Burma published by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Charge d’Affairs

American Embassy

110 University Avenue

Kamayut Township (P.O. Box B, APO AP 96546)

Yangon, Myanmar

Dated October      , 2011 

Re: Background Note: Burma published by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

       on August 3, 2011

Dear Mr. Michael Thurston,

We like to point out the sub-title “People” under which the Background Note of Burma mentioned that “Rohingya” is one of the majorities of Burma’s ethnic groups. We are very astonished to read such so-called Rohingya as an ethnic group of Burma on your Background Note. As a matter of facts, our Burmese history shows that the main majority of indigenous ethnic groups of Myanmar (Burma) are Burman, Shan, Karen, Rakhine (Arakan), Kachin, Chin, and Mon.

The term “Rohingya” was originally referred to Rakhine or Rakhaing (Arakan) in Chittagonian Bengalis’ accents. In colloquial Chittagonian Bengali dialect “Rohing” or “Rohung” means Rakhine (Rakhaing). Their dialect has no “RA” sound, but “RO” sound.  So they are calling our Rakhines or Rakhaings in their dialect as Rohings or Rohungs. And in their language “YA” means native. Therefore, ROHING plus YA becomes ROHINGYA i.e. Rakhine/Rakhaing native. So it is obvious that the word “Rohingya” or “Rohungya” is of original Chittagonian language for native of Rakhine or Rakhaing.

They had come from Bangladesh (formerly known as East Pakistan) and settled down in the northern part of Rakhine (Arakan) State. They are only Chittagonian Bengalis. They have no legal right to claim themselves of the ethnic identity of Rohingya in Myanmar (Burma). They are new breed of Muslim groups called themselves Rohingya, and formed the several organizations under ROHINGYA such as Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU), Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO), Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front (ARIF), and  Araken Rohingya National Council (ARNC). These groups affiliate themselves with Al Qaeda.

The so-called Rohingyas, who never existed in the history of Myanmar (Burma), tried and are trying in any means to include in one of the ethnic groups of Myanmar (Burma). When they were not recognized as an ethnic group by the Government of Myanmar (Burma), they approached and told the Governments of the Islamic Countries, the International Communities and the Human Rights Organizations that they were facing racial discriminations and human rights violations of the Myanmar (Burma) government base on religion and ethnic background. Then the Governments of the Islamic Countries, the International Communities and the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), blindly believing their complaints without thorough study of the authentic historical evidences and records of Myanmar (Burma), were giving them aids in cash and in kind.

Taking this opportunity, we like to point out some actual facts which happened in the townships of Maungdaw, Butheedaung, and Rathedaung of Rakhine (Arakan) State.  The Chittagonian Bengali Muslims (so-called Rohingyas) were/are living in these three townships because they are very close to the Bangladesh as Texas closed to Mexico. They acted as terrorists especially in Maungdaw Township. They had exploded bombs across Maungdaw Township. They burned the Buddhist Rakhine villages and monasteries, destroyed the Buddha images and Pagodas, attacked, raped, tortured, hacked and killed the innocent Rakhine people brutally, and fled to Bangladesh bordering Myanmar in the west. They sought refuge in Bangladesh dishonestly claiming that they were ethnic ROHINGYA people of Myanmar (Burma) and that they were persecuted by the Burmese Regime. In doing so, they were recognized as refugees by Bangladesh Government, and are now enjoying assistance from UNHCR as well as from NGO in Bangladesh.

We, therefore, like to request you that the so-called Rohingya which was wrongly mentioned as ethnic group of Burma in the Background Note: Burma may kindly be removed as early as possible.

Best regards.

Sincerely yours,    

        

Nay Pyi Taw

Nay Pyi Taw