3:44 AM
It is understood that all people in Myanmar are under military rulers abusing human right. But other people of Myanmar exclusive Burma ethnic are really under persecution and hardly condition for their futures more than as Burma suffer.
The Same under Military Rulers, Different Suffers
Remains of Dutch factory
Today Mrauk U is a small quiet town with a large number of pagodas and temples scattered all around. Unlike the people of Bagan, the inhabitants are still living among these religious edifices and have so far escaped expulsion.
Mrauk U - Arakan - From Schouten, Voyages (1676)
In 1406, the rightful king Meng Saw Mun had taken refuge in the neighboring sultanate of Bengal; he was not able to return to his throne until 24 years later, with considerable help from the Bengal ruler. In 1454, he founded a new captial in the north of Rakhine, Mrauk U. His successors gave trade and territorial concessions to Portuguese, receiving in return, Portuguese military support and help in building new fortifications. Empowered by this support, Mrauk U was able for a period to extend its area of influence west as far as Chittagong. Toward the end of 16th century, Rakhine pillaged Bago and ruled for a short time the entire Ayeyarwady delta.
Showing posts with label NEWS OF ARAKAN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NEWS OF ARAKAN. Show all posts
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
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
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
Monday, June 4, 2012
Three Suspected culprits of rape and murder in Rambree arrested
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 29th 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;
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 29th 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.
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.
Victim Ma Thidar Htwe 26 year old
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.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
Sincerely
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
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
- 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)
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
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:
- 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.
- There should be a blanket ban on the entry of the Rohingya Muslims into India from any border or by any means.
- 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.
- 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.
Page 4
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
Sincerely
Dr Pravin Togadia
Copy to:- The Secretary General, United Nations, New York, USA
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – HO, New York
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – New Delhi
- The Hon. President – India
- The Home Minister, Govt of India
- The External Affairs Minister, Govt of India
- President, Russia
- President, United State of America
- The Hon. Chief Justice, Hon. Supreme Court of India
- Bin Laden & Rohingya Muslims – Weekly Blitz
- 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
- Bangla Desh- Breeding Ground for Terror – Asia Times printed interview of American Govt & Military officials – CNN
- 4. Rohingya Terrorism: Terrorism Monitor – Volume 6, Issue 10.
Friday, February 24, 2012
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.
“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.
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.
Sai Din waterfall "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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 flagU 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.
National United Party of Arakan flagHe 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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
"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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
Friday, January 27, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Burmese Regime Excludes Arakan's Danyawaddy from World Heritage List
Written by Narinjara News
Friday, 23 September 2011 00:00
Mrauk U: The Burmese regime has excluded the Danyawaddy, the most ancient city in Arakan as well as Burma, from the list of cities it has proposed to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List , which included the cities of Beikthano, Halin, and Tharay-Khit-Taya (Sri Ksetra) that were established much later than Danyawaddy.
The nominally elected Minister of Information and Culture U Kyaw San said during the people's parliament session that convened on 20 September that his regime has been cooperating with UNESCO for international standards of preservation for Burmese heritage sites, and has proposed the three ancient cities of Burma - Beikthano, Halin, and Tharay-Khit-Taya - be added to the World Heritage List.
Kyaw San also said that they have now reached the final stage of verification by UNESCO for inclusion of those three cities on the list, and the cities will become recognized as part of world heritage after UNESCO's finalizing work.
However, it was found that Danyawaddy, the most ancient city in western Burma's Arakan State, and one established much earlier than the proposed cities, was excluded from the list of cities proposed for inclusion on the World Heritage List.
U Kyaw Tun Aung, the former in-charge of the Arakan Cultural Museum and a veteran scholar of ancient Arakan history, told Narinjara that Danyawaddy in Arakan State is much older than the ancient cities proposed by the Burmese regime.
"Danyawaddy was the third and last city in the ancient history of Arakan. The last Danyawaddy existed from 6th Century BC to 4th Century AD. But Beikthano, Halin, and other Burmese cities came to exist from 1st Century AD to 9th Century AD. So Arakan's Danyawaddy is much more ancient than those Burmese cities," said U Kyaw Tun Aung.
