ADVOCATE THE CAUSES OF DISTRESS ROHINGYAS IN BANGLADESH

ADVOCATE THE CAUSES OF DISTRESS ROHINGYAS IN BANGLADESH

Press Release:
Date: 17th August, 2010

On behalf of the entire Rohingya community in Bangladesh, we undersigned Rohingya Youths from various countries are very much concerned and shocked by the recent inhuman treatment of Bangladeshi government and locals to toward innocent Rohingya refugees, who expect shelter of peace in Bangladesh escaping from the repression and silent genocide of Burmese military regime.

The international community is well aware of the oppressed Rohingya people of Arakan who are the worst victims of ethnic cleansing and they have long been subjected to genocide, persecution, suppression, forced labour, rape and extermination at the hands of the Burmese authorities and repressive functionalities under the false and fabricated allegation that Rohingyas are illegal immigrants. They have been deprived of their basic rights to Citizenship in a country where their ancestors lived for more than a millennium. Now, some hundreds of thousands of these defecto-stateless Rohingya people are languishing in dire condition in Bangladesh either legally as refugees or as illegal immigrants, afraid to return to their homeland.

Recently, we have come to realize that the authority of Bangladesh and neighboring locals are increasing pressure and inhuman torture over refugees by various means forming a so-called committee 'ROHINGYA RESISTENCE COMMITTEE” led by Mohammedul Hoque to drive away Rohingyas from Bangladesh. Some of the famous burglars namely Shona Mia, Shahab Uddin, Zafor Alam, Bosta Zafor, sayed Alam are guardsmen of Kutupalong Bazaar (Market), while they are encouraged by their miscreant god-fathers Mv Boktier Member (Botkar) and Mohamudul Hoque to harass and commit rapes to the refugees. If any incident is happened around Cox’s Bazaar District among locals, the Rohingyas are made victims of media which shows that Rohingays are worse-person ever even though recently UNHCR rewarded US$ 33 million for the Bangladeshi locals of nearby refugee camps.

Previously, on July 20 and 22, 1997, the Government of Bangladesh took such step toward Rohingya refugees in both official camps of Nayapara and Kutupalong, that estranged hundreds over refugee children from their parents, in succeeding forceful repatriation, while women were naked in open sky and raped in the lock up in front others. Men were beaten up, arrested after firing tear gas and sent them to the prison with false and fabricated criminal charges.

The step proved a way of criminalization to stop international support for the unfortunate Rohingya refugees; and the recent initiative also stepping to stop resettlement process of Rohingya refugees through the inefficient deal with Burmese military regime by forceful repatriation. That is why; it is violating both international human rights mechanism and Islamic obligation.

Besides, there are more than 300,000 (Three Hundred Thousands) unregistered Rohingya refugee languishing under open sky without official recognition. These people are forced to live in overcrowded squalor, unprotected and largely unassisted. Prevented from supporting themselves, they also do not qualify for the UNHCR-supported food relief. And sadly, the UNHCR, which is mandated to protect refugees worldwide, makes little or no visible protest at the injustice of this situation.



We therefore,
1. Appeal to the international community to intervene to the plights of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and to continue supports for the protection of Rohingya refugees in order to find permanent solution and to insure their human dignity.

2. We request to the government of United State, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and all others concerned quarters to send an investigation team to observe the situation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

3. We urge to UNHCR, IOM, and resettlement supporting organizations and resettling countries to continue their supports for the resettlement of Rohingya refugees, rather than forceful repatriation or dragging them back into danger.

4. We call upon the government of Bangladesh to recognize the unregistered Rohingya as refugees under UNHCR mandate and to extend all kinds of humanitarian supports.

Rohingya Youth Network (RYN)
Worldwide,