malayloveislam
IB Veteran
- Messages
- 700
- Reaction score
- 57
- Religion
- Islam
NEVER ENDING SUFFERINGS OF RAUHINGYAS
http://islamhadhari.net/
By Editor • April 13, 2009
Rauhingyas now are in desperate state. They are labeled as foreigners and unwanted in their own country or land which is in Arakan, Myanmar. Everyday, they are oppressed and their rights are denied by the Junta of Myanmar. Many of them are forced to leave their lands in Arakan in order to protect themselves from being killed and to save their faith.
Some of them are stranded in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and Malaysia. Let us hear the news about their fate. Zain Abdul Ghani interviewing brother Abdul Ghani Abdul Rahman, the vice president of Rauhingya Information Center (PPR) in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia on 27th March 2009.
What is your role in PPR in Kuala Lumpur? Who is actually the leader?
I am trusted as the vice president while the president is Haji Mubarak Abu Bashar.
What is the name of the place where you were originated in Arakan before it is absorbed into Myanmar?
I was born in Mrauk-U, in the district of Montagung in Arakan. It is now in Myanmar.
Can you tell us what is the historical background of Myanmar?
Burma (Myanmar) gained Independence from British in January 4th 1948. Before colonized by British, my homeland, which is Arakan is a kingdom with Muslim kings such as Sulaiman Shah (Narameklah), Zafar Shah, and Hussein Shah. They are among those who ruled before British came in 1824. When British came, our kingdom which is Arakan was included into Burma and remains so till today. Before that, we in Arakan lived peacefully with Buddhists known as Rakhaine. The sufferings of Rauhingya began since 1978 due to the brutality of Burmese Junta. As the implication, few hundred thousands of us have to seek refuge in neighboring countries and most of us living in poor conditions. Among the refugees too, some had seek refuge in Bangladesh near the border of Burma while half others crossing the border of Burma to India. Rauhingyas facing famine, and diseases in refugee camps. In the border of China-Burma, Rauhingya women were selled as hookers.
What can you bring to us as a prove on the existance of Rauhingya in Myanmar? For example artifacts or masjids?
We are the Muslim community who had lived in Western Myanmar fow hundred years. History proved our existance. We also have a kingdom with kings, also we have our own currency and our own national flag. Other proves such as mosques in Arakan. They are not functioning anymore and many of them had been destructed. In my village, Mrauk-U, there are two Jami mosques and they are quite famous. They are Masjid Sandhi Khan and Masjid Musa and they were destructed when all of the Muslims were transfered to other area.
How many Rauhingyas still living in Arakan today?
It is about 1.5 million. Those who seek refuge in Malaysia mostly live in Klang Valley and few other states.
Why the Junta do not like Rauhingyas?
A matter that they hate the most about us is that we are Rauhingyas and Muslims. They are trying to gradually exterminate us. Since 1990's the regime of Myanmar leaded by General Than Shwe had took off the citizenship of Rauhingyas who live in Arakan. We are syatematically being denied as rightfully citizens of Myanmar. In the same time, there many evil acts and inhuman acts executed on Rauhingyas.
As what had happened in Bosnia in 1993?
Yes, we were denied the right to visit our relatives dwelling in other villages, our mosques were destructed, our children were denied from entering educational institution and many other non-sensical rules imposed on us. We are pre-conditioned to get permission before marrying, and the permission only validated after few years. Our movement is limited. We need permission to stop by at other villages, and our rights for facilities of education and medical treatment too are denied. As "foreigners," we aren't allowed to work as teachers, doctors, and giving our service to community. In Rauhingya Provinces, the teachers are the Rakhine Buddhists. Myanmar Junta had prevented us from receiving education that should been received by every citizens. Raping and force works happens in Arakan and they also threatened us. The army asking money from us and if we refuse to pay, we will be seized and tormented. Rauhingyas too received oppression in practising their religion. It is impossible for them to get any permission to repair or even to build mosque in their region. For the past three years, 12 mosques in Northern Arakan were destructed and the biggest destruction happened in 2006. Since 1962, there is no new mosque build and religious preachers were imprisoned for the guilty of repairing their mosque.
