This is my recent podcast with Walid from Greed For Ilm. I talk about why I act for the Rohingya, why they are being killed, and what anyone can do to help them (including you). Thank-you for all the lovely feedback I have had following this interview.
http://greedforilm.com/episode15/
Friday, 28 June 2013
Monday, 13 May 2013
Cyclone Mahasen threatens lives of tens of thousands of displaced Rohingya
PRESS
RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cyclone
Mahasen threatens lives of tens of thousands of displaced Rohingya Muslims in
Burma’s Arakan State
Government of Burma must ensure freedom of movement
and urgently protect all IDPs in flood plains
(May 13, 2013, Oslo, Norway)—The government of Burma should urgently
facilitate the relocation of tens of thousands of at-risk, internally displaced
Rohingya to higher ground before the arrival of heavy rains from an approaching
cyclone, Partners Relief and Development (Partners) said today. At least
140,000 internally displaced Rohingya Muslims are sheltering in official and
makeshift camps in Burma’s Arakan State, many of which are located in
flood-prone areas. Cyclone
“Mahasen” is expected to reach landfall on Wednesday or Thursday this week,
potentially affecting populations in Burma, Bangladesh, and India. The
government has not evacuated any displaced Rohingya out of squalid, low-lying
displacement camps in areas outside Sittwe.
“These people are bracing themselves for the storm. They expect their area to flood and shelters to be blown flat by high winds,” says Partners CEO, Steve Gumaer, who is currently in affected areas in Arakan State. “They are fighting for their lives against the sea, rain, wind, and a government that has persecuted them for decades.”
For several months, the local and central
government have received warnings from the UN agencies, governments, and rights
groups about the upcoming monsoon season and the need to evacuate the IDPs to
higher ground. The authorities have been warned numerous times about the
approaching cyclone and the devastating effect it will have. There is no sign
that any measures have been taken to aid the Rohingya IDPs outside Sittwe to
higher ground, Partners said. Nearly 20,000 Rohingya IDPs in Pauktaw are
particularly at risk, as well as IDPs in Myebon.
“The central government is not absolved of responsibility in this situation. The authorities seem intent on killing these people one way or another,” said Gumaer.
The authorities restrict the Rohingyas’ freedom of
movement, which could be fatal if the camps are flooded and natural disaster
strikes.
“There has been no action taken to evacuate these people and no indication they will be free to flee if this storm strikes,” Gumaer said. “It is essential the government ensures everyone has freedom of movement in Arakan State.”
Partners
said sizable groups of the displaced Rohingya outside Sittwe had not eaten for
four days because they are technically “unregistered IDPs.” Only registered
IDPs are given food rations by the UN’s World Food Programme, leaving thousands
without adequate or steady rations. At least 7,000 Muslims in Aung Mingalar,
the last Muslim village in the state capital Sittwe, have also been denied
humanitarian aid. Tens of thousands of displaced lack adequate health care,
latrines, shelter, clothing, and other necessities.
Numerous educated Rohingya and community leaders
have been arrested in areas surrounding Sittwe since April 26, including
children. Partners documented systematic torture of Rohingya detainees and
denial of due process rights. The
systematic abuse, neglect, and failure to protect 140,000
civilians from natural disaster, while denying food rations and other
international aid to tens of thousands, is a violation of basic human rights. Partners
calls on the Government of Burma to immediately evacuate all at-risk
populations, especially Rohingya IDPs from the potential disaster zone; to authorize
food rations to all IDPs; and to give international and national aid
organizations free access to the areas where thousands are living in subhuman
conditions.
Partners
Relief & Development (PRAD) is a registered charity in six countries. The work
of Partners has provided emergency relief and sustainable development for tens
of thousands of displaced people in Burma since 1994. PRAD seeks free, full
lives for the children of Burma and reconciled communities living in peace.
For additional
information or photographs, please contact: oddny@partnersworld.org
Background
Information
Some 800,000 to one million Muslim Rohingyas live
in western Burma, where they are denied basic rights and citizenship, rendering
them stateless. They have been described by the UN as one of the world’s most
persecuted minorities. Since violence broke out in Arakan State in June 2012
between Arakanese Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims—aided by state security
forces— at least 140,000 Rohingyas have taken refuge in displacement camps
after their villages were destroyed. Tens of thousands of others have fled the
country by sea, risking death.
