1) 2) 3) 4)

5)

6)

7) 8) 9)

10)

11)

86 Bangladeshi Buddhists arrive in Maungdaw Wife of Arakanese singer stabbed to death in Sittwe Bangladesh pushes back 99 Burmese nationals Birth of Arakan National Party: RNDP and ALD emerge as a single entity Burma-Bangladesh FOC meeting concluded in Naypyidaw Unification agenda: RNDP and ALD delegates to meet in Yangon Two physicians appointed after a solo protest Night curfew extended in Arakan for two months Burmese Army planted landmines on border areas Solo programme demanding government doctor in rural hospital Kaladan Project must involve indigenous peoples, says report

12)

Six Arakanese face attacks in Kuala Lumpur ALP alleges insolence from Arakan government After-affect of sectarian violence: Schools remain closed in northern Arakan

13)

14)

15)

ALP urges for a stronger National Army for Arakanese

16) Thousands join rally supporting two-child policy for Muslims 17) Hearing of 10 villagers for anti-CNPC protest postpones 18) One lakh Kyat bribe sought for an agricultural loan 19) Arakan residents continue suffering from shortage of physicians 20) Lands confiscation still going on in Arakan 21) 33 temporary schools for Muslim displaced children in Arakan

1.86 Bangladeshi Buddhists arrive in Maungdaw

( Maungdaw, 18 June 2013): At least 86 Bangladeshi Buddhists, who entered Burma for safe shelters, have been moved to Maungdaw, a western border town of Burma on Saturday, said officials and witnesses.

A group of Bangladeshi Buddhist stay in a school in Maungdaw. They were brought to Maungdaw from Paletwa, a border town with India, by two machine boats. The Bangladeshi Buddhists had arrived in our Buthidaung jetty at around 8 pm and stayed the night in Aye Zayi monastery. Next morning, they were shifted to Maungdaw, said Ko Zaw Lun, who received the team in Buthidaung. The Bangladeshi Buddhists comprising 23 families, who hail from Chittagong hill tract area of south Bangladesh, had recently crossed the border through passes to arrive in Paletwa of south Chin State for refuges. The Burmese authority received them at Kyauk Taw of Arakan State, which is closer to Paletwa and later sent them to Maungdaw, a Muslim dominated locality for providing shelter. A senior monk in Baho monastery of Maungdaw, while talking to Narinjara over phone informed that over 1000 Buddhist families, who came to Burma from different place of Bangladesh, had already arrived in the Maungdaw township in the last two months. Prior to the 86 Buddhists team, a group of 48 Bangladeshis comprising 12 families reached Maungdaw in the first half of June, revealed the senior monk. Till now, it is the last batch arriving in Maungdaw and they are still staying in our monastery. Later they are expected to shift to their shelters those are arranged by the local authority, he added.

The authority has put the Bangladeshi Buddhists, who had left Bangladesh for the continued repression in respect of social, economic and religious freedom there, in many model villages throughout Maungdaw township. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/86-bangladeshibuddhists-arrive-in-maungdaw/

2.Wife of Arakanese singer stabbed to death in Sittwe

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 11:28 PM PDT ( Sittwe, 18 June 2013) : The wife of well known Arakanese singer Ko Doe Ree was stabbed to death on Monday in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan, said a family source.

Ma Onmar Tun, 32 died after their neighbour U Maung Took attacked her in the evening nearby her residence and she finally succumbed to the injuries. According to the family source, the popular Arakanese singer and his wife Ma Onmar Tun had altercations with U Maung Took in several occasions before the incident. On the Monday evening incident, the assailant U Maung Took suddenly stabbed the lady by a knife and fled from the location. The cremation of Ma Onmar Tun, who is the mother of three children will be held on Wednesday at Manzi graveyard in Sittwe, a family source disclosehttp://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/wife-of-arakanese-singer-

stabbed-to-death-in-sittwe/

3.Bangladesh pushes back 99 Burmese nationals

( Dhaka, 17 June 2013): The Bangladesh border guards have pushed back 99 Burmese nationals to their country on Sunday. The incident took place in Bandarban hill district and Coxs bazaar areas, when the Burmese citizens tried to enter Bangladesh illegally through different international border passes.

