The Queensland Rohingya Community is call on the Commonwealth of Nations to prevent the genocide on the Rohingyan people of Arakan State in Burma (Myanmar).
‘Athletes are competing at the Commonwealth Games while citizens of the former British colony of Burma daily face genocide at home.’ Noor Zaman, president of Queensland Rohingya Community Inc, today.
‘The Queensland Rohingya Community is staging a protest to coincide with the start of the Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast to raise awareness of the desperate situation of Rohingya people in Burma,’ he added.
The protest will take place at Pratten Park, Off Margaret Ave, Broadbeach, Gold Coast QLD 4218 at 3.00pm to 5:30pm on Wednesday April 4.
Noor Zaman a spokesperson for the Rohingya community in Brisbane will speak about Australia’s responsibility to assist his people in their struggle.
There are more than 500 villages have come under fire from the military leaving death, destruction and poverty in Arakan State. For example, the Kuna Para village in Maungdaw and the Gudam Fara village in Buthidaung were burned to the ground and in Arakan State more than 200,000 Rohingyan people were killed, many burnt alive by Burmese military forces, the group claims.
‘A recent video of survivors of the carnage that shows the burnt bodies of people in the villages is only the most recent example of the ongoing atrocities and crimes committed against the Rohingya people under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi’’, Noor Zaman said.
‘According to recent United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights, there are more than 800,000 Rohingya people are in refugee camps in Bangladesh and more than 40,000 Rohingyan orphans in Kutupalong refugee camp.
‘Our people have suffered in the camps for more than 25 years now with no solution is in sight. We are calling on the Commonwealth of Nations to increase the international pressure, more sanctions and suspend military co-operation with Burma and to find a solution for the Rohingyan people. We are also calling on the Australian Government to pass a resolution in parliament to help stop the genocide and to find a sustainable solution for the Rohingya.
‘We wait in hope for the Australian government and Commonwealth of Nations to develop a plan for the future of the Rohingya people who have suffered for a very long time. Burma: Do not forget that the Rohingya people belong to Arakan State,’ Noor Zaman said.
‘This is what democracy looks like. Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, provides finance and arms to the Burmese (Myanmar) military while calling for a cease-fire with the Rohingyan people defenceless in their burning villages.’
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