The
Rohingya have lived under systematic racial discrimination by the authorities for
decades. They were forced to flee horrific violence before ending up in
makeshift camps by the sea where they lack everything from medical facilities,
latrines, shelters, blankets and regular food distribution. Now a tropical
cyclone threatens to kill them unless they get immediate help to evacuate.
###
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Press release from Partners Relief: Burma's participation in violence against Rohingya
Partners Relief & Development
Oslo, Norway
humanrights@partnersworld.org
www.partnersworld.org
Media contacts: Mrs. Oddny Gumaer +47 904 012 17 (Norway)
(April 24, 2013, Oslo, Norway) This week the international organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report that highlights gross human rights abuses and possible ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya people in Western Burma (Myanmar).
Partners Relief & Development (PRAD) confirms that HRW’s claims are in line with what Partners’ staff has seen and heard in Arakan state.
Partners founder and advocacy officer, Oddny Gumaer, has interviewed more than 30 people who in some ways have been the victims of the violence in Arakan state over the last year. “The stories testify of horrific acts of violence where not even children were spared. They confirm that both the police and army officials participated in the violence. They speak of unlawful arrests, torture and rape. They are a testimony from a people who are living in hopeless despair,” says Oddny Gumaer.
“A woman I talked to broke down crying uncontrollably after she told us of the massacres of her 29 relatives, among them her seven children and 18 grandchildren.”
PRAD wants to support Human Rights Watch in demanding that there must be an immediate change in Arakan state. The Burma government must immediately investigate the acts of violence, and the offenders must be brought to justice. The Rohingya people must be given the citizenship they lost in 1982 back. Humanitarian aid organizations must get free access to the areas in greatest need. “The humanitarian situation is close to a catastrophe,” says Gumaer who was in the area in March. “People lack everything from food and medicine to tarps and blankets.”
Partners also wants to encourage the international community to take this situation seriously and reconsider if financial investments in the nation of Burma is justifiable as long as the government is not able to put and end to the serious human rights abuses against the Rohingya people.
Partners Relief & Development (PRAD) is a registered charity in six countries. The work of Partners has provided emergency relief and sustainable development for tens of thousands of displaced people in Burma since 1994. PRAD seeks free, full lives for the children of Burma and reconciled communities living in peace.
Oslo, Norway
humanrights@partnersworld.org
www.partnersworld.org
Media contacts: Mrs. Oddny Gumaer +47 904 012 17 (Norway)
PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Burma’s government is actively participating in violence against the Rohingya people in
Western Burma
More than 120,000 people are still in desperate need of emergency relief.
(April 24, 2013, Oslo, Norway) This week the international organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report that highlights gross human rights abuses and possible ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya people in Western Burma (Myanmar).
Partners Relief & Development (PRAD) confirms that HRW’s claims are in line with what Partners’ staff has seen and heard in Arakan state.
Partners founder and advocacy officer, Oddny Gumaer, has interviewed more than 30 people who in some ways have been the victims of the violence in Arakan state over the last year. “The stories testify of horrific acts of violence where not even children were spared. They confirm that both the police and army officials participated in the violence. They speak of unlawful arrests, torture and rape. They are a testimony from a people who are living in hopeless despair,” says Oddny Gumaer.
“A woman I talked to broke down crying uncontrollably after she told us of the massacres of her 29 relatives, among them her seven children and 18 grandchildren.”
PRAD wants to support Human Rights Watch in demanding that there must be an immediate change in Arakan state. The Burma government must immediately investigate the acts of violence, and the offenders must be brought to justice. The Rohingya people must be given the citizenship they lost in 1982 back. Humanitarian aid organizations must get free access to the areas in greatest need. “The humanitarian situation is close to a catastrophe,” says Gumaer who was in the area in March. “People lack everything from food and medicine to tarps and blankets.”
