Al Jazeera Television- The Hidden Genocide used wrong photos, wrong information to attack Myanmar government

Yangon, Jan 14, 2013 , Popular News Journal

The Hidden Genocide, documentary broadcasted by Al Jazeera Television used some photos which were took in other events by Ko Soe Zaya Tun(https://www.facebook.com/Poemgrapher?fref=ts), an reporter from Reuters . Ko Soe Zeya Tun explained in his social network, Facebook, that 16 min 16 sec of displayed time of Al Jazeera's documentary showed some photos, they said situation in Rakhine State, these are took by myself in the firing in Yangon, exactly in Set San, duing December 2011. "They used my photos, pretending as the Rakhine events" , said Reuters's reporter.

The original link of these photos are here : http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2011/12/28/9780427-myanmar-blast-kills-injures-dozens?lite

"Actually, the burning events started in Mingan village on 10 June, but they displayed many burning images with the date of 9 June. That's obsolutely wrong," said Ko Soe Zeya Tun.

Moreover, Al Jazeera showed the wrong dated photo, which was took by AFP and the true date should be 15 Jun in Sittwe. The oringinal link is here : http://cameralens.tumblr.com/post/25302122756/afp-getty-images-a-fire-truck-arrived-at-a

Al Jazeera broadcasted that documentary in their channel in December 2011. This promptly showed documentary broadcasted by Al Jazeera used wrong photos and wrong information.
Before the broadcasting that documentary , Myanmar government strongly opposed and rejected the attempt made by Al Jazeera to broadcast the documentary by exaggerating and fabricating the incidents in Rakhine State. (http://www.president-office.gov.mm/en/issues/foreign-policy/id-1202)

The press release by Myanmar government is as follows :

The Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Release
------------------------------------------------
1. It is learnt that Qatar based Al Jazeera Television will be airing a documentary relating to so-called “Rohingyas” from December 8 to 12 in Arabic and from December 9 to 13 in English languages. It is also mentioned that the documentary will include accusation of genocide against the so-called “Rohingyas”.

2. The Government of Myanmar has been handling this matter with full transparency when the violence between Bangalis and the ethnic Rakhine people broke out in May and June, and also in October 2012.

3. The Government has given permission to organization such as UN Agencies, INGOs, Diplomatic Corps and Muslim Aid to visit the affected areas to observe the situation by themselves. Moreover, foreign minister and high level delegations from Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries as well as from the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are also allowed to visit Rakhine State.

4. Providing shelter, relocation and rehabilitation of the homeless victims of the conflict, supplying food, medicine and other humanitarian assistance have also been carried out in a non-discriminatory manner for both affected communities.

5. The Government has taken actions to ceasing violence and maintaining rule of law in accordance with the law. An independent Investigation Commission has also been formed to carry out detail investigation of the incidents.

6. The Ministry reaffirmed that the government security forces and local authorities have never involved in the communal violence or racial and religious discrimination in Rakhine State as accused by some media and organizations. The Head of State and other responsible officials have also declared this to the world at the UN General Assembly, ASEAN Summit and the Non-Aligned Summit.

7. Therefore, the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar strongly opposes and rejects the attempt made by Al Jazeera to broadcast the documentary by exaggerating and fabricating the incidents in Rakhine State.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nay Pyi Taw
Dated: 6th December, 2012

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Statement over recent violence against Rakhine Buddhist and other ethnic minorities and torching religious edifices in Bangladesh, neighbouring country of Myanmar

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the situations in Rakhine state in Myanmar. In this file presented the real situations of Rakhine

To All readers,
Please Download this PDF file from below link and read this...
This file is the explanation of the situations in Rakhine state in Myanmar. In this file presented the real situations of Rakhine.
And then pls read and understand the situation in Rakhine.
We didn't have any campaign with Muslin. Rohingers in Rakhine destroyed and killed many innocent peoples ( rakhine and muslin p

eoples) in Rakhine. They are terrorists. So if you are the human being, you'll also hate and fight this terrorists. All peoples in Myanmar are driving out this terrorists. This is the only way to defend our nation and country. We can't accept any terrorists . We don't accept any reason , any complains and suggestions.....
This is the universal truth of every nation and country.

 http://www.mediafire.com/view/?c1w4m6piwauxywu

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My request and poem to the International Communities

I ‘m the one who value all human beings and adopt that all humans have equal value without discriminating who’s religion like Buddhism (or) Muslim (or) Christian (or ) who he ( or ) She is. Yes, this is what my perception of human values.
Now, please go to my point that what I have to request to the International Communities is………,
As you all have been known about the recent violence in Rakhine State of Myanmar, to know the reality, first , let’s start to know the meaning of the name of “ Arakan or Rakhine “. The name Rakhine was originated from Pali word Rakhapura meaning the land of the people of Rakshasa (Rakshasa > Rakha > Rakhine) who were titled this name in honor of preservation on their national heritage (describe in Myanmar language is a myo) and morality (describe this in Pali is sila ) . The pali word Sila means Morality. Wholesome moral living is an important ingredient for the practice of purifying mind. The word Rakhine means "one who maintains his own race." So, the Rakhine are predominantly Theravada Buddhists.
Well, until you reach this point, do you still want to argue that ones who are not Buddhism can be entitled to Rakhine Ethnic Group?
Now, let’s try to see the real factors which are related to the recent violence in Rakhine state of Myanmar. In 2010, RNU ( Rohingya National Union ) was formed in Tajikistan which is under the leading of the Organization of the Islamic Conference ( OIC ). Their basic strategy is to separate Butheetaung, Mawdaw and Rathaetaungs townships from the main land of Rakhine state and to build the Islamic Rohingya State. After that, they confiscate the whole Rakhine state and then to build the new Rohingya country.
The rich arab countries, some populous Muslim countries, Afghan Mujahideen and Al-Qaeda terrorist groups were stimulating and supporting the whole period those Rohingyas to fight and invade the Rakhine state. At the same time, Rohingyas who are taking our previous military government’s bad reputation as their opportunity, and then, fabricating a lot of Rohingya stories and showing those to the international community under the name of human rights. On the other hand, in our country, we have been fighting Democracy for more than two decades and so nobody gave attention to this issue while a large amount of Rohingyas were entering freely and illegally into our land because of the corruption of some immigrant servants. Then, Rohingyas and its Rohingya supporting communities which are formed under the name NGOs, some Myanmar political exiles and famous medias who got great support from Rohingyas gathered and started to make systematic plan to fight our Rakhine people.
So, Rohingyas are trying to invade the others’ own land and pushing this for human rights while Myanmar Military Government was getting more and more attention of the International Communities. So, in front of the International space, Rohingyas who got a great chance to fight Rakhine people by taking the previous military government’s bad reputation. Here, anybody who want to argue that Rohingyas who got the greatest benefit in this way is correct or not ?So, now, I want to point out the thing is that we are not fighting the Rohingyas, but Rohingyas are fighting our Rakhine People and trying to invade our country and threatening the our country’s sovereignty. Please be clear that invasion is totally different from the human rights. And, this conflict is not between the Muslim communities and our country but the Rohingya invaders and us. Because, some are creating this conflict to have misunderstanding among the Muslim communities. Ok, to be clear more about this, let me share the clear announcement of U Mya Aye who is one of the most famous 88 generation students. He is also Muslim religion and his daughter “Ma Wai Hin Pwint Thon ” who had to take part very actively and closely at the Rohingya Organization while his father U Mya Aye was keeping under jail as political prisoner. But, after his release from prison, U Mya Aye stopped his daughter’s activities for the Rohingya Organization and explained the reality was that Rohingyas are never included in Myanmar Ethnic Groups. So, I request to the International Communities to see the reality and the root of the problem of this issue. Please think deeply about that our Rakhine people have no good reason to set fire on our own houses and destroy our own land while we are trying to build Democracy. In fact , NGOs in Rakhine state are secretly connecting with the some terrorist groups like Al- Qaeda and RSO is unacceptable manner for us. Because, some local employees of the NGOs were arrested by the authorities with a lot of illegal documents and weapons which are planned to fight our Rakhine people. So, I request the International community to lead those NGOs’ unacceptable harassment and strongly supporting Rohingya community to fight us. Now, I hope that International Communities can see the reality and how our Rakhine people are getting into trouble by those Rohingyas. Please understand that we love our culture, our custom, our tradition, our people and our land is just like as you love your culture, your custom, your tradition, your people and your nation.
So, please don’t be doubt that the ones who love its own land. Yes , we love our land. We love our crescent land.
I invite you to feel my poem. We love the Crescent Land
The Crescent Land….,Which is beside the bay of Bengal,It has been used to the songs of sea waves.
It is not only our ancestors’ house,But also our ancestors’ history.
It is not only the territory of our Rakhine People who preserve their heritage and morality,
But also breathing freely and honestly at the condition of who we really are.
Danyawaddy, Waitharli, Laymro and Mrauk Oo eras
Which are not only to say frankly about the right chronicle of our being,
But also the real figurehead of our existence.
After Buddha arrival to ThayLarGiri KyaukTaw mountain in Rakhine Region,
We have been delighting the Buddha’s sermon since the very beginning of the time.
And, we ‘re such noble and pious person who believe our Buddha is saying that
“ As much as Orchids are flourishing everywhere in Arakan , so do pagodas.
We are not only to share our foods and land with our greatest sympathy to the ones (who are very
different from our culture, custom and religion ) who have been entering our land freely and illegally,
But, we also give freedom of religion to everyone and this is our honorable contribution and donation
to society.
Our loyalty and our concentration is to identify with our own existence,
We who love our land, our water and our customs affectionately is
Just the right to our freedom
Yes, it is ……….
Under this root of freedom,
We cherish them all the levels of everything of our activities…..
We love our aromatic “ Rakhine Mont D “ which is cooked with the most delicious roasted fish like golden pike conger
We love our traditional “ Aubergine Curry “ into a little bit burnt which is cooked with the simple shrimp paste
We love and enjoy our delicious and fragrant “ Pounded Ngapi “ which is made with the roasted shrimp paste and chili
We love the most beautiful sunset scene of our Aurittaw Pagoda and Gisapanadi River
We love the most beautiful dawn scene of our Laymro River when it’s covered with icy snows
We love our Rakhine traditional “ Ra Hta Sway Pwe (Tug-of- war ) which is held in the month of Dapodwe (Jan-Feb)
We love our honorable customs like “ sandal- wood grinding ceremony and offering of water to wash Buddha images on the eve of every Water Festival
We love our Rakhine traditional water festival where those smiling girls and boys who are playing water happily beside the wooden boat under the
most decorated pandal with hanging Gum-Kino Flowers
We love our pitiful and hopeless people who are lying on the Natural Gas Pipeline but eating under the light of traditional oil lamps
We love our sorrowful people who are full of fear under insecure condition of their own home land
We love our battered people who’s dignity and conditions are going to away because of the governance of the previous leaders’ perpetual corruption and selfish deeds
We love our honorable and grateful people who dare to give their lives at the entrance of the western gate of our Country without losing their ethic to protect us
We love our people who are suppressed, criticized and hidden from the reality under the negligence of those people
who are proclaiming human rights very loudly but at the same time breaking it themselves
We love all of our most admirable things not to lose our grip
We love you with all our heart
We love you “ The Crescent Land “
We love your sacrifice and further spiritual sacrifice for our land

