Wisma Putra confirms Malaysian activists detained in Myanmar are safe
Cynthia Ng
February 21, 2014 12:35 MYT
February 21, 2014 12:35 MYT
Wisma Putra confirms that the three activists from the Malaysia Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations (MAPIM) are safe and will be brought to Yangon by afternoon.
The activists who were on a humanitarian mission at the Rakhine state in Western Myanmar were detained by local authorities Thursday night.
The news of their arrest started to spread on Twitter this morning.
The activists were believed to be at an camp for internally displaced Rohingya refugess at Sittwe when they were attacked by Rakhine extremists.
MAPIM spokesman when contacted by Astro AWANI verified the arrest but refused to disclose the identities of those detained.
The Rakhine state have been engulfed in sectarian violence between the Rohingyas Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists.
In 2012, waves of violence erupted which left almost 200 dead and displaced thousands, many still living in camps.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas have reportedly fled and crossed the border to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia for safety.
According to the United Nations, the Rohingyas are one of the most persecuted communities in the world.
Although, they have been living in the state of Arakan since the 8th century (now part of Burma), the Rohingyas have been under extreme scrutiny by the Burmese government and are not recognized as citizens.