By Mohammed Rafique, The Rohingya Post

“[Buddhist] Rakhine students are standing up for the truth. That is why we [Muslim Rohingya students] are protesting in solidarity with them”

On September 17, around 50 Rohingya students from the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh staged a protest standing in solidarity with arrested Rakhine students in Myanmar.

The Rohingya students participated in the protest following social distancing protocols and wearing face masks. They also held posters – “Oppose fascist Genocide”, “Immediately Release Three Students” and “Stand Up with Rakhine Student Union”.

On September 9, the three Buddhist Rakhine students who are members of Rakhine Student Union, held a protest in front of the Rakhine State government office. The protest was in response to the internet showdown, the military atrocities and the lack of adequate response to COVID-19 in Rakhine State.

The Rakhine students carried posters with the messages of “Reopen 4G internet”, “We do not trust the regional government” and No Bloody Government; No Murderous Government”.

Toe Toe Aung, Kyang Naing Htay and Oo Than Naing were arrested 20 minutes into their protest and charged for violating Natural Disaster Management Act.

Muslim Rohingya students who were forced to flee into refugee camps in Bangladesh during Myanmar Military’s campaigns of genocide against Rohingya, showed their solidarity during the protest on Thursday.

“[Buddhist] Rakhine students are standing up for the truth. That is why we [Muslim Rohingya students] are protesting in solidarity with them,” said Maung Kyaw Min, one of the Rohingya students at the protest in the camp.

The extraordinary compassion and solidarity from the Rohingya students despite living in dire conditions and without education in the refugee camp, comes at a time when there are continuous widespread human rights abuses against both Rakhine and Rohingya communities – including arrests, killings and suppression of freedom of expression in Rakhine State.