 

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Myanmar will not accept illegal immigrant Rohingyas, says President

President U Thein Sein shaking hands with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Mr. Antonio Guterres in Nay Pyi Taw on 11 July.

While meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Mr. Antonio Guterres in Nay Pyi Taw on 11 July, President U Thein Sein said Myanmar will not allow illegal immigrant Rohingyas to live in the country.

The only solution to the problem is that Rohingyas are to be handed over to the UNHCR, which needs to provide them food and shelter in refugee camps or they will be sent to a third county if it accepts.

He added that according to history, the British colonialists took Bengalis into Myanmar before it regained independence in 1948 making them engage in farm work. At that time, some settled down in the country because of their good jobs.

According to the law, Myanmar only accepts the third generation born of parents who have come to live in the county before 1948. In Rakhine State, there are complicated problems such as descendents of Bengalis who came before 1948 and illegal immigrants in disguise of Rohingya, said the President. 

He continued that the issue has even threatened State stability so he is taking it very seriously. Myanmar will take responsibility for its own national ethnics only and illegal immigrant Rohingyas will not be accepted, he added. 

Like Myanmar, the Bangladeshi government dismissed calls from the UNHCR to accept Rohingyas fleeing to Bangladesh when violent incidents erupted in Rakhine State last month.

“It is certainly not in the best of our interests to allow in a further influx of refugees. We want to make sure that refugees don’t enter Bangladesh in large numbers again”, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told reporters in Dhaka.

The Bangladeshi government immediately sent back more than 1,000 Rohingyas entering the country on 12 June to Myanmar in three boats. According to Bangladeshi media, like Myanmar, Bangladesh sees the acceptance of 200,000 to 300,000 Rohingyas within decades as a burden and regards Rohingya as a stateless race.

At the meeting, President U Thein Sein and UNHCR commissioner also discussed the issues of war victims in Kachin State and returning of displaced people to their places in Kayin State. 

Source;http://eversion.news-eleven.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=901%3Amyanmar-will-not-accept-illegal-immigrant-rohingyas-says-president&catid=43%3Abi-weekly-eleven-news&Itemid=110

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Myanmar police "open fire" amid religious unrest

YANGON: Police in western Myanmar on Friday opened fire in an attempt to quell religious tensions in a town dominated by the Rohingya Muslim minority group, a government official said.

Police were said to have been deployed at more than a dozen villages in Rakhine state, along the Bay of Bengal, after houses were set on fire following a surge in sectarian unrest.

"Police opened fire in Maungdaw in Rakhine state. There are no casualties," the official said.

Tensions have flared in Rakhine since 10 Muslims were killed by an angry Buddhist mob on Sunday.

The victims' bus was surrounded by a crowd of hundreds of people enraged at the May 28 rape and murder of a Rakhine woman, allegedly by three other Muslim men, state media reported Tuesday.

Buddhists make up some 89 percent of the population of Myanmar, with Muslims officially representing four percent. The United Nations describes the Rohingya as one of the world's most persecuted minorities.

The violence threatens to overshadow reconciliation efforts since a series of dramatic political reforms last year ended almost half a century of military rule.

An official from the presidential office said police were deployed in Maungdaw on Friday after about 300 people returning from mosques threw stones at a government office, police station and local businesses.

"Now it is under control," the official said, adding that there was also stone-throwing in the Rakhine state capital Sittwe.

Police were also deployed in 14 Rakhine villages as houses were set on fire, he later said in comments posted online.

Abu Tahay, of the National Democratic Party for Development, which represents Rohingya, said there were unconfirmed reports that one or two people were killed by security forces in Maungdaw. AFP was unable to verify that information.

The authorities this week warned against "anarchic acts" after the mob killings and an attack on a police station by an angry crowd in Sittwe.

Religious clashes occur periodically in Myanmar, and Rakhine state -- which has a large Muslim minority population including the stateless Rohingya -- is a flashpoint for tensions.

In February 2001, the then-ruling junta declared a curfew in the state capital Sittwe after clashes between Muslims and Buddhists.

In Myanmar's main city Yangon, dozens of Muslims protested on Tuesday calling for justice over the recent mob killing.

In a rare public response to civil unrest, the government said Thursday it had established a committee to investigate the sectarian strife and expected to hear its findings by the end of June.

With fears of further violence growing, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday urged the nation's Buddhist population to show "sympathy" with minorities following the Rakhine killings.

- AFP/cc

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Statement of Arakan National Council’s Condemnation on the Police Shooting the Peaceful Protesters in Sittway and Calls on President U Thein Sein to Investigate and Punish the Perpetrators

June 4, 2012

Arakan National Council learns that the riot police from No.1 police station in Sittway shooting the peaceful protesters at 11 PM. According to the witnesses, more than 500 live bullets were firing for several hours and 9 wounded. One man was hit in the stomach, and the other 3 were hit in the arms and legs. Some are very serious condition and treated in Sittway Hospital.

The protest took place in front of the No. 1 police station in Sittway, capital city of Arakan State at 10 PM on Sunday. About 200 protesters went to the police station and demanded to release U Aung Than Way, who is member of Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) and coordinator helping the shopkeepers from Nazi’s market’s heavy taxation. He was called by the police for questioning on June 3rd. His wife worried and went to the police station to see her husband. Other shopkeepers accompanied his wife to aid her.

“It is like the battleground and wars in the jungle the police shooting at us with live bullets even though it is in the busy city and crowed with the residents and onlookers,” one of the porters who does not want to mention his name told the ANC. He said he escaped from the bullets when he jumped into the nearby house and lay down on the ground.

Arakan National Council learns that RNDP Chairman PM Dr. Aye Maung is in the premises while the live-bullets are firing.

It is totally unacceptable the police brutality and violation of human rights by the shooting the civilian protesters and wounded whatsoever reasons the police may have. It is accountable Chief Minister U Hla Maung Tin for these criminal and brutalities of the police. This police brutality shows U Thein Sein government is still living in common origin of typical dictatorial regime.