Partners also wants to encourage the international community to take this situation seriously and reconsider if financial investments in the nation of Burma is justifiable as long as the government is not able to put and end to the serious human rights abuses against the Rohingya people.
Partners Relief & Development (PRAD) is a registered charity in six countries. The work of Partners has provided emergency relief and sustainable development for tens of thousands of displaced people in Burma since 1994. PRAD seeks free, full lives for the children of Burma and reconciled communities living in peace.
For additional information or photographs, please contact: oddny@partnersworld.org
Please also read this update on Oddny's blog: When your only goal is to die.
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
New Year. No 3rd Rohingya Massacre. But...
Wednesday 17th April is the Burmese Buddhist New Year. Today is Tuesday 16th April, the last day of the Thingyan, the Water Festival, when evil is traditionally washed away. A third massacre of the Rohingya was predicted to take place even before or during the water festival.
So far this third massacre of the Rohingya has not happened. This is a huge success. It is not often when struggling for human rights we get the chance to celebrate our victories. But I feel if we can reach the Burmese New Year without a third massacre that is a moment worth celebrating.
Over the past few days during the water festival there were 3 homes reported as burnt in the township of Maungdaw. However the military quickly stepped up security and it does appear that this time they were following orders to protect, rather than stand by and let violence spread before their eyes as has taken place on previous occasions. No doubt these orders came as a result of increased international pressure, which has come about as a direct result of our online campaign. Thank you all, you are helping save lives, property, and unimaginable suffering!
In addition to 3 homes being burnt, for which a Rohingya lady was wrongly arrested (further details of one of the houses here), over the past few days of the Water Festival there have been reports of a father and son being hacked and denied medical treatment at the nearby hospital, 1 Rohingya man shot and killed and another 3 injured whilst collecting bamboo, 5 Rohingya arrested and tortured after they were caught scavenging for leaves to eat, 4 Rohingya never returning after fishing, a Rohingya man beaten by police and trishaw confiscated, a return of the census operation whereby Rohingya are forced to sign as illegal Bengali immigrants, a report of further extortion by police, the mother of two Rohingya children that died in a tent fire accident due to cooking was arrested, the closing down of an abattoir in the name of animal rights but actually known to be further cutting off all Rohingya supplies of food, and an attempt to stone a mosque. All these events are common types of occurrence and these types of incidents have been reported on a weekly and sometimes daily basis since the first attack last June.
Of urgent concern now is the imminent risk of flooding. In approximately 6 weeks time the rains will arrive in Burma. At least 20,000 Rohingya are known to be currently camped out in paddy fields which will be flooded in the monsoon. The Burmese government have stated that there are no plans to move the Rohingya. It is understood that some shelters are now being built on the site of flood plains, without drainage. Urgent international intervention is now needed to prevent further human tragedy and massive loss of life.
So far this third massacre of the Rohingya has not happened. This is a huge success. It is not often when struggling for human rights we get the chance to celebrate our victories. But I feel if we can reach the Burmese New Year without a third massacre that is a moment worth celebrating.
Over the past few days during the water festival there were 3 homes reported as burnt in the township of Maungdaw. However the military quickly stepped up security and it does appear that this time they were following orders to protect, rather than stand by and let violence spread before their eyes as has taken place on previous occasions. No doubt these orders came as a result of increased international pressure, which has come about as a direct result of our online campaign. Thank you all, you are helping save lives, property, and unimaginable suffering!
In addition to 3 homes being burnt, for which a Rohingya lady was wrongly arrested (further details of one of the houses here), over the past few days of the Water Festival there have been reports of a father and son being hacked and denied medical treatment at the nearby hospital, 1 Rohingya man shot and killed and another 3 injured whilst collecting bamboo, 5 Rohingya arrested and tortured after they were caught scavenging for leaves to eat, 4 Rohingya never returning after fishing, a Rohingya man beaten by police and trishaw confiscated, a return of the census operation whereby Rohingya are forced to sign as illegal Bengali immigrants, a report of further extortion by police, the mother of two Rohingya children that died in a tent fire accident due to cooking was arrested, the closing down of an abattoir in the name of animal rights but actually known to be further cutting off all Rohingya supplies of food, and an attempt to stone a mosque. All these events are common types of occurrence and these types of incidents have been reported on a weekly and sometimes daily basis since the first attack last June.
