Monday, October 23, 2017, 15:00 - 16:00
Zaw Min Htut, Executive Director, Rohingya Advocacy Network in Japan
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in English.
"Rohingya issue in Myanmar"
The rapidly unfolding tragedy of Rohingya refugees fleeing the alleged atrocities of the armed forces of Myanmar is attracting growing international attention after the UN Secretary-General described the affair as an act of genocide against an ethnic minority, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights termed it as "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing."
And yet, the Myanmar authorities apparently continue to push the entire Muslim population of Rakhine State out of the country on the pretext of launching an offensive against Islamic fundamentalism. Myanmar officials are trying to justify the brutal act by blaming all of the Rohingya for attacking police posts and army installations last August. More than half a million Rohingya, out of a total population of roughly over a million, has so far taken shelter in makeshift refugee camps in Bangladesh, and many more are crossing the border every day. However, the government of Myanmar is still trying to portray the Rohingya as outsiders.
In the light of such developments, the Executive Director of Rohingya Advocacy Network in Japan has decided to address a press conference at the FCCJ to explain the situation from the perspective of the victims. Zaw Min Htut was a democracy activist in his country in early 1990s when he was a student of Rangoon University. He came to Japan in 1998 to seek political asylum, and in 2002 obtained refugee status. During the repressive years of military dictatorship in Myanmar, he was actively involved in upholding the rights of the people of Myanmar by supporting the democracy movement under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi, with the hope that human rights of all nationalities and ethnic groups will get due recognition in a democratic Myanmar.
However, his hopes have been dashed by the recent Rohingya crisis that shows clearly the adamant attitude of the Myanmar leadership to ignore the rights of a small minority. Come to the Club to hear what he has to say.
Zaw Min Htut is currently heading the Rohingya Advocacy Network in Japan. The main objective of the network is to create public awareness in Japan about the ongoing and never-ending sufferings of Rohingya people by generating support of Japanese and international media.
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Professional Activities Committee
