Boatpeople missing in Bay of Bengal after Thai authorities deny entry !!!!!

Kaladan News

December 30, 2008

Boatpeople missing in Bay of Bengal after Thai authorities deny entry

Chittagong, Bangladesh: More than 300-boat people, going to Malaysia to escape persecution of the Burmese authorities and seeking jobs from Bangladesh, are missing in the Bay of Bengal near India's Andaman Islands, after Thai authorities refused them entry and pushed them back to the sea, according to sources from Thailand and India.

"More than 300 people believed to be illegal migrants and mostly Bangladeshis were feared to have drowned. The mishap took place off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal on December 28 as the victims jumped into the sea and tried to swim ashore," the Britain based "The Guardian" newspaper said yesterday.

Boat refugees abused in the hot midday sun in front of sunbathing charter tourists


"The men were mostly Bangladeshis and some Burmese nationals, aged between 18 and 60. Setting sail for Malaysia, where they were promised jobs, in six boats 45 days ago, they would-be migrants soon became lost and drifted through the Bay of Bengal," said authorities in Port Blair.

Thai navy personnel, who were patrolling the coastline of their territory, stopped the boats with boat people who tried to land on coast as they were out of gas and food. They were sent back to the sea by Thai authorities in their engine boat. The Thai Navy personnel took the responsibility of catching the boat people, although they did not intend to end their journey in Thailand, and were on their way to Malaysia, said a source, who is working in Thailand and compiling a report on the boat people.

This is the boat the refugees arrived in Similan Islands, Thailand



The Thai Navy deported 180 boatpeople with food and gas on their boats to the sea and the navy again caught 108 boatpeople near Kuraburi yesterday, the source said.

According to our source from Arakan, many from among the Rohingya community wish to go Malaysia and want an end to political persecution from the authorities. The human traffickers lure them with dreams where they can help their family from Malaysia. The traffickers ask for around 30,000 to 40,000 Kyats first and the remaining is paid after working in Malaysia.

Boat which are going to Malaysia, berthing in Teknaf.


The traffickers organize people from the villages and bring them from Arakan to the Bangladesh border. At a point, they leave from Bangladesh to Malaysia on engine boats which are small and over loaded with people, dry foods and water which is not enough for them for their journey, said a watchdog group of boatpeople from Bangladesh.

Recently, more than 200 Rohingya boatpeople were caught near Bassin town of Irrawady delta area, where they lost their boat in bad weather. On December 23, they were sent to Arakan after investigation in Rangoon and released when they reached the towns of Buthidaung and Maungdaw, Arakan through the Village peace and Development Council (VPDC) officials, said a close aide of the Township peace and Development Council (TPDC).

Departure point of boatpeople at Sharpurdip



In Bangladesh, some traffickers organize Bangladeshi people for providing jobs overseas (Malaysia) through the deadly sea route asking for less money than by air. Poor rural people want to go overseas for their families' survival, the watchdog group added.

When the Thai navy intercepted the boat people, the Thai authorities had put them on a pontoon tied to a ship to deport them. But they quietly released the cable and the pontoon started drifting, seven died while the group drifted between Thailand and the Andaman Island and their bodies were dumped at sea, after drifting for 10-15 days when finally they saw a lighthouse, nearly 300 jumped into the water one after another,' said authorities in Port Blair quoting survivors.

Mohammad Ismail Arafat, one of the survivors, "I and others had paid a Bangladeshi agent for promised jobs in Malaysia."

The coastguard found the vessel with 88 men still on board about 40 miles off Hut Bay, near Little Andaman island, about 90 km (55 miles) south of Port Blair on December 28, and another 11 men were found on the nearby Sandy Point island, said SP Sharma, commander of the coast guard for the Andaman region, putting the number of survivors at 102 while two more bodies were found yesterday.

Indian authorities still hope to find survivors, officials said.

"We are looking for them in all possible places near the south of Little Andaman as we think there could be more survivors and two Indian navy ships have joined coastguard vessels searching for the missing men," the Andamans defence spokesman, Mannu Virk, said in Port Blair.