Can you tell us more about Rauhingya ethnic?
We live in Arakan since before British colonized Burma in 1824. We have our own kings or sultans and for your information, I'm a descendent of Parin dynasty of Arakan. As what had been mentioned earlier, Arakan is actually an independent kingdom and a country on its own. After we gain the independence, many things changed. Once upon a time, we have Rauhingya figures in Central stage, such as Bo Maung (a Muslim). He is a Rauhingya and at that time he was appointed the representative of Rauhingyas by the king of Burma.
What is your hope as a representative of Rauhingya Information Center on Malaysian government?
We hope that Malaysian government continue supporting us and supporting the UN (UNHCR) to immediatelt processing 3000 more applications for refugee pass in Malaysia. We, the Rauhingyas in Malaysia hope that the ASEAN summit conference in Bali, Indonesia on 14-15 April will bring a positive decision. I believe that the foreign minister of Myanmar (a general) will be present and they will certainly accuse the representatives who symphatized the Rauhingyas. As a representative of Muslim Rauhingyas, I had met the PM of Malaysia and also hope that the new leaders will continue supporting us. We had circulated the pamphlet about our history to the government of Indonesia and informing the Indonesian leaders about our status back in Myanmar. We also have the proves that we were once recognized in Myanmar and being parliamentary members of Myanmar around 1962. Four of our parliamentary members are Sultan Mahmud, Abdul Ghafar, Abul Bashar, Muhammad Sultan, and Shamsul Anwarul Haq. Sadly, Shamsul Anwarul Haq now is imprisoned and he is punished with imprisonment for 45 years. He is found guilty because Muslim can't join any political chess in Myanmar.
How many houses of Rauhingyas being destructed?
What I know is that, the houses in five villages around Kawalon (Mondrapronge), Pungnamrong, Alizay, Aungdine, and Nyoungbongziy were all destructed. All of the villages inhabited by Rauhingyas were transferred and we are forced to live in Buddhist villages in Mrauk-U province. Our lands were looted and given to Burmese who are the Buddhists. Our mosques were destructed.
Is there any struggle with the regime?
Yes, there are struggles between us and the regime. Some of us who opposed them or objecting them were cut-off their tongue with scissors. We are prohibited from entering the mosque, we can't wear the attire that showing we are Muslims. They prohibited us from keeping the sunnah such as having beard or covering our heads with kufiah.
Back to Rauhingya refugees, there is a report that there are about 18, 000 of them here in this country...??
In Pulau Pinang, there are about 3000 of Rauhingya, in Perlis 2000, Johore 1, 600, Malacca 300, Negeri Sembilan 350, in Pahang 1, 100, and in Kelantan there are about 200 people. The rest living in Klang Valley.
What is the hope of Rauhingyas who remain in Arakan?
They have no hope, they just wait for the final day when G-d destroy the Universe for the dooms day. Even, we who are the refugees here too have nothing to be done. We hold the UNHCR card and nobody wants to accept us as employees. If there are those wo are working in your country, they still have to move elsewhere so it is not easy to consistently work. If we can get the job and systematically doing jobs, maybe we can send some money to our relatives in Arakan. However, I still find ourselves as lucky. We can easily move anywhere with UNHCR card. Say if I'm hungry, I still can move to the restaurant searching and buying for food in any grocery shop here. The Rauhingyas in Arakan are still restricted from moving. They still can't move out from their village to buy food even if they have the money in their hand, this matter saddened my heart. About the people from five villages in the province where I'm originated from, I'm not certain where they are now. I've only heard the news that many of them died in refugee camps near Bangladesh border. The camps there are in poor condition without clean water supply. They only get water source from sea, and it's not suitable for consumption. The facilities there in Bangladesh too are in poor condition. During night, they said that villains will attack them. Many of their daughters being raped and refugees are murdered by villains.
