Created: 23 August 2012
23 August 2012, Kathmandu, Nepal.
The South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), a regional civil society network encompassing all eight countries of South Asia, absolutely condemns the sectarian violence in Burma targeting the Rohingya Muslims and calls for an immediate end to this heinous human rights violation.
The long-drawn struggle of the Rohingya people for their rights is currently exacerbated by the state-sponsored pogrom, an attempt at ethnic cleansing by the Government, of a community that comprises approximately 25 percent of the population residing in the Rakhine State of Burma. The Rohingyas have been continuously fighting against persecution, discrimination, and marginalization by the state which has denied them citizenship rights to date.
SAAPE calls on the Government of Burma to immediately end the ongoing violence which has not only claimed countless lives of the Rohingyas but also rendered them as refugees, with women and children bearing the brunt of this grave humanitarian crisis. The Burmese Government must grant citizenship rights to the Rohingyas, truly demonstrating democratic practice and principles to its people.
SAAPE calls on the Government of Bangladesh to provide asylum to the Rohingyas fleeing from the threat to life and freedom from their own soil. SAAPE demands an immediate stepping up of the aid efforts to the Rohingya Muslims fleeing from Burma and calls on the Government of Bangladesh to take necessary steps to provide immediate relief with the assistance of international aid groups.
SAAPE calls on the international community to raise their voice against this brutal act and use their leverage for an immediate and just solution to the ongoing crisis.
SAAPE calls on all democratic forces in Burma to come together unitedly for the promotion of peace and harmony in the country.
Please go through the following links to see the media coverage:
- The Daily Star, Bangladesh
- UNB Connect, Bangladesh
- Financial Express, Bangladesh
- Daily Sun, Bangladesh
- Europe Solidaire Sans Frontieres
