Chittagong, Bangladesh: Rohingya groups released statements against the State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC's statement on Rohingya as a non citizen of Burma which issued on January 30, in New Light of Myanmar.
"We strongly protest and condemn the SPDC for its lie in 'New Light of Myanmar' dated 30th January 2009 that "Rohinja is not included in over 100 national races of the Union of Myanmar". This is an evil design to deny us of our rights," Nurul Islam, ARNO President said.
It is a baseless remark against the Rohingya minority group "The Rohingya does not include in the list of 120 indigenous groups of Burma and that those boat-people who recently reached to the shore of Thailand are not from Burma" appeared in the military controlled Burmese newspaper dated 30/01/2009," U Hla Aung, President, National Democratic Party of Human Rights or, NDPHR in exile-Paris said.
"The Rohingya are a people characterized by objective criteria, such as historical continuity, and subjective factors including self-identification, which need to define an indigenous people. They are a people having supporting history, separate culture, civilization, language and literature, historically settled territory and reasonable size of population and area
in Arakan - they consider themselves distinct from other sector of the society," the ARNO statement stated.
The Rohingya have been participating in the National and local election and been elected as Members of Parliament since 1936 in the time of colonial rule up to that of 1990 election in the era of current military junta according to the facts and evidence. There was Rohingya Minister too in the Cabinet of U Nu, the first prime minister of Burma, according to the statement of NDPHR.
"Muslim Rohingyas have lived in Arakan for centuries; Muslim Rohingyas are Burmese citizens; Muslim Rohingyas have the same rights and privileges as other citizens of Burma regardless of their ethnic beliefs or ethnic background," according to the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or, NCGUB (exile government) submitted a "Position Paper on Persecution of Muslims in Arakan State" to the United Nations on September 24, 1992.
From 15th of May 1961 to October 30, 1965, a programme was broadcasted in the Rohingya language, twice a week from the Burmese Broadcasting Service (BBS) under the program of "Indigenous groups". (See: Page (71) "Voice of Myanmar in (30) Years" written by U Kyaw Nyein, director of Ministry of Information, Burma), but later stopped. The Rangoon University Rohingya Students Association was one of the ethnic student associations that functioned from 1959 to 1961 under the registration numbers 113/99 December 1959 and 7/60 September 1960 respectively, stated in both groups of statements.
The first President of Burma Sao Shwe Theik stated: "Muslims of Arakan certainly belong to one of the indigenous races of BurmaK.In fact, there is no pure indigenous race in Burma, if they do not belong to indigenous races of Burma, we also cannot be taken as indigenous races of Burma".
Under Article 3 of the Nu-Attlee Treaty of 17 October 1947, and under Section 11(i)(ii)(iii) the Constitution of the Union of Burma 1947,effected 4 January 1948, the Rohingyas are citizens of Burma.
Arakan was virtually ruled by Muslims from 1430 to 1531. The heyday of Arakan began with the influence and spread of Muslim civilization in Arakan. Coins and medallion were issued inscribing Kalema (the profession of faith in Islam) in Arabic script. Besides, practice of Muslim etiquettes and manners in the court of Arakan, the adoption of Muslim titles by the kings of Arakan and system of governance, the Muslim Quazi courts and literary activities, use of Bengali and Persian as court and official languages, etc. are the evidences of Muslim rule in Arakan, according to ARNO statement.
The military regime affirmed in its official book "Sasana Ronwa Htunzepho" published in 1997, "Islam spread and deeply rooted in Arakan since 8th century from where it further spread into interior Burma". "Myanmar Swezon Kyan" Vol.9, page 89/90 mention 75% of Mayu Frontier is Rohingya. Francis Buchaman stated that he met Rohingya in 1795 at Ava, ARNO statement also stated.
