Anti-Muslim Violence in Burma Rages On

“Call Obama”

Press Release by Burma Taskforce

Anti-Muslim violence in Burma rages on. It’s getting worse.

This past weekend, in a Sagaing Division village, a crowd of 1,000 Buddhists burned down the homes and shops of Muslims, while security forces “failed” to intervene.

Those attempting to help victims of Islamophobic violence are attacked themselves.  Buddhist aid workers in Arakan State are beingforced to resign as they and their families become targets of threats and intimidation.

Last week, the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Burma was attacked by 200 Buddhists; the police failed to protect him, and the government immediately denied the attack.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has also called for an independent investigation into anti-Muslim attacks since June 2012, and this week, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) called for an independent investigation inits latest report. PHR wrote that anti-Muslim violence, bolstered by hate speech, systems of impunity, and inaction by government and democracy movement leaders, “could lead to mass atrocities on a scale heretofore unseen in Burma” unless the international community addresses it.

According to UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, “The human rights violations being committed against the Rohingya in Rakhine State are widespread and systematic and there continues to be absolutely no accountability for what is occurring there. There is no way of glossing over this state of affairs with the genuine progress that is being made in other areas.”

URGENT Action

Contact President Obama to:

•    urge the UN to establish an international, independent investigation into Burma’s ongoing anti-Muslim violence.

•    demand accountability and justice in order for peace to prevail in the region.

•    implore that the US and the UN should no longer tolerate systematic impunity and hate crimes against the stateless, helpless people of Burma.

Act Now:

•    Call President Obama today: 202-456-1111,
•    Forward this message to your friends.

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