“Cattle can freely move from grazing ground to grazing ground, but we Rohingyas can’t move from place to place, even within a same locality. The whole Arakan is like a hell for the Rohingyas,” said Sultan who is a student of Akyab University.
Restriction on the freedom of movement has seriously affected the Rohingya Muslims in Burma in all their activities ¬ social, economic, religious, cultural and educational. Since SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) sponsored communal riot at Akyab in the 1st week of February 2001 the Rohingyas are totally forbidden to travel to this provincial capital.

NGOs and Human Rights Organizations have often expressed that the Rohingyas are experiencing the worst kind of restriction on their freedom of movement in Burma. Even the Rohingya students are required Travel Permits to go to their schools, colleges and universities issued under very restrictive regulations. It takes a few weeks to process their applications for Travel Permits.

“Last year 8 Rohingya students could not appear in their examinations in Akyab University as the authorities deliberately delayed to issue travel passes with unholy intention”, said another student who wishes to remain anonymous.

First of all a Rohingya student has to get recommendation from his VPDC (Village Peace and
Development Council) showing his Offer letter or Student Identity Card and paying Kyat 200 as fee. On receipt of it he has to take “Form 4”, from the Township Immigration office on payment of Taka 100, which is usually meant for foreigners. Then the completed copy of “Form 4”, accompanied by VPDC recommendation, Offer letter/ Student Identity Card and original copy of Family Holding List, has to be submitted to Military Intelligence (MI) 18, who forwarded the same with necessary remark to its headquarters. Here the student is required to meet the demand of the MI-18. After scrutiny, the MI-18 headquarters send it back to the local MI office with “No Objection”.

Upon receipt of “No Objection” the applicant has to make prayer to the Township Immigration Authority enclosing all documents and recommendations obtained from various departments and officials, including Offer letter/ Student Identity Card (photocopy), National Registration Certificate (original & photocopy) paying Taka 500/-. Then “Form 4” or Travel Permit is issued to travel to Akyab for a stay of 14 days only. Finally the applicant has to approach the NaSaKa for recommendation and approval paying Kyat 200.

All the way to Akyab the students travelling with Travel Permits have to pay and pay at various check-posts dotted all along the motor road and waterway. Each student has to pay at least Kyat 200 at each check-point. Sometimes, students are required to give the photocopies of their travel documents and recommendations.

On arrival at Akyab, the provincial capital of Arakan, the students have to appear before State Immigration officers with both original and Photostat copies of the “Form 4” or Travel Permits, thereupon the original copies are returned to them. For this Kyat 200 is charged from each student. On expiry the students are required to renew the Travel Permits from State Immigration office for which the students have to pay again.

The worst is Rohingya students admitted to professional courses in Rangoon and other institutes in Burma proper could not continue their studies due to movement restriction. Sometimes in the past, a few Rohingyas who could grease the palm of the army officials, with an amount of not less than Kyat 1,20,000/- were permitted to travel to Rangoon and proper Burma. But from 1st October 1997 the Rohingyas are totally prohibited. This conspired many Rohingya students to abandon their studies, as they do not see any other way left for them.

“This year Rohingya students, who were admitted to professional courses like Medicine, Engineering, Veterinary Science, Commerce, Forestry etc. in Educational Institutes in Rangoon and other places in Burma proper, have waited in vain for travel permits despite their efforts exploring all available venues while making repeated appeals even to the SPDC”, said a guardian of student who want not be named.

“Is there any country in the world that deprives its people of their right to freedom of movement, residence and education in this 21st century…… Even a foreigner has the right to pursue his education and to travel with dignity and honour”, a student who is forced to give up his studies and who does not wish to be identified exclaimed angrily.

Talking to Kaladan Press, on condition of anonymity, some of the victimized Rohingya students cried, “ we appeal to UN with the international community, fellow student community with the Seats of learning of the world, NGOs and Human Rights Organizations to sympathise with us and help us continue our studies in Burma or elsewhere in the world”.

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