In Dhaka, the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reports: The foreign adviser, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said, "Bangladesh had sent letters to embassies of India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka for taking initiatives to rescue the victims while issuing a general appeal to other neighboring countries for any possible support in this regard."

'We are seeking more details on the reported incident,' said Chowdhury, who is also in charge of the ministry of expatriates' welfare and overseas employment, also expressing his deep shock at the deaths. ##

Police destroy unofficial refugee camp in Kutupalong

Kaladan News

December 26, 2008

Police destroy unofficial refugee camp in Kutupalong

Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar: Police from the Ukhiya Police Station under Cox's Bazar district destroyed an unofficial refugee camp surrounding the Kutupalong refugee camp on December 23, at about 3 pm, on the allegation that the refugees are setting up tents in forest department land, said our correspondent.

According to the refugees, they did not set up tents on forest department areas and the land is owned by the government.

The police accompanied by forest staff and local people went to the unofficial refugee camp surrounding the Kutupalong camp and destroyed more than 80 huts of refugees without informing the refugees. They also destroyed some belonging of refugees like plate and kitchenware. The refugees fled in fear of arrest and torture by the police. After the police, the staff of the forest department and local people withdrew the refugees came back to their camp.

Destroy huts by police

A woman Noor Begum (22) a mother of one child was left behind at the refugee camp while all the refugees fled after leaving their huts on seeing the police. She was forcibly pushed out of her hut by the police.

Refugee sitting out of destroy huts

The refugees passed the night sleeping under the open sky in foggy and cold weather. Some refugee children and elderly people caught cough and cold related diseases.

However, on December 24, the refugees started re-building their tents with bushes at the bottom of the hill near the Kutupalong official refugee camp. No one created any obstacles.

Feeding infant under open sky

"We were expelled from the local village in January 2008, while the government was updating the voter's list across the country. We have no place to go. We want to stay here peacefully. But, our huts were destroyed by the authorities. What the reasons are, we don't know, said a refugee named Salamat Ullah. ##

Letter From an Exile

Letter From an Exile

Former Burmese Freedom Fighter Cries for his Stricken Land

By Antonio Graceffo

“I am not that happy at all in (The name of his new country has been deleted for anonymity purposes.) but Freedom I love this, and I want all Burmese people, anyone who is living in Burma, any ethnic, I want them to see and feel freedom like here.”

Kyaw, an exiled Burmese resistance fighter.

His wife is dead. His parents and siblings are missing. His country is gone. Kyaw (not his real name) is stranded forever, in the purgatory of a foreign culture, where he struggles to raise his daughters, learn a new language and come to terms with his heart-wrenching past.

Driven from their homes, murdered, raped, tortured at the hands of their own government, the ethnic minorities of Burma: Shan, Karen, Karenni, Pa-O, Lahu, Lisu, Rohinga, and others have been suffering for sixty years. In the face of genocide it is easy to forget the suffering of the country’s majority, the ethnic Burmans.

In 1988, after the government slaughtered pro-democracy protestors in the streets, a group of ethnic Burman students, including young Kyaw, formed an organization called ABSDF All Burman Student Democratic Front. They took up weapons and fled to the jungle. Many were welcomed into the ethnic armies, particularly the Karen. The government reaction was so violent, that within a few years, the Karen would lose their headquarters. The Shan State Army would be reduced by 90%, and all of the ABSDF fighters would be either killed, captured, or driven over the border into Thailand, where many still live, working illegally. The lucky ones became refugees and were resettled in a third country.

Lucky to be alive, they suffer the complete loss of everything they ever knew or called home.

Because of the videos I published on youtube about my time in Shan State

http://ca.youtube.com/results?search_query=antonio+graceffo+shan+state+&search_type=&aq=f

and the articles I published, I receive a lot of email from Shan and Burmese exiles all over the world. This most recent one was particularly moving. I wanted to share it with the world. Let the world be reminded of how bad things are inside of Burma. And let those of us who work on the conflict, with the various ethnic groups, remember that ethnic Burmans are also victims.

