CANADIAN BURMA ETHNIC NATIONALITIES ORGANIZATION
EMAIL: cbenoca@gmail.com
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ottawa, Ontario
Email: chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca
Date: August 31st 2017
Your Excellency Chrystia Freeland,
We, the Burmese ethnic nationals residing in Canada are very concerned about what is currently
happening in the Arakan State, Western Burma. We strongly denounced the coordinated deadly attacks in
the Arakan State by over 1,000 armed Muslim terrorists; and are very concerned about the
safety and welfare of the innocent civilians regardless of race and religion.
Our native land, a victim of British colonial expansion, is still licking its wounds today as the
former migrants from Chittagong who were encouraged to work in the fertile fields of northern Arakan
continue to make it their home, ease out the locals and make unreasonable demands.
Even though the contemporary history of the Union of Burma has evidence and records of their
treachery, the government magnanimously reached out in the 50s and graciously allowed them to stay
there as naturalized citizens of Arakan. This has nothing to do with religion as there can be Arakanese
Muslims, Arakanese Buddhists and Arakanese Christians etc. All are labelled under different names such
as Kalar Muslims, Zedabarti, Pathi, Cholia, Kaman, Panthay, Myaydu, Surati, Pathu or Bangali etc. but
all can be categorized as Burmese Muslims. However when the xenophobic chauvinistic Myanmar
Military took over in 1962 it began stirring up the hornets’ nest in the 70s. Now that the name Rohingya
became internationally recognized, they can adapt a flexible approach: as “Arakanese Muslims” for their
advantage in conflict resolution and still call themselves as Rohingya in their own tongue.
The international community especially the Muslim world did not delve deep into these problems.
Coupled with expert propaganda, these self-styled Rohingya are making the situation worse, creating
fertile ground for the Jihadist Muslim base. This coincides with ISIS losing its place in the Middle East so
that it is looking for a base somewhere in the soft spot of Southeast Asia.
Even as we put up this appeal to you over12,000 non-Muslims native Rakhine and Hindus
population have been forced to flee their homes while thousands more are trapped in their villages either
surrounded by armed Muslim extremists or their escape routes are heavily mined by the terrorists. Yet
UN Human Rights Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has expressed sympathy to his co religious
counterparts and not for the non Muslims and indigenous ethnic Rakhaines and Arakanese Hindus. So we
ask you to please do something in the name of humanity and fairness to support all residents of Arakan.
Yours Sincerely
Canadian Burma Ethnic Nationalities Organization (CBENO)
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