Burma Task Force USA held a press conference in front of the UN. Prominent Muslim leaders from various Muslim organizations including Burmese Muslim groups, human rights activists and inter-faith clergy spoke demanding an end to decades long ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims of Burma also known as Myanmar. They demanded that the 1982 law that deprived the Rohingyas of Burmese citizenship be repealed. They also demanded that the perpetrators of massacres and mass rapes be brought to justice. Their demands include that Bangladesh, India and Thailand open their borders for Rohingya refugees fleeing the pogrom.
Many speakers expressed sadness and disappointment that Burmese democracy leaders is backtracking from her stand that Rohingyas should have equal citizenship rights. They hoped that she will take a moral stand and not a politically expedient one.
Dr. Shaik Ubaid, founding member of Burma Task Force and co-chair of Muslim Peace Coalition, New York Chapter conducted the press conference and announced that on September 22nd, rallies will be held all over the US reiterating the demands of the Burma Task Force. That is the weekend Aung San Suu Kyi will be in the US to accept an award for her stand for democracy.
Imam Talim Abdur Rashid president of Majlis ash Shura of New York, stated that Burma Task Force New York will hold a rally in front of the UN on Saturday September 8th.
Joe Lombardo, co-chair of United National Antiwar Coalition announced that support for the Burmese Rohingya Muslims will be part of the plank of the October 7th anti-war march in New York.
Mohiuddin Yosuf of Rohingya Cocern International spoke at length at the decades long campaign of ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas with special focus on the pogroms of 1978, 1992 and 2012
Some of the other speakers who spoke are listed below:
Attorney Abdul Aziz of Muslim Ummah of North America
Rev. Donna Schaper of Judson Memorial Church
Mariam Tanzila – Young Sisters of MUNA
Mahtab Uddin Ahmed- Human Rights and Development for Bangladesh
Mubashir Ahmed -Islamic Circle of North America
Debbie Al-Montasir- Muslim Consultative Network
Gerath Bryant – Youth activist
Khwaja Mizan Hasan Jamaica Muslim Center
Burma Task Force USA has launched a petitions signing drive. The petitions are addressed to the Dalai Lama, Secretary Hillary Clinton and Aung San Suu Kyi. It has asked people to give 10 minutes each day for Burma to call and educate political leaders, inter-faith groups and the media. Details of the campaign can be obtained from their website- www.BurmaMuslims.org