Of urgent concern now is the imminent risk of flooding. In approximately 6 weeks time the rains will arrive in Burma. At least 20,000 Rohingya are known to be currently camped out in paddy fields which will be flooded in the monsoon. The Burmese government have stated that there are no plans to move the Rohingya. It is understood that some shelters are now being built on the site of flood plains, without drainage. Urgent international intervention is now needed to prevent further human tragedy and massive loss of life.
1 Rohingya shot dead and 3 injured whilst collecting bamboo
The following report I received today from a trusted Rohingya contact, regarding 1 Rohingya man shot dead and 3 others injured whilst collecting bamboo wood:
"I got this report on phone from the very village of the incident in Kyawk Taw.
Place: Tung Tung Hayar village Kyawktaw TownshipDate: 14.4.2013Time: 2:00pmLocation of incident: a mountain two miles from above villageDescription:About 50 people went to the mountain to get bamboos.They went in a group for security reasons.
Some person from far away shot at the bamboo cutters.There one was killed, another three were injuried.The culprits are assumed to be Rakhine extremisst or ALP members, only those have fire guns in hand. Formerly the government seized nearly one thousand fire guns from local Rakhine
Dead: Zafar Amad s/o Hussein 35 years
Injuries:
1) Omar Ali s/o Dilmohamad 45 years
2) Karlu s/o Sultan Ahmad 45 years
3) Mamaad Husein s/o Ahamad Sabi 20 years
The police and health department checked the death body and ordered for it to be buried."
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Aungmingalar At Risk
Below I have posted a Facebook chat with a Rohingya contact living in Aungmingalar in the Arakan (Rakhine) state of Burma. In it he expresses how the village is on high alert due to rumours of an imminent attack from the 969 Buddhist group, and women and children are now paying police to leave the compound to live in a refugee camp instead. He reports that they pay 130 thousand in Myanmar money for a car. They squeeze 20 people into a car, which is driven by a policeman. Over 12 cars, 300 people, have left in the past 3 days.
He tells me there are 10 thousand people living at Aungmingalar, which is under total blockade by the government. Residents have to purchase all food via the government officials, who inflate the price. There is not enough food. No one is allowed out to work or trade so they are surviving on donations from Muslims in Yangon. Health care is also denied.
RC = Rohinyga Contact
• Conversation
started today (2nd April 2013)
9:44am
RC
hi
hi
•
10:00am
Jamila Hanan
hi
•
10:00am
RC
how are you?
•
10:00am
Jamila Hanan
good thanks and you?
are you still in Burma?
•
10:01am
RC
me too also fine,thanks
i am in Burma
•
10:02am
Jamila Hanan
Rohingya?
•
10:03am
RC
did you heard about yangon condition
•
10:03am
Jamila Hanan
yes
we have 2 reporters who were on the scene after it happened
are you in yangon now?
•
10:05am
RC
no,i am now at Aungmingalar village in sittwe
•
10:05am
Jamila Hanan
oh right
what is the situation there now?
•
10:06am
RC
situation is not good bcoz buddies planning to destroy and
burn again Aungmingalar village,the group of 969
•
10:06am
Jamila Hanan
have you had any direct threats
?
•
10:07am
RC
no
but i heard
•
10:07am
Jamila Hanan
what did you hear? and from who?
•
10:08am
RC
since 3day they discuss with state government from here,to
do again
•
10:10am
Jamila Hanan
can you tell me who told you what, exactly?
i can help with public pressure but I need specific details
•
10:12am
RC
also the security police tell all about ,that we need to
take care bcoz the 969 group were came here to destroy again
•
10:13am
Jamila Hanan
the police told you that?
•
10:14am
RC
yes,
•
10:14am
Jamila Hanan
did you hear them say that yourself?
•
10:15am
RC
everyone know and here from our village
everyone know and hear from our village
that why our villager are afraid to stay here
•
10:17am
Jamila Hanan
but i need specific details you know - not just rumours, if
I am to be believed
•
10:17am
RC
and go to refuge camp
•
10:17am
Jamila Hanan
I need to know who said waht
who said what
when did they say it
how many have left for the refugee camp? and which camp did
they go to?
