New Delhi – Burma's main opposition party the National League for Democracy on Tuesday urged the international community to provide humanitarian support and protection to Rohingya boatpeople, who are said to be stranded in India, Indonesia and Thailand.
Nyan Win NLD spokesman told Mizzima that the Rohingya must be treated as human beings and should be given protection.
"[Burma's military] Government is not accepting the Rohingya to be among those registered as national races in Burma but we should focus on human rights rather than differentiating on nationalities and races," said Nyan Win.
Whatever the case may be, Rohingya as human beings deserve to get humane treatment and regional countries "must stop pushing and deporting them," he added.
In the wake of batches of Rohingya boatpeople being rescued from the Andaman Sea by India, Indonesia and Thailand, Burma's military rulers announced that the Rohingya do not belong to Burma.
The Junta's official mouthpiece the New Light of Myanmar, on January 30 said, "The Rohinja [Rohingya] is not included in over 100 national races of the Union of Myanmar [Burma]."
However, Rohingya claim that they have been living in Northwestern Arakan state for several decades and that they belong to the land. But they admit that several thousands of them are forced to flee their homeland due to severe persecution including the denial of citizenship.
Since December last year, batches of Rohingya boatpeople were rescued from the Andaman Sea by Indian, Indonesian and Thailand coast guards.
Some of the survivors said, they boarded boats hoping to travel to Malaysia and Thailand in search of jobs and a better life. But they said they were intercepted by Thai authorities after crossing the Thai territorial waters and were detained. Later they were towed away in engine-less boats, an accusation Thailand has flatly denied.
Currently, India said it is planning to send back the over 400 Rohingya that it has rescued to Bangladesh, from where they originally boarded the boats. Indonesia, however, said it will allow the United Nations Refugee Agency to assess their situation and find out if they need international protection.
But Thailand has refused the possibility of opening a new refugee camp for the Rohingya but said it will take action against them as per the law of the land.
"I don't know the historical background of Rohingya but as far as what we have heard of their situation in the country, and the way they have been threatened by other countries, it should not be happening as they are human beings too," said Nyan Win.
