Rohingya women stand on the debris of their houses after a fire broke out in their camp
Football players from Rohingya refugee camps in Delhi extended hand to flood victims in the southern Indian state of Kerala even if they lead a challenging life.
The Shine Star FC football club, which consist of students and daily-wage laborers, handed over relief fund to Kerala flood Victims through the Human Welfare Foundation, which has been engaging with the refugee community for years.
Rohingya refugee football players went door-to-door in the camp and collected 40,000 Indian rupee ($563) for Kerala flood victims.
A Rohingya cattle herdsman was reportedly killed by a group of Buddhists and other was found dead in the western Rakhine state of Myanmar on Sunday.Azizul Haque, 47, was killed by Buddhists without provocation at a river near the town of Kyauktaw in the northern part of the Rakhine state while he was taking care of the cattle, Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO) Chairman Nurul Islam told Anadolu Agency.In addition, a 25-year-old Asauddin's body was found in a creek near the same town after he went to another village on Friday to buy medicine for his sick mother in the hospital, Islam stated."This kind of killing is a regular phenomenon in the Rakhine State with full impunity," Islam added.Additionally, 15 cattle belonging to Rohingya Muslims were stolen on Sunday by police and people from the Rakhine state.Since Aug. 25, 2017, nearly 24,000 Rohingya Muslims have been killed by Myanmar’s state forces, according to the Ontario International Development Agency (OIDA).More than 34,000 Rohingya were also thrown into fires, while over 114,000 others were beaten, the OIDA report said, adding that 17,718 (±780) Rohingya women and girls were raped by Myanmar’s army and police. Over 115,000 Rohingya houses were also burned down and 113,000 others vandalized, it added.The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.The UN has documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by Myanmar state forces. In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.
Rohingya herdsman killed, other found dead in Myanmar
Two Myanmar journalists of the Reuters on Monday have been given seven years jail sentence for investigation into the murder of Rohingya Muslim men by the security officials in western Rakhine state.Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, are charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison during the investigation into the murder of 10 Rohingya men in Rakhine state.Judge Ye Lwin of Yangon’s Northern District Court said each journalist was handed a seven-year imprisonment as they were found guilty of obtaining and possessing the state secret documents which they possibly transferred to the insurgent groups that are fighting against the government.Wa Lone said the ruling is unfair as they just did what journalists supposed to do during investigation into the unlawful killings.“We did nothing wrong, and we have no fear. We still believe in democracy and freedom of speech,” said Wa Lone.“We will fight for justice until the end,” he said.Defense lawyer Than Zaw Aung said the ruling is unfair. “We will do everything legally.”'Myanmar jailing of Reuters journalists harsh setback for media freedom'European Union demands freedom for two Reuters journalists jailed in MyanmarCriticismThe United States embassy, after the conviction, called on Myanmar to release the journalists immediately, saying it is “a major setback” to the Government of Myanmar's stated goal of expanding democratic freedoms.“The clear flaws in this case raise serious concerns about rule of law and judicial independence in Myanmar,” it said in a statement.The ruling also drew criticism from local and international rights groups.New York-based Human Rights Watch said it marks “a new low for press freedom and further backsliding on rights” under the government led by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who was accused of failing to stop the military atrocities on Rohingya Muslims.“The outrageous convictions of the Reuters journalists show Myanmar courts’ willingness to muzzle those reporting on military atrocities,” said HRW’s Asia director Brad Adams.The journalists were investigating the massacre of 10 Rohingya men in a remote village in Rakhine state last September. Military had admitted soldiers were involved in the killing just days after the arrest of Reuters journalists in December.After their arrest, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were held incommunicado for two weeks, during which they were deprived of sleep and forced to kneel for hours during interrogation, according to the reporters and their lawyers.“These convictions won’t hide the horrors against the Rohingya from the world,” said Adams.“They merely reveal the precarious state of free speech in the country and the urgent need for international action to free these journalists.”Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also condemned the ruling and reiterated its call for the immediate release of the reporters.“The conviction of Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone is a terrible blow to press freedom in Myanmar,” RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said in a statement.“As the justice system clearly followed orders in this case, we call on the country’s most senior officials, starting with government leader Aung San Suu Kyi, to free these journalists, whose only crime was to do their job. After a farcical prosecution, this outrageous verdict clearly calls into question Myanmar’s transition to democracy,” he added.Video: Families, diplomats 'disappointed' after Myanmar journalists verdict
Myanmar slaps prison sentences on two Reuters journalists
The club, which was formed in 2015, mainly participates in tournaments with other teams of refugees held in cooperation with the UNHCR refugee agency.
At least 445 people were killed in floods and landslides in the Indian state of Kerala, according to local media.
“Though our camp is in Delhi we receive a lot of help from Kerala. The love and support Kerala people show us will always be in our memory.
“We pray for them and convey our support with whatever little help we could do,” Rohingya Shine Star Football Club manager Muhammed Shihad said in a press release.
Triggered by torrential monsoon rains, the floods and landslides have affected 800,000 people, while more than 5,600 people were shifted to relief camps.
Stressing the importance of club’s contribution, Human Welfare Foundation CEO Noufal PK said: "Whatever be the amount of contribution the message Shine Star FC shares to the world is priceless. Therefore this contribution is very special [...].”
Recent floods and landslides caused $3 billion worth of losses, submerging 130,000 houses and destroying land.
Thousands of people were left homeless because of the floods.
According to the UNHCR refugee agency, there were 17,500 registered Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers in India as of July 2018.
- Nearly 24,000 Rohingya killed
In a report, the UNHCR refugee agency said nearly 170,000 Rohingya likely fled Myanmar in 2012 alone.
Since Aug. 25, 2017, nearly 24,000 Rohingya Muslims have been killed by Myanmar’s state forces, according to the Ontario International Development Agency (OIDA).
In a recent report, Forced Migration of Rohingya: The Untold Experience, the OIDA raised the estimated number of murdered Rohingya to 23,962 (± 881) from a Doctors Without Borders figure of 9,400.
More than 34,000 Rohingya were also thrown into fires, while over 114,000 others were beaten, the OIDA report said, adding that 17,718 (±780) Rohingya women and girls were raped by Myanmar’s army and police. Over 115,000 Rohingya houses were also burned down and 113,000 others vandalized, it added.
According to Amnesty International, more than 750,000 Rohingya refugees, mostly children and women, have fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community.
The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.
The UN has documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by Myanmar state forces. In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.