Chittagong, Bangladesh: The members of Canadian Burmese Rohingya Organization (CBRO) had held a meeting with coordinators of Amnesty International, Canada regarding mistreatment and human rights violations on Rohingyas in Burma and in the refugee camps in their host countries on 25th, August, 2011 at 2:00 pm, according to Nur Hasim, Chairperson of CBRO.
“We had met Mr. Brian John, Coordinator for Burma Amnesty International, Canada and Mrs. Gloria Nafziger refugee coordinator of Amnesty International Canada.”
“We had submitted two petitions against human rights violation on Rohingyas in Burma, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia.”
We, CBRO are requesting to the Canadian government through Amnesty International Canada to increase Rohingya in Canada as humanitarian ground, according to CBRO’s petition which submitted to Amnesty International Canada.
“A total number of 926 refugees have been resettled in the period 2006-2010, most of them in Canada (309), Australia (242), UK (190), Ireland (82), New Zealand (56), USA (24), Sweden (19) and Norway (4).”
Canada is the first country that accept Rohingya refugee from Bangladesh with a large number; but, Bangladesh Government has temporarily cancelled the resettlement program.”
“We are requesting to Canadian government via Amnesty International Canada to work with Bangladeshi government on resettlement program that to be continued. Since 2006 only around 900 Rohingya had been resettled by UNHCR in third countries which seen a slow process.”
“In Bangladesh, 28,000 Rohingya refugees are living in two official camps, Teknaf Nayapara and Ukhia Khutupalong Cox’s Bazar while more than 40,000 thousands refugees have been living in miserable conditions without UN and Government support.”
“From 1991-1992 more than 250,000 Rohingya have fled to neighboring country Bangladesh as refugees fleeing persecution from the Myanmar government. Nearly 236,599 refugees have been repatriated against their will into the Arakan where they continue to face various persecutions in Myanmar. More than 400,000 Rohingya refugees have returned back to Bangladesh residing in the various villages under Chittagong area but their lives continue to be painfully difficult and a daily struggle. They are being steadily attacked, assaulted and beaten up by the local goons, who are being operated by the Rohingya Resistance Committee (RRC).”
We appeal to the Canadian government through Amnesty International Canada to put pressure on the Bangladesh Government to register new arrival refugees and on the Burmese government to end the discrimination, religious persecution and restriction of movement that Rohingya in Burma are facing today, according to CBRO’s petition.
The discussion meeting was held from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm in Amnesty International Canada office - 1992 Yonge Street, 3rd floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