The commanding officer of 42 battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at Teknaf said that 67 Burmese nationals comprising various ethnic minorities of Burma were detained during their approach to enter Bangladesh through the Naff river between 12:30 and 2 pm of June 16. In another incident, the BGB personnel arrested 32 Muslims including women and children when they tried to get an entry into Bangladesh through Sabrong union of Teknaf township, a bordering town with Burma. All the Burmese nationals were later pushed back by the Bangladesh border authority with the route they used to enter into the neighbouring country. It is learnt that the Bangladesh border authority normally pushes back the Burmese nationals rather than handing over the encroachers to the Burmese counterpart.http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/bangladesh-pushes-back-99-burmesenationals/

4.Birth of Arakan National Party: RNDP and ALD emerge as a single entity
( Yangon, 17 June 201): Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) and Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) have finally combined into a single party named Arakan National Party (ANP) in the unification meeting held in Yangon.

The delegates representing both the Arakan based political parties agreed to unify and emerge the new political party for the benefit of Arakanese, said party officials. The combination meeting between RNDP and ALD delegates was organized in the office of Rakhine Thahaya Association of Yangon that is going on since June 15. The final accord is going to be signed today by the delegates. The meeting is attended by six delegates from each party and also been graced by some prominent monks and citizens. Mentionable is that both RNDP and ALD are the biggest political parties of Arakan. The RNDP won 35 Parliamentary seats in 2010 general election and the ALD won 11 Parliamentary seats in 1990 election. The ALD did not participate in the last general election of Burma. The delegates from both the parties also discussed about their future strategy and activities in the unification meeting.http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/birth-of-arakan-national-partyrndp-and-ald-emerge-as-a-single-entity/

5.Burma-Bangladesh FOC meeting concluded in Naypyidaw

( Naypyidaw, 17 June 2013) : Burma (Myanmar) and Bangladesh have discussed and resolved many issues including the repatriation of Muslim refugees in a Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) meeting, held recently in Naypyidaw, the new capital of Burma.

The two day long consultation meeting concluded on June 15, said the officials and local media sources.

It was the 7th round of FOC meeting, where delegations from both the neighboring countries reviewed various bilateral issues related to political, economic and security cooperation between Burma and Bangladesh. Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque led the 11 members team from his country, where as deputy foreign minister U Thant Kyaw led the 20 member Burmese delegation. Shahidul Haque stressed on resolving the longstanding repatriation issue of Muslim refugees in the meeting and called for early resumption of repatriation process relating to the Burmese refugees taking shelter in Bangladesh. The process was stalled due to the outbreak of communal violence in Rakhine State of Burma last year. The Burmese delegation assured in the meeting that the repatriation process of Muslim refugees from Bangladesh would be resumed soon as the situation turns normal and stable in Rakhine State. The Bangladesh delegation proposed to form a joint committee to exclusively deal with issues of repatriation in relation with the undocumented Burmese nationals taking shelter in their country. The Burmese delegation took note of the proposal for active consideration, informed a Burmese foreign ministry official. Burmese minister Thant Kyaw, while responding to Bangladeshs willingness to import natural gas from Burma, apprised the meeting about the ongoing process of floating bids for offshore and onshore gas blocks. He however assured that Bangladesh would be given priority in meeting Dhakas domestic energy needs. Delegates representing both the countries also agreed to address the entire range of transboundary crimes along the international border jointly with a comprehensive effort. They also discussed about Dhakas proposal for a security dialogue within the FOC framework. Both the governments also reiterated their commitments to uphold zero tolerance policy against the unauthorized use of their territories by any person or group for subversive activities. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/burma-bangladesh-foc-meeting-concluded-innaypyidaw/

6.Unification agenda: RNDP and ALD delegates to meet in Yangon

( Yangon, 14 June 2013): Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) and Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) are on way to merge into one organization. Six delegates from RNDP and another six delegates from ALD will meet in Yangon tomorrow (Saturday) to finalize the process, said the leaders representing both the Arakan based parties.

RNDP president Dr Aye Maung is expected to lead his team, while ALD vice president U Kyaw Myint will lead the other team. The meeting will be held at the office of Rakhine Thahaya Association in Yangon and it is scheduled to start at 9 am. The leaders are optimistic about the meeting, said U Tha Tun Hla, a leader of RNDP. Besides the delegates of both the parties, prominent monks and representatives from social organizations will also attend the meeting as observers. The initiative to combine the parties has been supported by the members of both the political parties. Hence we expect a satisfactory outcome, said ALD president U Aye Tha Aung. He expressed optimism while Narinajara interviewed him recently. It is understood that Arakanese across the globe are enthusiastically looking forward to the Saturday meeting as the development has the potential to change the faces of Arakanese living inside Burma and abroad. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/unification-agenda-rndpand-ald-delegates-to-meet-in-yangon/

7.Two physicians appointed after a solo protest

( Taungup, 13 June 2013) : Two physicians have been appointed in two rural hospitals by the Rakhine State health department, incidentally two days after a solo protest program that took place in Taungup township on June 11 and was promptly covered by Narinjara News.

