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Before the current genocidal onslaught began August 25th in Arakan state, Charles & Camilla were planning on including Burma on a state tour of Asia & India this month. Now they’ll skip Burma but still visit Singapore, Malaysia, & India which is trying to deport Rohingya refugees back to a genocide in Burma which the Indian government is arming. Not that the British moochocracy is the least bit squeamish about genocide. They wrote the book. They were also training the Burmese army, including during the murderous onslaught on Rohingya that lasted from October 2016 through at least January. Now, to remove the malodor of collusion in genocide, the British military has stopped their training program–or so they claim.

This photo at Charles & Camilla’s residence was taken in May 2017 when Suu Kyi visited London. Media reports point out that Charles is a patron of the Michael Aris Memorial Trust for Tibetan & Himalayan Studies named after Suu Kyi’s deceased husband which probably had nothing to do with this meeting & everything to do with British business & military interests in Burma.

This week the Disasters Emergency Committee, a consortium of 13 UK charities, launched a major fundraising campaign for humanitarian aid to Rohingya refugees. The government pledged to match the first £3 million donated by the public. How much of that aid will actually get to the refugees is uncertain. What is certain is that £3 million from the government is chump change compared to British investments in Burma or what the government got for training the Burmese army in the methods of genocide.

(Photo by John Stillwell/AFP/POOL)

Because Burma denies them citizenship, Rohingya refugees are stateless & have no papers–which makes it extremely difficult to even seek asylum in other countries. That’s why many end up imprisoned in several countries, persecuted, even abducted & trafficked. In addition to our political campaigns, they need professional refugee advocates to navigate the laws & loopholes that can get them legal status somewhere. Anyone know of organizations or individuals that do such work?

We had a wonderful Rohingya solidarity rally tonight attended by about 100 people. One of the doctors going on the medical delegation to Cox’s Bazar in November spoke & reported that there are 32 other doctors from across the US who plan on working rotations in the camps. The doctor said any donations would go from their hands directly to services to Rohingya refugees. They have set up a FB page & when I get the name of it, I’ll pass it on so you can donate to them if you wish. They’re a faith-based group & you probably couldn’t be more assured that what you donate will go entirely to refugees.

The other speakers included the Grand Mufti here & Sister Norma, the Catholic nun who organizes humanitarian support here for immigrants & refugees from Mexico & Central America. They focused on the sacredness of human life & our responsibility to support the Rohingya people. Special mention was given to the women who did such a great job of organizing the event including my friend Elena Ledesma Rashid.

The political movement here is less international in its vision that is necessary. That’s not unique to the valley but generally true about US politics right now. The Muslim community, with people from around the world, has brought that breadth of vision to political life here & keeps the spirit of international solidarity alive.

This is Rohingya refugee Jahida who paid traffickers to bring 400 others to safety in Bangladesh. They all live with or around her in the refugee camp.

There are thousands stranded across the Naf river because they’re unable to pay the boaters. So there are many photos & videos of hundreds trying to ford the river in shallow areas–often carrying elderly, children, or disabled–because the Burmese army is at their back.

(Photo from Skye Wheeler on Twitter)

“Escaped a massacre, walked days heavily pregnant, gave birth under tarp, totally in love with brand new baby.”

-tweeted by Skye Wheeler

#RohingyaCrisis

The woman in pink is Sura Hatun with the family who lived next door to her in Burma. The man carried her on his back from their village to Bangladesh.

Enough said about why we should stand with the Rohingya people against genocide & for refugee rights.

(Photo by Akshaya Kumar)

In the past, activists in the RGV have stood with the people of Egypt & Syria against dictatorship, with Palestinians against apartheid & carpet bombing by Israel, & now we stand with the Rohingya people against genocide & for refugee rights. Please like & share this FB event in solidarity.

https://www.facebook.com/events/180015219232239/

“There are many children in Kashmir growing without the love of a father because of indiscriminately killing or enforced disappearances.”–(tweeted by Parlina Aida‏ @parlinaida)

It could be added, not just the love of a father but the companionship of a brother, uncle, cousin.

End the occupation. Self-determination for Kashmir.

#Kashmir

The Bangladesh government just announced it will build the world’s largest refugee camp by extending beyond the existing Kutupalong camp. They would use 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres/4.6 square miles) of land to house 800,000 people. To show the scale of what they’re proposing, the city of McAllen, Texas with a population of 130,000 people is built on 12,000 hectares (29,500 acres/46 square miles). It’s not workable, not to mention civilized, to expect nearly a million people to live in such close quarters even in these miserable little tarp tents. Where will they put the port-au-potties, the field hospitals, the food kitchens, the playgrounds? What about schools & places to pray?

It’s likely most Rohingya refugees want to return home when the Burmese junta & nationalist death squads have been defeated. But that won’t be for a while. Meanwhile, they cannot live in this kind of squalor. They want their children to have a human life & a chance in life. Bangladesh prevents most from registering for chump change aid from UNHCR, & doesn’t allow them education, the right to work even in those lousy sweatshops, or free movement. We need to demand they have the right to asylum with full rights in whichever country they want to go & that means providing a safe & comfortable way to get there. Nothing is too good for a people who have been put through such hell. The demand for refugee rights is essential right along with the demand to end the genocide.

These new Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh will be living in this kind of hellhole for a long time unless we unite & stand with them to demand they be treated like human beings.

(Photo from the Guardian)