GRAPE VINE
Arakan Muslims' appeal
source : The Independent Bangladesh (Letter)
Sir, The Arakan Historical Society, Chittagong, Bangladesh (a government registered research and welfare society) expresses its grave concern over the recent intensified religious persecution against the Muslims in Myanmar as reported by The Independent on 23rd May, 2001 quoting AP news from Bangkok.
A total of 14 mosques and 140 Muslim houses have been reportedly destroyed by mobs led by monks in Taungoo township alone and there were reports of possible escalation of riots in Rangoon and in a number of towns. Curfew has been clamped on many towns of Myanmar as part of precautionary measures overtly taken by the regime.
Meanwhile, the ruling regime has recently ordered for demolition of Muslim religious centres in Maungdaw according to reports trickling in from the border area. Myanmar,says reports, has demolished 26 religious buildings including madarasas (religious schools) from May 14 and many religious leaders, who opposed such actions of the regime, went into hiding, while many have been detained.
It may also be mentioned that there was a communal riot in Akyab, the capital of Arakan on February 4, 2001 where large Muslim village-tracts were razed to the ground and hundreds of Muslims were killed and injured during the clash widely believed to have been masterminded by the junta.
The Arakan History Society would like to appeal the government and the people of Bangladesh to press the Myanmar military junta so that it would give full protection to the religious institutions and the Muslim ethnic minority, ensuring their security of life and property.
I would also like to appeal to the UN Secretary-General, particularly Ismail Razali, the UN Special Envoy to Myanmar, the UNHRC, Bangladesh human rights organisations, Islamic countries, OIC, ASEAN member countries and the peace-loving nations of the world to raise the issue at an appropriate forum so that the Myanmar Muslims, including the Rohingya Muslims would be spared from ethnic cleansing.
M. A. Kalam,
Arakan Historical Society,
Chittagong