Of Arakanese Muslims

It was mentioned in the said article that white card has been issued to Muslims of Arakan as a temporary second class citizenship card. As far as we understand, white card is not a citizenship card but a temporary residency identity card meant for Rohingyas or Muslims of north Arakan only. Hence, the readers should not be confused on the citizenship status of Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh en masse in 1978 and 1990s. They are stateless and treated as aliens in their homeland.

Besides, the article mentioned the Muslim Community in Arakan as the Arakanese Muslims while the Buddhists have been referred as Rakhine Buddhist Maghs. Although it is understood that the present Burmese junta recognises the Kaman Muslim as one of the ethnic nationalities of Arakan, the Rohingyas are excluded. The harsh truth in Arakan is that the Muslim community suffers highhandedness both racially and religiously.

The SPDC continues human rights violations in Burma and the Rohingyas are the hardest hit because of statelessness. Their problem needs to be addressed at least regionally, better if world bodies extend their role in this respect.