Here is the letter from Kyaw, with some editing of his English, for readability, and some author’s notes I interjected, for those unfamiliar with the details of Burma’s civil war, the longest running armed conflict on the planet.

Hi, Mr. Antonio,

I left my family when I was 14, studying at year Eight in 1988. So, I hadn’t finished school yet. Even if I finished, and if I stayed in Burma, I have no Idea what kind of job I would get. I lived in Shan State capital city, called Taunggyi. It is the third biggest city in Burma, second is Mandaly, and the capital was Rangoon.

(Author’s note: The SPDC, Burmese government, moved the capital to a secret, undisclosed mountain location in 2007. Rangoon was changed to Yangon, but it is still considered to be the real capital by all but the junta themselves. The junta also changed the country name from Burma to Myanmar. But no one outside recognizes this change.)

After I left home I never saw my brothers or my parents anymore, and still haven’t had contact with them. So, I left it, as this is life, and I am lucky that I am still alive. After I left home I was in ABSDF( All Burmese Students Democratic Front ) for 14 years. In those years, we fought with the Burma army often and a lots of my friends died in the war. We didn’t stay close to the Shan State Army, but we often crossed Shan State armed areas. We lived in the Pa-O area, which is part of Shan state, Karanni state, and Karan state.

(Author’s note: The Pa-O are one of the smallest ethnic groups in Burma. They live primarily in Shan State and had their own resistance army, until the major onslaught from the SPDC nearly crushed the resistance. Since then, the armed Pa-O have been absorbed into Shan State Army. The SSA commander, Col. Yawd Serk has a policy of ethnic equality and welcomes all ethnicities who live in Shan State. When I was with the SSA I met soldiers who were Pa-O, Lahu, Karen, and even Chinese speaking soldiers who I had to translate for.)

After the Karen (KNLA) fell in 1995-96 our ABSDF organization also collapsed and our base fell in to Burmese government hands, because we are dependent on living with the Karen.

(Author’s note: One of the biggest blows to the rebellion was when the Karen lost their headquarters. It was overrun by government forces and the army took years to regroup. The ABSDF were primarily college students from the big cities. They often didn’t know how to survive in the jungle and were very dependent on the help given them by the tribal people.)

Karan and Kachin State where the biggest and strongest organizations in Burma. Also Shan was powerful in around 1970 and 1980 but the Burmese military crossed the whole Shan State with powerful regiments, burning and killing whatever they saw. After that, the Shan army was not strong enough anymore.

The last, biggest Karan State fell in 1995. Our revolution groups were no more strong enough, but just small groups, still fighting for their homeland, and also ABSDF

(Author’s note: The ethnic soldiers were and are still fighting in the very place where they were born, where their parents, their children and their ancestors grew up. There is that feeling of defending the homeland. Among the ethnic soldiers, there is a feeling that the ABSDF were outsiders. Yes, they also opposed the Burmese government, and they were willing to pick up a gun. But there was still a distrust of outsiders.)

The small groups continued to fight along the Thai -Burma border, but just small groups.

I still support AB and still work for it. I am Burmese and I can speak a little Shan, Karen, and Pa-O language. I can also speak and read Thai well. But now I am trying to learn the English language. It’s very hard for me.

I am not that happy at all in (The name of his new country has been deleted for anonymity purposes.) but Freedom I love this, and I want all Burmese people, anyone who is living in Burma, any ethnic, I want them to see and feel freedom like here.

I feel sad about Burma.

I have two daughters and my wife died after we arrived here with stomach cancer. So, I live with my 2 daughters 11 and 9 years old. However far apart from Burma, I am always looking back and helping when I can.

I am so proud of you had helped Burma land. I wish you always remember Burma land. I always know Burma is very beautiful country and Burma has everything more than Thailand.

Just because of the government, all Burmese people have been sick, and a sick life is hell.