Recently I had heard that Rauhingya refugees were chased away to the sea by Thailand without any food supply. They were left in the middle of the sea by Thailand authority until being saved by Indonesian government in Acheh maritme area. Those are among the difficulties faced by Rauhingyas. In our own country, we aren't recognized as citizen, while abroad we aren't favored by certain countries. I would like to thank your country for accepting us.
Back to Malaysia, do you have any suggestion to develop Rauhingya community?
As for now, we had become the object of trading. For example, on what I regret the most, the schools for Rauhingya refugees (there are five of them) too received assiatance from Buddhist association. So I wonder that where is the assistance from Muslim associations that had come before? I'm so sad that the Buddhist association who provided helps had imposed few conditions such as: "we don't have any teachers to teach Arabic, we only can give assistance in teaching, Science, Maths, English, and Malay." While we are Muslims and Arabic is actually crucial and related to our religious studies. That's why that I wonder why isn't there any help from Muslim association or council. I also would like to express my dissatisfaction toward charity boards including non-Muslim charity board who took the opportunity using Rauhingya's name to get donation and organizing certain programs to gain benefit by using us.
What is your hope on our government for the benefit of Rauhingyas in Malaysia?
Rauhingyas are divided into 9 sub-ethnics. Any assistance should only coming through the legal councils for the sake of Muslim Rauhingya refugee community. I still remember that during our registration process around 2003-2005, I'm among the person appointed by the UN to execute the job. But after the process, the UN office is transferred to Gombak and many things happened. Many groups too aren't satisfied with the process.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the other hand, the UN wants Malaysia accepting all refugees from various countries, estimated around 28,000 people. Malaysia can't accept all of those refugees and it would be a burden toward her citizens. Rauhingyas are accepted because they are "stateless" and not recognized by their own country. They integrated well with native Muslims, easily learning Malay language due to Islamic background, and the most important thing is they have no criminal record.
http://islamhadhari.net/
By Editor • April 13, 2009
Rauhingyas now are in desperate state. They are labeled as foreigners and unwanted in their own country or land which is in Arakan, Myanmar. Everyday, they are oppressed and their rights are denied by the Junta of Myanmar. Many of them are forced to leave their lands in Arakan in order to protect themselves from being killed and to save their faith.
Some of them are stranded in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and Malaysia. Let us hear the news about their fate. Zain Abdul Ghani interviewing brother Abdul Ghani Abdul Rahman, the vice president of Rauhingya Information Center (PPR) in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia on 27th March 2009.
What is your role in PPR in Kuala Lumpur? Who is actually the leader?
I am trusted as the vice president while the president is Haji Mubarak Abu Bashar.
What is the name of the place where you were originated in Arakan before it is absorbed into Myanmar?
I was born in Mrauk-U, in the district of Montagung in Arakan. It is now in Myanmar.
Can you tell us what is the historical background of Myanmar?
Burma (Myanmar) gained Independence from British in January 4th 1948. Before colonized by British, my homeland, which is Arakan is a kingdom with Muslim kings such as Sulaiman Shah (Narameklah), Zafar Shah, and Hussein Shah. They are among those who ruled before British came in 1824. When British came, our kingdom which is Arakan was included into Burma and remains so till today. Before that, we in Arakan lived peacefully with Buddhists known as Rakhaine. The sufferings of Rauhingya began since 1978 due to the brutality of Burmese Junta. As the implication, few hundred thousands of us have to seek refuge in neighboring countries and most of us living in poor conditions. Among the refugees too, some had seek refuge in Bangladesh near the border of Burma while half others crossing the border of Burma to India. Rauhingyas facing famine, and diseases in refugee camps. In the border of China-Burma, Rauhingya women were selled as hookers.
What can you bring to us as a prove on the existance of Rauhingya in Myanmar? For example artifacts or masjids?