•
10:18am
RC
ok,i when i have full deatils ,i will countact
•
10:20am
Jamila Hanan
please try get me as much detail as possible
•
10:20am
RC
almost 3houndred of our villager go to the bohdubar refuge
camp,they all are women and child,
•
10:21am
Jamila Hanan
try to get specific information
•
10:21am
RC
in this 3 day
•
10:21am
Jamila Hanan
3 hundred have left for the refugee camps?
•
10:21am
RC
yes
•
10:21am
Jamila Hanan
over the past 3 days?
•
10:21am
RC
yes
•
10:21am
Jamila Hanan
to bohdubar refuge camp
•
10:22am
RC
yes
•
10:22am
Jamila Hanan
where is this camp?
is it near Aung Minglar?
•
10:23am
RC
no so far,town side ,also there are all muslim camp
•
10:24am
Jamila Hanan
how far from Aung Minglar is the camp?
•
10:25am
RC
8 to 10miles from aungmingalar
•
10:25am
Jamila Hanan
did they walk to the camp?
•
10:26am
RC
no,they rent security police and police car
•
10:26am
Jamila Hanan
the police are helping them leave?
•
10:28am
RC
they are not helping us ,they want that we all are go from
here,if one time we rent police ,we have to give them over 100 thousand money
•
10:29am
Jamila Hanan
so tell me exactly, how much does it cost to rent a police
car?
•
10:29am
RC
myanmar money 130 thousand
•
10:30am
Jamila Hanan
for one police car?
•
10:30am
RC
yes
•
10:30am
Jamila Hanan
how many people can you put in one car?
•
10:30am
RC
20 peoples
•
10:31am
Jamila Hanan
who drives the car?
•
10:31am
RC
police
•
10:31am
Jamila Hanan
who do you talk to if you want to book a car?
•
10:32am
RC
elder police
•
10:33am
Jamila Hanan
do you have any names? or the name of the police division?
•
10:35am
RC
i have before but now haven't bcoz the first was change ,
and another one is came
i will give you all name and all details
•
10:35am
Jamila Hanan
tell me names from before too
how many cars have been paid for so far?
my email is [email removed for security] you can also send
info here later
•
10:36am
RC
[email removed for security]
my mail
i will sent to you mail
•
10:37am
Jamila Hanan
tell me how many cars have left so far?
•
10:38am
RC
over 12 car
•
10:38am
Jamila Hanan
have you spoken to the women after they arrived at the camp?
did they arrive safely do you know?
•
10:39am
RC
yes
•
10:39am
Jamila Hanan
how many people are left now at Aung Minglar?
•
10:39am
RC
over300
•
10:40am
Jamila Hanan
and how many remain at Aung Minglar?
•
10:41am
RC
nearly 10 thousand
•
10:41am
Jamila Hanan
what are the conditions like at Aung Minglar?
Do you have enough food and water?
•
10:42am
RC
the conditions are till same before,as you know they need
food
•
10:44am
Jamila Hanan
how much food do they have?
where do you get your food from?
have there been any deaths due to malnutrition?
•
10:47am
RC
how much money we pay to buy the food from government,they
give that about
how much money we pay to buy the food to government,they
give that about
•
10:48am
Jamila Hanan
ok so you have to buy everything from the government yes?
•
10:49am
RC
yes, but we have to give extra money to them,to buy food
we have to give car rent and security rent
•
10:50am
Jamila Hanan
so everything you do and buy is controlled by the government?
•
10:50am
RC
yes
•
10:50am
Jamila Hanan
is it expensive to buy food from them?
•
10:51am
RC
bcoz we are block
•
10:51am
Jamila Hanan
more expensive then outside Aung Minglar?
•
10:52am
RC
very expensive to buy from them,out side aungmingalar is not
expensive
•
10:53am
Jamila Hanan
where do you get money from?
•
10:54am
RC
some of donned from muslim group of yangon
•
10:55am
Jamila Hanan
can people get into Aung Minglar if they travel from Yangon?
