written by Myo Set
June 8, 2012 Maung Daw, Arakan State, Myanmar
A ridiculous news was broadcast from BBC World news.
They used the title "Burma police fire on protestors". It was totally a false news.
It is only a half true/half false propaganda. Without shame, they used a term " Muslim minority" in Maung Daw at Arakan State.In fact, such Muslims are known as Rohingyas who are illegally migrated Bengalis. Around 98% of local residence in Maung Daw are Rohingyas who passed through border line between Myanmar and Bangladesh. Gradually, original ethnic Rakhines (Arakanese) became minorities in Maung Daw township, their native town.
On social networks like facebook and twitter and official pages of Burmese Exile Medias, main message of almost all news are that Muslims are fought dead;Muslims were oppressed; poor rohingyas. In reality, it is a planned and intentional actions to spread fake news to make Myanmar more vulnerable to foreign pressures.They are twisting true facts to become wrong in such a way that Myanmar Police Forces are firing into the Muslim Protestors just for oppression.
The truth is that Maung Daw was in chaos with the atmosphere filled with terror and violence on local Arakanese (Rakhines) which necessarily claims immediate control of police forces. Otherwise, massacre committed by Bengali Rohigyas will be fully carried out. In such case, biased and money-driven Media, and lobbying organizations made Myanmar to be ashamed of such violence and chaos.
In history, Arakanese (Rakhines), a major ethnic group in Myanmar, served as a human barrier to stop influx of Bengali migrants for several decades. Moreover, other major ethnics like Burmese, Shan, Karen, Kachin, Chin, etc haven't become aware of such social conflicts in that geographically and demographically dangerous area. Due to political instability inside Myanmar, such news can't be headlines in state medias and exile Burmese medias.However, lastly, real things taking place in Arakan state can no longer be hidden.
Most of exile Burmese media may be intentionally failed to broadcast news about violent attacks occurred in Maung Daw. At Maung Daw near Burma-Bangladesh border,thousands of Bengali Rohigyas destroyed houses and properties of local rakhines and burned them down. Temples, schools and local stores were completely destroyed. Homes around Myoma Buddhist Temple were set on fire and consequently every Arakanese (Rakhine) fled to secure places. Many local Arakanese (Rakhines) were brutally murderd by such Bengali including elderly and children. Arakanese (Rakhines) ran way for their survival leaving whatever they have.
The beginning of the whole process
On 28 of May, 2012, Thida Htwe, 26 yrs old, Arakanese lady was raped by three Bengali and murdered. Her neck was cut with a sharp weapon and her vagina was penetrated until it was lacerated completely. Thida Htwe whowas a tailor was murdered on the way back to her native village calledTha Pyay Chaung.This case sparked racial tensions among Rakhines and immigrant Bengali rohingyas. Consequently, many Arakanese marched towards Rambree Police Station on 30th of May, the funeral day of Thida Htwe to protest for justice. Criminals were arrested within 48 hours after Thida Htwe was murdered. They are Htet Htet(23), Rauphi(18) and Luyu (21) and now kept in police custody.However, on 3rd of June, 10 native Muslims were beaten till dead in the rage by local Rakines at Taung Gote township on their return to Yangon. 6 were from Taung Twin Gyi, 2 from Myaung Mya and the other two from Than Dwe township, according to the state medias.
Following such crisis, Muslims in Rangoon rallied at city center near Sule Pagoda to protest against
the case of murdered 10 Muslims and the term Kala referring native Muslims which might be a discriminating term in most Muslims' view, stated in State Medias. Myanmar government responded such demonstrations by giving promises to seek justice and commissioned a special task force to investigate that case.
On the 3rd of June also, U Aung Than Wai, a team leader for shopkeepers in a bazaar near Sittwe was missing temporarily and that was a causative factor for a small conflict in Set Yone Su quarter, Sittwe. U Aung Than Wai was a key figure in presenting problems of marketers in that bazaar particularly for high daily tax on each shop.Actually, the tax collection right was auctioned on 2nd June, 2012 already and Bengali groups won it in that auction. Aung Than Wai was threatened by Bengali gangs for his claims on behalf of other shop owners and so he was hidden at his cousin's house.
Around 7 o'clock on the same date, Daw Aung Than Mya with other 10 ladies reported to Sittwe Police Station about her husband missing after small conflicts between Bengali gangs and Aung Than Wai occured. In the mean time, up to 200 Arakanese (Rakhine) people gathered in front of Sittwe Police Station (1) and the local civil authority chief, U Aung Mya Kyaw, came and promised to look for Aung Than Wai. After that, Aung Than Wai's family went back. But around 11.45 p.m, U Aung Than Wai appeared in front of the waiting Arakanese crowd showing his national identity card and went into police station probably for more security. The crowd started to claim to arrest Bengali gangs. The Arakanese crowd tried to raid police station which was why they were cracked down by police force using guns and gas bombs. 11 rakhines were injured in that case. Up to this stage, it is clear that both sides are responsible for crimes committed in Arakan state and Myanmar government was trying best to control the situation.