Arakan National Council calls on President U Thein Sein immediately investigate and punish the police who shoot the civilians and give the orders according to the laws.

ANC calls for U Hla Maung Tin resignation immediately. His bloody hands definitely hinder national reconciliation and peace process between the Arakanese armed forces.

We call Arakanese communities all over the world to protest against the shooting the civilians and call for U Hla Maung Tin resignation.

Central Executive Committee

Arakan National Council

India--Contact: Chairman Ven. Ashain Ariawanth. Tel. 65-8589-2793.

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Three Suspected culprits of rape and murder in Rambree arrested

Category: News Published on Thursday, 31 May 2012 19:22 Written by Won Thar Nu Hits: 1577

Victim Ma Thidar Htwe 26 year old(http://www.arakanlaywaddy.com/)

Rambree: Three suspected culprits who allegedly committed the crimes of rape and murder in Rambree in Arakan State were reported to be arrested by the police on the night of 29^th May after the local peoples gathered at the local police station and demanded them to reveal and arrest the culprits.

The arrested are identified as Htak Htak (23), Rafique (18) and Luyub (21) from Kyaukhtaran Muslim Village in Rambree Township.

Htak Htak was said to be arrested with the victim’s jewelries in downtown Rambree first and his two other associates in the crime were also arrested on the same night from their residences in Kyaukhtaran Village.

“All three culprits are already arrested. People from 11 villages in our area marched to police station in Kyauknimaw and staged a demonstration demanding immediate identification and arrest of the culprits. So, the police immediately identified and arrested the culprits”, said a resident from Kyauknimaw.

He said nearly 1,000 villagers from eleven nearby villages participated in the demonstration demanding police action against the culprits who committed the crime.

“That’s the most heinous crime that may lead to a big problem in our area. The people are raged with anger and indomitable spirit. Not only the police, but also district and township administrations had to prevent the people. Otherwise the crime could spark a very big communal unrest”, he said.

The source also said the police forces had to save two other Muslim youths as the angry crowd tried to get rid of them, believing them to be the offenders of the crime while they were being interrogated on suspicion of the crime in the residence of Kyauknimaw Villager Administrator, U Than Tun.

Those three arrestees were said to be sent to Kyaukpru district prison on the same night they were arrested because of the worrisome situations for them in Rambree.

http://www.arakanlaywaddy.com/

Police in Kyauknimaw police station confirmed the arrest of three youths but denied to tell details about the case.

Kyauknimaw Village is today quiet and its market that used to be crowded is dry without people. There is no traffic between the nearby villages and especially no Muslim dares to go out from their homes in the area.

The victim is identified as 26 year old Ma Thidar Htwe from Thapraychaung Village in Rambree Township. She was said to be raped and killed by those three Muslim youths on her way back home after working in Kyauknimaw Village around 5 pm on May 28. According to the eye-witnesses, her dead body bears a slice at the throat, several stabs on the chest, and stabs and cuts on the vagina and pubic region.

The victim’s dead body will be cremated in the afternoon on the 30th of May under the supervision of the local authorities reportedly to avoid any social unrest in the area. 

Reportedly said that Kyaukhtayan village is a place where a number of Bengali reside, experts on immigration issues view the case that it has a very high possibility of social conflicts if police and civil administrators can't control the situation very well. Meanwhile, a Rakhine activist claims that such cases are likely to be due to weaker control and corruption of regional police forces on immigration problems. Bengali immigrants are also called as Rohingyas.

Sources;

http://www.arakanlaywaddy.com/2012/05/30/%E1%80%80%E1%80%AF%E1%80%9C%E1%80%AC%E1%80%B8%E1%80%90%E1%80%AD%E1%80%80-%E1%80%9B%E1%80%81%E1%80%AD%E1%80%AF%E1%80%84%E1%80%B9%E1%80%9E%E1%80%99%E1%80%B1%E1%80%81%E1%80%BA%E1%80%90%E1%80%B1%E1%80%9A/

http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/three-suspected-culprits-of-rape-and-murder-in-rambree-arrested/

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Three suspected culprits of rape and murder in Rambree arrested

Rambree: Three suspected culprits who allegedly committed the crimes of rape and murder in Rambree in Arakan State were reported to be arrested by the police on the night of 29^th May after the local peoples gathered at the local police station and demanded them to reveal and arrest the culprits.

Victim Ma Thidar Htwe 26 year old

The arrested are identified as Htak Htak (23), Rafique (18) and Luyub (21) from Kyaukhtaran Muslim Village in Rambree Township.
Htak Htak was said to be arrested with the victim’s jewelries in downtown Rambree first and his two other associates in the crime were also arrested on the same night from their residences in Kyaukhtaran Village.
“All three culprits are already arrested. People from 11 villages in our area marched to police station in Kyauknimaw and staged a demonstration demanding immediate identification and arrest of the culprits. So, the police immediately identified and arrested the culprits”, said a resident from Kyauknimaw.
He said nearly 1,000 villagers from eleven nearby villages participated in the demonstration demanding police action against the culprits who committed the crime.
“That’s the most heinous crime that may lead to a big problem in our area. The people are raged with anger and indomitable spirit. Not only the police, but also district and township administrations had to prevent the people. Otherwise the crime could spark a very big communal unrest”, he said.
The source also said the police forces had to save two other Muslim youths as the angry crowd tried to get rid of them, believing them to be the offenders of the crime while they were being interrogated on suspicion of the crime in the residence of Kyauknimaw Villager Administrator, U Than Tun.
Those three arrestees were said to be sent to Kyaukpru district prison on the same night they were arrested because of the worrisome situations for them in Rambree.
Police in Kyauknimaw police station confirmed the arrest of three youths but denied to tell details about the case.
Kyauknimaw Village is today quiet and its market that used to be crowded is dry without people. There is no traffic between the nearby villages and especially no Muslim dares to go out from their homes in the area.
The victim is identified as 26 year old Ma Thidar Htwe from Thapraychaung Village in Rambree Township. She was said to be raped and killed by those three Muslim youths on her way back home after working in Kyauknimaw Village around 5 pm on May 28. According to the eye-witnesses, her dead body bears a slice at the throat, several stabs on the chest, and stabs and cuts on the vagina and pubic region.
The victim’s dead body will be cremated in the afternoon on the 30th of May under the supervision of the local authorities reportedly to avoid any social unrest in the area.

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VHP writes to PM, UN asks to Deport Jehadi Rohingya Muslims from Delhi to Bangladesh

 http://samvada.org/2012/news/vhp-writes-to-pm-un-asks-to-deport-jehadi-rohingya-muslims-from-delhi-to-bangladesh/

Here is Dr Praven Togadia’s letter to the Hon. Prime Minister of India that is Bharat with a copy to the Secretary General of the UN, Head of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, India’s Home Minister & External Affairs Minister, Hon. President of India, President Vladimir Putin – Russia, President Obama – US and the Hon Chief Justice of Hon Supreme Court of India.

Dr Pravin Togadia, VHP Chief

It is about the Rohingya Muslims infiltrated in India & straight now parking themselves in front of the UNHCR office & in nearby Mosques demanding Refugee status. These Rohingya Muslims have proven Jehadi Terror links as per the other attached documents as Appendix (total 4). The same Rohingya Muslims did massacre & ethnic cleansing of Buddhists recently in their area that is Arakan between Bangla Desh & Myanmar for demanding separate Islamic state. Some Buddhists like Chakma tribe who survived there, are now in Tripura of India. Rohingyas are projecting themselves as victims, however, there is a current alert about their Jehadi terror links with LET, ISI, Al Qaeda, HUJI, IM & others related to Agfhan Taliban who fought with Russia & also the groups in Kashmir.

The Rohingya Muslims, helped by some Govt of India’s committee members like Nawab Zafar Jung (Ex VC of Jamia Milia University) & leftist students union of JNU are lobbying with the UN & UNHCR for Refugee status. If that happens, then India will have to bear the load of over 40+ Lakh (4 Million) Rohingya Muslims making India’s safety & security more fragile. Therefore, my letter to the PM & others to immediately deport Rohingya Muslims & prevent the UNHCR from giving them refugee status, prosecuting all those who helped them infiltrate in India now & reach straight to Delhi & all those who are sheltering them & doing their PR. It also will damage India’s relations with all Buddhists nations as well as with America & Russia as they all have suffered due to Rohingya Muslims; Jehadi terror. Thailand still has a blanket ban on them.

