US CONGRESS CALLS ON BURMESE REGIME TO RECOGNISE ROHINGYAS AS “FULL AND EQUAL” CITIZENS OF BURMA
Oct 1st, 2010
Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK
For Immediate Release
30 September 2010
US CONGRESS CALLS ON BURMESE REGIME TO RECOGNISE ROHINGYAS AS “FULL AND EQUAL” CITIZENS OF BURMA
US Congressman Christopher Smith has today introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives calling on Burma’s military regime to immediately recognize the Rohingya people “as full and equal citizens of Burma”, and to lift all restrictions on movement, marriage and access to education. The resolution also calls for an end to the regime’s campaign of religious and ethnic persecution “amounting to crimes against humanity throughout Burma”.
Congressman Smith met Maung Tun Khin, President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), earlier this year, during a visit to Washington DC organized by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). Speaking about today’s resolution, Congressman Smith said, “This legislation underscores the plight and human rights abuses endured by the Rohingyas with the hope and expectation that the light of scrutiny will result in new actions by the many governments that can and should provide assistance and refuge to the Rohingyas. It is an international call to action to alleviate their suffering and persecution in every way that we can.”
In addition to highlighting the suffering of the Rohingyas in Burma, the resolution urges the government of Bangladesh to address “the dire humanitarian conditions and food insecurity in the makeshift camps” along its border with Burma, in co-operation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and to “desist from forcing unregistered Rohingya to return to Burma”. It also highlights the situation of Rohingyas in Saudi Arabia, and urges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to allow Rohingyas “access to education and livelihoods”.
Addressing Burma’s crimes against humanity, the resolution urges the United States Government to “proactively support” the recommendation by the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma for the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry.
Maung Tun Khin, President of BROUK, said, “This is an extremely important resolution, not only for the Rohingya people but for all the people of Burma. We are in full support of the call for a UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity committed by the regime against its people, and we are grateful to Congressman Smith for his support.”
CSW’s East Asia Team Leader Benedict Rogers said, “We are delighted that Congressman Smith has introduced this very important resolution, which is the first time the plight of the Rohingyas has been given such attention. We hope that the regime in Burma will sit up, listen, end the cruel and dehumanizing treatment of the Rohingya people and restore their citizenship. We hope the Bangladeshi government will take action to improve the plight of Rohingya refugees, and that the United States will make the Rohingyas’ situation a priority.”
For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email kiri@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk. To interview BROUK please contact Maung Tun Khin on +44-7888-714866
CSW is a human rights organisation which specialises in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Khaing Marm Khaing
Illinois, U.S.A
Phone: 1-617-435-4153
Email: mediawatchdogburma@gmail.com
To:
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
Attn: Benedict Rogers
PO Box 99
New Malden
Surrey
KT3 3YF
Maung Tun Khin
Burmese Rohingya Organization (UK)
& Rohingya Media
Did ‘US Congress’ Really Calls on Burmese Regime Regarding Rohingya?
On September 30, 2010, a press release regarding so called Rohingya from Burma was sent out by Benedict Rogers. The title goes „US Congress Calls on Burmese Regime to Recognize Rohingyas as Full and Equal Citizens of Burma?. It was a joint release of Mr. Rogers? Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK). I must say I was delighted to hear the news. These poor people along with other Burmese have been suffering under the brutal regime for years. Though they migrated from Bangladesh during the British colonial rule, most of them have lived in Burma for decades and they deserve to be treated as “Full and Equal” Citizens of Burma.
So I was interested enough to continue reading through the press release and found out that the resolution was merely introduced by US Congressman Christopher Smith with his two co-sponsors. In other words, the bill was simply placed in the “hopper?, a wooden box provided for that purpose located on the side of the rostrum in the House Chamber. A whole lot of procedures still need to follow in order to represent the US Congress. The proposed resolution of one congressman does not represent the US Congress. Therefore, the context of the press release does not match the title at all. So why? Why would Christian Solidarity Worldwide?s Ben Rogers and Burmese Rohingya Organization, UK (BROUK) stated „US Congress? in their press release instead of „One US Congressman? or „Three US Congressmen?? Why would Rohingya media pick it up and irresponsibly repeat that false title to their readers?
According to Library of Congress that tracks all the legislative bills, Rep. Christopher Smith?s bill was introduced on September 29, 2010 and its latest status is “Referred to the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs”. According to the congressional proceedings, after the bill is introduced, it is sent to the Government Printing Office to print and copies are sent to the office of the chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee. Then, the clerk of the committee enters it on the committee?s Legislative Calendar and so on. (For more information on how a bill becomes a law in the United States, click http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html.)
Rightly, Voice of America News pointed out that “Even if the bill comes to a vote and is passed in the House of Representatives, it would not become law unless it also is approved by the Senate and signed by President Barack Obama.” Between introducing a bill and signing by the President of the United States, there are a host of congressional proceedings such as debate, amendments and vote to go through. The proposed resolution represents neither US Congress, as CSW and BROUK suggest, nor the current US Administration. It is ethically and morally wrong for CSW and BROUK to use the term „US Congress Calls? and you both should be ashamed of your deceitful act.
We have known Ben Rogers for years and he even tried to unmask one of the most secretive dictators of the world, Than Shwe, in his recent book. So I am sure Mr. Rogers knows that US Congress is bicameral consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. I am sure he knows one congressman?s resolution is not equal to 541 elected officials of the US Congress. Then, did he knowingly try to mislead the readers and create a media fuss? Only Mr. Rogers will know how to answer that question.
One thing for sure is his and Maung Tun Khin?s comments are on the press release. They generated media show-off giving interviews to several news agencies and making the fool out of everyone. Both CSW and BROUK letterheads are at the press release?s heading. Therefore, Mr. Rogers and Christian Solidarity Worldwide are responsible for its content and owe an explanation to the public on this matter and so is BROUK. Especially for a young organization like BROUK that has been suspected of sending violent threats to Ambassador Bloomsbury Hotel in London on August 9, 2009, I strongly urge you to refrain from any involvement in insincere and illegal act in the future.
May peace be with you!
Sincerely,
Khaing Marm Khaing