(Author’s note: Please say a prayer for the people of Shan State and for all of the people of Burma.)

Antonio Graceffo is a martial arts and adventure author living in Asia. He spent several months, in and out of Burma, documenting the light of the Shan people. Those stories have been widely published and readily available through a google search. His is the author of five books, including, The Monk from Brooklyn, which are all available at amazon.com.

See his videos on youtube.

http://ca.youtube.com/results?search_query=antonio+graceffo&search_type=&aq=f

His website is speakingadventure.com

Join him on facebook.com

Contact Antonio: antonio@speakingadventure.com

Checkout Antonio’s website http://speakingadventure.com/

Get Antonio’s books at amazon.com
The Monk from Brooklyn
Bikes, Boats, and Boxing Gloves
The Desert of Death on Three Wheels
Adventures in Formosa

Bamboos scarce in Arakan State

Kaladan News

December 18, 2008

Bamboos scarce in Arakan State

Teknaf, Bangladesh: Bamboos in Arakan State are gradually disappearing because businessmen in collaboration with a section of the authorities have been exporting it to Bangladesh, said a bamboo trader from Maungdaw Township on condition of anonymity.

The bamboos are transported to Teknaf from Arakan State by traders.

The price of bamboos is skyrocketing in Arakan State, as businessmen export bamboos to Bangladesh even as local people face difficulties buying bamboos for building houses among other things.

In Arakan State, businessmen buy 100 bamboos at kyat 11,000 and sell it at Taka 13,000 to 18,000 in Bangladesh. (One Taka= 17.50 kyat). Most of the bamboos are exported to Bangladesh from the southern part of Arakan State. Burma's bamboos are available in Teknaf, a border town in Bangladesh. These bamboos are exported by engine boats.

Some of the bamboos are also sent to Teknaf as rafts which float along the Naf River from Maungdaw north, Arakan state.

A local worker in Shapuri Dip, Bangladesh said it is good for the local people as they can buy bamboos at cheap prices. If bamboos do not come to Bangladesh, from Burma, the price would go up in Bangladesh.

The businessmen have to pay tax to Burma's border security force (Nasaka), customs, police and the forest department. They also have to pay Taka 4,000 to the authorities in Teknaf for 1,000 bamboos said a trader.

Clash between villagers and Nasaka in Maungdaw

Kaladan News

December 18, 2008

Clash between villagers and Nasaka in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Burma: A clash occurred between Burma's border security force (Nasaka) and villagers who were watching their betel vine on December 12 near the foot of the hill in Maugdaw Township, Arakan State, said one of the relatives of betel vine grower.

On December 12 a section of Nasaka personnel from the Nasaka headquarters of Gyikan Pyin of Maungdaw Township went on a patrol at mid night, and reached the betel vine yards of the villagers while the villagers were watching their betel vine to prevent theft by Natala (Model) villagers. The betel vine watchers numbering 12 threw stones at the Nasaka believing that they were Natala villagers trying to steal betel leaves.

This was a day after the incident between Natala villagers and betel vine watchers, on December 11. On that day at about 1 pm, a group of Natala villagers from Aung Zaya Natala village went to the betel vine yards to steal betel leaves, but the betel vine watchers drove them away by throwing stones at them.

The Nasaka personnel warned the watchers that they would shoot in the air. The betel watchers (Rohingya villagers) ran away leaving an elderly watcher. The Nasaka went to the huts and arrested the elder and tortured him severely. He was taken to the Nasaka camp.

The arrested person was identified as Hassan (55) son of Bozor Meah, from Wabeg village in the Kawarbill village tract.

After a while, the betel watchers went to the Nasaka headquarters and informed the concerned authority about the incident.

Hassan was released on December 13 and there was no action against the villagers (betel watchers).

A village elder said that some of the villagers of Wabek and Maung Nama grow betel vine near the hill to earn money to support their families. But, frequently, the Natala villagers who were brought from Burma proper and settled there steal betel leaves from the betel yards. So, the villagers have to watch their betel yards day and night.