Kindly help protect the world & India by spreading this as much & urging the PM of India, heads of other nations & the UN, UNHCR as mentioned. Dhanyavaad & regards. Let us together make a difference, says  Dr Pravin Togadia

From Dr Pravin Togadia,
International Working President, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP),
Sankatmochan, Sector 6, R. K. Puram, New Delhi – 110020
Date: May 14, 2012
URGENT LETTER TO THE HON. PRIME MINISTER, INDIA THAT IS BHARAT
Shri Manmohan ji Singh,
Hon. Prime Minister,
Govt of India
New Delhi
Subject: Infiltrators named ‘Rohingya Muslims’ from Bangla Desh in Delhi demanding refugee status from the United Nations (UN) through United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Delhi.
Reference: Information from various authentic sources & complaints that we received from the residents of the related areas in New Delhi and attached appendix (total 4) about terror links of Rohingya Muslims.
Dear Sir,
Jai Shreeram. With reference to the above, I hereby wish to draw your attention to the following extremely urgent issues related to India’s safety & security:

1. Approximately 3000+ Rohingya Muslims infiltrated from Bangla Desh border & reached up to India’s capital New Delhi have parked themselves – men, women, children etc. – in various areas in & around New Delhi. Before we get into the basic question that how such a large number of infiltrating groups could even enter India’s border & reach nation’s capital, I wish to inform you that this large group of Rohingya Muslims has been creating danger & dirt for the residents of New Delhi especially near the UNHCR office in Vasant Vihar, demanding Refugee Status from the UN.
2. After much complaining & our peaceful intervention, these Rohingya Muslims have been now sheltered in the Mosques in the villages near Vasant Vihar area of New Delhi where the UNHCR office is located. They have been sheltered there by the Ex Vice Chancellor of Jamia Milia Islamic University Mr. Nawab Zafar Jung who also happens to be now a sitting member of the Government of India’s Monitoring Committee for Minority Education.
3. Holding a Govt post & yet helping the illegal infiltrators not only reach New Delhi all the way from the Bangla Desh – Myanmar border, but also sheltering them in the mosques nearby despite complaints by the local residents, is a completely anti-national activity by a Govt Committee member.
4. For your ready reference: Rohingya Muslims is the community that is born of Burmese (Myanmar) mothers & Bangla Desh Muslim Fathers & the community follows Islam. Staying in Arakan area at the border of Bangla Desh & Myanmar, they are internationally known for the massacres & ethnic cleansing of Buddhists (Chakma Buddhists & others) that Rohingya Muslims did just 10-15 years back.
5. Some of the survived Buddhists are still staying in the worse human conditions in India that is Bharat in Tripura & surrounding areas. Rohingyas are also known for killing thousands of people from Jumma Tribe in their area.

1. Rohingya Muslims, the way they have suddenly popped up in New Delhi with the help of local Muslims in Bharat, also tried to infiltrate Thailand & create terror there. Thailand has therefore banned the entry of Rohingya Muslims.  (Reference: Attached Appendix)

1. More so, as the said Rohingya Muslims have a track record of Jehadi Terrorism, not just in their own area that is a Arakan at Bangla Desh – Myanmar border, but also in Afghanistan, on Russia Border, Thailand & Saudi Arabia etc. (Please refer to the attached Appendix Number 1: Bin Laden & Rohingya Muslims – Weekly Blitz, Appendix 2: Paper – Suicide Jihadi Terrorism in Bangla Desh- by Shri B. Raman, Additional Secretary (Retd.), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt of India & Director, Institute for Tropical Studies, Chennai & other attached documents)

1. The above documents by the authentic sources clearly prove that the Rohingya Muslims are directly involved in Jehadi Terror activities independently & also through their Terror outfit RSO (Rohingya Solidarity Organization). The above documents mentioned in my point number 7 also prove in no uncertain terms the serious links of Rohingya Muslims with HUJI, Al Qaeda, ISI, LET & other Jehadi operatives in Pakistan, Bangla Desh, Afghanistan & more importantly, in Jammu & Kashmir.

1. American Govt has issued a serious Jehadi Threat alert about the Rohingya Muslim community recently & also declared them terrorists since they fought hand in hand with Talibans in Afghanistan on the border of Russia during Afghanistan – Russia war. (Apart from the above ref documents: See Appendix 3: Bangla Desh- Breeding Ground for Terror – Asia Times printed interview of American Govt & Military officials – CNN) This clearly mentions specific Rohingya Muslims as Jehadi terror group having links with most Jehadi operatives for current & active Jehad.

10. There are over 40+ Lakh (4 Million) Rohingya Muslims in the world. They are spread as follows:
a)    Burma : 20 Lakh (2 M)
b)    Bangla Desh : 6 Lakhs (0.6 M)
c)    Pakistan: 3.5 Lakh (0.35 M)
d)    Saudi Arabia: 4 Lakh (0.4 M)
e)    Thailand: 1 Lakh (0.1 M)
11. Rohingya Muslims’ mother country Myanmar, with the new democratic rule there now, has asked them to get out due to their Jehadi activities & mainly because of their war against Myanmar for creating a separate Islamic State – Arakan.

1. 12.  After using Rohingya Muslims for spreading Jehadi terror all over the world, in Myanmar & in Bharat, now Bangla Desh has realized that globally Rohingya Muslims are now exposed in Jehadi Terror & creating a separate state dividing Bangla Desh, now their father’s country Bangla Desh also is chasing them out.

1. 13.  After trying to settle in Thailand etc & being shunned everywhere because of Jehadi Terror links, now the Rohingya Muslims have fixed their eyes on India that is Bharat. Therefore, over 3000+ of them have parked themselves in & around capital New Delhi demanding Refugee Status by the UN.

14. With men, women, children (2 women even delivered kids in Delhi recently!), these Rohingya Muslims are now playing a diplomatic Jehadi war against Bharat by pushing the UN to give them Refugee status. This means that Bharat will never be then able to ask them to leave Bharat irrespective of their Jehadi Terror links or activities. At this moment only 3000+ Rohingya Muslims are seen in Delhi, but the way they entered Bharat all the way from Bangla Desh border, proves that they have strong support from either the Jehadi groups in Bharat or/ and by the Govts. Otherwise without any interruption, such a large group of infiltrators known for Jehad would have never reached New Delhi. And after reaching there, would not have been sheltered, supported & lobbied for by the Govt committee member.
15. The Rohingya Muslims, well taken care of by such groups & a few students unions in Delhi have been doing international Public Relations & lobbying projecting them as ‘victims’ of bangle Desh’s tyranny & therefore getting Refugee Status to force Govt of India to give them shelter, food, education, jobs & then citizenship to their kids. At this moment, even though only 3000+ are seen in Delhi, they either may be hiding all over India or waiting to hoard immediately in India once they get the Refugee status.
16. As the Rohingya Muslims are responsible for the massacre & ethnic cleansing of the peace loving Buddhists like Chakma Buddhists etc in the Arakan area near India border, any effort of Govt of India to help Rohingya Muslims will permanently spoil Indi’s relations with all Buddhists & Buddhist nations hurting over 100 Crore (1000 Million) Buddhists & more than that Hindus globally & in India!
Our Urgent Demands:

1. Rohingya Muslims are known & proven Jehadi Terrorists condemned by & currently alerted about by the American & European Govts, Russian Govt & by the international terrorism research groups & institutions. Sheltering them in India means sheltering Jehadi Terror. We demand that the Govt of India immediately deport them from where they came without any further delay.
2. There should be a blanket ban on the entry of the Rohingya Muslims into India from any border or by any means.
3. Govt of India should write to the United Nations & to UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) in New York & in New Delhi NOT to give them any status (Refugee, Asylum Seeker or any such) ever.
4. As Rohingya Muslims are directly involved in the HUJI, IM, Pakistan’s ISI & other such Jehadi linked terror in Jammu & Kashmir as well as on the borders, those who helped them enter India, travel through various Indian states up till Delhi, gave them shelter & other help should immediately prosecuted for Treason & under all prevailing anti Terror laws.

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1. Once it is found out exactly who are the people & institutions have been helping Jehadi Terror Group Rohingya Muslims, in India, such institutions should be banned & people running them should be prosecuted.
2. India that is Bharat already has been facing various Jehadi terror threats. Despite international terror alert about Rohingya Muslims, if Govt of India does not take immediate actions against them, then this would clearly mean a political decision to support Jehadi terror group. This will put Bharat’s safety & security in danger.
3. Considering the relations of India with America & Russia, sheltering the Rohingya Muslims despite these countries warning about them will permanently spoil India’s diplomatic relations with them. Therefore, Govt of India should take help from America & Russia to prevail on the UN for not giving Refugee status to Rohingya Muslims.
4. This is an urgent matter as the Rohingya Muslims have been bragging that on May 15, 2012 they will get the Refugee status by the UN. Therefore, if the Govt of India is truly serious about the war against terror as it keeps on saying on various forums, then leaving aside the slow Govt processes, every step should be taken to stop the UN from giving Refugee status to the Rohingya Muslims as it will not only harm the majority of Bharat but will lead to the second partition as well as destruction of resources of Bharat with over 40 Lakh (4 Million) Rohingya Muslims putting their additional load on India with their Jehadi terror links!

