It's genocide, say Penang activists rallying for the Rohingya

Penang activists held a solidarity rally at the Esplanade yesterday, expressing support for the persecuted Rohingya people, describing the violence carried out by the Myanmar authorities on the community as a “genocide”.

Organised by social reform movement Aliran and Penang Stop Human Trafficking Campaign, the 50-odd protesters carried placards to urge a stop to the violence that appears to have escalated recently, although the Myanmar government and its leaders, including Nobel laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi have tried to water down the crisis.

During the event, protesters wrote messages on colourful post-it notes, which would be sent to the Rohingya, and observed a minute of silence for those who have died from the brutal attacks.

The rally followed thousands who attended protests held in Kuala Lumpur and in Jakarta, Indonesia, prompting the Malaysian authorities to send a humanitarian mission to aid Rohingya refugees at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

“The continuous denial of a people, their identity, language, citizenship and lives through violence, over time, is genocide, which is true of the Rohingya community," said Penang Stop Human Trafficking campaigner James Lochhead.

Lochhead said since the 1960s, there has been “absolutely consistent, concerted and systematic attack” by the state against the Rohingya people.

“The military government has been oppressing and conducting violence against many ethnic groups in Myanmar; some have responded with an actual army (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army), but many have not retaliated until now,” he said at a rally to express support for the Rohingyas at the Esplanade in Penang yesterday.

“It is a complicated history, tied up with British colonialism, who just move people around, bring people in for whatever reason, make them war against each other, draw boundaries and call it a country,” he added.

Lochhead said this when addressing the issue of whether the Rohingyas are terrorists, referring to video clips which have gone viral, showing that members of the community are the ones carrying out violent activities.

UN refused entry into Myanmar

On Sept 8, Reuters reported that an unprecedented surge of 270,000 Rohingya sought refuge in Bangladesh over the past two weeks.

The Myanmar government has refused to allow the United Nations to enter the state and access the situation.

Suu Kyi has been criticised for her lack of action. She has blamed the media for “fake news”, which she said helped escalate the tension between the communities.

Reuters also reported that a rights group said satellite images showed about 450 buildings had been burned down in a Myanmar border town largely inhabited by Rohingya, as part of what the refugees say is a concerted effort to expel members of the Muslim minority.

Meanwhile, PKR Machang Bubok assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon (photo) said what was more disappointing is that Suu Kyi is part of the government that has denied the Rohingyas their rights.

“Of all people, Suu Kyi should understand what is human rights and democracy as she has been prosecuted and placed under arrest before she was elected into office,” Lee said.

He described the Rohingya situation as a “humanitarian crisis” that should be condemned strongly by the international community, as no one should tolerate it anymore.

“It is not an external issue, as some leaders would like us to think, but involves Asean, so all of us must play a part to get the Myanmar government to stop killing the Rohingya, and to provide them aid and end the violence against them,” Lee added.

A representative of Islamic NGO Ikram, Sakinah Zahida, said that everyone must show their support so that a swift end could be sought to the violence, for there is such a thing as “collateral damage” if we remained silent.

“Can you imagine, what if these people are our family members, or friends, who are separated from their families or expelled from their countries?

“We must remember that this world is created not for nothing, but for everyone to live in peace and harmony. We, therefore, urge everyone to gather and show solidarity with the Rohingya people,” Sakinah added. - Mkini