News @ M-Media

Tag: English_Version

  • Myanmar popular media, The Voice Weekly’s ill propaganda

    The Voice Weekly’s Chief Editor, Kyaw Min Swe

    October 28, 2012
    M-Media

    One of the most influential media in Myanmar, The Voice Weekly, posted a news on Oct 27 which captions “INGO and OIC have hands in whipping up the Rakhine conflict”. The report was just based on the Rakhine perspective, citing a Rakhine politician and a statement with no reasonable arguments. 

    The Voice Weekly is the publishing branch of Myanmar E-grass, a well-known academic and advocacy group. The organization’s academic director Dr. Kyaw Yin Hlaing is the secretary of the government-backed Arakan Conflict Inquiry Commission. The Voice Weekly is a leading news agency politicizing false news and biased perspectives about the Arakan conflict since June this year.

    News in detail is as follows:

    Yangon Oct 27

    U Myo Kyaw, secretary from Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) said that renewed violence in Rakhine state has been instigated by international non-government organizations resided in Myanmar and OIC (Organization of the Islamic Cooperation).

    The statement issued by ALD on 25th Oct states – “The violence happened in June has just calmed and come to pass again now, more diffuse than the last one, in Min Bya, Myaut U, Myay Bone, Kyaut Phyu, Kyaut Taw, Yathae Taung, Paut Taw townships. As such, it is seen that the Bengalis set ablaze not only their own houses but the Buddhist Rakhines’ too. According to the incidences, we believe that those conflicts have been taken place as the result of the manipulation by international and foreign organizations.”

    “If demonstration against OIC happened in Min Bya today, then tomorrow the violence would happen. As such, it is clear that there is a hand of foreign organizations behind curtain.” explained by U Myo Kyaw.

    On Oct 25, the president office declared that the manipulators behind the Rakhine violence will be exposed and legal action taken against them.

    State run newspaper describes that because of such renewed conflict, there are a total of 60 had been killed, 95 wounded and about 3000 housed were destroyed.

     

    Official Website of The Voice Weekly – http://thevoicemyanmar.com/

    Official Facebook Page of The Voice Weekly – http://www.facebook.com/thevoiceweekly

  • (Refugee News Updates) Refugees Run Out of Food and Fuel in Sin Tat Maw

    October 27, 2012
    M-Media
    Reporting by Zarni

    Refuees from Kyaut Phyu Fleeing Violence by Rakhines

    At 10:45 AM

    M-Media talked to a refugee from Kyaut Phyu who is now at Sin Tat Maw village, Sittwe.

    “We are on the bank of Sin Tat Maw village in Sittwe. We left Kyat Phyu on October 22nd and we arrived here on October 25th. There are groups of people traveling separately. Now we have more than 3,500 refugees with us. There is no security forces to protect us here”.

    Sin Tat Maw has 600 houses and local residents are helping the refugees arriving by boats.

    A refugee told M-Media, “Sin Tat Maw itself relies on Sittwe and it is a poor village. Local residents are giving food to us, but they are running out of food”.

    The refugee continues, “Other villages have threatened Sin Taw Maw for helping us. Villagers are afraid that they would be attacked as well. We already run out of fuel for our boats to leave Sin Tat Maw. Can nobody does anything to help us? We are sitting and waiting to die”.

  • News Report by Myanmar’s Islamic Religious Affairs Council on Arakan Terror

    News Report by Myanmar’s Islamic Religious Affairs Council on Arakan Terror

    The following is the unofficial English translation of news report released by Myanmar’s Islamic Religious Affairs Council on October 26, 2012. Original document is enclosed at the end.

    News from Arakan State, Myanmar

    3:15pm –  News from Sittway, 52 Muslim refugee boats are awaiting in the sea for permission to dock. They are in short of food and water. There are 5 dead bodies in the boat.

    3:15pm – On a hill in Myaypone township, 3000 Muslims are trapped. The are surrounded by terrorists at the foot of the hill.

    4:00pm – 14 Muslim refugee boats fled from Kyauk Phyu’s Pikesate village are not allowed to dock to any shore. They are awaiting for help and also in short of food and water.

    4:45pm – The terrorist are burning down Doha Muslim village in Pauktaw township.

    5:16pm – Muslim refugees from Kyaukphyu city have been fleeing to Thaechaung by boats.

    5:50pm – Muslim refugees are being transferred to rescue camps in Thaechaung (Sittway Township). In Pauktaw village,  Muslim refugees on boats are started to move to shore. No news of the number of boats accepted to dock.

    6:10pm – Around Sittway (Bomyat, Wireless, Tapine, fishing dock station), about 20 Muslim refugee boats are not allowed to dock and are still in the sea.

    6:15pm – With the help of the Navy, about 20 Muslim refugee boats are allowed to dock at Maungdaw.

