The European Rohingya Council has observed with the utmost alarm the events of the past few days when hundreds of students and monks have been mobilized to undertake mass protests against voting rights accorded to the Rohingya Muslim community, in Myanmar.
After observing these mass demonstrations in Rangoon and Akyab, we have come to the inevitable conclusion that a recurrence of the dark days of 2012 that resulted in the rape and slaughter of numerous Muslim women and children is only a matter of time. The same mob, of students and monks patronized by the 969 and the Ma Ba Tha, backed by the invisible hands of the government will soon hurl themselves at the Muslim population at a convenient time.
The riots of 2012 and the mass protests that hit the streets in the past few days have been orchestrated by the same forces – – the military rulers of the country. At first glance it would seem that president Thein Sein had nothing to do with this nefarious master plan as quite conveniently he was the one who ‘arranged’ for the white card holders to vote in the upcoming referendum on constitutional change.
However, on the 11th of February the government declares the expiry of the white card in ‘response’ to mass protests, the behind the scenes game played by president Thein Sein and the military rulers of the country is becoming clearer. Judging by past experience, the president is extremely adept in such manipulation. Unfortunately there are many willing to accommodate the president’s cunning statesmanship.
We Rohingya Muslims gain little by being able to vote as long as the country does not recognize us as equal citizens. On the other hand, we stand to lose everything and everyone dear to us in face of the mass protests against the farcical voting rights that were accorded to us.
In light of the sinister strategy devised by the government that promises another ruthless ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Arakan and elsewhere, the European Rohingya Council (ERC) calls upon the United Nations, United States, European Union, OIC, ASEAN, NGOs and all peace loving countries and individuals to pressure the government of Thein Sein to stop total destruction of this minority as earliest as possible.
Sincerely,
Khairul Amin (Chairman)
