Burma_China: 732 Kachin refugees were forcibly relocated to LANA ZUP camp in Kachinland

Dear Friends,

22.august 2012

We have received very terrible news today that 732 Kachin refugees of 156 households from Yang Lu and Lau Hpai refugee camps were forcibly relocating to LANA ZUP camp in Kachinland. Many local Chinese police officers were escorting and guarding along the borders whilst forced relocation have started this morning. The Chinese police have also arrested the journalists who took the photographs and confiscated their cameras.

We also have received a report of the Kachin refugees in Man Hai faced force to return to war zone in the KIA’s 4th Bridge areas [Northern Shan State] today.

According to the KIO official in 3rd Bridge, this force relocation was initiated several times by Chinese Ruili government authority to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). The last meeting with the KIO was attended by Mr. Aik Pan, Chairman of Ruili Judiciary Department, Mr. Ju Chau Gyin, Ruili Police Department and Yang Yau Gaw, Secretary of Ruili Government on 2nd of August 2012. The Ruili government have sought the KIO to persuade to relocate their refugees. The Ruili government event threaten the Kachin refugees in China territory to handover to Burmese authority or force return, if refuse to relocate to the Kachinland’s territory. This pressure for forced relocation is part of systemic abuse of Kachin refugees by the Chinese Ruili local government.

Burma-Ministry of Foreign Affairs “The incidents in the Rakhine State are sectarian conflicts which are purely internal affairs of a sovereign state “

The incidents in the Rakhine State are sectarian conflicts which are purely internal affairs of a sovereign state They are not relating to any kind of religious persecution or religious discrimination

The incidents in the Rakhine State are sectarian conflicts which are purely internal affairs of a sovereign state
They are not relating to any kind of religious persecution or religious discrimination

NAY PYI TAW, 21 Aug-Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release today. Following is the full text of the press release.

With regard to the recent incidents in the Rakhine State of Myanmar, some individuals and organizations from abroad have issued statements based on the false and fabricated news reporting of some foreign news agencies and organizations.

It is obvious that the violence in the Rakhine State are neither the conflict between two religious groups of different faith nor humanitarian issue. It was only the violence conflict between two communities within a State of Myanmar following a criminal act. As a result of the riots, 88 people lost their lives of which 31 people were Rakhine and 57 were Muslim Bengalis. Similarly, houses and religious buildings from both communities were burnt down.

Reviewing the above-mentioned destruction, loss of lives and injury, it is clear that it was not a case of persecution or oppression by one race to another. An investigation committee was formed immediately to carry out investigation and to take actions according to law.

The Government took immediate actions with full restraint to restore law and order and stability in places where riots broke out since the very beginning of violence. As a result, law and order in Rakhine State is improving and overall situation is now returning to normalcy. The Government of Myanmar has never practiced policy of violence against Muslims or any other faiths. Therefore, the Government totally rejects accusations made by some organizations that the Government is practicing such a policy of abuses.

The Government has been working closely with international community for relief and rehabilitation for the victims of both communities in a non-discriminatory and
transparent manner.