Dhanyavaad & hoping for a quick & concrete action against Rohingya Muslims
 Sincerely

Dr Pravin Togadia

Copy to:

1. The Secretary General, United Nations, New York, USA
2. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – HO, New York
3. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – New Delhi
4. The Hon. President – India
5. The Home Minister, Govt of India
6. The External Affairs Minister, Govt of India
7. President, Russia
8. President, United State of America
9. The Hon. Chief Justice, Hon. Supreme Court of India

Attached Appendix:

1. Bin Laden & Rohingya Muslims – Weekly Blitz
2. Paper – Suicide Jihadi Terrorism in Bangla Desh- by Shri B. Raman, Additional Secretary (Retd.), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt of India & Director, Institute for Tropical Studies, Chennai
3. Bangla Desh- Breeding Ground for Terror – Asia Times printed interview of American Govt & Military officials – CNN
4. 4.    Rohingya Terrorism: Terrorism Monitor – Volume 6, Issue 10. 

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Honorary ceremony held for political prisoners in Sittwe

Sittwe: An honorary reception ceremony for Rammarwady Ashin Pinnyasara and other political prisoners who were recently released from prison was held on 20 February in Sittwe, the capital town in Arakan State.

The ceremony was held in the head office of the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party and the spokesperson of the party U Khine Pray Soe said the ceremony was held to spotlight the fact amongst the Arakanese people that the prisoners of conscience are admirable people who sacrifice their lives for the interests of their people and country.

“The prisoners of conscience or political prisoners are the ones who are jailed for their selfless services to the well-being of their people and country, but most of the people in our society keep away from them generally fearing they are just prisoners. That is the reason why we hold this ceremony to receive and honour them, our aim being to spotlight the fact that they are good people and worthy of social recognition”, said U Khine Pray Soe.

He said the ceremony was organized jointly by his party and local young activists in Sittwe.

Ko Kaung San, a recently released political prisoner, said Rammarwady Ashin Pinnyasara returned to Sittwe on the day of the ceremony and the participants along with the political prisoners received him at the port of the Malikha express vessel and accompanied him to the ceremony at the RNDP office.

“We received the venerable monk at the port of the Malikha express vessel when he came back to Sittwe and we walked from the port to the RNDP office accompanying him. Many people were wearing headbands and standing on the side of the roads greeting him and shouting their good wishes for him”, said Ko Kaung San.

U Khine Pray Soe, the secretary of the RNDP in Sittwe, U Aung Won, one of the RNDP’s MP from Mraybon Township, U Aung Hla Thein, a well-known historian, and Daw Aye Nu Sein, the lawyer of the monk, were said to have lead the reception team for Ashin Pinnyasara.

Ashin Pinnyasara delivered a speech on his experiences in prison while U Khine Pray Soe and the well-known Arakanese writer Thu Mrat Maha Aung Mray also addressed the crowd with their respective speeches on the lives of political prisoners at the reception ceremony.

The personnel of the special police branch and the military intelligence closely watched the ceremony, but they did not cause any disturbance.

It is also learnt that Rammarwady Ashin Pinnyasara will stay temporarily in the Thatdhamma Guru Pathein Monastery in Sittwe as his monastery cum orphanage is still shut down, as it has been by the authorities since he was arrested in 2010.

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Burmese Regime Suspends Hydropower Project in Arakan

Buthidaung: The Burmese regime has suspended its main hydropower project that was planned to be constructed at the Saidin Waterfall in Buthidaung Township in northern Arakan State, shattering the long-held hope of electrical power in the region, report local residents and officials.

Sai Din waterfall

One local resident who had been following the power project told Narinjara that the project has had no progress and is currently suspended.

"We have heard so many big words about the proposed hydropower project at Saidin Waterfall from the successive Burmese regimes, but we have not found any progress being made for the project yet," said the resident, adding, "When we inquired about the project, a responsible official told us that the project is currently stopped because the government is planning to build the project in partnership with a Chinese company and it will start again after the company has surveyed the proposed site."

The resident said the official newspapers during the late reign of the SPDC regime had given extensive coverage on the hydropower project at Saidin, citing senior regime officials that the project was about to be implemented, but in reality it is far from practical implementation.

"The current president, U Thein Sein, visited and inspected the proposed site of the project when he was the prime minister of the by-gone military regime, and the other senior officials of the regime such as the minister of electrical power, U Zaw Min, and the minister of construction, U Khin Maung Myint, had also done the same on the project. Then we though that the project would really materialize, but nothing practical has come about and the project is still as it was before," said the resident.

A junior government engineer from Buthidaung who is appointed to the project also confirmed that it is temporarily suspended due to a shortage of government funds. He declined to disclose his name publicly in the media.

According to local residents, the Saidin hydropower project has been their hope for sufficient electrical power in their region through the ages because they have been suffering from constant power shortages and rising costs for usage. Electricity is still being rationed for an average of two hours a day, and is only available in the main towns of their region. Residents have to pay 500 Kyat for one unit of electricity, a price twenty times higher than what is charged in the regions of central Burma.

This project was first proposed in 1954, but it was suspended in 1957 by the U Nu led Burmese parliamentary regime following an incident in which two foreign engineers were killed while surveying the proposed project site. There followed a back-and-forth of blame between the Burmese regime and the rebel forces of the Burmese communist party over the killing of those foreign engineers, but many Arakanese felt the incident was planned by the regime to provide an excuse to to suspend the project because it had no interest in developing Arakan State.

The Burmese military regime known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council also announced after taking power in 1988 that it would implement the long-abandoned project under the project name, "Saidin Hydropower Project, the Project to Illuminate the Whole of Arakan State with Electrical Lights", but it later suspended the project without reason. The main office that had been opened for the project in Sittwe has finally become a pub.

After renaming the SLORC as the "State Peace and Development Council," the Burmese regime spread propaganda about constructing the project again through its media mouthpieces, but now again the project has been suspended after power was handed over to the ostensibly civilian regime led by President U Thein Sein, who also served as the prime minister of the SPDC regime.

It has been 64 years already since Burma gained independence, but Arakan State in western Burma is still being neglected in development of the national power grid by successive Burmese regimes, and is still dependent on electricity generated by diesel and chaff generators. As a result the region is underdeveloped in all sectors. According to an official survey report, the Saidin is one of the largest waterfalls in Burma and has a capacity to produce 70 MW of electricity.

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Arakan State Parliament set to resume Today

Sittwe: The regular session of the Arakan State Parliament is set to resume from 22 February, as announced by the Arakan State Parliament Committee, said U Aung Mra Kyaw, a legislator representing Sittwe, the capital of Arakan.

He said that he has received a letter from the head of the Arakan State Parliament and the parliament will resume from 22 February 2012.

‘The parliamentary body of Arakan State has sent invitation letters to all legislators in the state to join the session on 22 February” he said.

The parliamentary regular session is to be resumed after an emergency session which convened on 30 June.

"The parliament will resume at 10:00 am, we are preparing my presentation to the parliament, but the session will be mostly related to our people affairs," he said, but not disclose details about his presentation for the parliament.

There are nearly 50 legislators in the Arakan State Parliament, but most are from the government-backed party and the army.

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Low capacity vessels to increase trade between Burma and Bangladesh

Burma and Bangladesh have agreed to use small vessels between the two countries in order to boost bilateral trade, according to a report in the Bangladesh media.

The report said that the two neighbours reached an agreement in this regard at a recent meeting held in Rangoon where delegations from both countries attended.

However the agreement between the two neighbours is still under process, and it is expected to be signed next month when Burmese president Thein Sein is expected to arrive in Bangladesh for a three day visit to discuss bilateral issues including trade.

After the signing of the agreement, the vessels which have capacities of carrying below 6,000 tonnes of goods, would be used between the two countries. Burma and Bangladesh and will declare three 'ports of call' on their respective sides after signing the agreement.

For Burma's side, Sittwe, Pathein and Rangoon are expected to be used as harbors while Kulana, Chittagon and Taknaf will be used on Bangladesh's side.

