On 26th January 2020, violence broke out in the Rohingya camps of Bangladesh between christian and muslim Rohingya.  We hear first from Shukkur, the young muslim Rohingya at the centre of this violent episode. We then ask Nay San Lwin to provide some context to the whole matter.

This podcast will be followed by another featuring Simon, a christian Rohingya residing in India. Please visit http://medium.com/kutupalong to learn more.

Violence between Christian and Muslim Rohingya

Podcast with Simon, India-based Christian Rohingya community leader. Go hear to read about the issue and hear the podcast. https://medium.com/kutupalong/christian-rohingya-experience-persecution-in-the-camps-3cb65736dd16

Christian Rohingya experience persecution in the camps of Bangladesh

An interview with Nay San Lwin regarding the violence which took place on 26th January 2020  between Christian and Muslim Rohingya in Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh. Go here to read more and listen to the podcast. 
https://medium.com/kutupalong/the-christian-rohingya-9a41459dd214

The Christian Rohingya

Rohingya activists and leaders  attended the momentous hearings at 
The International Court of Justice, the United Nations' highest court, in  the genocide case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar in December 2019 and January 2020. In this podcast, various prominent Rohingya activists give their comments on the hearings and discuss their thoughts  about future outcomes. 

Speakers in Alphabetical Order

Tun Khin
Nay San Lwin
Ibrahim Mohamed
Dr Ambia Perveen
Advocate Razia Sultana
Dr Wakar Uddin

This podcast is in Rohingya language.  15 February 2020. 

Interviewed by Shafiur Rahman. Program presented by Mirza Galib.

The ICJ - Rohingya give their verdict

In this podcast, Kutupalong presenter Galib Mirza, presents a commentary on International Language Day, today on 21st February. He deals with the importance of this day for the creation of Bangladesh, and then he eloquently relates the significance of this day for the Rohingya minority in Myanmar.

International Language Day

Podcast with Dr Hla Kyaw Khubybe regarding Coronavirus and implications for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

Coronavirus & what Rohingya refugees need to know

Rohingya activist Nay San Lwin talks about the coronavirus pandemic (in Rohingya language). He sends a message to his fellow Rohingya in Myanmar, and to the refugees in Bangladesh and Malaysia. He highlights the complete absence of information around Covid-19 in Myanmar, and requests Rohingya to carefully heed the advice given by humanitarian organisations and also by Rohingya doctors based in Europe.

19 March 2020. Transcript: 

Salam, I am Nay San Lwin. I am speaking to you from Germany. There is a new disease in this world. It is called coronavirus or covid19. Many thousands of people have died. To all my Rohingya brothers and sisters, you need to be very alert about this disease. It causes a very high fever, coughing and difficulty in breathing.

Many people will not suffer much. Their symptoms will be mild. But older people are very vulnerable. You all need to be careful. This disease can be passed from one person to another very quickly. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old. This disease is very easy to transmit from one person to another.

If you are in Burma or Bangladesh Or Malaysia, please listen carefully.

Firstly, To all my brothers and sisters in Myanmar, i need to tell you that the Myanmar government is not giving you any information. Aung San Suu Kyi and her ministers have not been open. No one knows what is happening in Myanmar. We do not know if the virus is present or not. It is important for you to listen to the advice in Rohingya language which Rohingya doctors and others have made available on the internet. Be very alert about the symptoms and please follow the advice that has been given.

If you are in Bangladesh, then please listen to the Rohingya organisations and NGOs who are informing people about this disease. Please follow the instructions given to you about how to keep yourself safe. Please inform the clinic nearest to you if you think you are suffering coronavirus. The Bangladesh authorities have taken some steps to help you.

Finally, I want to speak to those of you who are in Malaysia. Please seek medical help if you are suffering any of the symptoms. It is very important for your family, for the Rohingya community and for Malaysians too. Do not keep quiet. That would be dangerous for you and those around you.

This is a difficult time for all Rohingya and for all the world. I pray for your good health.

COVID19- A message for Rohingya in Myanmar, Bangladesh & Malaysia

On 22nd August of 2019, following a failed repatriation attempt, Foreign Minister A K Momen told journalists that he will seek to 'reduce the comfort of the Rohingya so that they agree to return." Within two weeks of his statement, Bangladesh authorities moved to ban mobile phone access in the camps, including the stoppage of sim card sales and internet services. Whilst a ban has existed since 2017, it was never enforced. Zakir Hossain Khan, the spokesman for the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, gave the telecoms companies 7 days to comply. In summary, the Bangladeshi government cut access to 3G and 4G cellular services in the refugee camp areas of Teknaf and Ukhia. 

Refugee Views

In this episode, we speak to a Rohingya refugee from Kutupalong camp as well as a refugee from the No Man's Land settlement. They describe how the harshness of refugee life has been compounded by being unable to communicate with family and loved ones. 
The Coronavirus pandemic has created a worldwide emergency. At the time of writing, Bangladesh has reported over 50 infections and 6 deaths due to the virus. On 2 April, 50 organisations wrote to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh requesting the restoration of internet services. 

 In this regard we spoke to Dr Ambia Perveen, a Rohingya physician based in Germany, about the pressing need for internet access during the coronavirus crisis. She argues that: 

"Health is a human right. Awareness and information is vital now. And for that you need the internet. This is critically important not only for Rohingya but for their host community neighbours also."
We also asked Nay San Lwin, a Rohingya activist, also based in Germany . He said that: 

 "Restoration of the internet would provide assurance for everyone. It will promote compliance with health strategies that the camp authorities might want to implement and importantly prevent panic."

Aid Community Views

The Inter Sector Coordination Group, the central coordination body for humanitarian agencies serving Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, has repeatedly stated in its sitreps that "UN agencies, Government representatives, NGOs and the entire ecosystem supporting refugees from within and around the camps struggles with basic communication and security telecommunications services." They have additionally noted that "Rohingya women continue to report facing additional risks, threats and barriers due to lack of access to mobile network, having SIM cards confiscated .."

In this context, we hear from an NGO worker regarding the disruptive impact of the ban on her daily work. Additionally, we asked UNHCR for a comment. Louise Donovan told Kutupalong Podcast that 
Mobile and internet technology has been an important way for refugees to communicate with family and friends, as well as with humanitarian agencies regarding protection issues. Lack of connectivity also affects the ability of humanitarian agencies to disseminate information to refugees, get in touch with those who need help and to coordinate our own response in emergency situations. We have raised these challenges with the Government and understand that they are reviewing the situation.

Finally we asked George McLeod whether IOM had any comment on this matter. He sent us a short WhatsApp message:

"I was given to understand the 3g blockage would be lifted , but saw when I visited the camps that it is still in place."


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Presenter: Mirza Galib Reporter: Nur Hossain

Kutupalong Podcast

How a former Myanmar army soldier who converted to Islam & married a Rohingya woman escaped from Tula Toli. Podcast with Mabia, his widow. 

The carnage that took place in Tula Toli, Northern Rakhine State, Myanmar on 30 August 2017 has produced some remarkable stories of survival and defiance. One of these is the story of Nojumu Islam. Born in Yangon, he was a military man and lived with his Rakhine wife in Wut Kyein near Tula Toli . He converted to Islam out of his own volition in 2002, and two years later, whilst at a Muslim gathering in Tula Toli was introduced to Mabia, a Rohingya woman, by a moulvi.

Read more at http://medium.com/kutupalong

kutupalong podcast