Letter to Australia Foreign Minister by Dr. U Ne Oo

Senator The Hon Bob Carr
Minister for Foreign Affairs
GPO Box 36
Sydney NSW 2001
Facsimile: (02) 92283655
January 27, 2013

Re: Communal Conflict in Rakhine State, Burma/Myanmar

Dear Senator Carr:

I firstly would like to commend the Australian Government's efforts in helping to improve the humanitarian situation following sectarian conflict last year in Rakhine (Arakan) State in Burma. As an Australian of Burmese origin, I am very proud about the way Australian Government had taken a lead in calling on all sides to peacefully resolve that communal conflict in Rakhine State in Burma.

Australian Government does have a long record of actively engaging with Burma/Myanmar. In relation to the BurmaRohingya people of Rakhine State, I note that the Australian Government have had taken a humanitarian based policy engagement with Burma. I recall that 20 years ago when forced expulsion of Burma Rohingya people took place in Burma, the then Labor Government despatched Justice Marcus Einfeld to the Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh. In following years, the Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evens had been involved in a leading role, along with his counterpart leaders of ASEAN, in finding possible solution for those Rohingya refugees.

As of recent, I am concerned about the continue segregations of Rohingya and Rakhine people within Rakhine State. The slow pace of returning to normality in Rakhine State is indicative of the inability by the Burmese government and Burmese political leaders to promote a feasible solution for Rohingya. I have outlined my concern in enclosed report, “Rohingya: New Exodus?”. As the report suggests, I fear that there will be more Rohingya taking perilous sea journey to reach especially Thailand and Malaysia.

Regarding with the unresolved communal conflict in Rakhine State, I would ask Australian Government to take a proactive humanitarian approach, in concert with its ASEAN partners, to help improve the situation for Rohingya. By helping to improve situation in Rakhine State, the already displaced Rohingya would not be compelled to take a perilous journey abroad. I also believe that this would serve in favour of Australia's security and political interests.

Thanks you and Australian Government for your continuing helps to Burma/Myanmar.

Yours faithfully,

(U Ne Oo)