A Call to Stop Factionalism for Urgent Reconciliation

Press Release: Date: June 30, 2010 We, undersigned organizations are deeply concerned about ongoing and systematic mispropagandas of Burmese opposition group towards continuous ethnic cleansing, persuading the Burmese military regime by various means. The opposition is identified as Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), exile, which a coalition member together with National League for Democracy (NLD) and remained in exile Government, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB). As of other ethnic minorities of Burma, the Rohingya ethnic minority is continuously struggling for the restoration of democracy and establishment of human rights in Burma, no matter how they were victimized. The role of Rohingyas in Burmese democratic movement in exile is totally undeniable but in many Burmese forums, their activities are denied or ignored without any hesitation, which will definitely lead to undemocratic steps with exclusive policies. ALD is a party which is playing double standard roles both in the opposition groups and ruling military governance in order to strengthen Rakhaing racial supremacy and religious discriminations. These undemocratic activities will lead to establish Zio-Nazism in future Burma or Rakhaing colonialism throughout the factionalist activities and behaviors. The Rakhaing people both inside and outside of Burma are also committing crimes against humanity as partner of military regime. It is true that almost entire pro-democratic Burmese groups in Malaysia are practicing the activities of colonialism and non-participatory, which is pushing the movement in dire situation. In many occasion, the ALD's supportive statements towards the military regimes are being released. The latest version is appeared on June 18, 2010 at its official website: http://www.ald-exile.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1075:2010- 06-18-15-21-08&catid=53:myanma-news-foreign&Itemid=78 assaulting the Rohingya ethnicity in the program of Myanmar Celebration 2010 organized by Amnesty International Malaysia and Malaysian Bar Council at Bar Auditorium. In the statement, the ALD accused the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR), one of the1990s winning parties as "Bengali Refugee Organization" with a view to supporting military regime, while provoking the ASEAN nations throughout the misleading information on Burma nuclear issue. In fact, members of ALD and its allied groups failed to give presentation on the present political situation in Burma and thus sentimentally acting the democratic opposition party in undemocratic way. Besides, it attack on an important figure for future democracy, who is one of 13 Democratic Leadership Trainers, trained by the National Reconciliation Program (NRP) of Burma, currently serving the responsibility of General Secretary for the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR), exile, South East Asia Regional Office, Vice-Chairman for the All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF), Malaysia, Advisor for the Democratic Federation of Burma (DFB), Malaysia and some other responsibilities in his own community organizations. By this act, the ALD is proving its dedication against International Human Rights standards and genuine democracy, which does not have any difference from the act of Burmese military regime or SPDC. We affirm that unless stopping such kinds of undemocratic supervision, the future federal democracy will not bring peace, justice, equality with full human rights and human dignity. We also affirm that unless respecting the rights of every individual human being by the pro-democracy opposition, the restoration of democracy in Burma will lead to ethnic tension which may result to bloodsheds. Therefore, national reconciliation among exile pro-democracy groups is much more important than reconciliation in Burma. If fail to do so, restoration of future democracy in Burma will be meaningless. In these regards, we sincerely urge upon all pro-democratic Burmese groups to urgently abandon the every sorts of undemocratic activity and behavior which is against international human rights standards for the interest of peace and stability in the country of Burma. We also call upon the international community to install pressure on pro-democracy Burmese groups to respect democratic rights of all citizens from all levels without further delay and to urgently convene the participatory process for the future federal union of Burma. Signed by: 1. Arakan Rohingya Refugee Committee (ARRC), Malaysia 2. Arakan Rohingya Organization-Japan (JARO) 3. Arakan Rohingya Ulama Council, (ARUC), Malaysia 4. Burmese Rohingya Association in UAE (BRA-UAE) 5. Canadian Burmese Rohingya Organization (CBRO), Canada 6. Human Rights Association for Rohingya (HURAR), Arakan-Burma 7. Myanmar Muslim Council (MMC), KSA 8. National Council for Rohingya (NCR), Malaysia 9. National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR) exile, HQ, USA 10. Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF), Arakan-Burma 11. World Rohingya Congress (WRC), USA For further information, please contact: Kyaw Soe Aung, Tel: +14147364273 Mohammad Sadek, Tel: +60 163094599