8th June, 2012
On Friday, Islamic Bengali worship at central mosque in Maung Daw. Around 1 o'clock, nearly a thousand of Bengali Rohingyas started to create riots in front of Kan Baw Za Bank. They threw stones into "United" guest house and a house. Around 2 p.m. , a market branch was burned including Thazinguest house in front of Thiri Min Galar central hall and 6 local shops were burned down. After that,Baho monastry was set on fire and the fire spread to Bohmu village. In Myo Oo quarter in Maung Daw, two homes were burned and monasteries at Kha Yay Myine village and Nyaung Chaungvillage were burned as well.
5.15 p.m 8th June 2012
Polices were patrolling and arranging demolished Arakanese(Rakhine) to move towards secure places. At that time, from the building owned by a currency broker Zaw Hein, Bengali rohingyas unexpectedly shot into the civilian crowd and the police were confronted with armed Bengali rioters. Armed rioters at Zaw Hein's building are supposed to be around 10 people. A police officer confirmed that they have already got information about arms collected by terrorists in that township. But connections between armed Bengali rohingyas and such arm collections are not approved yet. It was reported that gun shots has caused causalities but number of injured were not known yet. The injured were sent to Sittwe hospital.
In that evening also, nearly 20 Bengali rioters raided Maung Daw hospital and medical staff have moved to secure places. Two homes in front of that hospital were burned also and people were moved to safe monasteries.
Currently realesed list of causalities are as follows.
(1)Dr Khin Maung Latt, 63, stabbed abdomen
(2)Daw Than Yee (57), incised wound over scalp (reported that expired)
(3)U Kyaw Hla (78), incised wound over scalp
(4)U Thein Zaw (36), incised wounds over extremities
(5)U Hla Maung (65), several stabbed and incised wounds on body (expired)
(6) Four female teachers were murdered. Dead bodies of two were at hospital. (9th June)
In Sittwe,a funeral activity line was interrupted by Bengali from The Chaung village and three vehicles in the line turned back but the rest of two were left behind and unable to contact them. So, security forces and nearly 20 monks went to there and secured. In Sittwe University, attacks occurred between Bengali groups and Arakanese groups. But they are settled by Arakan local government minister.
According to a person from Sittwe,capital of Arakan State, he thought that chaotic condition is likely to lead to religious conflicts rather than racial tensions.
"In the morning, they (Bengali) made meetings inside mosques.Half of the population in Sittwe are Bengali. We feel insecure now", he says.
Four villagers from Min Gan were attacked and treated at Sittwe hospital. Currently, Maung Daw is under military control. Around 200 Bengali surrounded the police station at San Pya village and so police tried to deter them by firing into the air.
Around 30 arakanese villages were burned down and Laung Don police station in Maung Daw district was surrounded by Bengali. A number of children were dead and Wai Thar Li monastery.
was also set on fire. Target areas were within 5 miles from Maund Daw city center. And there was a small battle between Al Qaeda supported Rohingya Solidarity Organization and Myanmar Army in the river. RSO was reportedly said that it has connections with Al Qaeda and their troops were sent to operate in Afghanistan.
For such riots, Ko Ko Gyi, a student leader of 88 generations said that those problems can be partly due to exile forces and lobbying organizations working in some western countries. He says
" We want to say that some countries without knowing true history but trying to intervene in rohingya issues might be viewed as a threat to national sovereignty. Rohingyas has no tie with any of our ethnic groups genetically, culturally or linguistically. Because of local political tensions, successive governments have agreed to accept them according to requests frominternational organizations. This is just the sole aid from human right perspective" Ko Ko Gyi says.
"Clearly, this isn't a conflict between Buddhists and Islamist. And I believe that such problems might not be free from foreign proxies" Ko Ko Gyi says.U Khin Yee, Minister of Immigration, confirmed that Rohingya is not an ethnic group of Myanmar.
9th June 2012
Maund Daw is under carfew and Myanmar troops entered Maung Daw to rescue Arakanese people blocked in some quarters. Bengali crowds rallied at burned Bo Hmu village are now marching towards Maund Daw. Sounds of gun fire are still heard and every one is now alert for security. From some resources, it is reported that majority of Myanmar military troops in Arakan state are now in place at Maung Daw township. They suspect that armed Bengali thugs can have strong connections with Al Qaeda supported Rohingya Solidarity Organizaion, a terrorist organization listed by the US government.
Lastly, we all Myanmar citizens view this problem as
" Foreign Invasion and The Threat to National Security".
Translated from Mr Maung Ko Thet's article.