•
10:57am
RC
yes but if the traveler give money to state government,at
that time they enter
•
10:58am
Jamila Hanan
do you have access to healthcare?
•
10:58am
RC
is here no access healthcare and medicine
•
10:59am
Jamila Hanan
have people died from malnutrition and lack of healthcare?
•
11:02am
RC
yes,if someone who are not well,who have to go for the
medical treatment to refuge camp ,as you you who have to give money ,if who are
poor or wealth
yes,if someone who are not well,who have to go for the
medical treatment to refuge camp ,as you know who have to give money ,if who
are poor or wealth
i have to go pray now,
•
11:04am
Jamila Hanan
ok please send me more info after
numbers of deaths would help
•
11:05am
RC
at our aungmingalar village mosque
•
11:05am
Jamila Hanan
plus names of police involved with Rohingya transportation
to camps
and any specific details of threats
and when any attacks are expected to happen
plus if anyone can get me photos that would help too
•
11:05am
RC
i will give you all
•
11:05am
Jamila Hanan
and any contact telephone numbers
take care brother
•
11:06am
RC
thanks
•
11:06am
Jamila Hanan
i can help if you send me this information
•
11:06am
RC
ok,i hope
bye,see you
•
11:07am
Jamila Hanan
can i publish this discussion?
without your name or email?
or is that dangerous for you?
•
11:07am
RC
without my name
yes
i know
•
11:07am
Jamila Hanan
of course i would never put your name
•
11:08am
RC
thanks
•
11:08am
Jamila Hanan
your safety is my main concern
thankyou
•
11:08am
RC
bye
•
11:08am
Jamila Hanan
i shall publish this information today
•
11:08am
RC
thanks
•
11:08am
Jamila Hanan
www.savetherohingya.blogspot.com
i will pray for you
as well as act
•
11:09am
RC
god will bless you
•
11:09am
Jamila Hanan
stay strong
you are the blessed ones
your reward will be the greatest
•
11:09am
RC
you to sis
•
11:09am
Jamila Hanan
go pray
•
11:10am
RC
i must go to pray**********UPDATE**********
RC
update news of
Aungmingalar village.at 9:00 pm now,when buddies stremist enter with weapons at
that time police arrest 4 buddies stremist.
4:16pm
Jamila Hanan
4 buddhist
extremists have been arrested?
at Aungmingalar?
today at 9pm they
arrested them?
4:17pm
RC
yes they arrest
4:17pm
Jamila Hanan
did you see them?
4:21pm
RC
yes ,now they let
them go away.police didn't any action to that buddies stremist.
4:21pm
Jamila Hanan
there were four of
them?
what did they try
to do exactly?
and what weapons
were they carrying?
and did you see
this happen yourself?
4:30pm
RC
there were 20 to
30 buddies,but police caught 4 of them,they all are run away
4:37pm
RC
now police said
they had lost their way that why they came at aungmingalar village
now police let
them go free
4:45pm
Jamila Hanan
what weapons were
they carrying?
and who saw them?
4:46pm
RC
petrol bottles ,
swords and another their needed things during the period of electricity went
off for 15minutes in Aungmingalar village
4:47pm
Jamila Hanan
when you say
Buddhists, do you mean Rakhine?
4:48pm
RC
yes rakhine
4:48pm
Jamila Hanan
who saw them?
4:49pm
RC
villager saw them
4:49pm
Jamila Hanan
do you know the
villager?
4:49pm
RC
yes,they all are
our villager
4:50pm
Jamila Hanan
did one person see
this or more?
4:51pm
RC
a lot of peoples
who saw that they entering here
4:52pm
Jamila Hanan
ok
are there any
Rakhine trying to enter now?
4:54pm
RC
now situation is
under control but we don't know what will happen
here again
4:55pm
Jamila Hanan
ok thanks
keep me informed
i will get this
info out
and try push for
urgent protection there
is there anyone
that can do a telephone interview with one of my team, first thing in your
morning?
it would be a
recorded interview for us to publish online
4:56pm
RC
me too thanks
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
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