European Rohingya Council Meets with Sweden's Ms. Anna Uggla at Foreign Affairs Ministry

Burmese officials are hijacking 90% or more of food supplies intended to reach starving Rohingyas.

Mr. Abul Kalam had met Ms. Anna Uggla photo: Mayu Press

(STOCKHOLM) - The Department for Asia and Pacific called on the European Rohingya Council with regard to the contemporary critical issue of internally displaced Rohingya persons inside Arakan, the meeting took place 25th April 2013.

The Development and Welfare Secretary of the European Rohingya Council (ERC), Mr. Abul Kalam had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Anna Uggla, who is in-charge of Burma in the Department for Asia and Pacific at Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Abul Kalam addressed in great detail the present situation facing Rohingya in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps as well as about those staying overseas. He also handed over a memorandum of ERC with their theme, tasks and objectives towards getting Rohingyas access to the Chancellor and Chairman of DHAMMA SOCIETY SWEDEN, Mr. Jan Wihlborg.

Mr. Jan Wihlnorg stated the entire tragedy of the Rohingya situation at the meeting and what will be the fate of refugees in IDP camps in the rainy season. More than 140,000 Rohingya refugees staying in IDP camps are in miserable huts; they are not allowed to move anywhere for work or bring in food.

Mr. Abul Kalam has also asked the government of Sweden to express their concern for the Rohingya’s terrified plight at the hands of Burmese junta and to help halt this decades’ long Rohingya persecution as early as possible.

He added that the group is not sure the Swedish government had sent a letter of condemnation against mass killing of Rohingya and human right violations to the Burmese President Thein Sein as it was printed neither in national papers of Sweden nor in global electronic media. Recently, the Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt visited Burma. It is not obvious whether he urged the Burmese junta to shut down all inhuman plans and pogroms against the defenseless Rohingya minority.

Mr. Abul Kalam thanked the government of Sweden and Swedish civilians as they are not typically patient over crime and injustice against minorities across the world, hoping they are ready to proceed in finding a solution and legal action in the parliamentary house.

This is well known Swedish government and NGO’s are providing adequate aids to Suryein people, Palestinians, those in Darfur in Sudan and other part in the world... why not to Rohingya in Arakan, Burma? He asked does your government have any plan for Rohingya’s safety in case of human being living organisms in the world?

Ms. Anna Uggla responded that their ambassador and department are responsible for Burma and that they are monitoring every side and their government had provided 30 million kroner for IDP refugees in Burma through Doctors Without Borders and Danish NGOs. Finally, she claimed that they will continue to help.

He also added international support is going to the Burmese officials and they misapplied that amount and not to needy and starving Rohingya. By some estimates, only 10% of the donated food items are reaching the IDP camps.

He was hopeful the Swedish government will reform a committee including Rohingya experts for servicing aid to the different locations. He proposed a meeting with the chairman and vice-chairman of the European Rohingya Council (ERC) the Swedish foreign minister Mr. Carl bildt. She had promised, "I will send the lists of donations with amounts which were provided already by the Swedish government for IDP Rohingya Refugees and will inform you soon about an appointment with foreign minister."

Source: Mayu Press

http://www.mayupress.net/2013/04/ercs-representative-met-ms-anna-uggla-at-foreign-affairs-ministry-of-sweden-45823/