THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN THE USA ON THE ROHINGYAS OF BURMA (MYANMAR)
THE DECLARATION
FROM THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN THE USA ON THE ROHINGYAS OF BURMA
(MYANMAR)
The 1-day human rights
conference on the plight of the Rohingya people of Myanmar – “Stop Genocide
and Restore Rohingya’s Citizenship Rights in Myanmar”, held in the campus
of University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee on December 14, 2013 passed the following
resolutions:
1.
The Rohingya people, who mostly live in the western Rakhine state of Myanmar,
are the most persecuted people in our time.
2.
The tragic events unraveling since May 28, 2012 have made it obvious that the
Rohingya people are victims of eight stages of genocide – Classification,
Symbolization, Dehumanization, Organization, Polarization, Preparation,
Extermination and Denial, as clearly documented by Professor Gregory H.
Stanton, President of Genocide Watch.
a)
The level of anti-Muslim intolerance, hatred and
xenophobia had simply no parallel in our time! Extremists have denied the very
existence of the Rohingya people, in spite of the fact that the latter group
has comprised almost a third of the population of the Rakhine State.
b)
The genocidal campaigns against Muslims has resulted in
deaths of many and internal displacement of some quarter million Muslims inside
Myanmar.
c)
Since May 28, 2012, national government actions and
policies continue to be the main source of brutal persecution and human rights
abuses that in effect has led to the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya.
d)
Of particular concern is the unfettered role played by
Wirathu - the abbot of historically influential Mandalay Ma-soe-yein monastery
and his 969 Anti-Muslim movements, which sanctifies eliminitionist
policies against the Muslims. Despite Wirathu’s outspoken propagation of
violent aggression toward Muslims in Burma, government leaders have publicly
called him peaceful and good. Demanding the expulsion of all Muslims from
Burma, these monks urge the local population to sever all relations with not
only the Muslims, but also with what are described as their
“sympathizers”.Labeled as national traitors, those Buddhists who associate with
Muslims also face intimidation and violence. The hateful rhetoric of the
radical monks and the “969” campaign is ominously reminiscent of the hateful
propaganda directed at the Tutsi population and their sympathizers in the lead
up and during the Rwandan genocide, let alone the Nazi-led Holocaust more than
half a century earlier.
e)
National and local security forces have been allowed to
perpetuate severe human rights abuses and brutal persecution against Muslims
with impunity.
The conference participants hereby
call upon –
1.
The Government of Myanmar to restore full citizenship rights of all the
stateless Rohingya minorities living inside Burma and to all those who were
forced to seek a life of unwanted refugee outside as a result of
government-orchestrated violence against them.
2.
The Government of Myanmar to stop persecution, discrimination and dehumanizing
of Muslims, including repealing laws and policies that enact or contribute to
the persecution of Muslims and other targeted groups within Myanmar.
3.
The Government of Myanmar to crack down on anti-Muslim violence against
Rohingya and other Muslims.
a.
It must also allow an international independent investigation of the
anti-Muslim violence.
b.
It must stop the criminal activities of Buddhist monk Wirathu and his 969
movement, and punish them for causing suffering of the Muslim victims.
c.
It must guarantee safety and security of the Rohingya people and other minority
Muslims and Christians living inside Myanmar failing which it can be prosecuted
for orchestrating and/or encouraging crimes against humanity.
d.
It must compensate for the loss of lives and properties of all those affected
by the cleansing pogroms since May 28, 2012.
e.
It must allow for relocation of the victims to their original places.
f.
It must allow unfettered access of the international UN agencies,
non-government organizations, including the OIC, to closely monitor the
violence prone Rakhine state and allow them to aid the Muslim victims.
4.
The UN Security Council to authorize armed intervention in Myanmar by a UN
force under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter. The Mandate must include
protection of Rohingya civilians and humanitarian workers and a No Fly Zone
over the Rakhine state. The Rules of Engagement must be robust and include
aggressive prevention of killing.
5.
The International Criminal Court in the Hague should prosecute Wirathu and
other instigators of crimes against humanity. It should also look into
prosecuting the major political and military leaders in Myanmar that are
responsible for crimes against humanity.
6.
The major military powers (e.g., the USA, Russia and the UK) to provide
leadership, logistics, airlift, communications, and financing.
a.
If Myanmar will not permit entry, its UN membership should be suspended.
b.
The lack of progress in matters of human rights of the Rohingya and other
non-Buddhist minorities inside should automatically lead to enforcement of
harsh measures which include trial of Myanmar’s leaders in an international
criminal court for committing and aiding crimes against humanity.
For more information, please
contact the following:-
(1)
Shaukhat Kyaw Soe Aung (aka) MSK Jilani
BRAFA Chairman
& Chair of the Conference Organizing Committee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Tel: (414) 736
4273, E-mail: info.brafa@yahoo.com
(2)
Mohiuddin Yosuf (aka) Maung Sein
President of RCI
& Chief Coordinator of the Conference Organizing Committee
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