ROHINGYA ADVOCACY NETWORK

IN JAPAN

H.E Fumio Kishida

Honorable Foreign Minister,

The Government of Japan.

Date:- April 13th 2017

Dear Excellency,

We the Rohingya community supports the resolution of UN Human Rights Council for the
Rohingya victims despite the lack of full supports from Japanese Government. The Resolution
demands the formation of International fact-finding Mission to look into the mass atrocity crimes
committed by the Myanmar Armed Forces against the defenseless Rohingyas in Northern
Arakan state in the period between October 2016 and January 2017.

In addition, we note with our utmost regret to the outright rejection of UNHRC resolution
by the Aung San Suu Kyi. We understand Aung San Suu Kyi gained the momentum of
audacity to defy UN Human Rights Council Resolution based on the supports rendered to her by
powerful nations like Japan, China and Russia. She is defiant and defensive of military atrocities
on ethnic minorities, especially on Rohingya.

We welcome the recommendations made by Mr. Kofi Annan led Advisory Commission on
Rakhine state. However under no circumstances, it must not serve to prevent the UN led
independent fact finding commission to Rakhine state.

In the light of serious allegation of crimes committed by Myanmar Armed Forces against
Rohingya since October last year, the advisory commission has called on the government of
Myanmar, to ensure perpetrators of Human Rights violence are held accountable based on
independent and impartial investigation.

Rohingya Advocacy Network in Japan

Saitama Ken, Kawagoe Shi , Kamiterayama - -
+81 (0) 80 3083 5327
 ROHINGYA ADVOCACY NETWORK
IN JAPAN
The commission operated and made recommendation in accordance with the 1982
citizenship law which is used to deny Rohingya citizenship and basic Human Rights. The
commission supported the process of the discriminatory and intimidating national verifications
cards (NVCs) where Rohingya are forced to declare themselves as Bengali. This severely
violates the right to self-identifications of the Rohingya, which remains the root cause of the
dehumanizing of Rohingya in Myanmar. Burma`s name was changed to Myanmar in 1989 by the
military regime and therefore lacked legitimacy. Still the international community and UN have
accepted the name `Myanmar` relying on the principle that every country, group or individual
has the right to name itself as it wishes. Based on this principle, the Advisory Commission also
violates the very basic right to self-identification by referring Rohingya as `Muslims of Arakan`.
It must be noted that this Commission serves only as an Advisory Commission on Rakhine State
with no investigatory role.

Myanmar and all its handpicked Commission of inquiry have repeatedly declared all
atrocities including rape as fabrication and exaggeration. None of the Commissions formed by
the governments since 2012, have so far admitted or accepted the allegation despite the fact that
numerous credible audio, video and photography evidence of the atrocities are available.

The surprising willingness of Aung San Suu Kyi`s government to follow and implement only
some of the Kofi Annan led Commissions recommendations is no wonder a deceptive strategy
of Myanmar to defuse the mounting pressure at the world stage. Recent UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights Mr. Zeid Raad Al-Hussein backed by UN special Rapporteur Ms. Yanghee
Lee souht for an urgent setting up of a full international commission of inquiry into the findings
of recent atrocities against Myanmar`s Rohingya in Rakhine State. Timing of releasing Kofi
Annan`s recommendation and subsequent Myanmar government acceptance on it raises serious
doubt on the sincerity and willingness of the government.

The recommendation is welcoming to a certain extent, but great cautions must be taken by
the international community to ascertain if Myanmar is acting not to escape from the confronting
UN fact finding mission.

The situation of the Rohingya in Rakhine was not changed much. Although the mass
killing, rape and arson are not happening in recently, the Rohingya are still under constant threat.
Several hundreds Rohingyas including children are lingering in the military detention

Rohingya Advocacy Network in Japan

Saitama Ken, Kawagoe Shi , Kamiterayama - -
+81 (0) 80 3083 5327
 ROHINGYA ADVOCACY NETWORK
IN JAPAN
indefinitely. Recently UNICEF asked Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to release those under age
children from the detention unconditionally. The other innocent Rohingya detainee are giving
long term imprisonment without proper court processing. Now again the military and police
are issuing arrest warrants for Rohingya youngsters in every villages. Some of those got arrested
are severely tortured to extort money while others are fleeing to avoid arrest. Rohingya who lost
their houses are still wondering here to there seeking the shelter, food and medication.
International aid organizations and media access is still strictly prohibited. Recently EU
diplomats in Yangon visited to Rakhine to look into the situation of Rohingya but Japanese
diplomats never do the same so far.

Hence we make our earnest appeal to the Japanese government to exercise its influence for
persuading or pressuring Myanmar government to cooperate with UNHRC for full
implementation of its resolution. In conclusion we would like to stress that the UN inquiry dose
provide a real opportunity to the Myanmar government to make genuine democratic reforms so
as it will pave the way for prosperity in Myanmar.

Sincerely,

Zaw Min Htut

Executive Director

Rohingya Advocacy Network In Japan (RANJ)

Rohingya Advocacy Network in Japan

Saitama Ken, Kawagoe Shi , Kamiterayama - -
+81 (0) 80 3083 5327