Ko Min Aung, a central committee member of National League for Democracy in Taungup informed that two medical doctors are being appointed in Ma Ei township hospital and Wra Ma village sub-hospital. Both the hospitals are located in the Taungup township of central Arakan. Earlier Ko Min Kyi alias Maung Mae staged the protest program alone for one hour. Through his demonstration starting at 8 am, Min Kyi expressed his furies against the authority for not appointing any physician in the town hospital for seven months. An official source confirmed that Dr Htet Pin Soe has been appointed in Ma Ei township hospital and Dr Aung Naing Soe is appointed for Wra Ma village sub-hospital. It is a victory for the people. The local residents express happiness at the appointment of the government doctors and also appreciate Min Kyi for his initiative, the NLD leader added. Though the authority has taken the initiative to appoint two physicians after the solo protest, the local police have asked Min Kyi for not staging any such demonstration in future. Min Kyi is even forced to sign an agreement by the police declaring that he would not stage such protests in future without the authoritys prior permission. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/two-physicians-appointed-after-a-solo-protest/

8.Night curfew extended in Arakan for two months

( Sittwe, 12 June 2013) : The night time curfew imposed by the Arakan government authority in six townships of the State has been extended for two more months, a government report said.

The six townships, under the blanket of curfew, include Sittwe, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Rambree, Kyauk Pru and Kyauk Taw. The authority has extended the 6 hours night curfew in Buthidaung, Maaungdaw and Kyauk Taw since June 8 and the same order for Sittwe, Kyauk Pru and Rambree was implemented from June 10 last. The night curfew, starting from 10 pm every night, was clamped in all the township areas following the clashes between the Buddhists and Muslims of Arakan last year. But the restriction has resulted in tremendous difficulties for the common people. The situation in Arakan has improved a lot, but the sense security among the mass people is still missing and hence the authority has decided to extend the curfew for two more months. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/night-curfew-extended-in-arakan-for-two-months/

9.Burmese Army planted landmines on border areas

( Dhaka, 12 June 2013): Serious allegations have been raised against the Burmese Army as the planter of landmines along Burma-Bangladesh border ignoring the international norms. The Bangladesh authority, while raising the allegation, said that Burmese armed forces have planted landmines along the border pillars no 37, 38, 39 and 40 with variation of distances from 70 yards to 100 yards.

The international border areas between Burma and Bangladesh comprise hills covered with thick forests at several places and there is no fencing in many locations. The area is located in the northern parts of Maungdaw township of Burma, which is adjacent to Taungbro area of Bangladesh, revealed a border expert while speaking to Narinjara. A local media report quoting the Bangladesh home ministry said that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) had already notified its counterpart in Burma about the violation but it is yet to get any reply from the concerned Burmese authority. BGB director general Maj-Gen Aziz Ahmed told the media recently that the Burmese authority, as per the international rules, has no right to plant land mines within 150 yards from the international zero line along the border with Bangladesh. He accused that the Burmese government, while violating the border agreement by planting land mines, also continues ignoring the concerns expressed by the Bangladesh counterpart. Now the BGB has reported to the Bangladesh government about the violation and urged the government in Dhaka to resolve the issue with diplomatic efforts. It is understood that the issue will be raised by the Bangladesh delegates during the foreign secretary level meeting between the two neighboring countries in Naypyidaw on June 14 next. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/burmese-army-planted-landmines-on-border-areas/

10.Solo programme demanding government doctor in rural hospital

Dateline: Ma Ei township witnessed a solo demonstration yesterday asking the authority for practicing physicians in the local hospital.