The report said that Bangladesh can reach the markets of Thailand, China, Malaysia through Burma after starting the use of small vessels between the countries.

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Peace talks offered to NUPA

Dhaka: The Burmese regime led by U Thein Sein has reportedly offered peace talks to the National United Party of Arakan, one of the Arakanese armed groups fighting against the Burmese regime for freedom and democracy in Arakan State.

National United Party of Arakan flag

U Aung Min, the minister of rail transportation and the leader of the union-level peacemaking group of the regime, said his group have already asked the NUPA to hold peace talks, reported the official Burmese newspaper “Kyemon” in its publication on the 16th of February.

He stated his government’s offer to negotiate with the NUPA while he was answering questions asked by U Nyan Linn, the representative of constituency no. 3 of Irrawaddy Division, on the 4th day of the third regular session of national parliament, which were concerned with peace procedures with the ethnic armed groups in the country.

He said to parliament that his group has already held peace talks and signed agreements with 9 of the 11 ethnic armed groups of the United Nationalities Federal Council and are connected to the two remaining groups of the council— the National United Party of Arakan and the Lahu Democratic Union— for peace talks.

The NUPA is one of the three Arakanese armed groups operating on the western Burmese border and was founded by the late Bo Raza, the Chief of the Arakan Army, after merging a number of Arakanese groups on the border. It was the strongest Arakanese armed group on the western frontier, but was weakened after Bo Raza and five other top leaders of the group were killed and some of its forces were jailed by India in 1998.

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160 Burmese Suffer Forced Hard Labor in Kuwait

Dhaka: 160 Burmese have been suffering from great trouble in Kuwait as their employer has forced to do hard labor in the desert after bringing them to the country on the promise of carpentry jobs, according to a letter sent by a fellow migrant worker.

The letter said they were brought to Kuwait by Shwe In-arr, a Burmese labor company, in October 2011 on the promise of carpentry jobs, but after arriving they had their official work permits taken and held, and have been sent into the desert and forced to work excavating earth there .

"They are now in great trouble because they have to do the job of digging earth in the desert, even though they have come here for the carpentry jobs as promised by their labor company. They informed that they have to dig pits as tall as two men's heights in the desert everyday without getting leave or holiday since they arrived here," the sender of the letter told Narinjara over the phone.

He added that they were promised by the Shwe In-arr Company that they would be paid at least 5 to 6 lakh Kyat per month for any job in Kuwait, but they have been paid only about 3 lakh Kyat per month for their hard labor in the desert in the country.

"The worst things they have been suffering from their job is they can not leave or run away from their job and have no rights to undergo treatment in the hospital whenever they fall sick because their employer has control of their official permits for staying and working in the country," he said.

He said that their payments are also cut by their employer for any day they cannot work because of illness.

According to him, they have been employed by Korea's company to dig holes in the desert in Kuwait through the Shwe In-arr Company that bases its main office in the FMI in Hlinetharyar in Rangoon, and has also sent of its officials - Min Thu - to supervise them for their work for Samsung.

He said 30 of them are from Kyaukpru Township in Arakan State and they had worked for the Shwe In-arr company as carpenters when employed by them in the area, and the company sent them to Kuwait on promises of similar carpentry jobs and high wages, but they are now stranded with difficulties and trouble in Kuwait without any opportunity to return to their homeland.

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Daw Aung San Suu Kyi says Burma is just an ethnic nationality on 65th Union Day

Rangoon: Myanmar’s democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has stated that Burman is just an ethnic nationality in the union of Burma. She said this in the ceremony of celebrating the 65th Union Day that was held by the six ethnic brotherhood parties in Rangoon, said U Hla Saw, the general secretary of the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party.

“Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said she recognizes the role of ethnic nationalities, also saying she generally supports the genuine union that is demanded by the ethnic peoples for equal ethnic rights. The wonderful words she stated in the ceremony are that Burma is also an ethnic nationality in the union”, said U Hla Saw.

He said the union day celebration was held by the Nationality Brotherhood Forum that is founded by the six ethnic political parties for their political collaborations.

“What Daw Aung San Suu Kyi spoke about in the ceremony is the point that we must discuss among our ethnic forces as well. We have never heard Burma mentioned as an ethnic nationality though the other seven nationalities are being mentioned as ethnic nationalities in the political history of Burma”, said U Hla Saw.

He said Burma is never described as an ethnic nationality; while the other people living in different regions in the union of Burma are being called Karen ethnic, Rakhine ethnic, Kachin ethnic and so on.

U Hla Saw also said their ethnic political parties have collaborated and observed the union day in order to show their desire for a union that guarantees democracy and equal ethnic rights.

“Ethnic conflicts are the most important problems in our country and without democracy it will be difficult to solve those problems. At present, ethnic democratic parties are officially allowed to stand and the government has also agreed to ceasefires with the ethnic armed groups that are fighting for the ethnic rights. These are the constructive signs with respect to our union if we compare this to the eras of BSPP, SLORC or SPDC governments. As we hope for a more meaningful union that guarantees democracy and equal ethnic rights, we the ethnic parties have observed the union day collaboratively”, said U Hla Saw.

He said that a statement on the day was also jointly issued by the parties of the forum, and he read the statement to the attendees in the ceremony.

“I did not deliver any formal speech in the ceremony, but I gave the introductory speech spotlighting the present situations facing the ethnic regions before reading our parties’ statement on the union day”, he said.

According to their statement, Burma gained independence after all ethnic nationalities in the country agreed to build a union that guarantees democracy and equality of rights on this day, but the union that coined the independence since then has never existed until today and the ethnic states at present have become the poorest, the most backward, the most suppressed and the most war-torn regions in the false union.

The parties also urged the other forces of democracy in their statement to work together and strive for turning Burma into a genuine union in the present transitional period to democracy.

U Sai Nyaunt Lwin of the Shan National League for Democracy, who was recently released from prison, and other prominent politicians were also said to have attended the ceremony of the union day that was held collaboratively by the ethnic political parties.

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Memorial Service for Arakanese Leaders Killed by Indian Army Held Around the World

Dhaka: The memorial service for Bo Raza and other revolutionary leaders who were assassinated by the Indian army in 1998 was held by the Arakanese diaspora in countries around the world on 11 February, 2012.

Ceremonies were held by Arakanese exile communities in the USA, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand on 11 February to commemorate Bo Raza and the other five Arakanese and Karen leaders who were killed by the Indian army on an island in Indian territory on the same day in 1998.

"Today is a historic blood day of our community because on this day 14 years ago our patriotic leader Bo Raza and another five leaders were killed in cold blood by the Indian army on Landfall Island in the Andaman Archipelago of India. Even though it has been 14 years, we are unable to forget them," said Arakanese youth Ko Ba Khin, who led the memorial service in the USA.

Arakanese in Bangladesh also held a memorial service for Bo Raza and the other five leaders in the town of Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, with Ko Pho Hla, president of the Arakan Freedom Movement, and other senior leaders delivering speeches.

"Bo Raza greatly sacrificed his life for the freedom of Arakan. He did not make any mistakes against India, but India killed him. We people have never forgotten this incident and they are still alive in our heart and soul. Our young generations have to follow the path of Bo Raza in order to get our freedom," U Pho Hla told attendees at the ceremony.

Memorial service for Boraza and other leaders in USA.

"The time has reached 14 years but the Arakanese people still remember Bo Raza and the other five leaders," said a youth in Malaysia who also urged the people of Arakan to not forget the incident and to hold the memorial ceremony both in Arakan and in other countries every year.

The incident happened in February 1998 when India's intelligent officer Grewal lured forces from the Arakan Army, the armed wing of NUPA led by Bo Raza, and the Karen National Union based on the Thai-Burma border with fake bonds on the pretense of providing a secret naval base on Landfall Island in the Andamans.

After staying for one night to celebrate the warm welcome of their arrival on the island, Indian soldiers killed the six leaders - Bo Raza, Major Saw Tun, Major Ran Naing, Captain Lin Zan Khaing, Phado Mu Lwe, and Captain Soe Myint - and detained the remaining 36 others on charges of gun-running in what Indian forces called "Operation Leech".

It was also learned that among the assassinated leaders. Major Saw Tun and Major Ran Naing were coming together with the military officer from the Indian army headquarters in the capital of New Delhi to receive Bo Raza and the others coming from Thailand.

Grewal, who masterminded the plan to kill the men, also managed to kill Nyi Nyi Kyaw, the in-charge of the NUPA office in Bangkok, Thailand, after the assassination, with the aim of destroying all documents and photos that evidenced his plot to kill the Arakanese leaders and imprison their forces who were fighting against the Burmese regime for democracy and human rights in their own homeland.

