Bangladesh rights record faces US scrutiny

Bangladesh rights record faces US scrutiny

Source : The Daily Star (Bangladesh)

AP, Washington

Accusations of extrajudicial killings by Bangladeshi paramilitary forces and the South Asian nation's refusal to grant refuge to fleeing refugees faced scrutiny from US lawmakers Thursday.

The congressional hearing also examined allegations of abuses against labor and opposition activists in the moderate Islamic nation, whose human rights problems weigh on Washington's efforts to forge stronger relations.

Lawmakers singled out for concern Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion. The paramilitary unit was formed to fight organized crime but Human Rights Watch calls it a death squad.

Top US diplomat for South Asia, Robert Blake, said the unit's record has improved, but cited figures from a Bangladeshi rights group that the battalion has committed 34 killings so far this year. That compares with 83 deaths in 2010 and 51 in 2011.

"There's been some progress, but again, it's still a very large number," Blake told the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. Blake said the US has helped set up an inquiry cell within the battalion, which comprises police and army soldiers, as a means for it to probe its rights abuses.

Bangladesh's government, elected in 2008, denies the battalion has committed unlawful killings on its watch.

John Sifton of Human Rights Watch said the government which had promised before the election to crack down on the abuses needs again to admit there's a problem.

"They should either disband it, or at least disconnect it from the military, and either way they need to take steps to hold it accountable for its past crimes," Sifton said.

Democrat congressman Joe Crowley moderated the criticism of Bangladesh's rights record by crediting it for the conduct of a free and fair elections in 2008 praise that drew hearty applause from supporters of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attending the hearing.

But Crowley also urged Bangladesh bring to justice those responsible for the "brutal murder" of labor leader Aminul Islam, who led a campaign for higher wages for the country's 3 million garment workers.

Islam was found dead along a highway April 5. His family blames the killing on law enforcement agencies.

Crowley voiced particular concern that ethnic Rohingya women and children fleeing communal violence in western Myanmar last month had been turned back by Bangladeshi authorities.

Clashes between the Rohingya, who are Muslims, and Buddhists in Myanmar's Rakhine state left scores dead and tens of thousands displaced. Crowley said he would raise concerns over the Rohingyas' plight with Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi when she visits the United States in September.

The Rohingya are in a stateless limbo. Myanmar considers them to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and denies them citizenship. Bangladesh says Rohingyas have been living in Myanmar for centuries and should be recognized there as citizens.

Blake said that Bangladesh has allowed more than 250,000 Rohingya to live there for more than 30 years but turned back those fleeing the recent violence, despite US urging that Dhaka abide by its international obligations to provide refuge, and US and UN offers of assistance.

Bangladesh said its resources were too strained.

An Open Letter to Daw Suu Kyi of Burma (2)

By Dr. Habib Siddiqui

Dear Ms. Suu Kyi,

For more than a decade, as a concerned human rights activist, I have worked towards release of political prisoners like you and democratization of Burma (Myanmar). It was good to see that the new regime had the wisdom to eventually release you with so many others that were put behind the bars for no fault of theirs except that they demanded what is morally right and good for Burma. I am also glad that you along with 43 others of the NLD were able to participate in the April by-election and win. It was a great win for the people. A hearty congratulations to you and your party.

People’s expectations are high with such positive developments inside Burma. They like to believe that with your voice heard inside the lower house of the parliament their decades-old grievances would now be aired and you would do your utmost to bring about equality, fairness and justice so that no one irrespective of his/her ethnic or religious backgrounds would be treated unfairly in new Burma. For years, the military government had exploited intolerance of the ‘other’ people to further divide and rule the country. As you may, therefore, expect, no country in the world is as much poisoned by the evils of racism and bigotry as Burma is.

The latest pogrom against the Rohingyas of Burma once again underscore the fault line along race, ethnicity and religion. I am simply shocked to observe how an act of murder of a Rakhine woman by a criminal could trigger race- and religious riots in which ten innocent Muslims (from Rangoon proper and not Rakhine State) were mercilessly lynched by a mob of 300 hateful Rakhine extremists. If in our world such lone acts of violence by criminal elements within a society were to lay the very foundation and justification for lynching of an entire community, there won’t be any human being left alive on earth. And yet, that simple wisdom seemed to have missed the Rakhine leadership who stoked hatred of the Rohingya.