We are the Muslim community who had lived in Western Myanmar fow hundred years. History proved our existance. We also have a kingdom with kings, also we have our own currency and our own national flag. Other proves such as mosques in Arakan. They are not functioning anymore and many of them had been destructed. In my village, Mrauk-U, there are two Jami mosques and they are quite famous. They are Masjid Sandhi Khan and Masjid Musa and they were destructed when all of the Muslims were transfered to other area.
How many Rauhingyas still living in Arakan today?
It is about 1.5 million. Those who seek refuge in Malaysia mostly live in Klang Valley and few other states.
Why the Junta do not like Rauhingyas?
A matter that they hate the most about us is that we are Rauhingyas and Muslims. They are trying to gradually exterminate us. Since 1990's the regime of Myanmar leaded by General Than Shwe had took off the citizenship of Rauhingyas who live in Arakan. We are syatematically being denied as rightfully citizens of Myanmar. In the same time, there many evil acts and inhuman acts executed on Rauhingyas.
As what had happened in Bosnia in 1993?
Yes, we were denied the right to visit our relatives dwelling in other villages, our mosques were destructed, our children were denied from entering educational institution and many other non-sensical rules imposed on us. We are pre-conditioned to get permission before marrying, and the permission only validated after few years. Our movement is limited. We need permission to stop by at other villages, and our rights for facilities of education and medical treatment too are denied. As "foreigners," we aren't allowed to work as teachers, doctors, and giving our service to community. In Rauhingya Provinces, the teachers are the Rakhine Buddhists. Myanmar Junta had prevented us from receiving education that should been received by every citizens. Raping and force works happens in Arakan and they also threatened us. The army asking money from us and if we refuse to pay, we will be seized and tormented. Rauhingyas too received oppression in practising their religion. It is impossible for them to get any permission to repair or even to build mosque in their region. For the past three years, 12 mosques in Northern Arakan were destructed and the biggest destruction happened in 2006. Since 1962, there is no new mosque build and religious preachers were imprisoned for the guilty of repairing their mosque.
Can you tell us more about Rauhingya ethnic?
We live in Arakan since before British colonized Burma in 1824. We have our own kings or sultans and for your information, I'm a descendent of Parin dynasty of Arakan. As what had been mentioned earlier, Arakan is actually an independent kingdom and a country on its own. After we gain the independence, many things changed. Once upon a time, we have Rauhingya figures in Central stage, such as Bo Maung (a Muslim). He is a Rauhingya and at that time he was appointed the representative of Rauhingyas by the king of Burma.
What is your hope as a representative of Rauhingya Information Center on Malaysian government?
We hope that Malaysian government continue supporting us and supporting the UN (UNHCR) to immediatelt processing 3000 more applications for refugee pass in Malaysia. We, the Rauhingyas in Malaysia hope that the ASEAN summit conference in Bali, Indonesia on 14-15 April will bring a positive decision. I believe that the foreign minister of Myanmar (a general) will be present and they will certainly accuse the representatives who symphatized the Rauhingyas. As a representative of Muslim Rauhingyas, I had met the PM of Malaysia and also hope that the new leaders will continue supporting us. We had circulated the pamphlet about our history to the government of Indonesia and informing the Indonesian leaders about our status back in Myanmar. We also have the proves that we were once recognized in Myanmar and being parliamentary members of Myanmar around 1962. Four of our parliamentary members are Sultan Mahmud, Abdul Ghafar, Abul Bashar, Muhammad Sultan, and Shamsul Anwarul Haq. Sadly, Shamsul Anwarul Haq now is imprisoned and he is punished with imprisonment for 45 years. He is found guilty because Muslim can't join any political chess in Myanmar.
How many houses of Rauhingyas being destructed?
What I know is that, the houses in five villages around Kawalon (Mondrapronge), Pungnamrong, Alizay, Aungdine, and Nyoungbongziy were all destructed. All of the villages inhabited by Rauhingyas were transferred and we are forced to live in Buddhist villages in Mrauk-U province. Our lands were looted and given to Burmese who are the Buddhists. Our mosques were destructed.
Is there any struggle with the regime?
