Ethnic Rakhine oppose use of “Rohingya” in state census taking

Ethnic Rakhine oppose use of "Rohingya" in state census taking

Published on Monday, 17 March 2014 22:25

Monks and residents in 13 Rakhine State townships held protests on Sunday (March 16) to oppose the use of the word "Rohingya" in the 2014 nation-wide census taking.

Members of political parties and social organizations, monks, business people and other residents participated in the demonstrations. Among the townships holding protests were Sittwe, Kyaukbyu, Yathaedaung, Maungdaw, Butheedaung, Ponnagyun, MraukU and Minbya.

Protesters held placards reading "We don't want fake Rohingya in the census"; "The census is not an entrance for Rohingya"; "Swift implementation of the 1982 Myanmar Citizenship Law"; "We will never accept international interference"; "Safeguard Rakhine State for Rakhine nationals"; "Secure the western border for the Union's security"; and "All Rakhine nationals will boycott if 'Rohingya' is put in the census". Protesters also chanted the words appearing on the placards.

About 45,000 participated in the demonstrations in Sittwe. 

Although Bengal is a state in India, protesters argue that the term "Bengali" refers to people who come from Bangladesh. They say that the term "Rohingya" is a "fake" name designed to deny their Bangladeshi origins.

"That way, they can say they've been living in Rakhine State since the days of yore. That's why we are protesting against putting 'Rohingya' in the country's census. There would be at least 800,000 Rohingya people if that word were put in the census. This means that they would become legally-entered ones," said U Than Aung, information officer (Sittwe) of Committee for the Anti-Fake Bengali Census.

"So, it needs to put them under the code number '914'. The government faces something unavoidable; those should be put under the name of 'Bengali'. The name 'Rohingya' can harm the country's sovereignty."

Around 250 local people joined the demonstration in Maungdaw Township while about 1,000 protesters were in Yathaedaung Township.

 

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/ethnic-rakhine-oppose-use-of-rohingya-in-state-census-taking/