Rohingya Muslim Minority Face Marriage Restrictions Slug: Burma Rohingya marriage Reporter: Banyol Kong Janoi Date:

21/11/2012 INTRO Pre i!ent Thein Sein ha re"ently ple!ge! to "on i!er ne# right $or Burma% Rohingya minority& tatele

The 'nite! Nation regar! them a one o$ the #orl!% mo t per e"ute! minoritie & (o)ernment poli"y re tri"t the num*er o$ Rohingya marriage & +ouple ha)e to get permi ion $rom their lo"al authority to get marrie!& ,ailure to get a permit "oul! re ult in a lengthy -ail enten"e& Banyol Kong Janoi tra)el to a Rohingya "ommunity in Bu Thee Tuang. in the northern part o$ Ra/hine State& T01T S,1 Kya# Kya# Oo i pea/ing #ith hi $rien!

223year ol! Kya# Kya# Oo i ta/ing me to a a$e pla"e& 4e !oe n%t #ant to meet me in pu*li"& ,or the inter)ie#. #e ha)e to tra)el a*out a /ilometre $rom the "apital to rea"h the Rohingya "ommunity& 4e !oe n%t #ant to u e hi real name $or e"urity rea on & 4e% a Rohingya an! he ha *een #aiting $or permi ion to marry hi girl$rien!& Kya# "lip 1 56ale/Burme e7 8I gra!uate! three year ago an! I applie! $or permi ion to get marrie! t#o year ago& I hear! that i$ you pay a large amount o$ money. you "an get permi ion imme!iately&8 4e ha! to gi)e aroun! 200 'S !ollar to the o$$i"ial & In 199:. the Burme e go)ernment i ue! the $ir t lo"al or!er re tri"ting the marriage o$ Rohingya& Rohingya "ouple #ho get marrie! #ithout a permit "oul! go to -ail& Kya# "lip 2 5 6ale/ Burme e7 8One o$ my $rien! applie! $or the marriage permit& 4i !o"ument #ere appro)e!. *ut he !i!n%t ha)e any money to pay the o$$i"ial & So he "oul!n%t ha)e hi !o"ument an! "ontinue the marriage& ;n! a$ter that. the authoritie "ame to arre t him an! he #a put in -ail $or < year &=

;""or!ing to the N(O ;ra/an Pro-e"t. #hi"h re"or! human right a*u e again t the Rohingya. marriage permit are only grante! a$ter paying high *ri*e an! a$ter long !elay & It "an ta/e t#o year or more to get appro)al& +hri >e#a $rom ;r/an Pro-e"t e?plain #hy the go)ernment intro!u"e! thi re tri"tion& +hri >e#a "lip 2 50ngli h/,emale7 8,or me it% )ery "lear that thi i a ta"ti" $rom the go)ernment to "ontrol the population& In one parliamentary e ion. the 6ini try o$ Immigration e?plaine! that pre)enting marriage #a a #ay to re!u"e population&= ;n! a a re ult. there are many "a e o$ illegal marriage among the Rohingya& +hri >e#a "lip 1 50ngli h/ ,emale7 8@e $in! many young "ouple run to Bangla!e h *e"au e they "an%t marry in Burma an! their parent "an%t pay the $ee& In other "a e . the "ouple #oul! "ontinue their relation hip #ithout permit& ;n! #hen the girl *e"ome pregnant. he ha to a*ort the *a*y *e"au e it% a li)ing proo$ that they ha! an illegal marriage& ; "ouple #ho get marrie! #ithout permit "an go to -ail $or up to 2 year . *ut thi goe mo tly $or the men&= S,1: Rohingya "hil!ren are playing in the re$ugee "amp ;n! e)en #hen they get marrie!. Rohingya parent ha)e to ign an agreement not to ha)e more than t#o "hil!ren& The ;ra/an Pro-e"t ay the go)ernment puni he Rohingya "hil!ren *y putting them on a A*la"/ li t% i$ their parent !on%t ha)e a marriage permit& The go)ernment announ"e! that a*out <.000 Rohingya "hil!ren *orn thi year are unregi tere!& In total. it% e timate! that there are aroun! :0.000 unregi tere! "hil!ren& +hri >e#a "lip B 5 0ngli h/,emale7 8 The go)ernment ha not i ue! the *irth "erti$i"ate $or "hil!ren in"e the mi! 90 & Thi mean . it #ill *e !i$$i"ult to pro)e that he #a *orn in the "ountry& I$ a "hil! i not regi tere!. he "an ne)er get a "ar!. he "an%t tra)el. an! "an%t go to "hool& @hen he *e"ome an a!ult. he "an%t marry *e"au e he ha no !o"ument& In a re"ent letter to the 'nite! Nation . Pre i!ent Thein Sein ai! that the Burme e go)ernment #a prepare! to a!!re the en iti)e i ue o$ Rohingya "itiCen hip& 4e al o promi e! to loo/ at other i ue u"h a #or/ permit an! granting $ree!om o$ mo)ement $or the Rohingya& 4o#e)er. he !i!n%t ay anything a*out the marriage re tri"tion & The ;ra/an Pro-e"t i urging the go)ernment to ta"/le thi i ue&

+hri >e#a "lip : 50ngli h/,emale7 8I$ a parent #ant to !e"lare their "hil!. #ell they /no# that they "an go to -ail $or illegal marriage& So they ne)er !e"lare thi to the authoritie & They /eep the "hil!ren in hi!e out or en! them out o$ the "ountry& @e%)e hear! torie o$ Rohingya "hil!ren *eing le$t out in Bangla!e h re$ugee "amp & It% a )ery a! ituation $or the "hil!ren an! the mother & Thi marriage i ue i a gro human right a*u e again t the population&= ,or ; ia +alling. thi i Banyol Kong Janoi in Bu Thee Taung&