Malaysia: Rohingya Women Find Their Voice

Malaysia: Rohingya Women Find Their Voice

03 Dec 2008 23:02:00 GMT

Written by: Refugees International

Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.

Sean and I just returned from our mission to Bangladesh and Malaysia, where we focused on the situation for Burmese Rohingya refugees in both countries. I last conducted an assessment mission to Malaysia in April 2007.

It’s distressing to see that the Government of Malaysia continues to target refugees for arrest, detention and deportation, including pregnant women and children. However, despite the difficult situation facing Rohingya in Malaysia, one very positive development that I learned about on this trip is the recent creation of a Rohingya women’s group.

Traditionally, women within the Rohingya community do not take on leadership roles. But through the encouragement and support of a Malaysian civil society organization, several Rohingya women have come together to form a committee and have made a plan to work towards improving their situation.

Lack of access to education for their children was one of the main issues identified by the women. Since Malaysia does not recognize the Rohingya as refugees but calls them illegal migrants (along with all the other Burmese refugees in the country), their children are barred from attending public schools. The women’s group had started an informal school in a residential building but was eventually forced to stop when one of the neighbors complained and told the women they would call immigration to arrest them.

Access to healthcare is another serious gap. It can be expensive and dangerous for refugees to give birth in local hospitals or clinics. Last year when I was in Malaysia several refugee women had been arrested and placed in detention with their newborn babies after having delivered at a local hospital. One pregnant Rohingya woman I spoke with told me that she had given birth to her first two children at home, and planned to do the same with this one. She is five months pregnant and had not yet been to see a doctor for prenatal care. She said her husband has no job at the moment and they have no money to pay for medical care.

Given the difficult conditions they are living under in Malaysia, it is encouraging to see these women push the boundaries of their normal roles in the community. They are now trying to open a center where they can do activities such as skills training and education. They even have plans to start a beauty salon. The women told me that it’s good to be organized together, despite the pressure and criticism many feel from their husbands. With all the abuses endured by the Rohingya inside Burma, these women do not wish to return there anytime soon, and while many would like to be resettled to a third country, the reality is that very few will be. That is why it was so compelling to meet and talk with these women, who are trying little by little to provide for themselves and their families, since no government will.

--Camilla Olson

Reuters AlertNet is not responsible for the content of external websites.

New marriage system in northern Arakan

Kaladan News

December 8, 2008

New marriage system in northern Arakan

Maungdaw, Arakan State: A new system has been brought into force by the Nasaka Director of Maungdaw township in northern Arakan for marriage purposes for Ullema (religious leaders), since November 20, said a village elder on condition of anonymity.

The system is only for Ullemas who have studied in Arabic language in Madrasas (Arabic schools) and have a brand. Earlier, Ullemas were allowed to get marriage permission with a brand. But those who were not Ullemas were required to be clean shaven for getting permission to marry.

However, since November 20, the Ullemas need recommendation letter from Maulana Sayedul Amin who is the Chairman of Union of Ullema (religious leaders). Maulana Sayedul Amin lives in Maungdaw north and is the principal of Maung Nama village Madrasa.

To get permission to marry from Nasaka (Burma's border security force) Ullemas need recommendation letters from Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) where they have to pay kyat at least 10,000. And then, the Ullema have to go to Union of Ullema with his education certificate to get recommendation letters that the Ullema is of good haracter and a genuine Ullema. Maulana Sayedul Amin is authorized to give recommendation letters to the Ullema candidates, said a local school teacher.

Besides, the bridegroom has to submit an application to the concerned Nasaka camp along with his all documents through a broker, where he has to pay kyat 30,000. The candidate has also to buy five different Forms from VPDC office by paying kyat 3,000.

After checking all the documents of an applicant, the clerk or concerned authority sends all the documents to the local Nasaka Area Commander. Then all the documents will be sent to the group 1, 2 and 3 of Nasaka for recheck and they call for two guarantors from the applicant.