Yes, there are struggles between us and the regime. Some of us who opposed them or objecting them were cut-off their tongue with scissors. We are prohibited from entering the mosque, we can't wear the attire that showing we are Muslims. They prohibited us from keeping the sunnah such as having beard or covering our heads with kufiah.
Back to Rauhingya refugees, there is a report that there are about 18, 000 of them here in this country...??
In Pulau Pinang, there are about 3000 of Rauhingya, in Perlis 2000, Johore 1, 600, Malacca 300, Negeri Sembilan 350, in Pahang 1, 100, and in Kelantan there are about 200 people. The rest living in Klang Valley.
What is the hope of Rauhingyas who remain in Arakan?
They have no hope, they just wait for the final day when G-d destroy the Universe for the dooms day. Even, we who are the refugees here too have nothing to be done. We hold the UNHCR card and nobody wants to accept us as employees. If there are those wo are working in your country, they still have to move elsewhere so it is not easy to consistently work. If we can get the job and systematically doing jobs, maybe we can send some money to our relatives in Arakan. However, I still find ourselves as lucky. We can easily move anywhere with UNHCR card. Say if I'm hungry, I still can move to the restaurant searching and buying for food in any grocery shop here. The Rauhingyas in Arakan are still restricted from moving. They still can't move out from their village to buy food even if they have the money in their hand, this matter saddened my heart. About the people from five villages in the province where I'm originated from, I'm not certain where they are now. I've only heard the news that many of them died in refugee camps near Bangladesh border. The camps there are in poor condition without clean water supply. They only get water source from sea, and it's not suitable for consumption. The facilities there in Bangladesh too are in poor condition. During night, they said that villains will attack them. Many of their daughters being raped and refugees are murdered by villains.
Recently I had heard that Rauhingya refugees were chased away to the sea by Thailand without any food supply. They were left in the middle of the sea by Thailand authority until being saved by Indonesian government in Acheh maritme area. Those are among the difficulties faced by Rauhingyas. In our own country, we aren't recognized as citizen, while abroad we aren't favored by certain countries. I would like to thank your country for accepting us.
Back to Malaysia, do you have any suggestion to develop Rauhingya community?
As for now, we had become the object of trading. For example, on what I regret the most, the schools for Rauhingya refugees (there are five of them) too received assiatance from Buddhist association. So I wonder that where is the assistance from Muslim associations that had come before? I'm so sad that the Buddhist association who provided helps had imposed few conditions such as: "we don't have any teachers to teach Arabic, we only can give assistance in teaching, Science, Maths, English, and Malay." While we are Muslims and Arabic is actually crucial and related to our religious studies. That's why that I wonder why isn't there any help from Muslim association or council. I also would like to express my dissatisfaction toward charity boards including non-Muslim charity board who took the opportunity using Rauhingya's name to get donation and organizing certain programs to gain benefit by using us.
What is your hope on our government for the benefit of Rauhingyas in Malaysia?
Rauhingyas are divided into 9 sub-ethnics. Any assistance should only coming through the legal councils for the sake of Muslim Rauhingya refugee community. I still remember that during our registration process around 2003-2005, I'm among the person appointed by the UN to execute the job. But after the process, the UN office is transferred to Gombak and many things happened. Many groups too aren't satisfied with the process.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the other hand, the UN wants Malaysia accepting all refugees from various countries, estimated around 28,000 people. Malaysia can't accept all of those refugees and it would be a burden toward her citizens. Rauhingyas are accepted because they are "stateless" and not recognized by their own country. They integrated well with native Muslims, easily learning Malay language due to Islamic background, and the most important thing is they have no criminal record.
I had met few Muslim Malays who are not proud of their identity so I made decision to make my own researches by reading classical texts whether it is form Muslim source or non-Muslim source, learning Mon language and Sanskrit while also consulting scholars to ensure about our position in history. We need them to make sure that we don't receive the same fate like our Rauhingyas, Palestinians, Patanese, and other brothers or sisters.