When asked by Narinjara why the Burmese regime may have excluded the Danyawaddy from the proposed list of cities, despite being a more ancient city, U Kyaw Tun Aung said, "They have done so for their heritage in their region. Arakanese are responsible to do so for their heritage as well. They have done well for their responsibilities by putting forward their heritage to be included in the list of world heritage sites. We Arakanese have to try to become listed for world heritage sites as well."
While explaining the history of the city, he added, "The historians formerly assumed the existence of Danyawaddy was a myth. While we excavated the site three years ago, we found the city walls, gates, and foundation of palace sites, as well as other artifacts that were used during that time and we were able to prove the existence of the city that had flourished as the third and last Danyawaddy from 6th Century BC to 4th Century AD. So, we can prove that the Arakan's Danyawaddy is much more ancient than those of Beikthano and Halin that did not flourish in the BC era.
He also said, "The ancient-most Danyawaddy city was found to be built in the form of a circle, while other later cities in that period were in the form of squares. We have also found there were long handles in the ancient city doors, while later ones had no handle, and by those findings we can prove that Danyawaddy is more ancient than other cities in the history of Arakan as well."
An Arakanese school teacher from Mrauk U, on condition of anonymity, criticized the successive Burmese regimes for demonstrating their discrimination against non-Burmese ethnic groups in their country by ignoring the Danyawaddy and Vesali, the two most ancient cities in Arakan, in their list of cities proposed for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Friday, 23 September 2011 00:00
Mrauk U: The Burmese regime has excluded the Danyawaddy, the most ancient city in Arakan as well as Burma, from the list of cities it has proposed to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List , which included the cities of Beikthano, Halin, and Tharay-Khit-Taya (Sri Ksetra) that were established much later than Danyawaddy.
The nominally elected Minister of Information and Culture U Kyaw San said during the people's parliament session that convened on 20 September that his regime has been cooperating with UNESCO for international standards of preservation for Burmese heritage sites, and has proposed the three ancient cities of Burma - Beikthano, Halin, and Tharay-Khit-Taya - be added to the World Heritage List.
Kyaw San also said that they have now reached the final stage of verification by UNESCO for inclusion of those three cities on the list, and the cities will become recognized as part of world heritage after UNESCO's finalizing work.
However, it was found that Danyawaddy, the most ancient city in western Burma's Arakan State, and one established much earlier than the proposed cities, was excluded from the list of cities proposed for inclusion on the World Heritage List.
U Kyaw Tun Aung, the former in-charge of the Arakan Cultural Museum and a veteran scholar of ancient Arakan history, told Narinjara that Danyawaddy in Arakan State is much older than the ancient cities proposed by the Burmese regime.
"Danyawaddy was the third and last city in the ancient history of Arakan. The last Danyawaddy existed from 6th Century BC to 4th Century AD. But Beikthano, Halin, and other Burmese cities came to exist from 1st Century AD to 9th Century AD. So Arakan's Danyawaddy is much more ancient than those Burmese cities," said U Kyaw Tun Aung.
When asked by Narinjara why the Burmese regime may have excluded the Danyawaddy from the proposed list of cities, despite being a more ancient city, U Kyaw Tun Aung said, "They have done so for their heritage in their region. Arakanese are responsible to do so for their heritage as well. They have done well for their responsibilities by putting forward their heritage to be included in the list of world heritage sites. We Arakanese have to try to become listed for world heritage sites as well."
While explaining the history of the city, he added, "The historians formerly assumed the existence of Danyawaddy was a myth. While we excavated the site three years ago, we found the city walls, gates, and foundation of palace sites, as well as other artifacts that were used during that time and we were able to prove the existence of the city that had flourished as the third and last Danyawaddy from 6th Century BC to 4th Century AD. So, we can prove that the Arakan's Danyawaddy is much more ancient than those of Beikthano and Halin that did not flourish in the BC era.
He also said, "The ancient-most Danyawaddy city was found to be built in the form of a circle, while other later cities in that period were in the form of squares. We have also found there were long handles in the ancient city doors, while later ones had no handle, and by those findings we can prove that Danyawaddy is more ancient than other cities in the history of Arakan as well."
An Arakanese school teacher from Mrauk U, on condition of anonymity, criticized the successive Burmese regimes for demonstrating their discrimination against non-Burmese ethnic groups in their country by ignoring the Danyawaddy and Vesali, the two most ancient cities in Arakan, in their list of cities proposed for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