The lone protester Ko Min Kyi alias Maung Mae expressed his resentments for not appointing any physician in his town hospital for seven months, said a witness. Maung Mae staged the protest in front of Ma Ei township hospital at around 8 am and concluded after one hour. The Ma Ei township hospital in Taungup locality was recently promoted by the government to a sub-township level hospital. The witness also added that Min Kyi raised a poster reading Ma Ei township hospital has no doctors for 7 months, so we demand for a physician appointed by the central government immediately. Min Kyi decided to stage the protest after he felt very bad about the poor patients who were deprived of healthcare services in the locality. The authority in town did not prevent him of the protest programme, though responsible officers kept an eye on him till the programme ended on 9 am. One can see a number of hospitals in the entire Arakan State, but few of those have government doctors. In most cases the nurses have to look after the patients. In the Ma Ei township hospital too, there is no doctors, but only two nurses provide relevant services to the patients. Even the hospital faces shortage of medicines also. Similarly, there is a sun hospital in Wra Ma village (alias Tan Lwe)closer to Ma Ei township hospital, where no physician is being appointed by the authority.

In Ponn Kyunt township, 16 miles north of Sittwe, there is only a government doctors to look after nearly 200,000 local residents. U Aung Than Tin, Arakan State mining minister told Narinjara recently that one additional doctor has been posted by the State heath ministry in Yota Yoke sub-hospital. But the local residents argue that they need more physicians including a dentist for the hospital, which has not been fulfilled by the government. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/solo-programmedemanding-government-doctor-in-rural-hospital/

11.Kaladan Project must involve indigenous peoples, says report

11 Jun 2013 02:40 Written by Mizzima News Regional

A new report by the Kaladan Movement raises community concerns about the lack of government transparency surrounding the implementation of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.

The $214 million Kaladan Projectestimated to be fully operational in 2015will see the construction of a combined inland waterway and highway transportation system connecting Mizoram State in Northeast India with a Bay of Bengal deep-sea port at Sittwe in Rakhine State. The deep-sea port will transfer cargo from large container ships to smaller 300-tonne barges (from 50 to 200 metres in length) that will ply the 160 km inland waterway north to a port complex at Paletwa Town in Chin State. At the Paletwa port, cargo will be transferred to trucks, and driven on a yet-to-be-built 130 km highway connecting to a new Land Customs Station at Zorinpui on the southern-most tip of the 1,634 km India-Burma border. The Project, classified as Indian development aid to Burma, is a cornerstone of Indias Look East Policy aimed at expanding Indian economic and political influence in Southeast Asia. The Kaladan Movemnet says the report, titled One cannot step into the same river twice: making the Kaladan Project people-centred, provides an overview of the current on-the-ground impacts arising from the lack of transparency, and focuses on the concerns and hopes of the local people. The report also aims to highlight the potential benefits of the project, particularly for Arakan [Rakhine] and Chin States, the two most impoverished regions of Burma, the report says. While acknowledging the need for improved infrastructure and the potential benefits of increased trade opportunities for local farmers and producers, Kaladan Movement says the prospect is enhances of further land confiscation and forced evictions, as well as disruption and loss of existing livelihoods, and increased militarization in connection with the project. Local people must have full participation in major development decisions in Burma, said Twan Zaw, Executive Director of Arakan Rivers Network, a core member of the Kaladan Movement. Twan Zaw added, Comprehensive environmental, social, and health impact assessments should be conducted and made public before the Kaladan Project proceeds any further. Unless the Kaladan Project is implemented with a people-centred approach, it may lead to increased tension between India and Burma rather than improving ties. Zo Indigenous Forum Director C. Lalremruata said, People living in the project area in Mizoram State want the Kaladan Project to be a sustainable development which brings local economic benefits and does not destroy the environment. Indigenous peoples in both India and Burma must be involved in all decision-making regarding their ancestral lands, and the principle of free, prior and informed consent must be the foundation of this kind of infrastructure development project. There must be fair compensation for land acquisition for the Kaladan Project. http://www.mizzima.com/news/regional/9516-kaladanproject-must-involve-indigenous-peoples-says-report

12.Six Arakanese face attacks in Kuala Lumpur

( Kuala Lunpur, 10 June 2013): A group of miscreants attacked 6 Arakanese, who have been working in an umbrella factory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday, said a close friend of the victims. Two Arakanese were severely wounded in the attack, who were shifted to the hospital, and the rest could escape with minor injuries.

One victim named Ko Khin Maung Win, who hails from Rathidaung township-20 miles north of Sittwe, Arakan-remains unconscious in the hospital bed, who received injuries on his head, nose and also arms. The incident took place in the early morning at their rented wooden house, where the six Arakanese stays. A group of suspected Muslim goons approached their house at around 3 am and sprayed a kind of gas inside the house through the holes. The inmates, who were sleeping then, soon found difficulties in breathing and also felt itching in their eyes. When the Arakanese opened the door to come out, a group of six masked people entered their house and targeted them with swords, informed the source.

