Vigil calls for stop to violence

SOLIDARITY: A vigil is being held this Saturday calling for a stop to the violence inflicted on the Rohingya people. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

A vigil will be held in The Square this Saturday calling for a stop to the violence suffered by the Rohingya people.

The Palmerston North Rohingya Community are holding the vigil to stand up against the persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar and show their support for humanity.

Myanmar, formerly Burma, is a Southeast Asian nation that borders India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand.

The Myanmar nation gained independence from the British in 1948 and the Union Citizenship Act was passed defining which ethnicities could gain citizenship, however the Rohingya were not included.

In 1962 a military coup in Myanmar required all citizens to obtain national registration cards. The Rohingya were only given foreign identity cards, which limited their job and education opportunities.

In 1982, a new citizenship law was passed, which under law did not recognise Rohingya as one of the country's 135 ethnic groups, essentially making them stateless.

As a result of the law, they have no right to vote and their rights to study, marry, work, travel and access health services are restricted.

Crackdowns on the Rohingya in Rakhine State have forced hundreds of thousands to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh, as well as Malaysia, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries.

Over 420,000 Rohingya refugees have fled to Bangladesh since August. During these crackdowns, refugees have often reported rape, murder, arson and torture by Myanmar security forces.

After escaping from violence in their villages in Myanmar, they are traumatised, exhausted and hungry. Most report having walked for days through jungles and across mountains, rivers and vast rice fields to reach safety.

Saturday's vigil will give people a chance to sign the petition asking the United Nations to launch an immediate investigation into the latest reports of atrocities against the Rohingya and refer the matter to the International Criminal Court.

The vigil for Rohingya in Myanmar will be held on Saturday at 3.30pm on The Plaza-side of The Square.