Additionally, the Indian army had secretly taken Ran Naing, an Arakanese rebel, and another Karen rebel who were skilled at sea navigation, from the 36 detainees jailed in the Port Blair Prison on Andaman Island and executed them.

The remaining 34 Arakanese and Karen freedom fighters were finally released by Indian authorities on 13 May of this year after 13 years in prison.

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RNDP publishes a monograph concerning electricity in Arakan State

Sittwe: The leading Arakanese political party, Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) has published a monograph that informs the general public about the Shwe Gas Project and their basic need for electricity to continue developments in Arakan State.

The publication is titled “Presentation to the Arakanese peoples for the rights to electricity from Shwe Gas Project” and has been circulated in all areas in Arakan State by the party.

“We have published the monograph in order to raise awareness among our Arakanese people about our natural gas reserves and our basic need for electricity for our own developments in our region”, said one of the monograph distributors from the party.

The present situation in the production of natural gas from the “Shwe” offshore gas reserves, the size of gas found in the reserves and the management by the union government of the gas, and the present electricity situation in Arakan State are the main subjects written in the monograph.

The questions and answers concerning the Shwe Gas Project and the electricity situation in Arakan State between the MPs of the RNDP and the Union Ministers in the houses of parliament are also mentioned in the monograph.

According to the monograph, Arakan State receives less than 1% of the electricity that is supplied to the whole of Burma despite its enormous gas reserves and other natural resources. Due to the lack of a sufficient electricity supply, the region has been reduced to the second poorest and the most under-developed region in the country suffering from backwardness in all sectors, including agriculture and industry.

It said that the present central government however continues to neglect the fact that Arakan State needs sufficient electricity for its own developments, and has planned to export natural gas from the region to China, and to supply some of the gas to the industries in central Burma without considering Arakan State.

The monograph in its conclusion said that it is a Arakanese national affair and every Arakanese is responsible to demand the supply of sufficient electricity to their native region from the power generated from natural gas from the Shwe Gas Project, which is in Arakan State.

According to the distributor, the monograph has been distributed to all areas in Arakan State, this started last January.

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Local residents have no knowledge about Kaladan Project: U Pu Zozam

Sittwe: Local residents living along the Kaladan River in western Burma’s Chin and Arakan states have little or no knowledge about the Indian-backed Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project, said U Pu Zozam, the president of the Chin National Party.

U Pu Zozam led a study-team, and had done field-research on the project travelling along the Kaladan River between Sittwe in Arakan State and Paletwa in Chin State on the Indian border from the 5th to the 8th of February.

He told Narinjara after coming back from his 4-day research tour that the local residents are still not informed of what they should know about the project in their region.

I have found out that the local residents do not know yet such a big infrastructure project is under construction in their area. As such they do not know what the effects on them by the project will be, and they even do not know who are doing what in their respective regions relating to the project”, he said.

Most of peoples living along the Kaladan River are farmers and fishers earning their livelihoods depending on the river.

U Pu Zozam said the cultivations in a number of townships along the river in Arakan State will suffer from inundations if the river is dredged for the project.

“We have found out that the paddy fields in low-lying areas in Sittwe and Ponnagyun Townships will suffer from flooding with sea-water if the river is to be dredged for the project. There are so many villages living on cultivations that depend on the river at the upper river areas, and those cultivations will also be hurt after dredging the river”, said U Pu Zozam.

He said his team had especially studied the local peoples' knowledge about the project and how the project will impact their livelihoods, adding that it will publicize what it has found out after thorough analysis to the concerned authorities and general people.

India’s Essar Company is now constructing $ 120 million Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project jointly with the Max (Myanmar) Company. The project consists of upgrading the port in Sittwe for accessing 6,000 ton cargo vessels, dredging the river route to Paletwa, and a 200 km road from Paletwa to Mizoram State in India.

The project was proposed by the Indian government under a framework agreement with the Burmese military regime in 2008 and will be finalized in 2013. It is said to be designed to increase the bilateral trade between both countries and to give a new trade route to the land-locked northeastern states in India.

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Burmese authorities scrutinizes Arakanese writers public lectures

Rambree: Burmese authorities have scrutinized the public lectures that were given by Arakanese writers in Ramere Township in Arakan State, though they had encouraged the public lectures by Burmese writers in the area.

A local youth told Narinjara that the township authority summoned the organizers of the public lectures that were held with well-known Arakanese writers last week to his office and ordered them to submit the records of the lectures.

“Our township administrator U Aung Thu summoned our youth leaders who organized the public lectures with well-known Arakanese writers to his office and interrogated them about holding the lectures in the area. And as he had ordered them to submit all records of the lectures that include documents, audio and video recordings to his office, they had to send the records to him yesterday” said the youth.

He however said the township administrator had not taken similar actions to the public lectures that were recently held by the well-known Burmese writers in the area and the administrator himself had attended to listen to the lectures by the writers.

“Burmese well-known writers who included Nunjar Thaing, Gitar Phay Win and Annawar Soe Moe came and held their public lectures before the end of last year in our Ramere Township. Then the administrator himself attended the lectures and he did not take any actions like he has done to the lectures of our Arakanese writers. The peoples here are now feeling sorry because they are being discriminated against by the Burmese authorities” said the youth.

According to the youth, the administrator of Ramere Township U Aung Thu is an ethnic Burman and he told the youths that he had to send records of the lectures to the district and state level administrations.

The well-known Arakanese writer U Kyaw Htun Aung (Tak Tun Ne), U Hla Myint of the Rakhine Thar Gree Publishing House, U Saw Kyaw, and the teachers of the Scholar School in Rangoon Daw Nhin Yu Shwe and Daw Htoo May were said to be the main speakers at the public lectures in Ramere Township.

“They have not given any lectures that are opposed to the government and nation in our township. They have just given the lectures on the subjects of our development, preserving our own cultural heritage and values, our unity and our native land, our literature, history and international education and development”, said the youth.

He said not only the youths, but also many local people who include writers and admirers of literature had attended in the Arakanese writers’ public lectures that were held for the first time in the Ramere Township from the 7th to the 9th of February.

An elder from the area also said the public lectures are very significant for widening the knowledge of the general public and the authorities should not restrict such events either directly or indirectly.

“I am very upset to know from our youths that our government authorities have taken such actions against the public lectures in our township. I believe those actions are nothing more than an indirect threat in order to restrict the public lectures in our area. They should not restrict such events either directly or indirectly because public lectures are very important for widening the knowledge of general people”, said the elder.

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Fire Guts Over 740 Stores in Thandwe's Biggest Market

Thandwe: A fire that broke out in Myoma Market in Thandwe in southeastern Arakan State in the early morning on 11 February gutted over 740 stores in the market, said an official of the local fire service.

"According our current list, over 740 stores in the market were completely destroyed in the fire, but we have yet to collect the details of the losses and at the moment it is difficult for us to tell or estimate the details and value of losses in the market fire," said the official.

A local woman who witnessed the incident said the fire started around 5 am and died out at 7:45 am after it had torn through all the shops in the market.

"The blazes of the fire were very fierce. The fire servicemen together with shop owners and civilians living nearly the market made all out efforts to put out the flames, but it eventually died out after burning all the shops in the market," said the woman.

She added that the market is the largest in the town and the losses would be very high.

"Everyone in the town is sorry about the market fire and I do not know what to say to the shop owners of the market who are now in deep sorrow at their losses. I have seen some of them were weeping and running here and there in the streets after the fire," said the woman.

A town elder said the fire gutted the whole market because of the lack of a modern fire defense system, sufficient fire engines, or skilled servicemen, besides the civilians' negligence or lack of preparedness for the fire in the town.

He added the town's residents are also troubled because the market is the town's largest and the prices of commodities have jumped after the market was lost to the fire.

This is the second largest fire to hit a market in Arakan State in three months, after a fire gutted 567 shops in the main market in Minbya and caused losses of an estimated thousand million kyat on 12 November.

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Arakanese Demand Rights from Shwe Gas Project

Sittwe: A group of Arakanese have launched a campaign in two major towns in Arakan State in western Burma demanding the rights of Arakanese people from the Shwe Gas Project that is being implemented in the region.
The local group, known as the Rakkha Ahluntan, or "Ray of Arakan", was said to have launched the campaign with its members wearing t-shirts and pasting stickers that demand rights for the Arakanese people from the gas project on Monday and Tuesday in crowded areas in the ancient city of Mrauk-U and the current capital Sittwe.

"We have launched the campaign to demand what our people should get from the enormous gas project in our native region," said Mar Mar Kyaw Zwar, the leader of the group. The Ray of Arakan is a local rights group in Arakan State and launched a similar campaign late last year as well.