In another incident in Malaysia that took place few days back, a migrant Burmese were chopped to death by the miscreants. The Malaysian police found the dead body of the Burmese migrant near a rubbish pile of Kalong Utama town. The body showed the mark of cutting on the throat. The polce is yet to arrest the culprits. Nearly 10 Burmese were reportedly killed in Malaysia in the recent time by the suspected Muslim goons. The political observers suspect that it was the retaliatory actions by the local Muslim community on migrant Burmese there to take revenges against the ongoing attacks on Muslims inside Burma. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/six-arakanese-face-attacks-inkuala-lumpur/

13.ALP alleges insolence from Arakan government

(Kyauk Taw, 8 June 2013) : Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), an influential Arakanese ceasefire armed group of Burma, has not been able to implement all clauses mentioned in the five point agreement with the Arakan State government. The ALP leadership has alleged that the authorities have not cooperated in this respect even after one year of signing of the accord.

Delegates from ALP and Arakan state government in peace talk meeting on 6 June 2012.

The ALP and the Arakan government signed the five point agreement in April last year in a meeting held in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State in western Burma. The agreement clearly pointed out to stop fighting each other, to open liaison offices in Kyauktaw and Paletwa for mutual communications, not to cross each others areas holding weapons without prior information or negotiation, to allow the members of ALP to travel across the country, and to continue negotiations for building peace initiative and development activities in Arakan. Khine Thukha, general secretary of ALP, informed that following the agreement the ALP has succeeded in opening a liaison office in Kyauktaw but the other office proposed in Paletwa of Chin State is yet to be materialized. In fact, many Chin political parties including Chin National Front have opposed the ALPs plan to open the liaison office in Paletwa. During the British rule, Paletwa was under the territory of Arakan State, but later the city was reportedly put inside Chin State by the U Nu government in 1953. The Chin parties oppose our plan citing the reason that Paletwa is not inside Arakan state. So they have expressed their resentments against the plan, added Khine Thukha. Presently the ALP members without carrying arms can move freely across Burma. But the State government has not permitted the ALP members to fully engage in various development activities of Arakan, though the agreement has mentioned about it. The restriction has thus prevented the ALP to work for the benefit of common people and finally it has emerged as a major challenge for them to achieve their goal. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/alp-alleges-insolence-from-arakan-government/

14.After-affect of sectarian violence: Schools remain closed in northern Arakan

( Maungdaw, 7 June 2013): The first June is the opening day for the government schools in Burma, but a number of schools in rural areas of northern Arakan remain closed, alleged local residents. The reason behind the non-functioning of the institutions even after a week is understood to be the absence of teachers.

It is because of the security reason. We cannot attend rural schools without the security cover. Hence we are still in the town areas where the security is not a problem, disclosed Min Maung Than, a primary school teacher from Buthidaung. Min Maung hails from Thandwe, a southern district town of Arakan and teaches in a school located in a Muslim dominated village. But he is still in Buthidaug and yet to join his duties. Mentionable is that Min Maung is one of many Buddhists who works in the government run primary schools located in Muslim villages under Buthidaung and Maungdaw township. We are Buddhist. We do not feel secured working in the Muslim localities. We are not convinced about the assurance of security by the authority. So we are yet to attend classes for our Muslim pupils, he added. Presently there is no report of violence in Buthidaaubg and Maungdaw township localities, but many teachers have not forgotten about the last year incidents those broke from the areas. A school teacher named U Maung Chan Tha was chopped to dead by his pupils during the clashes, said a female teacher Ma Nin Nin who hails form Maungdaw. Maung Chan Tha was a headmaster from Thari Konboung village, who was killed by a group of his Muslim pupils last year. The incident took place when U Maung Chan Tha tried to intervene in an attack by a group of Muslims on his village. Not every teacher now reposes faith on the Muslim villagers, she added. The government has vowed to upgrade the education scenario in Buthidaung and Maungdaw areas, but many unseen hurdles have emerged like the fear of Buddhist teachers going to schools in Muslim localities. Nobody knows when these teachers would join their duties for the benefit of pupils. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/after-affect-of-sectarian-violence-schoolsremain-closed-in-northern-arakan/

15.ALP urges for a stronger National Army for Arakanese

(Inzul,7 June 2013) : Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), one of the ceasefire ethnic armed groups of Burma, has called upon the Arakanese people to build a stronger Army to fight for the freedom and to defend the indigenous people.

