THE Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (Brouk) is deeply concerned about the growing online hate speech directed towards Rohingya refugees in Malaysia.

We appeal to the Malaysian government to condemn hateful comments against the Rohingya, to hold those responsible to account, and to stand in solidarity and compassion with refugees.

Brouk furthermore wishes to express its deep gratitude towards Malaysian authorities and people for hosting tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees for decades, and for their strong political support for the Rohingya in the face of the ongoing genocide in Myanmar.

Authorities in Myanmar have subjected the Rohingya to genocide for decades. In 2017, the military and its proxies launched a vicious “clearance operation” in Rakhine state, killing thousands, burning villages to the ground, and forcing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.

The some 600,000 Rohingya who remain in Rakhine face continued abuse and oppression as they are denied citizenship, and severe restrictions on their freedom of movement mean accessing education and healthcare is extremely difficult. These inhuman conditions have driven the Rohingya to flee to other countries, including Malaysia, to seek safety, shelter and a dignified life.

In recent weeks, Brouk has noted with deep concern how hate speech has grown substantially against Rohingya refugees in Malaysia on online platforms like Facebook and Twitter. These developments appear to have been sparked in part by rumours that the Rohingya have been ignoring lockdown orders to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Brouk urges all Rohingya in Malaysia to strictly follow the rule of law in the country, including restrictions during the pandemic. It is important to clarify that the Rohingya are not asking for citizenship in Malaysia – we are only seeking protection until it is safe to go back to our home country, Myanmar.

We appeal to the Malaysian government, including Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, to condemn hate speech and other forms of abuse against the Rohingya. We also ask the authorities to investigate this abuse and hold those responsible to account. We want to thank the political and religious leaders who have already spoken out in support of Rohingya refugees – your words have been invaluable.

Brouk is grateful to Malaysian authorities, who, for decades, have hosted Rohingya fleeing persecution. Approximately 100,000 Rohingya are registered with UNHCR in Malaysia. Generations of Rohingya have found safety in Malaysia, and we deeply appreciate the strong bonds between the Rohingya and Malaysian people, families and communities that have been built up for decades.

Brouk is deeply grateful to successive Malaysian governments that have spoken out against the horrific abuses against the Rohingya in Myanmar. While most Southeast Asian governments have remained silent, Malaysia has shown courage and leadership by condemning the ongoing genocide.

We appeal to the current government to continue to show the same compassion and solidarity towards the Rohingya, and ensure that the current wave of hate speech and other forms of abuse do not escalate further.

For more information, please contact Tun Khin at +44-78887-14866. – April 28, 2020.

* Tun Khin is president of Brouk.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.