March 13-17, 2015

Weekly Media Monitoring report for Burma

Posted on March 17, 2014

Compiled by Madea Bouzelinos, Media Monitoring Reporter

Burma News International – “Arakan bans unregistered NGOs” March 15, 2014

The lawmaking body of the Arakan region passed a bill on Tuesday to ban the activities of all unregistered NGOs in the region. The ban was passed unanimously in the State Parliament. The draft insisted on banning both national and international unregistered NGOs in Arakan.
The local government already announced that they would take actions against unregistered NGOs with the support of the Burma Union government.
This bill comes as a result of the alleged Arakanese community being opposed to many NGOs in the region and accusing them privileging the Rohingya.
The Arakan region has been undergoing many changes with regard to NGOs operating in the region. Aid organizations operating in the region fear that the closing of clinics and other services will significantly diminish access to health care.

Myanmar Times National News – “Rakhine violence may be crimes against humanity: Quintana” March 17, 2014

Tomas Quintana, UN special rapporteur, has warned in his final report on the situation of human rights in Myanmar that violence in the Rakhine state may constitute crimes against humanity. Based on information and allegations that Quintana has received, “the pattern of widespread and systematic human rights violations in Rakhine state my constitute crimes against humanity as defined under the Rome Statute of the International Court.”
- This is in reference to widespread allegations of extrajudicial killing, rape and other forms of sexual violence, arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment in detention, and denial of due process and fair trail rights in the Rakhine state.
Quintana that human rights violation will worsen if they remain unaddressed
The report also states that there are concerns regarding political and religious groups promoting hate against the estimated 1 million Rohingyas living in the Rakhine state, which the government recognizes only as “Bengali refugees.”
- In response to the allegations, the Myanmar government stated that the report contains wrongful conclusions regarding the systematic human rights violations in Rakhine State. The government states that the observations made by the special rapporteur Quintana are biased.

The Irrawaddy – “Burma Needs Policy for Squatters: Ye Htut” March 15, 2014

Following the on-going mass evictions in Rangoon and the surrounding areas, government spokesperson Ye Htut called for a land policy to handle the issue of squatters.
According to the divisional government, about 10 percent of Rangoon’s population are illegal tenants. According to Rangoon divisional legislature, about one-fifth of all homes in the 44 of 45 townships were inhabited by illegal tenants in 2013.
Under President Thein Sein’s administration, the state and divisional officials have the authority to handle land disputes. The government must begin to consider how to enact a clear land policy, as well as create job opportunities for migrant workers.

Radio Free Asia – “Myanmar Will Not Recognize Rohingyas on Upcoming Census” March, 13, 2014

Because the government does not recognize the Rohingya Muslim population as citizens, they will not be included in the upcoming census, government officials said last week. The census will be running jointly by the Myanmar government and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
They will be given the opportunity to identify themselves as “other.”
Despite the efforts of many international organizations and NGOs working, the government continues to consider the Rohingyas as illegal immigrant. The United Nations says that the Rohingyas are among the world’s most persecuted minorities.
There are over 800,000 Rohingyas living in Myanmar. They argue that they should be eligible for citizenship.

Eleven – “Government-sponsored MPC is not trustworthy, say ethnic federations” March 16, 2014

The Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCC) and Nationalities Brotherhood Federation (NBF) declared they do not believe in Myanmar’s Peace Center (MPC), which serves as the government’s peace negotiator with ethnic and armed groups.
NBF spokesperson Zo Zan said that he went to the MPC to open dialog, not to be brainwashed. He does not trust the MPC as an organization able to facilitate the emergence of an ethnic peace center.
Colonel Khun Okka, a member of the Nationwide Ceasefire should not be trusted. The NCCT has visited the MPC several times and is not satisfied with their meetings and efforts.

Myanmar News.net – “Burma Constructs New Border Checkpoints With Bangladesh” March, 20, 2014

Burma says it is building new checkpoints along its border with Bangladesh in the Rakhine state.
MPs from the Rakhine state such as Khin Saw Wai, say that there is not enough security along the border and that people from Bangladesh are crossing into Burma as a result to the low border patrol.
The government spokesperson confirmed that new security measures are being planned.
Burmese President Thein Sein met with Bangladesh’s prime minister, Sheikh Hasin during a regional meeting last month but no tangible agreement on the Rohingya issue was made. Rohingyas in Rakhine state affirm that their ancestors have lived in Burma for generations and feel that they should be recognized as an official ethnic minority.