ALP founder Khaing Moe Lun. In a statement issued on 4 June, the ALP made the appeal commemorating the 36th anniversary of Khaing Moe Luns fall. One can remember that on 4 June 1977, the ALP founder Khaing Moe Lun fell down fighting with the Burmese Army. Mourning the demise to Khaing Moe Lun, the ALP termed the present time as crucial period for the Arakanese people. The land of Arakan is today witnessing the conflict of interest under the deadlock of Burmanization and Islamization which has finally threatened the existence of the Arakanese people. The ALP claims that the successive rulers of Burma have only destroyed and exploited the natural resources of Arakan without the consent of Arakanese people. Hence the Arakanese people today need a strong modern Army to protect the indigenous people, the land and our natural resources. Without a stronger force we can not achieve our goal, stated in the statement. Mentionable is that the ALP has its own arm wing named Arakan Liberation Army, which is based in Thailand- Burma, India- Burma and Bangladesh-Arakan (Burma) border areas. The Arakan army has around 300 combatants, which is somehow not considered as a powerful unit. However the intelligent source claims that there is a stronger Arakanese army in the Kachin State. Arakan Army, raised by some Arakanese young leaders, has already recruited nearly 2000 trained fighters. They are now stationed at Burma-China border areas, where Kachin

Independent Organization (KIO) enjoys tremendous influences. It is understood that the Arakan Army has been supported by the KIO leadership. The ALPs statement is seen as a signal to combine all Arakanese armed groups under one umbrella with an aim to fight for the freedom of Arakanese, observed some analysts. The ALP statement revealed that their visionary leader Khaing Moe Lun formed the armed outfit in the territory of Karen National Union in 1973 and he maintained his struggle with the support from the biggest rebel group of Burma, which is fighting for the self-determination. Khaing Moe Lun, who dedicated his life for the Arakanese people, died in the battle against the Burmese army in 1977, when the ALP led the 2000 Mile March from Karen to Arakan State across several Burmese ethnic revolutionary groups dominated States like Karenni, Shan and Kachin. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/alp-urges-for-a-stronger-national-army-forarakanese/

16.Thousands join rally supporting two-child policy for Muslims

Dateline: More residents of Sittwe, which was known as Akyab during the British rule in western Burma (Myanmar) are coming to the streets supporting the single wife &two-child policy for the Muslim families living in the South East Asian country.

Thousands join rally supporting two-child policy for Muslims Thousands of residents joined in a rally yesterday supporting the Arakan State government act for the controversial law targeting the Muslim community in two townships of northern Arakan. The rally was organized by groups of monks, participants of social networking and local politicians in the Arakan capital to show their backing to the province government on its mission to adopt the two child policy for the Muslims.

A female leader from Rakhine Women Network Group, Ma Nyo Aye, informed that the rally was joined by not only the local residents, but also many political party leaders of Arakan namely NLD, ALD, RNDP, USDP, NUP etc. It is for our national interest that so many people including the worker-leaders representing several political parties had joined in the rally supporting the governments act, she asserted. The rally that started at 1 PM witnessed the participation of thousands of demonstrators holding posters and placards highlighting the two child policy on Muslims. Many demonstrators, wearing white T-shirts together, marched through the streets of Sittwe endorsing their supports to the government law. We also demand that the government should extend the two child policy for Muslim residents throughout the State of Arakan and implement the process of Swe Tin Sit that literarily means to scrutinize Muslims whether they are Burmese citizens or foreigners. The rally was organized with the government permission and it was concluded at 2:30 PM without any unpleasant incidents. Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with the UN and US had already expressed their resentments against the two child policy for Muslims adopted by the State government in Buthidaug and Maungdaw townships of northern Arakan condemning it as another form of human rights abuses going on in Burma. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/thousandsjoin-rally-supporting-two-child-policy-for-muslims/

17.Hearing of 10 villagers for anti-CNPC protest postpones

( Kyauk Pru, 4 June 2013) : Kyauk Pru township court in Arakan has postponed the hearing of 10 villagers who have been charged by the police for leading a protest demonstration against Chinese National Petroleum Cooperation (CNPC) recently in the State of Arakan.

