ROHINGYA: THE MOST PERSECUTED AND FORGOTTEN MUSLIM MINORITY

UNIW COUNCIL MEMBER MAKES OBSERVATORY VISIT TO MYANMAR

Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State, located in the west of Myanmar, are under oppression and are victims of recent atrocities since early June while the international community is oblivious of the real dimensions of the tyranny and unjust practices applied upon Rohingya people by the Buddhist Rakhines with the support of the police force in the country.

Mr. Ahmed Azam Abdul Rahman, UNIW Council Member for Malaysia & Chairman of Global Peace Mission, Malaysia (GPM), paid a visit to Myanmar between 11 and 13 July in order to make am observation on the situation of Muslim Rohingyas in Arakan. We share below the brief report prepared by the visiting delegation:-

ROHINGYA: THE MOST PERSECUTED AND FORGOTTEN MUSLIM MINORITY

1. A fact finding mission by Global Peace Mission, Malaysia (GPM) and Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM) was sent to Yangon, Myanmar from 11-13 July and  relevant Muslim organizations in Myanmar to seek ways and means to assist the Rohingya Muslims suffering continuous persecution from the majority Burmese Buddhists in Myanmar.

2. We met political party leaders and others representing the Rohingya, NGOs, journalists, businessmen, ulama and youth leaders.

3. We were informed that the General (Retired) Thein Sein's party, Union Socialist Development Party (USDP) which is the ruling party, is trying to mediate Myanmar's transition to democracy amidst a hardcore military junta that is against it. The competing forces between Thein Sein, Aung San Su Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the Military junta in the newly democratic space created under the pressure of the Western nations remain fluid with uncertainties.

4. However, ironically, on the issue of Rohingya, all of them seem to be with one voice i.e. Rohingyas are Bengalis migrating from Bangladesh and thus they are illegal immigrants and are regarded as non citizens. Even Aung San Suu Kyi, the icon of democracy and human rights of Myanmar gave a very lukewarm response on this issue. She said that the Rohingya issue has to be settled within the purview of the legal framework of Myanmar.

5. On the 13th of July, President Thein Sein made a very shocking and revealing statement to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The commissioner was on an official visit to Myanmar to mediate on the Rohingya issue. President Thein Sein told UNHCR that there are only two solutions for the Rohingya i.e. either sent them to the Refugee camps or sent them to a Third country. This uncompromising and arrogant stand coming from the President of Myanmar exposes the true face of the Myanmar government i.e. Islamophobic and Xenophobic. This statement has rendered the Rohingya as a permanently stateless community just because of race and religion.

 6. The United Nations, European Union, Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) have expressed grave concerns on the statement by the President of Myanmar, and a flurry of diplomatic engagements is reported being carried out to find solutions to the Rohingya issue.

REPRESSION, DISCRIMINATION, MASSACRE, FORCED DISPLACEMENT, ETHNIC CLEANSING

7. The Rohingya has suffered grave human rights violation perpetrated by successive Burmese regimes since Independence in 1947. Arbitrary killings, rape, torture, land confiscation, forced labour, forced relocation, theft, extortion and a pattern of discrimination perpetrated by Government authorities in cohort with the local Rakhine Buddhist happen continuously since then. In 1982, dictator General Ne Win enacted The New Citizenship Law which stripped the Rohingya as citizens of Burma (Myanmar – the new name of the state instituted by the Military Junta). Since then, the Rohingya were treated as illegal immigrants where fundamental human rights such as freedom of movement, right to education, right to employment and right to healthcare are being denied. The situation was so unbearable that it has forced 1.5 million out of 3 million Rohingya to migrate to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK and Europe. The ethnic cleansing policy has resulted in cutting the Rohingya population into half. The recent massacre started in June 3, 2012 is believed to be a deliberate and preplanned policy by the Myanmar government to complete the ethnic cleansing policy of the rest of the 1.5 million Rohingya to third countries.

8. After almost one month of the planned massacre, the National Democratic Party for Development (NDPD), a political party representing the Rohingya reported number of casualties resulted from the planned crisis as follows:

43 villages being attacked

5,915 houses burnt

555 being killed (number varies from 500 to 10,000) There is no way to verify these information due to strict government control on any news coming out of Arakan.

300 injured

34 mosques destroyed

4 universities destroyed

24 schools destroyed

300 arrested

35,400 become refugees. UNHCR put the figure as 90,000 refugees.

500,000 lost their source of income due to curfews. They could not work on their farms.

20,000 had to live by the river banks and jungles to escape persecution.

9. We expect more atrocities and casualties in the next few weeks especially after the statement by President Thein Sein, has encouraged and motivated the Rakhine Buddhist militia to complete the ethnic cleansing policy with extreme zealousness. We also expect hunger and starvation to be rampant and beyond control.