    Special request:

    In Kyauknimaw town, starting from this morning (26 October), Rakhines are moving their belongings to the nearby towns/villages. Tonight (26 Oct), the news are spreading that in Kyauknimaw Town Arakan, terrorists will attack and kill Muslims. At the moment, Muslims are feeling that they have no choice but just sitting and waiting to be killed. Urgent rescue and protection are requested by Muslim residents as their lives are being threatened. It is said that safety measures are too weak.

    Regards.

    (Signed By)

    Alhajj Myint Shwe
    Vice Chairman

  • Radio Free Asia’s Interview With A Muslim Fleeing To The Sea

    Radio Free Asia’s Interview With A Muslim Fleeing To The Sea

    The following is the transcript of Radio Free Asia’s interview with a Muslim man who was fleeing in the sea to escape riots in Kyaut Phyu township, Arakan state. The original interview in Burmese language was aired on October 24, 2012.

    RFA: Mr. Maung Ni, where are you now?
    Ans: We are at Kyaut Phyu, in the sea by motorboats.

    RFA: Which quarter in Kyaut Phyu do you live?
    Ans: We live in the east of Kyaut Phyu. It’s called Pait Saet or Kalar Pait Saet.

    RFA: Why are you there in the sea, elaborate to me ?
    Ans: We don’t have our homes anymore as all were destroyed. We have been chased [by Rakhines] or raided by rods and swords. So, we are fleeing to the sea by boats.

    RFA: How many of you are there now?  Families or individual?
    Ans: We are at sea now as we fled because they were chasing us with swords. They had also destroyed all of our houses.

    RFA: How many of you are there? Are they your families?
    Ans: Yes, families and relatives. There are also other people and about 7,000 in total.

    RFA: How many?
    Ans: About 7,000.

    RFA: Where are those 7,000?
    Ans: They are floating in the sea at Kyaut Phyu. Yes, of course, total of about 7,000.

    RFA: How are they staying in the sea? Are they in boats?
    Ans: They are in boats, sir.

    RFA: Where are those 7,000 from? Tell me.
    Ans: They are also from eastern Kalar Pait Saet .

    RFA: Tell me the latest situation of your quarter as you saw.
    Ans: There is no single house left in our quarter. As being nowhere to live, we came here by boats.

    RFA: Didn’t the army or police protect you from rioters? Didn’t they prevent rioters from burning houses?
    Ans: Yes, they did. But they are unable to protect us well because there are too many rioters. That’s why we fleet from the area.

    RFA: How many military personnel are there? How do they protect you?
    Ans: I saw 20-30 soldiers.

    RFA: Did this event start from last night or this morning?
    Ans: There were fewer attacks last night, but more attacks took place this morning since 8 AM.

    RFA: More attacks took place at 8 AM today, is that correct?
    Ans: Yes, more today started from 8 AM.

    RFA: Tell me what you saw last night – from the beginning to the latest situation.
    Ans: What happened was, since 8 PM last night, they started burning down Muslim houses in our quarter.

    RFA: How many of them? What did you see?
    Ans: There were army units and there are [unclear answer].

    RFA: Did you see by yourself or you heard it from someone else?
    Ans: I was there. Fire department was there. Together with the military, I was extinguishing fire.

    RFA: How many houses were burnt down?
    Ans: About 50 at that time. As I saw it by myself, it’s correct. Together with the army, I was extinguishing fire.

    RFA: You and the army together extinguishing fire, is that correct?
    Ans: Yes, yes. Fire department also came, but the fire couldn’t be extinguished completely.

    RFA: So?
    Ans: Rakhines came again and set on fire our mosque.

    RFA: Where was it?
    Ans: The old mosque.

    RFA: Where was it? Was it in Kyaut Phyu?
    Ans: Near Kalar Pait Saet office in Kyaut Phyu.

    RFA: Is the mosque still there? What happened?
    Ans: The mosque was not burnt down completely last night. But today at 8 am, the mosque (two mosques) were burnt down completely. When Rakhines started burning, Muslims tried to resist and retaliate. When Rakhines retreated a little bit, the army opened fire and three Muslim youth were shot dead.

    RFA: Where are they from? Tell me whose children they are.
    Ans: They are from our quarter.

    RFA: Did you see it by yourself or heard it from elsewhere?
    Ans: I was right beside there. My son was also there.

    RFA: Why did the army open fire? Tell me about the incident.
    Ans: When Rakhines came to set the mosque on fire, Muslims tried to counterattack with rods and swords. The army opened fire randomly and three Muslims got killed. Another 10 person got wounded.

  • Violence in Arakan Spread to Kyaut Taw Today

    Violence in Arakan Spread to Kyaut Taw Today

    October 25, 2012
    M-Media
    Reporting by Htun Taut

    Rakhines have started burning down Muslims’ houses in Kyaut Taw township today.

    At 6:30 AM, Rakhines have started burning down houses at Lat Saung Kaut village. Those fleeing the area were shot dead by the Rakhine Army, which is pretending to be the Burmese Army.

    A local contact told M-Media that 7 Muslims have been shot dead.