One would have expected that in new Burma with you leading the opposition camp in the Parliament, and the new government promising change, Burma would have said sayonara (good-bye) to such ugly displays of intolerance. As you well know, not only did not the local Rakhine leadership and security forces and police come to the aid of those innocent victims when they could have stopped the carnage, they simply rekindled the fire by attacking and firing upon unarmed peaceful Rohingya demonstrators in the Rakhine state. As the later evidences suggest that the Rakhine fascist leadership had tried to exploit the event as its Reichstag Fire moment to not only terrorize the Rohingya minorities so that they would have no choice but exodus out of the Rakhine state to nearby Bangladesh or elsewhere but also to secede from the rest of Burma. In the meantime, hundreds of Rohingya villages have been set on fire, affecting the precious lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of the Rohingya, already recognized throughout the world as the most persecuted community in our globe. Probably hundreds have also died in this latest pogrom. I am simply appalled and horrified by the monstrosity of such naked aggression against the Rohingyas and Muslims of Burma.

Dear leader, the world looks up to you as a moral voice of conscience, and not as a Bamar supremacist. You cannot allow the voices of intolerance within your party and the country to define you. Sadly, the activities of some of the leaders of the NLD had been anything but desirable. In his interviews, individuals like Nyo Myint sounded more like an intolerant racist and bigot than a wise spokesman who cares about fairness, equality, truth and justice. Such an intolerant image portrayed by members of your inner circle is unfortunate and would lower goodwill the world community now has for you, your party and your country.

The Rohingya-demand for equality in citizenship rights is a fair one and you must do everything possible to make such a reality. That should create the atmosphere for inclusion away from days of exclusion, which Burma needs desperately. Otherwise, divisive forces would put the nail in the coffin of federal Burma. It must embrace pluralism and cannot live in the past of hatred, racism, xenophobia and bigotry. The sooner the better!

Regards,
Dr Habib Siddiqui
(a well wisher),
USA

News on June 18, 2012

The authorities – Army, Nasaka and police- have been engaged in systematic looting, rape females, arson attack, and arrest on village after village inhabited of Rohingya community, accompanied by new settlers and Rakhines and butchering Rohingya men, women and children indiscriminately, a politician from Maungdaw

“Rohingyas , their rightful status as citizens of Burma, give back their lands and ensure all kinds of protection to these people  so that they may not have to flee their home to another country in the future.”

 BGB arrests 104 Rohingya at border

Border guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested 104 Rohingyas from Naf River who crossed with small rowboats carrying 10 -15 people per boat today.  The Rohingya , mostly young , are fleeing for fear of arrest  by calling meeting  in every village under army and Nasaka where they arrested young Rohingyas  and kept them in the Nasaka Headquarters.

Arrest by Nasaka and army

Aabadulllah from Bagonena village.

20 Rohingyas from Gonnaipara, Hayoungkhali  village under Sherzar village tract .

3  Rohingyas from Paungzar village (Mohamed Sultan , Abdul Razak and another one )

Mulana Osman, from Labawza village.

Dr. Nawzumawddin was called by authority yesterday from his home and he is still in the custody of authority. Nobody knows the reason of keeping him.

Nurul Haq alias Kala, Fazal (ex- clerk), Fayazul Haq ( ex-middle school teacher) and Hussin (teacher)  from Ward number 4 after authority called meeting in Maungdaw today morning.

Younous , Ward administrator officer  from Ward number 2 after authority called meeting in Maungdaw today morning.

 Loot and destroy

Aabadullah’s house was destroyed   after looting from Bagonena village.

The authority –Army, Nasaka, Military intelligence and police intelligence round up the house of Hussin (teacher) from Wards number 4 where the authority tooted and beat severely to his family for his absence.

 Rape

Amina (not herreal name) was gang raped by Army till she died in Pandaung Pin (Nawlborna ara) village under Maungdaw yesterday.

2 Rohingya women were raped from Bagonena village.

 Foods

Rohingya community become short of foods as they are not able to go  to buy foods  from market for emergency Act 144 and most of the Rohingya property were looted and destroyed foods from shops and homes  by Rakhine with together  Hluntin, Police and Nasaka and army. Now, the Rohingya become starvation and not receipt aid from authority where Rakhine receipt it foods. So, Rohingya called to international community to help food under supervised of UN, according to an elder from Maungdaw.

Meeting

25- Rakhine community and 25- Rohingya community were called and held a meeting under   all concerned Maungdaw authorities where the authorities discussed to stay peacefully between two communities. But,  Nasaka director Lt.Col  Aung Gyi said that  the authority will  arrest  more persons  within next three days  to find out the person who create the problem.

