Press Release

Date: January 4, 2010

Joint statement on 62^nd Anniversary of Burma ’s Independence

1. Today, January 4, 2010 is denoted as Burma’s 62^nd Independent Anniversary where almost entire Burmese people are being kept in to the pot of colonialism with extreme poverty, political instability and threats to lives of humanity, while they were never given chance to enjoy the spirits of independent and freedom since 1962 military coup;

1. It is well known to everyone that Burma gained independence from British colony in the year 1948 under the spirits of Penglong Agreement which is clearly directed to a federated state and thus given chance to everybody regardless of race, religion, color and etc to enjoy almost equal rights in every process;

1. Based on this, during the period of Parliamentary Democracy from between 1948 to 1962, the rights of ethnic Rohingya of Arakan State were respected as indigenous ethnic minority and allowed to serve Burma from various sectors including Health Minister Post, Parliamentary Secretaries, Members of Parliament, country’s Defense Forces, Special Branches and etc.

1. But, now, the ruling regime is restlessly engaging its forces for extreme impunity over minorities people with a view to dispersing national solidarity and peaceful atmosphere among the people of Burma and that bring opportunity for regime to be in controlling illegitimate power;

1. So far, we are dedicated to bring an end of military dictatorship in Burma, to have real changes to Genuine Federal Democratic Union and to fulfill the Burmese peoples’ democratic and human rights aspirations with inclusive national reconciliation, showing strong solidarity with all Burmese people regardless of race, religion, color, culture and etc; and in collaboration with democratic, human rights, peace and just movements of the world.

1. National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR), exile HQ , USA
2. Arakan Rohingya Organization- Japan (JARO)
3. Arakan Rohingya Refugee Committee (ARRC), Malaysia
4. Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF), Arakan-Burma
5. Arakan Rohingya Ulama Council (ARUC), Malaysia
6. Burmese Rohingya Association in UAE
7. Myanmar Muslim Council (MMC), KSA
8. World Rohingya Congress (WRC), USA
9. National Council for Rohingya (NCR), Malaysia
10. Canadian Burmese Rohingya Organization (CBRO), Canada

For further information, please contact:-

(1)   Aung Naing (Tel: + 60 163094599)

(2)   Kyaw Soe Aung (Tel: + 1-414-736 4273)