Mar Mar Kyaw Zwar said her group has sent the campaign's demands to President U Thein Sein as well as to U Hla Maung Tin, the Chief Minister of Arakan State. "As part of our campaign, we have also sent the letters of our demands for sharing the natural gas from the Shwe Gas Project for the benefit of local Arakanese people to President U Thein Sein and the Chief Minister U Hla Maung Tin by fax at 9 am today," she said.

A youth from the group in Mrauk-U said they pasted their campaign posters in all crowded places in the ancient city, including the market, religious places, police stations, and hotels, so as to draw the attention of the local public for their wider participation in their campaign for local rights in the gas project.

He added that local police have been closely watching them since they launched the campaign, but have not disturbed them in any way besides following them and removing posters that were pasted in some important public and official places around town.

The campaigners have widely distributed and posted the papers and posters for the campaign to the people in crowded areas, including Main Road, Munbar Gree Road, U Ottama Park, and Fire Brigade Junction in Sittwe.

The campaigners have demanded 24-hour electricity and kitchen gas from the Shwe Gas Project for local use in Arakan State.

Campaigns demanding local rights in the Shwe Gas Project have continually sprung up in Arakan State following official statements by Energy Minister U Than Htay in parliament last October that his regime has no plans to use Arakan's offshore Shwe Gas for Arakan State, as most of the gas from the project will be exported to China while the remaining portion is being allocated for use by factories in mainland Burma.

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Arakanese Traditional "Kyon" Proposed for SEA Games

By Maung Ramar
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Yangon: One Arakanese traditional sport known as "Kyon", or wrestling, is being proposed for inclusion in the coming Southeast Asian Games, said U Zaw Aye Maung, the Rakhine Affairs Minister of Rangoon Division.

"We can propose to include Kyon in the coming 2013 SEA Games as a local traditional sport, but the proposed sport must have interest to be played by at least four nations in the group. That is why we are now taking preparation to send the discipline and methods of playing our traditional Kyon with video illustrations to the member nations. If the member nations are interested, then it will be included in the coming SEA Games," said U Zaw Aye Maung.

He said a competition of Kyon will be held from 27 to 29 January at the Boxing Club on Theinphyu Street in Rangoon in preparation to propose the traditional sport to the regional games.

"Traditional sports such as Wushu, Judo, and Cane Ball, like our Kyon, are now being played in the SEA Games. Kyon is also an interesting sport being traditionally played by a group of people living in Southeast Asia and we hope the other people in our region will also be interested in the sport, and we are now trying our best so that our sport is included in the games," he said.

He added that the traditional sport will be revived to draw wider interest as well as to uplift the mentality of the younger Arakanese generation.

"When we were young, we used to play our traditional Kyon in the evening time for our physical fitness and to keep away from drink and smoke. In the present age, we have found that most of our youth are turning to the corners of beer, liquor, and smoke in the coming of evening without doing any sports. So, we are concerned for our youth and believe that we can reduce the bad habits of our youth by reviving our popular traditional sport," he said.

According to the source, in the Kyon competition to be held from 27 to 29 January in Rangoon, the first prize will be a gold medal and 15 lakh Kyat in cash, and the second prize will be a silver medal and 10 lakh Kyat in cash, with the aim of raising awareness and reviving the traditional sport.

Burmese boxer champions Lone Chaw and Saw Ngaman, along with famous Arakanese Kyon champions from all over Arakan State are reportedly invited to observe the competition.

Kyon, traditional Arakanese wrestling, was the most popular sport held by ancient kings in Arakan. The term "Kyon" derives from the combination of two Arakanese words, "Kyar" and "Yon", which mean "Tiger" and "Quick" in English. So, Kyon means "Quick Tiger", and wrestlers play to catch and bring each other to the ground to win like a quick tiger.

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Cracks and Poor Restoration Threaten Collapse of Koe-Thaung Temple

Mrauk U: Large cracks and unskillful restorations on the Koe-Thaung Temple, the largest ancient architectural monument in Mrauk-U in western Burma's Arakan State, are causing concern about a sudden collapse of the temple, said a retired local archaeologist and Buddhist monk on Saturday.

Buddha images in Koe Thaung temple

"There are now so many lines of cracks on the stone walls of the temple and it is worrisome to find that roofs with heavy wooden frames and tin sheets are being constructed above the walls to protect the cracks from rain. If a strong wind blows those heavy roofs down, then the walls will break into pieces," said U Kyaw Tun Aung, a retired Assistant Director of the Archaeological Department and Curator of the Cultural Museum in Mrauk-U.

When asked how the temple should be preserved, he said, "The temple is one of the important ancient monuments and it would be better if restoration work on the temple were done after consulting with skilled archaeologists and architects. Now what has been done to the temple has destroyed its original design and the temple looks like a hotel building. I think it would be best to preserve the temple with its original design."

U Nyarna, a local Buddhist monk who recently visited the temple, also said major cracks were found on the left wall of the first tunnel in the temple.

"I have found diagonal lines of major cracks on the left wall of the tunnel inside the temple. It is possible the heavy rains last year had left those cracks on the wall because there is no roof over the tunnel. I think the wall will collapse soon, if the cracks are not restored on time," said U Nyarna.

Koe Thaung Temple built in 1553

The monk said it is very worrisome for the temple because the wall is the main partition of the outer and inner tunnels inside the temple.

According to the sources, the temple was first excavated by the Archaeological Department in Mrauk-U in 1996, after it had been abandoned without any restoration for centuries. Only 25% of the excavation work on the temple was done and a large portion of it still remains hidden in thick bushes and creepers.

They added that the temple is now being kept under preservation by the Central Archaeological Department of Burma, but it systematic and regular maintenance is still neglected due to the lack of state funding. The name of the temple, "Koe-Thaung", means "The Temple of 90,000 Buddha Images", and it was built by Arakanese King Dikkha in 1553 C.E. It is situated one and a half miles east of the palace site in Mrauk-U.
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Narinjara New

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Bangladesh envoy to Burma called back

Dhaka: Bangladesh government has called back its ambassador to Burma, said a report of The Daily Star today quoted an official notification.

The notification was issued yesterday by the Bangladesh Ministry of Public Administration where Bangladesh ambassador to Burma, Maj Gen Anup Kumar Chakma has been called back.

However, there is no reason in the notification behind his withdrawal.

Maj Gen Anup Kumar Chakma would be put back into his former position in Bangladesh army, the report said.

He was appointed Bangladesh ambassador to Burma in 2009.
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Narinjara

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Local Youth Campaign for Relocation of Indian Seaport in Sittwe

Local youth reportedly launched a brochure campaign on 4 January that demands relocation of the seaport being constructed by India in Sittwe, the capital of western Burma's Arakan State, to another appropriate location.

"It is a very open campaign and I found the youths distributing the brochures to everyone in Myoma Market this morning and they have continued the distribution almost everywhere in the town as well," said U Aung Mra Kyaw, a legislator in the State Parliament from Sittwe.

He said there are accounts of environmental damage and trouble for residents caused by the port project and the demands for relocating the port in the brochure. "It is written in the brochure that because of the port project, widespread environmental damage is occurring, local people are troubled and the area of Mungreekyauktan where people used to walk and rest is already damaged, along with the demand to shift the port to another place from the town," he said.

U Aung Mra Kyaw said no action was taken against the youth by authorities despite their open campaign against the port.

According to the local residents, the Indian Essar Company has been constructing the port by filling in land in the area of Mungreekyauktan in downtown Sittwe. The natural beauty of Point Beach in Sittwe has also been damaged as the company is taking sand it needs from the beach for landfill at the port construction site.

Aung Kyaw Myint, a youth from Kyepungree Ward in Sittwe who is involved in the campaign, said they have demanded they shift the port to another location because the town's people are suffering losses and trouble since the port construction started.

"Mungreekyauktan was created for the recreation of people since Sittwe was built as the capital, and it has now disappeared under the port. That is a great loss for our town's people. Now it is also troubling to the nearby hospital, which is the only one in our town. The patients in the hospital are being disturbed and troubled by the noise and dust coming from the day and night construction of the port. That is why we have to demand they shift the port to another place away from the town," said Aung Kyaw Myint.

He said dissatisfaction over the port is growing among residents as the Essar Company, the main builder of the port, has been building the port without care for the trouble of the people and environmental damages it is causing in the town.

Dr. Aye Maung, Chairman of the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, a leading political party in Arakan State, also mentioned in his New Year message that his party would take necessary actions to shift the site of the port from the main town to another place as it has been hurting every aspect of the town.
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Narinjara

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