Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK welcomes the Early Day Motion number 670 on “Thailand’s treatment of Rohingya refugees” in the British Parliament.
The Rohingya, who are rendered stateless, are worst victims of systematic, persistent and widespread human rights violations in Burma, including denial of citizenship rights, severe restrictions on freedom of movement, education, marriage and religion, forced labour, rape, land confiscation, arbitrary arrests, torture, extra judicial killings and extortion on daily basis. So far about 1.5 million them were expelled from the country or have had to leave their homeland to save their lives since 1948. These crimes against humanity which are arguably ‘slow-burning genocide’ forced the Rohingyas to leave their homes in search of peace, safe shelter, and protection. Government of Thailand should treat them humanitarianly while addressing the root cause of their flights from Arakan.
We are very much thankful to Members of the British Parliament for this significant Early Day Motion calling on the Thailand to grant UNHCR access to Rohingya refugees in Thailand, to end forced repatriations and to allow Rohingya and other refugees in Thailand to claim asylum and be given sanctuary.
Tun Khin
President
Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK
Mobile: +447888714866
Full text of the Motion:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=37721&SESSION=899
23 MPs have already signed the Motion
EDM 670
THAILAND’S TREATMENT OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES
03.02.2009
Bercow, John
That this House is appalled that Thailand’s navy has left around 1,000 Rohingya refugees adrift in the ocean in boats without engines or food or water; is deeply concerned that hundreds may have died as a result; notes that the Rohingya people face severe persecution in Burma, including denial of citizenship, a ban on marriage without government permission, severe restrictions of movement, religious persecution, extortion, land confiscation and restrictions on access to education; and calls on Thailand to grant UNHCR access to Rohingya refugees in Thailand, to end forced repatriations and to allow Rohingya and other refugees in Thailand to claim asylum and be given sanctuary