Ko Tun Kyi, one of 10 villagers facing charges by the police, informed that the judge of Kyauk Pru court yesterday postponed their hearing to 13 June as they could not arrive in the court all together on the last hearing on 3 June 2013. Nearly 600 villagers of Mradea island marched into CNPCs office there on 18 April 2013 to express their angers against the Chinese petroleum project in Shwe gas field. The villagers organized the protest programme against the CNPC without obtaining the permission from the local authority. Before the demonstration, the villagers however requested the authority to grant the permission, but they were denied which compelled the agitating farmers to do so without the valid permission. Afterward, the police sued 10 villagers for leading the protest programme illegally (read without permissions from the authority). The local sources inform that the CNPC is now constructing a connecting road among the villages of the island. The demand for a road was included in the charter placed by the agitating villagers during the 18 April demonstrations. The villagers placed a nine point charter during the protest programme including a) to compensate the farmer against the confiscated lands with international standards, b) to construct connecting roads among the villages, c) to employ all villagers living in the island at work-sites of Shwe gas project if they have workers registration, d) to supply electricity to all villages located on the island, e) to scrutinize all workers coming from outside in order to avoid crimes in the island, f) to allow villagers for fishing in the surrounding offshore areas of the island, g) not to confiscate lands on the island without the peoples consent, h) to repair a broken embankment on the Island immediately and i) to compensate those who have suffered due to the oil & gas project. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/hearing-of-10-villagers-for-anticnpc-protest-postpones/

18.One lakh Kyat bribe sought for an agricultural loan

( Mray Bon, 4 June 2013): The farmers of Arakan are being forced to pay nearly one lakh Kyat as a bribe by the local authority for agricultural loan, allege a number of farmers from different parts of the State.

Photo by Internet They allege that the officials claim the amount for processing the formalities of loan, which is offered by the government. The incident come as a surprise to the conscious citizens of Burma (Myanmar), as the present reformist government led by U Thein Sein announced of a clean government and assured good governance for the people. A farmer of Ngwe Twin Htoo village in Mray Bon Township disclosed that they had to pay nearly one lakh Kyat per head for the agriculture loans. The Myanmar agriculture development bank is preparing to lend loans to the farmers in our area. As we come to know about the loan, we apply for our National ID cards, clearance paper for debts and other testimonials from various government departments. But when we met the concerned officials, we got disappointed with their views, said the farmer. We come to know that a farmer has to pay 20,000 Kyat for a sign by officials from revenue department, 9000 Kyat for another sign from township agriculture officials, 20000 Kyat for national ID card (otherwise 5000 Kyat for family unit list), 20000 Kyat for a ledger book to withdraw money from the bank and 4000 Kyat for another paper. Thus finally we have to spend from 80000 to 100000 Kyat for the agriculture loan, he added. The farmer claimed that if they dont pay the bribes to the local authority, they would not get the loans or it will take very long time. Because of this, many farmers have already paid the bribe amount to the officials. Another farmer from Rambree also alleged about the practice. He argues that for a middle class farmer may not find it difficult to pay one lakh Kyat as the bribe; but for a poor farmer having

only two or three acres of land, it would be really difficult to gather this amount of money for bribing the officials. Recently a village administration clerk came to the farmers and asked for one thousand Kyat from each farmer as the bribe for the ledger book which was to be received from the township office for processing the loans. Nearly 150 farmers in the village were asked to pay the amount, the farmer concluded. The farmers received loans of 2 lakh Kyat per acre of land last year as the rainy season began, but the authority did not mention about the rate of interest against the loan amount. Now the farmers hope that the authority would offer same amount of money as agricultural loans with similar rate of interest this year too. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/one-lakh-kyatbribe-sought-for-an-agricultural-loan/

19.Arakan residents continue suffering from shortage of physicians

( Ponna Kyunt, 3 June 2013): The shortage of government physicians in Arakan has deprived the poor residents of the State in respect to modern health care facilities, a fact that is admitted by the elected representative too.

Residents in Ponna Kyunt gathered at Jetty looking forward to a ferry ship.