After one or two months the applicant is called by the commander and given marriage permission where he can marry within a week or a month. The commander tells the applicant to have only two children.

The applicant has to spend at least kyat 50,000 to get a marriage permit, according to a new candidate who declined to give his name.

Restriction on slaughter on Eid festival in Arakan State

Kaladan News

December 8, 2008

Restriction on slaughter on Eid festival in Arakan State

Kyauktaw, Arakan State: The Military Operation Command (MOCs) based in Kyauktaw issued orders to obtain permission from the authorities of the Township for slaughtering cattle on the event of coming Eid festival on December 6, according to an officer from Kyauktaw Township.

The coming Eid festival will celebrate in Arakan State from December 9 -11.

The MOCs 9 is known as the Daugtaw base which controls Kyauktaw, Minbya, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun and Mrauk-U Township.

The MOCs ordered the concerned authorities of the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) to issue permission for slaughtering during Eid festival with some conditions like one cattle for 100 adults, 50,000 Kyats for permission and a cattle buying slip. Those slaughtering without permission will face three years in jail, according to sources.

The MOCs also ordered the authorities to compile the list of Rohingya (Arakanese Muslims) community in their townships and send it to the MOCs, the sources added.

To get permission, we have to give details of our family list and recommendation of concerned village/ ward authorities and must to give a list of 100 people with their family list. So, it is very difficult for us to collect the list, but we need permission for person who wish to slaughter one cattle in the festival, said a trader from Mrauk-U.

"It is to discourage us to slaughter cattle during our Eid festival," he added.

It is mainly to show that the authorities are giving freedom of religious practices. It is difficult for us to collect 100 people for one cattle and placing so many conditions for our festival, said a student from Kyauktaw.

No one can buy cattle without permission and buying slip for slaughtering in the Eid festival. If anyone does so the cattle will be seized and the person punished even if the cattle is his own, said a school teacher from Rathedaung.

The authorities didn't stop cattle traders who smuggle cattle to Bangladesh by taking bribe and with the understanding that there would be less cattle for framing, said a former village headman from Rathedaung.

Rohingyas in dire straits in Johor

Monday November 17, 2008

Rohingyas in dire straits in Johor

By GLADYS TAY

KOTA TINGGI: About 300 Rohingya refugees are finding it hard to survive since they lost their jobs in October.

They had worked at car wash centres here but since the Immigration Department imposed a RM5,000 fine in late October on businessmen who hired refugees, they were all fired by their bosses.

Nurul Hok Abdul Hok, 28, said he had been jobless since Oct 22, when his boss received the warning.

“Nobody dares to hire us now because they do not want to risk paying the fine,” he told The Star when met at their settlement here.

Officially displaced: Abdul Ali showing the UNHCR identity card of his daughter Sathra who was arrested in October

Nurul Hok added that they were forced to work since the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told them that it would no longer support their living here.

The father of three said he had five mouths to feed and without a job, it was impossible for them to survive.

“We have to pay rent of RM250 per month and we already have problems paying our utility bills,” he said, hoping that the Immigration Department would issue temporary work permits for them to continue to earn a living.

“How can we survive without money as we need to eat, we need a place for shelter and we need money for medication if we are sick?

“We do not want to beg for money or rob,” he added.

The Rohingyas are a Muslim ethnic group of western Myanmar who have been in exile after human rights violations by the Myanmar junta in 1978.

They have fled to different parts of the world including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Malaysia.

Their village chief Abdul Ali Ali Ahmed said the move to fine the bosses came after three arrests were made by the Immigration Department in the area.

He said 38 of the refugees were arrested on three separate occasions between Sept 14 and Oct 22.

The father of five said his 14-year-old daughter Sathra Bagum Abdul Ali was among those arrested.

“Once they are arrested, they will be jailed for two months before they are sent to Thailand.

“We do not know whether we can meet Sathra again,” he said.

Abdul Ali said he had contacted the UNHCR for assistance but to no avail.

“We really hope that either the UNHCR or the Malaysian Government can give us some form of assistance,” he said