New Thai-based Rohingya rights group formed

Monday, 06 December 2010

Chittagong, Bangadesh: A new organization aimed to serve the needs of the Rohingya community in Thailand has been formed, according to the group’s newly named president.

The group, named the Arakanese Rohingya Community in Thailand (ARCT), was formed in the Ramkhanhan area on December 3 during a meeting of Rohingya community members.

“We named the organization according to the decision of community members,” said Jahangir, president of the organization.

He added that the group consisted of 17 central executive members under the leadership of the president and Nur Hakhim, who serves as general secretary.

At the meeting, more than 50 Rohingyas joined together to participate and to support working for social and humanitarian progress under the banner of the group.

Abdul Mabud, a patron board member, delivered the opening speech in the meeting, while concluding remarks were made by Jahangir.

The organization aims to promote greater understanding of Rohingya culture and their situation in Burma, especially in northern Arakan State to Thai people and Thai authorities, according to General Secretary Nur Hakhim, and to create educational programs for the younger generation of Rohingyas and foster reconciliation between Rohingya and Rakhine communities.

“In this critical and crucial time, many Rohingya activists, well-wishers, elders, sympathizers and philanthropists are thinking that it is very essential to form a social welfare association,” said a statement issued by the new ARCT group.

“So attendees of the first meeting agreed to work for Rohingya equality under Thai law as well as with other human rights organizations from Burma and Thailand.”

The statement added: “We, the Thailand-based Rohingyas, solemnly take an oath to work voluntarily with our hearts and souls on behalf of the vulnerable Rohingyas living in Thailand and in other parts of the world, under the banner of the Arakanese Rohingya Community in Thailand. We also will work to keep a reliable network with our elders and Rohingya communities living in other countries.”

Source: Kaladan Press Network.
Link: http://www.kaladanpress.org/v3/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2937:new-thai-based-rohingya-rights-group-formed.