A Rohingya National Convention Completed and Formed
Working Committee
“Arakan Rohingya
National Organization (ARNO) is given political leadership role to present the Rohingya people and national interest until it holds
national convention again,” said Noor Kamal, a working Committee Member.
The RNC was held on 14 -16 May 2004, participated by Arakan
Rohingya National Organization (ARNO), Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan (BRAJ), Burmese Rohingya Community in Australia (BRCA), exiled leaders of
the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPH), National League for
Democracy (NLD)-Arakan Sector, Students and Youth
League for Mayu Development (SLMD) and National
League for Democracy (NLD)- Arakan Sector, Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF), Arakan Human Rights Organization (AHRO), Ex-MPs, academics
and professionals, religious and community leaders, youth and student leaders,
writers and journalists and social welfare
activists.
A number of Rohingya groups and individuals from home
and abroad, particularly from
The delegates and participants discussed on the current political developments
and process and other important issues and problems relating to Arakan and its peoples, particularly matters of Rohingya’s concern.
The RNC unanimously adopted
the following policies:
(1) The RNC stresses the need for unity among all the peoples of Arakan and
(2)
The RNC
deplores the policy of ‘exclusiveness’ being practiced by some Rakhaing political party leaders and individuals to keep the
Rohingya politically marginalized and urges upon them
to shun from inflammatory writings, speeches and activities against
(3)
the Rohingya, in the interest of the all people of Arakan. Such practice that leads to confrontation rather
than co-existence cannot be done without doing injustice to the composite
nature of the Arakan society. Let’s come forward with
a commitment for both unity and diversity, a respect for difference,
willingness to share power. Replace hatred with love and affection, because the
third party preaches the hatred. Let’s replace the policy of confrontation and
destruction with cooperation, peace and development and let’s work together to
find the best solution for our future generation.
(3) The Convention expresses its solidarity with all Burmese oppositions,
democratic forces and ethnic nationalities and aspires to work together with
Members of the Parliament Union (MPU), United Nationalities League for
Democracy (UNLD) Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC), National Democratic Front
(NDF), National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB), and National Coalition
Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB).
(4) The RNC expresses its support to the 1990 General Elections results and
National League for Democracy (NLD) whose parliamentarians won an overwhelming
victory and its leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political and ethnic
parties, including the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPH) and
Kaman National League for Democracy (KNLD).
(5) The Convention expresses its concern over the SPDC sponsored sham
National Convention to be held on
(6) The Convention strongly condemns the SPDC’s State terrorism upon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her
supporters at Depayin on
(8) The Convention
expresses its serious concern over the continuing human rights violations on
the Burmese people and democracy activists, particularly on the Rohingya and in areas of ethnic nationalities. . The
Convention calls upon the SPDC to stop forthwith all its heinous actions
against the people.
(9) The Convention notes that there are huge number of refugees from Burma
sheltering in all neighboring countries and urges upon the international
community, UN with UNHCR, and the host countries to help them continue their
peaceful living on humanitarian ground.
(10) The Convention strongly condemns the SPDC for its continued humiliating
restrictions on the freedom of movement and other socio-economic, cultural and
religious activities of the Rohingya. The movement of
restriction imposed on the Rohingya is not acceptable
to any living creatures on earth. The Convention calls upon the junta to stop
treating the Rohingya as animals and ensure their
human rights and freedom.
(11) The Convention expresses its serious concern that the SPDC is now selling
the gas to serve its own purposes and the people of Arakan
are not benefiting from the huge gas reserve in their backyard. The Convention
urges upon all those interested in Arakan gas to
comply with all civilized norms and practices in order to serve the local
people of the area, help restore democracy with legitimate responsible
government and thereafter enter into gas deals and other projects with the
informed consent of the people.
(12) The Conventions appeals to all neighboring countries, particularly
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