Letters to the Editor — November, 2010

Raza

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Arakan Land

Regarding the article, “Unwanted: Dead or Alive” [February 10, 2009;
URL: http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=15082]:

Ask the Arakans about the Rohingya and they will tell you. Of course, the Rohingya are certainly not native to Burma, as far as I know, and it is certain also. This problem should be dealt with accordingly and of course, fairly also, as the Rohingya are “unwanted,” even by Bangladesh where they originate from in the first place.

I don't know of U Nu recognizing the Rohingya as an ethnic minority of Burma, much less a Rohingya serving in governing the country under the helm of U Nu. If he did, he would be dead then, in the hands of the Arakans, who had inhabited the land since before the Burmese established the first Burmese empire at Pagan in 1044, long before William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy in France) sat on the throne of England after disposing of King Harold in 1066.

We can't let the Rohingya claim themselves as an ethnic group of Burma, as it is not true. And the fact that they are claiming Arakan as their land makes it worse for them to even stay in the country, where they have been living, illegally of course, for some decades, as far as I know. It is the sympathy and compassion shown to them—letting them stay on the land—by the Arakans in the first place, that their population has blown to the size that it is today. And woe to the Arakans today—the Rohingya are claiming their land as theirs.

Even Bangladesh, their native land, is refusing to accept them. Of course, Burma has no reason to do so, since day one, as they are not native to the country. The international community should take this case seriously now, before it is too late. As long as the Rohingya claim to be native to Burma, then they will have problems now and in the future, as it is not true. Even if the central governing body in Burma, whoever it is, agrees to host the Rohingya and let them stay in Arakan State, then the Arakans will make war on the governing body, and rightly so, in all senses. Take care people, before you do anything in this regard, for both short and long term consequences.

The Rohingya should be in Bangladesh, rather than in Burma, in line with their religion. Most importantly is the fact that they don't belong to any part of Arakan State, the land Arakans have been calling home, since a millennium ago.

George Than Setkyar Heine

No to Gambari

Regarding the article, “Gambari Had ‘Good Discussion’ in Burma: Ban” [February 11, 2009; URL: http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=15090]:

UN should not believe the reports of Mr. Gambari's trip to Myanmar [Burma]. We do not trust Mr Gambari; he is not suitable to be a special envoy of the UN for Myanmar. The UN should dismiss Mr. Gambari as soon as possible. No need to come back Mr Gambari.

Molly

Danish ‘No’ to Sanctions is Right

Regarding the article, “Danish Minster Slams Burma Boycott, Sanctions” [August 11, 2008; URL: http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=13825]:

I totally agree with her. The sanctions have been hurting the government and their cronies, but hurting the people even much more. Twenty years of such efforts have only made the people worse off and pushed Burma more toward China and some rouge countries. Even if people could overthrow the government now, the country's future is unthinkable. How can we have a government of the people, by the people, for the people, when the people are weak? The government is certainly not making people any stronger. Only with engagement from the international community at least economically, people will have hope to get out of the poverty and strengthen themselves. Otherwise, the situation will just call for another coup and the vicious cycle will never end. So, go Ulla!

SanctionsRbad

Karen Betrayal

Regarding the article, “Htain Maung Agrees to Border Deal with Junta” [February 11, 2009; URL: http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=15094]:

So long as the Karen and other ethnic groups in Burma are betraying their own people, the military regime will enjoy their life.

M.