WHAT CAN BE DONE - MODUS OPERANDI

10. We have decided to launch the "IFTAR RAMADAN for ROHINGYA" campaign during this month of Ramadan as an emergency relief to ward off the eminent hunger and starvation calamity. We are working with the Chairman of All Myanmar Islamic Relief Organization, Mr. Abdul Hafiz @ Aung Naing to provide the 5 basic needs of the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) i.e. rice, flour, cooking oil, beans and milk for 15,000 families (1 family x 6 members) approximately 90,000 IDPs for one month at USD70 per family. We must raise at least USD1,050,000 during this Ramadan.

 11. All Myanmar Islamic Relief Organization (AMIRO) consist of 5 major Muslim organizations i.e. 1. Jamiyyatul Ulama of Myanmar 2. Islamic Religious Affair Council of Myanmar 3. All Myanmar Maulvi Organization 4. All Myanmar Youth Religious Organization 5. Myanmar Muslim National Affairs Organization. All these bodies are given Consultative status with the Religious authorities of the Government. They are recognised and authorised by the Myanmar government to deliver humanitarian aid to the Rohingya IDPs in Arakan. In fact they were flown to Arakan by the government to witness the intensity of the crisis. Immediately after the visit, AMIRO organised a relief campaign amongst Muslim communities in Yangon and managed to deliver food packages worth USD200,000 and another USD600,000 by vessels to Arakan for distribution.

12. AMIRO is willing to assist UNIW through Global Peace Mission to distribute any humanitarian aid into Arakan.

13. Global Peace Mission(GPM) and the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia has already launched 'IFTAR RAMADAN FOR ROHINGYA' with the support of UNIW to raise at least USD 1,050,000 for food assistance by the end of Ramadan to enable the IDPs to celebrate Eidul Fitr as well.

 14. All donations can be channeled through GPM accounts, and then it will be directed to AMIRO for them to organise the distribution. There are requests by donor organizations to visit Arakan during the distribution process. Please bear in mind that Arakan is still under curfew, and only a limited number of United Nation agencies are being allowed access to the conflict zone. AMIRO will seek advice from the Government on allowing foreign NGOs entering the conflict zone for purely delivering humanitarian assistance.

  

Ahmad Azam Abdul Rahman

UNIW Council Member

Chairman, Global Peace Mission, Malaysia.

(courtesy of  Union of NGOs of the Islamic World UNIW  http://www.theunity.org )
*edited for language

Tariq Ramadan: Islam, Democracy and Human Rights

Professor Tariq Ramadan, Penang in Asia Lecture III

 

The Arab Awakening and Democracy

Concerning the Arab Awakening, media is not shedding enough light. Media is supporting some uprisings but not in others. I am cautious about what is happening in the Arab Spring if we were to look at it only from the political side. The awakening is not only about political reasons but socio economic as well. It is not the right picture if only viewed from geo politics.

I am cautiously optimistic. With the energy of the grassroots people, the young, from over half a century of being impossible to happen, but something has changed in the minds, the mindsets. It is still too early to assess, so the caution.

Europe, the old continent celebrates the old democratic model which was historically much earlier than the USA. We should come with a deeper understanding of democracy, being very much aware that everywhere democracies are in deep crises. The people have seen economic institutions, multi national corporations (MNC’s) and technocrats taking over countries.  Celebrate democracy but do not be too naive.

We need not only celebrate its principles but look for a new model – where duties and rights of citizens matter, for economic and strategic reasons, models for societies in politics and in freedom. Without economic parameters, of stability and economic independence, there is no democracy. Without economic autonomy,  there is no freedom. It is democracy under control. 

This means there is no dignity in decision making and policies. It adds complexities to social justice. Without freedom of opportunity, there is no social justice. Social justice is an economic reality. We have democratic principles but are not consistent in the daily realities and experiences of the people.

Islam and Democracy

We have to admit that Islam is not well perceived. Muslims are on the defensive and a lot of time is wasted on trying to portray its openness and suitability. How do we implement its principles when there are those who are playing and pushing the ground. Concerning the Western complex, we say we do not care but we care about what they think.

There is no democracy without cultural independence. We know that world culture is Western culture. To have intellectual independence is to resist such global culture. Having a defensive culture is opposite to that of having a free mind.

Even some leading Muslims are populists. If you lose your principles, you become populist. For instance, be ready look at immigration, identify the problems, deal with it beyond being emotional but based on just democratic principles.

As Muslims, we do not have a problem with democracy but democracy has problems.

Before the 80’s, many Islamists insist that we already have the syura system for consultative process. In the heat of the polemics concerning democracy, Mahmud Nahnah even invented another name “syuracracy” .

Terminology does matter, is important in a situation of power where the powerful determine its use. In some instance the term “resistance” is used but when its suits them, resistance becomes “terrorists”.

Qaradawi and Ghanoushi have said that they have no problem with democracy. But actually much earlier, Muhammad Abduh had said that we have no problem with the British Westminster system. Hasan al Banna in the 40’s said that we can use the British parliamentary system.

So, principles are Islamic but models and systems are historical, are open. The idea of parliament is not from a Muslim mind but it is not against it. We uphold and establish principles, then lay the models. Literalists would want the 7^th century models but if we were to follow the footsteps of the Prophet s.a.w. , we stick to Islamic principles and find the  models.