One can mention about Ponna Kyaunt township, which is around 16 miles north of Sittwe, capital of Arakan, where there is only one government physician employed by the health ministry to look after the public health of nearly 200000 inhabitants. The residents in Ponna Kyaunt township suffer from malaria annually. In addition to it, the cholera and diarrhea also surface in the township time to time. U Nay Lin, a social activist of Ponna Kyunt informed that the residents of the township have to rely on physicians from Sittwe, for all kinds of health related treatment, as there is no sufficient doctor in the township. Many patients in our township usually go to Sittwe for health related reasons. Some time, they have to go to the capital city even though they face minor illness. It is a big problem for the poor families to attend doctors in Sittwe always, Nay Lin Said. Though there are two hospitals in Ponna Kyaunt township- one is 16 bedded township level hospital in the down town and another is 8 bedded sub-hospital located at Yota Yoke circle, but only one government physician is presently engaged by the government. The Ponna Kyaunt township level has one physician, but there are no doctors at Yota Yoke hospital. We need more doctors and assistants in both the hospitals. The residents have appealed many times to the health ministry for it, but the response remains lukewarm, asserted the social activist. U Aung Than Tin, who is an elected representative from the township in Arakan State parliament and also in charge of Arakan mining ministry, also admitted that the people of Ponna Kyunt were facing problems due to shortage of physicians. I have already raised the issue with the health ministry, Arakan state parliament and Union parliament of Burma. Now one female doctor has been posted at Yota Yoke sub-hospital. We are expecting more doctors in the other hospitals, but the problem remains with the shortage of qualified physicians in our country, the minister said. Of course, the health ministry has promised Aung Than Tin about the appointment of more physicians in the Ponna Kyunt township level hospital as soon as the training session, now going on for 500 physicians, completes. The minister also added that the health of Dr U Thein Maung, who is now heading Ponna Kyunt hospital is not going well, which has created another problem for the residents. The local people also complain about the expertise of Dr Maung as not being satisfactory to them. It emerges as another problem for our township people. I have already presented about the situation to the health ministry and I wish it would soon resolve the problem, concluded Aung Than Tin. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/arakan-residents-continue-suffering-fromshortage-of-physicians/

20.Lands confiscation still going on in Arakan

(Maungdaw, 3 June 2013) : The authority of Maungdaw in western Burma, bordering Bangladesh faces criticism for its failure to compensate the farmers, from whom farmlands were confiscated.

Maungdaw-gate The farm lands were seized by the authority for setting up a government model village there and it promised some amount of money for the confiscated lands. But in reality the Arakan authority has not paid any amount to the land owners, claimed a sufferer family member. On 9 April 2013, some high officials led by Maungdaw township administrator U Kyi Than confiscated 6 acres of land from three Arakanese farmers namely U Maung Thein Nyunt, U Sein Poin & Daw Yin Tha Poin from Zay Di Byint village. The land, under Long Don village tract located at northern part of Maungdaw township, was seized with a promise of compensations. The present market price of land in that area is estimated to be Kyat 1.5 million per acre and hence the cumulative value of the total confiscated lands is estimated to be kyat 9 million. As the authority has not paid the amount, all the affected farmer families have to suffer now, added the affected family member. After the land confiscation, a construction company named Kyan Sit Min, erected 40 buildings (houses) on the land. Though the houses are understood to be included in the government model village, the local residents are still in dark about the complete plan. In earlier too, the authority confiscated several acres of land in 2006 for 60 buildings to be constructed in the model village. Unfortunately the authority had not offered any compensation to the affected villagers.

We, the Rakhine community people in Maungdaw township are minority, but the authority seems to be uncaring for our woes. It is a big challenge for our community on the western border of the country. We are surviving here with various risk factors. But even then we can not leave this area as it is our birth place, asserted the affected family member. Some relatives of the three affected farmers even went to Maungdaw recently to know about the compensations from the government, but it is learnt that the township administration officials posed a questioned to them in return saying if, at all, the authority needs to pay for the confiscated lands in Burma! http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/lands-confiscation-stillgoing-on-in-arakan/

21.33 temporary schools for Muslim displaced children in Arakan

( Sittwe, 31 May 2013): The authority has planned to construct 33 temporary schools for the children of Muslim refugees camps in Arakan State of western Burma.

Among those 33 schools, 15 are being constructed for Sittwe township, 7 for Pauk Taw township, four each for Mrauk U & Kyauk Taw township and two each for Kyauk Pru and Rambree township, informed a reliable source in Arakan State government. Some educated Muslim individuals will also be appointed in these schools by the State education department, informed U Win Mying, an Arakan State government spokesperson. It was realized that the children from the Muslim refugee camps were unable to attend classes in nearby local schools in 2013-2014 education year due to the security reason. Hence the authority has erected the temporary schools for those deprived children with an aim to enlighten them like other children across the country. The final phase of construction for those schools will be completed by the beginning of June 2013. It may be mentioned that the Myanmar education year starts in the month of June itself and hence it is believed that the deprived children would not miss classes. http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/33-temporary-schools-for-muslim-displacedchildren-in-arakan/