Breaking News: June 17, 2012

Security forces arrest Rohingya in Maungdaw

The security forces – police, Hluntin, Burma border security force (Nasaka) and Army – are arresting Rohingya community in different villages of Maungdaw today (June 17, 2012).

The security forces are searching Rohingya young people, elders from Nyaung Chaung village to Allay Than KYaw (All the villages are along the road of Maungdaw- Allay Than Kyaw ).

Army stationed at Nurullah para from where the army operate killing, looting, arresting, rape and destroying houses. The security personnel held meeting with Rohingya villagers today where they threatened that “you will face more difficulties than now”. The army loots Rohingya villagers in Pandawpin village while they held the meeting in said village. The army only took away the valuables –gold and money- and destroyed every household item.

25 Rohingyas youth from Pandawpin (Nawbawna) arrested today morning from meeting which was called by security forces.

40 Rohingyas youth from Thayai Gonetan (Knone Na para)

35 Rohingyas from Oo Doung

20 Rohingyas youth from Bagonena

5  Rohingya from Kawzabil

9  Rohingyas from Lambagonena

Killed and wounded

2  Rohingyas were killed and 2  wounded in Bargowa village of Kyauktaw town

Rashid Ahmed was shot dead by Nasaka in front of Army in Zawmattat village today morning. Villagers buried the dead body in village graveyard.

Shawfique Ullah was also shot dead by Nasaka in front of Army in Lambagonena village.

Nawbe Husson was tortured by army and his house was destroyed and looted in Lambagonena village.

Iddres son of Shawfi was tortured by army in Lambagonena village.

Most of the villagers from Gudusara village flee from their village to avoid from the arrest and torture of army and Nasaka.

Burmese authority is using new tactics against Rohingya to flee from their homes. They destroy wealth of Rohingya community, arresting Rohingya youths front every village of Maungdaw south and brought them to the Nasaka  Headquarters where they are severely tortured and taking photographs after equipping lethal weapons – long swords, knives, flaming touches and fuel bottles- to prove the world  that they (Rohingyas) are terrorists through state media, according to an elder from Maungdaw.

“It is clear that the government is doing systematically ethnic cleansing to flee Rohingya community from their homeland ( Arakan).”

“The Rohingya will be suffering from starvation if the situation is going on. The Burmese authority distributed foods to Rkhine community, but not to Rohingya  community.”

Breaking News : June 16 evening

Security personnel start arresting Rohingya in Maungdaw

Security personnel – Police, Hluntin and Nasaka – start arresting Rohingya community in Maungdaw today (June 16, 2012). The police and Hluntin are still using Rakhine when they went to the Rohingya villages in Maungdaw.

Arrested person are:-

Younous , Chairman of Regional Development Association (RDA) with two other , name not know yet from Maungdaw Town.

Kaseim son of Rahim Ullah,  Berahaman son of Hussein, Molana Islam, Anis Ullah son of Molana Rashid, Ahmed Rafique son of Syed Islam,  one from Ward number 4  and another one is from Padaung , arrested by Nasaka  and Police while they are fishing in the stream near the Sawmawna para as they have no foods to feed their family.

Dildar son of Ano Meah, Salim Islam son of Abdul Goni, Nurul Islam, Nur Mohamed son of Amin Ullah were arrested by Nasaka from Thayai Gonetan ( Knonena para) village

Jamil son of Musawddin  and Mohamed Ali from Maungdaw Town

Burned down house and looting

The Security personnel burned down the following houses in Thayai Gonetan ( Knonena para) village today. The security personnel had loot their ( Rohingya) property before burned down.

Yousuf son of Hasson, Mohamed son of Habib Ullah, Abul Hussein son of Hasson, Master Fazal, Ferose son of  Yousuf, Shamshu son of Kaseim, Anwer son of Abu Taher and  Salim Ullah son of Abdul Goni.

New Settlers (Natala) and Rakhines together toke away cow from grassing field of Sammawna para, Myothu Gyi  and Nyaung Chaung villages.

Breaking News: June 16, morning

Source: Kaladanpress

Nasaka and Hluntin surround Sawmawna  para in Maungdaw

The Nasakapersonnel from three miles   and Hluntin surrounded the Rohingya village “ Sawmawna para” near Myothu Gyi  under Maungdaw over the allegation of hiding arms inside the village today morning. This village was set on fire by police, Hluntin and Rakhine . Some houses were burned in to ashes and remaining houses are facing the allegation where no men are living in the village. Only female are protecting their home from looting.