Concerning the opinions of Maududi and Qutb, they were in the position of a minority facing a majority. They were rejecting the terminology of the majority. It was termed then as jahiliyyah vs. Islam – ignorance vs. Islam. It was the psychology of their position at that time. They were facing persecution, severe repression by the regime, by their own Muslim leaders.

But things have changed with history. As in Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt, we do not have problems with democratic principles but not all of the models offered.

What are the  main principles of governance of the democratic models? Ethics should be governing the models as enjoined b y Islamic tradition. Muslims should respect the principles, layout the models which should fit the reality of their country, their narrative, their history, their culture, their citizens. Every country is different, has its own diversity, its own collective psychology.

Let us go beyond simplistic terminologies and principles, a liberating process from imposed terminology, looking at the substance of the word.

There are six critical principles of Islam in governance:-

1. Rule of Law

Whether in legal, fiqh, relationships are based on contracts, agreements and rules. As citizens we work within the system. Within the system, we may struggle for more justice, go for law reform, in order to improve the dignity of the country.

Philosophically, we need the presence of a counter power, for that is the way for principled human beings.

2. Equal Citizenship

Equality for every single citizen of whatever background. We are a pluralistic society, which we must be willing to accept and realise. A society with diverse cultural and religious background, politically as well. Every citizen of any origin should be equated by law.

Upon his arrival in Madinah, the Prophet s.a.w. addressed the Jews by saying, “You are part of us (our community – ummah), you have rights as we have”.

There should be no discrimination. We have to unify in a nation. Get a Malaysian narrative, a common history, everyone must be part of the narrative, everyone must be a citizen and be part of the nation. This binds us.

3. Universal Suffrage

The right to vote, the right to determine that the one who leads has the support of the majority.

4. Accountability

This is best shown by the example of the first caliph Abu Bakr who enjoined the people to follow him if he was right but to correct him if he was wrong.

It means that the mandate belongs to the people, the leader has to go back to the people. There cannot be just passive citizens waiting for leaders to die, only to have leadership inherited by their children in waiting, but by active citizens who make leaders  accountable.

5. Separation of Powers

This is well illustrated by the example of the fourth caliph Ali losing his case (property claim) in front of a truly independent judge.

6. Proper Structures of Authority within the State

Secularism was bad experience for colonised Muslim countries. Colonizers came to divide and rule. In the Arab states, secularism was used to control freedom and repress people. The state decides the religion and thus controls religion and suppresses religious resistance to colonisation and then onto the autocratic regimes that came later.

We have to differentiate the authority of the fundamental pillars, the qat’iy, aqidah, ibadah and the prohibitions which are not disputed and of authority on high. Then there are the masalih, which needs consensus, syura, which are the challenged and contemporary models in the public sphere.

Anything in the public sphere must be dealt with an ethical position. In secular models, there can be immorality in politics. We want ethics in politics, a moralising economy – we cannot accept Machiavellian models in politics. We have common and contemporary values – a common ground with everyone in ethics. These values can be shared with everyone. We need to reconcile ethics and democracies. Religious principles are connected but are not to be  confused.

We do not want to divorce state and ethics. We do not want religion  to be replaced by economic powers who then make decisions for the nation. We do not want lobbyists, MNC’s and those with money to determine the state.

Islam and Human Rights

In the beginning, Muslim countries and Islamist parties are dismissive of the discourse on human rights. But the principles of karamah insan is itself a declaration of human rights. Muslims are apprehensive of the intention of human rights declarations which infringe religion.  But we have to look at the substance.

Take the example of Gandhi, when he was asked to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he took some time to reply, and in replying said, “ my mother reminded me that for every right, there is a duty”.

We are the vicegerents on earth, we do not own it, we only are representatives. We have responsibilities and rights. We have commitments and obligations to society. We have to have dignity and respect for humankind. In upholding our rights, we should not impose and infringe upon others.

I tell you, you have to start with yourself and your duties. As an example. It is totally unacceptable to allow the detentions in Guantanamo to go on. And how come it is ok when Arabs are killed but not acceptable when it is an American. These are double standards. We must be serious with humanity. This is the problem of the human rights philosophy and we should not be apologetic about it.

Conclusion

We need to come with a vision for the future. It should not be a defensive discourse only in saying that we are OK with democracy and human rights. As one Turkish politician was once asked whether he was an Islamist, he cleverly replied that he was a Muslim democrat.

How do we truly implement critical democratic principles?

1. Education

Ignorance and illiteracy are not possible for a thriving democracy. We need to do much more in education, to generate dignified citizens and not only to produce efficient workers. There has to be know how and dignity.

2. Cultural Dimension

In terms of empowerment, for instance, women are not asked the dress they are wearing but the level of education they achieve.

3. Freedom of Speech and the Freedom of Expression

4. Changing the Economy

Changing the way we deal with the economy. We need to be aware of the changing shift of the economic gravity to the East. It is going to be a multipolar world economically.

(sketch notes by abuomar_asia@yahoo.com, Traders Hotel 17/7/2012)