JOINT STATEMENT

Ref: BR.000101

DATE. 29.09.2015

We, the undersigned Rohingya organizations demand to the United Nations, ASEAN, Organization of
Islamic Conference, European Union, United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Observers and
stakeholders to condemn the decision of Myanmars Union Election Commission (UEC)s rejection to the
Rohingya applicants on the false grounds that are unacceptable and totally undemocratic.
Before sending your observer mission representing EU member states as well as Canada, Switzerland
and Norway to monitor the November general election, we request you to outline the most imperative
part of the democratic process in the Myanmar.
European Unions peace process, U.S. President Barack Obama and United Nations Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon visit to Myanmar gave Rohingya a hope, and waves of changes surged around us. However,
the developments that occurred between November 2014 - November 2015 made Rohingya hopeless
again.
As your commitment to enhance your cooperation to the countrys transition and reform process, we
would like to know how could be an election be fair and free in which Rohingya and other minority
groups has been barred completely, which declines fundamental principles of democracy and human
rights?
All the current Rohingya members of Myanmar's parliament and previously contested Rohingya
candidates has been rejected from contesting Nov. 8 elections on the allegation that their parents were
not Myanmar citizens at the time of their birth.
U Shwe Maung, an elected MP in 2010 elections from the current ruling Union Solidarity and
Development Party (USDP) has been rejected. He has represented the Buthidaung constituency and
elected as an MP in 2010.
U Abu Tahay, contested elections in 1990 and 2010, but disqualified for 2015 elections without any
reason, given by Maungdaw district election commission and subsequent appeal was rejected again by
Rakhine state election commission.
Their document says their parents were full citizens prior to their birth and some of them have been
served as government servants. More than 2.5 million Rohingya who have fled the country have no right
to vote while more than 1.5 million Rohingya in country have been disqualified from voting in upcoming
poll.
According to UN Mynmar has begun to institute political and economic reforms, but so-called this
democratic reform made Rohingya de facto stateless in their own country and they have been facing the
worst persecution of their history. .

Our Concerns:
We welcome European Unions involvement in peace process and democratic reformation process in
Myanmar but we understand that U.S and EU have a greater responsibility to make sure that Myanmar
gets a fair and free election on November 8 and Rohingya get their indispensible voting right.
We have serious concern that Rohingya elimination policy from 2015 elections will not bring a real
democracy in Myanmar.
Signed by:
1.

ROHINGYA FEDERATION OF ARAKAN, BURMA

( RFA)

2.

THE EUROPEAN ROHINGYA COUNCIL

3.

MYANMAR ROHINGYA REFUGEE COMMIITTEE JAMMU & KASHMIR

(India)

4.

CANADIAN BURMESE ROHINGYA ORGANIZATION

(CBRO)

(Canada)

5.

BURMESE ROHINGYA ASSOCAITION in JAPAN

( BRAJ)

(Japan)

(ERC)

For media Contact:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Mr. Firdous
Mr. U Hlatin
Mr. Nur Hasim
Mr.Harunn

+971551199896
+45 71 69 50 27
+15192088574
+818047298700

Copy to:
European Union (EU) Election Observation Missions (EOMs)
EU ambassador to Myanmar Roland Kobia
EU Election Observation Mission in Myanmar
Federica Mogherini, the EU chief of foreign affairs and security policy
U.S.-based Carter Center and the European Union
Global Elections Observers (GEO)

(England)
(Netherlands)