Now, Nasaka and Hluntin are searching houses by houses and the Rohingya people from Myothu Gyi and  Sawmawna para, are watching  the situation.

Houses burned down in KyaukTaw

20 houses were burned down by Rakhines in Apaukwa Village of Kyauktaw Township yesterday morning.  The army personnel nearby village came to the village and extinguished the fire.  No information of death.  Army deployed all the Rohingya villages in Kyauktaw south and north.

Rathedaung
Rakhines burned down the villages – Thamihla and Thangodown- yesterday.
Nasaka seizing kitchen swords from Shwezar

Nasaka personnel from camp 16 of Shwezar, Maungdaw are seizing kitchen swords from Rohingya houses of Shwezar village today morning. The Nasaka called the villagers with their family list and check the listed Rohingya and seizing the kitchen swords.

Looting in Maungdaw

Hluntin, police accompanied by Rakhines went to the Banga  para under Zawmatat village tract  and looted goods – Rice, valuables  and other goods- from house of Rashid Ahmed today morning.. The Commander of Nasaka called the villageer to hold a meeting today.

Checking family list and arrest

Nasaka and Rakhines are checking family list and arrested some villagers from Thanda village under Nasaka area number 7 today morning.

Stable Situation in Akyab, but facing food crisis

Source : Kaladanpress Chittagong, Bangladesh:  Today, the situation of Akyab (Sittwe), the capital of Arakan State is calm after deploying army.  Now, all the Rohingya villagers have been facing food crisis since the violence was broken out in Akyab, said a trader from Akyab on condition of anonymity.

Over 50,000 people are made homeless in Akyab after ethnic and religious violence.  Communal violence in western Arakan poses a threat to the country’s transition towards democracy. It is very important to find out the root cause of this violence and give a satisfactory solution for both sides.

The Rakhines do not sell food items to the Rohingyas in Akyab and the rain falls very heavily since yesterday causes acute shortage of food items and more over it is impossible to find shelters as their houses were burned down.. Now, they are living in schools, and other relatives’ houses with narrow spaces.  So, people mostly, children have been suffering from diseases such as diarrhea, cough, dysentery etc.

Today, the homeless people in Akyab are provided rice by local authorities. They received ¼ KG per head per day, which was donated by business people from Rangoon both Buddhists and Muslims.

Besides, 30 people of Myanmar Gri( Borwa) and Hindus are arrested by the army in Akyab township while going to arson Muslim Rohingy villages, said another village elder from Akyab.

On June (13),when  Vijay Nambian,   UN  chief Ba   ki Moon’s special adviser on Burma  accompanied by  Burma’s Border affairs Minister Gen Thein Htay and 15  Muslim religious leaders from Rangoon visited Akyab by helicopter, they were only allowed to observe  the Nazir para only as at that time it was only half burnt . After seeing the Nazir Para, they were flown to Rangoon under the pretext of insecurity at Akyab .

Moreover, today after Zuma prayer, in Maungdaw Township, Bomu Para of Aley Than Kyaw village tract, Horsara village,  Salim Para, Alima para( village) of Zaw Matet village tract, Shil Khali Para and Waisha Para under the Nasaka area No.7  of Maungdaw Township were attack by army with the collaboration of some Buddhist Rakhines  and looted— cows, fowls, goats, rice and food  items and other valuables— from the Rohingya villages. They also threatened the villagers by firing and when the villagers ran away into safe places, the army raped young girls and robbed their ornaments taking the advantage of absence of male members, said a villager from the locality.

Yesterday, Abdu Monaf, son of Abdul Haque, hailed from Horsara village under Zaw Matet village tract was killed by army after bringing him to their temporarily camp from his home.  He was stabbed on his foe-head. The army also raped his family members, said a relative.

In Buthidaung township, two sons of late Abdu Salam who are working at UNHCR and the son of Maulana Salman  who is also working at UNHCR  were arrested by police over the accusation that they passed information of northern Arakan to abroad. Police also arrested Rofique from Buthidaung over the allegation that he also gave cooperation with them, said a local elder from  Buthidaung

Over 1000 people were killed and some were wounded at Rathedaung Township while the Rakhine villagers set on fired  the villages , such as — Tha Oo Pyin, Saran Khata,  Kudir  Chaung,  Pyin Chaung,  Sarak Pyin, Anawk  Pyin  and Muzair Dia yesterday, said an youth from Rathedaung town.

Rakhines wrote letters to the remaining Rohingya villages in Rathedaung Township that they threatened to attack the Rohingya villages. So, they are living in constant fear and in security.