A Joint Statement by 12 Arakanese Organizations Call for

A Joint Statement by 12 Arakanese Organizations Call for

Immediate Halt of Violence in the Arakan State of Burma

 

October 25, 2012

 

Since October 21^st, sectary violence between the Arakanese community and Bengali Muslim community in Minpya, Mrapon, Mark Oo, Kyautphu, and other townships are taken places. Bothe sides burned houses and attacked each other by knives and sticks, resulting over 1600 houses burn-down, killed several, and injured many. Some Arakanese were arrested by security force. We urge the Arakanese and Bengali Muslim an immediate halt of the violent attacks and restrain further escalation.  

 

We call for the government and its responsible authorities to exercise its legitimate coercive judicial powers to impose rule of the laws, stability and security of lives and properties of the people in the Arakan State.

 

At these critical moments, all must be cold headed and foreseen the trap and the instigation that lead to the deathly violence and turn the faults onto our shoulders if we can’t  control it, especially the Arakanese may be put  to lost-face in the world.    

 

We urge Bengali community not to continue to attack the Arakanese such kinds of burning the house looting properties, murder and poisoning the all kinds of drinking water source. The Arakanese also should not act emotionally and hatefully for those who hate and use the violence but united and be self-defensive position.  We have seen the unnecessary deaths, injured, and imposing curfew laws in Myinpya and Mrak Oo townships that make us deeply concern and worrisome. 

 

We believe that only peaceful solutions with justly responding the sectary violence between the both communities are the best way. To do it rightfully, the Union government, the state government, the Arakanese political parties, and the people should jointly implement step by step the rule of laws, open education and economic opportunities for the long term; give citizenships for those who are eligible for the citizenship right, accordance with the immigration laws; try and deport those who are illegal immigrants to their mother countries.

 

To properly solve it, all sides firstly stop the violence. For long term solution, we recommend the Arakanese leaders from the political parties and organizations should meet and make viable policies and practical strategies whereas common wills and common platform can be made for stability, peace, and security of all walks of  life.    

 

We assume that if the violence continues, return the hate by the hated, and respond the irrational act of emotion by revenge, endless circle go on, and it will finally hinder the momentum of the reform process in Myanmar.

 

We evaluate that if the government does not take drastic measurement of rule of the laws but keep giving lip-services as usual, and if both sides keep attacking each other, it can expend instability beyond the Myanmar boundary, ways of regional and of international concern. If such interfere happens, more confusions will be unavoidably imposed.   

In short, we humbly appeal our respectful Buddhist monk-leaders to teach the way of matta, ultimate kindness, to the devoted Buddhist Arakanese to restrain the violence. We also urge the Muslim religion leaders do the same to immediately stop the violent attacks over the Arakanese.

 

 

 

 

 

Under Sign Organizations:

 

(01)            Arakan National Council (India)

(02)            Arakanese Community (Europe) 

(03)            Association of Arakan National Council Supporting (Malaysia)

(04)            Association of Arakan National Council Supporting (The United States of America)

(05)            Arakanese Worker Union (Thailand)

(06)            Arakan Trade Union (India)

(07)            Arakan Independent Force (Bangladesh)

(08)            Khamin Ethnic Development Party (Bangladesh)

(09)            Organization of Arakan Development (Bangladesh)

(10)          Tripura Arakanese Education and Culture Development Organization  (India)

(11)           National United Party of Arakan (Bangladesh)

(12)          Democratic Party of Arakan (India-Burma Borders)

 

Please feel free contact with us if you need more information about violence between the Arakanese community and Bengali Muslim community in Arakan State western part of Myanmar(Burma).