JAKARTA, 10 August 2012 — Several representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) of ASEAN have agreed to collectively assist the Rohingya community. Apart from sending humanitarian aid collaboratively, they would also employ diplomatic pressure onto Myanmar through the ASEAN Secretariat.

In a meeting of NGOs from Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and representatives of the Arakan Movement based in London and Bangkok held here, a resolution was made to set up a pressure committee amongst ASEAN humanitarian NGOs. This committee would press for the ASEAN Secretariat to take action against the Myanmar Government to resolve this problem that has persisted since 1942. HALUAN Malaysia was represented at the meeting by its Chief of Humanitarian Mission, Dr Baharudin Suri.

According to Dr Baharudin, they have also forged a stronger cooperation network amongst local and international NGOs including Buddhist-based NGOs outside of Myanmar. “The meeting also identified five local Islamic NGOs in Myanmar based in Yangon. This is a good strategy not only to send in aid but also to institute recovery plans in the long-term which would require harnessing the role of local NGOs there,” he explained.

Besides that, the NGOs involved also agreed to launch awareness campaigns in their home countries using collective materials and information. “Allah Wills, we shall embark on efforts collectively and deliver humanitarian aids as a team, not as individuals,” Dr Baharudin explained to MediaHALUAN.

Regarding the latest developments in Myanmar, there continued to be killings and atrocities against the Rohingyas. The meeting was informed that the Myanmar Government continued to close all entries into the Arakan (Rakhine) region, and still enforced curfew on the Rohingya community. “No NGO whatsoever are allowed into Arakan and no visas are issued for foreign aid except the latest news of the entourage led by the Turkish Foreign Mnister who was allowed to visit the Sittwe area,” Dr Baharudin added. Sadly compounding was the decision by the Bangladesh Government which halted entry of new refugees into its borders, where over 30,000 were registered and another million unregistered Rohingyas seek shelter. The nation does not want and has stated its inability to accommodate further influx of Rohingyas.

“Grace be to Allah through this cooperation we find there are local Islamic NGOs in Yangon who are registered with the Myanmar Government comprising non-Rohingyas who have succeeded in delivering the aids. Hence there is an avenue still for us to deliver aid expeditiously to those in dire needs and desperate for food and medication in Arakan,” he added.

Sincere contributions in aid of the Rohingyas can be made via “Tabung Kebajikan dan Kemanusiaan HALUAN” at Maybank account number 5622 6350 2611.

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