmar Buddhism are living peacefully. The problem is with Myanmar and Rohingyas (illegal immigrants from Bangladesh) Please share my comment guys, because what the world knows is that "Muslims are killed in Burma" Nope, it is wrong, please like my comments, Myanmar Muslims friends. :)
We should not be very surprised to heat this that religious leaders are leading this movement of hatred in Burma, when in our own country, religious leaders take the lead role in not only terrorising but participates in the violent attacks on Christian Churches, Hindu and Sikh Temples and Ahmediay Mosques. Why should we ask the world to speak for the Muslims living in Burma, while we show an attitude of indifference. We argue that our violence is justified because we are making Pakistan a land for Muslims ONLY. When Burmese monks try to do this, we want the whole world to speak out and stand up for the rights of Burmese Muslims. WHY? WHY? WHY?
ET is becoming a house for these indian trollers , shooo shooo !!
@imran ahmed siddiqui: How about appealing to UN to go into Pakistan to save its people who get killed in greater numbers every day for religion, ethnicity etc.?
I am a muslim due to this relation alot of buchering muslim going on in burma ex coloney of briton colonial power now their resposbalety to take humentaren ground help through UN by all member s of security council other platforms they are waiting help from these i appeal from all human comminaties to come forward go to burma
Rohingyas are non-Myanmarese East Pakistani illegal immigrants. They are the guilty ones, not the other way around. http://witnesshr.blogspot.in/2012/07/rohingya-lynch-mobs-have-been-involved.html
@JB: Just one thing: the current govt of KSA is perfectly in line with US interests
Please read this article and you will be aware of the real face of Myanmar people:
http://express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1101579489&Issue=NP_ISB&Date=20120725
@Someone:
Both complete lies. Read up your history from 1953 Punjab riots onwards. Also aid was blocked in the recent floods for minorities. Search for it, it was in the media.
@Hardliner:
What comment do you want from liberals? Oh I know, 'what you sow so shall you reap'. Hate all sects and religions and then they will hate right back. Time to end Blasphemy law which is a major issue of contention.
I live in Myanmar (and I'm an atheist liberal, btw!) The violence is being perpetrated by both sides, but it's tilted in recent weeks disproportionately against the Rohingya community. You'll find that even amongst Muslims throughout Myanmar, the Rohingya (a term which many people here don't recognise) are widely hated. The problem is one of extreme nationalism and xenophobia - they are seen as illegal Bengali immigrants, even by Muslim residents of Myanmar.
@ashvinn: Not really, we don't go on open killing sprees against minorities and block humanitarian aid. I guess it only happens in India and Burma, as can be seen from strong anti-Muslim sentiments in these two states.
Are you people expecting timely and firmed act from our foreign office ??? We dont have our foreign policy so its pointless to ask this govt to do anything in this regard. The only thing we can is raise our voices against this brutality on social media
why cant the all weather sky high friend china doing seeing the plight of pakistanis seeing the plight of burmese muslims..Yes nothing as usual! .
Lets get TTP some boats! Enough so they empty all our lands.
TTP or any such group u r strongly needed in Myanmar, Burma. Plz go there.
Criminal silence of world over muslim genocide is reprehensible.
@Faisal Goraya: As far I know, Pakistan haven't any embassy there.
@Faisal Goraya: You get what you deserve, All you guys can see is human rights of Muslims where were you when minorities in your country were and are brutally put down
Good for their future and their country.
@faisal, How about missile threat of Gauri to Burma if the burmese dont treat muslims well ?..
Doesn't any one see that there are some retrospection needed in the so called religion of peace ?
As per Wikipedia the Muslim population of Myanmar is 2.4 million ( including 0.30 million Rohingya) Perscecution of Rohingya can not be justified but simultaneously it not be termed against Muslims. The problem is mainly between the Rakhine ethnic group( 4% of Myanmar population) and Rohingya And for local reasons the Rakhines have support of other ethnic groups also, which is obvious, whenever some clashes occurred.
@ Hammad, Think about it...what do Libya, Tunisia, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries have that Myanmar doesn't...OIL. The Arab Spring movement was something initiated by the West to ultimately reach countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE. The same way the whole 9/11 conspiracy was a sham to take over Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran. The West has no interest in Myanmar and thats why you will not see any news on BBC or CNN, etc.
No wonder i don't see any comment from the Atheist community... oh i mean the liberals
@Rajendra Rana: Very irresponsible comment that shows the bigotry and hate towards Muslims though the fact is Muslims in India are not hated by Hindus so your argument goes to trash and if they are hated then secular claims of India go to waste bin.
I thought Bhuddists were peaceful..oh wait a second
@rajendra rana, I see many of your fellow Indians living in Arab/Muslim countries. So, I assumed Indians love Muslims and our "religion of peace". So, not the "whole world hates us", Indians love us!!
I can extend your hateful hypothesis toward Muslims by citing examples of Indians in Africa, Australia, Fiji etc.
can we get the figures of Muslim population( excluding Rohingyas) in Myanmar and what they say about the locals .
Clearly there must be another story behind this than what is presented by the media all of a sudden. These muslims are not so innocent themselves.
Pakistan should shut down its embassy in Myanmar and order the Myanmar embassy officials to leave Pakistan immediately and threaten the Myanmar cruel regime over the genocide of Rohingya Muslims.
In a very narcissist manner I am actually glad with the prospect that TTP might ship all of their lunatics to Burma!
We live in a hypocrite world. International media has been going nuts over Libya, tunsia, Iraq and in so man other places for supporting a cause for democracy but no one gives a damn if some people have such grave thoughts about a community.
only for this I second TTP . . . .
why the whole world is hating Muslims and their religion of peace