Burmese Rohingya delegation meet congress

A delegation organized by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and including the President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) met today with Congressional staff in Washington, DC on the first day of their three-day advocacy visit.

Maung Tun Khin, President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), and Benedict Rogers, CSW’s East Asia Team Leader, briefed staff in the offices of Senator Sam Brownback, Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver, Congressman Mike Pence, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Burma. They also met Genocide Intervention, an NGO that monitors genocide and crimes against humanity.

The two activists briefed policy makers on the overall situation in Burma, including the plight of the ethnic nationalities. Benedict Rogers provided evidence from his recent visits to the Karen on the Thailand-Burma border, the Chin on the India-Burma border, the Kachin on the China-Burma border and the suppression of democracy inside Burma. Maung Tun Khin presented detailed evidence of the systematic persecution of the Rohingya people and the refugee crisis on the Bangladesh-Burma border.

The delegation will meet Congressman Chris Smith, and officials at the U.S. State Department, as well as staff in the office of Senator Diane Feinstein.

Maung Tun Khin said: “We have had very valuable first day, with opportunities to provide up-to-date, detailed evidence of the current crisis in Burma, including the plight of the Rohingya people, to influential policy makers. We hope that the U.S. will support a UN commission of inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity in Burma, and put the plight of the Rohingya people clearly on the agenda in its dialogue with the military regime and in international arenas.”

Benedict Rogers said: “Today has been a very productive day, and we are pleased to have had the opportunity to brief senior Congressional staff on the crimes against humanity perpetrated by the military regime in Burma. We look forward to further meetings tomorrow, including with Congressman Smith and the State Department.”