Boats Stranded At Sea, A Busy Week

Last week, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was passed with its language on the Rohingya somewhat edited but still showing strong support for the Burmese democratic forces of the National Unity Government. At the same time, Senator Markey’s letter asking the government of Bangladesh to increase Rohingya children’s access to education, which we had requested, was released. It’s a strong letter.

Also last week, Burma Task Force met with UN Special Rapporteur to Burma Tom Andrews, an outspoken champion for Rohingya and for human rights in Burma. We discussed challenges impacting Rohingya refugees, such as refugee host countries’ restrictions on education. We also focused on trafficking, as reflected in the emerging boat crisis.

We have been in touch with State Department staff in Bangladesh and elsewhere regarding three boats with over 500 passengers in total that have been stranded in the seas between Bangladesh, Burma and Malaysia. Unfortunately, one boat was “rescued” by a Vietnamese offshore oil company only for the Rohingya passengers to be turned over to their persecutors in Burma. This is against customary law, and we have complained to Vietnam and reached out to allies in Vietnam. Our Rohingya Associate Sharifah Shakirah has been on the phone with the passengers. We are very much worried that these Rohingya may die.

We have been here before, but the neighboring nations do not learn to give shelter to desperate men, women and children. If you are from Malaysia or Indonesia, please ask your government to assist.

For Human Rights Day, our staff spoke on Muslim Network TV in the USA and in Canada. Our Rohingya Associate Abdullah spoke from the camps about the increase in trafficking and how this is tearing apart life in the camps.

Abdullah also conducted a video interview with a Rohingya woman who escaped from Bhasan Char. Please do watch it. It is mistaken policies like tricking Rohingya into going to this isolated island that are increasing the number of Rohingya fleeing into the hands of traffickers out of hopelessness.