Rohingya VJ
By Lianain Films and Rohingya Citizen
Journalists
Final Script
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Visuals |
Audio |
Fact check |
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00:00 |
Graphic: WARNING THIS FILM CONTAINS DESCRIPTIONS OF GENOCIDE AND FOOTAGE OF DEAD BODIES
AT THE BEGINNING, MIDDLE AND END |
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00:04 |
Archive from 2017 WS Rohingya village burning |
Upsound VO They’ve suffered genocide and decades of persecution. |
https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/08/24/ myanmar-no-justice-no-freedom-rohingya-5-years Statement from the US State Department: https://www.state.gov/burma-genocide/ |
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00:14 |
Annual household list check – photo taking |
VO Today, an estimated half a
million Rohingya Muslims live in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. They’re not recognised
as citizens. Their movements are severely
restricted by the authorities and they face constant
surveillance. |
The Rohingya were denied citizenship in 1982 https://burmacampaign.org.uk/media/ Myanmar%E2%80%99s-1982-Citizenship-Law-and-Rohingya.pdf |
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00:30 |
Soldier on road, stopping people, soldiers in Rakhine state |
Upsound Where are you going? To buy things. VO Since a military coup in 2021, few outsiders have been able to enter
this region. |
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00:40 |
Villagers recover body of fisherman caught in crossfire |
Upsound Let me see VO But inside, a group of Rohingya citizen journalists has been secretly filming events affecting their community. |
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00:50 |
“Ahmed” Citizen journalist |
SOT Even though this work is dangerous, it is very important to do. |
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00:55 |
Rohingya villagers caught in crossfire |
Upsound The bullet hit him here. VO They’ve given 101 East exclusive access to more than two years’ worth
of footage that has never been broadcast before. The videos tell a disturbing story. |
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1:09 |
“Rashid” Citizen journalist |
SOT The world doesn’t see what’s happening here. We are letting the world
know what’s happening here. |
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1:15 |
Rohingya told to turn back at BGP checkpoint |
Upsound Turn around! Go back! VO On 101 East, Rohingya VJs
reveal the reality of life, inside an apartheid state. Upsound You cannot pass! |
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1:26 |
101 East ident |
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1:31 |
WS Soldiers sitting in field BGP officer accepting bribe Police extorting money |
VO These are rare images from
northern Myanmar, filmed under extremely dangerous conditions by Rohingya
citizen journalists. Upsound Give me those things and you
can cross. |
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1:54 |
Various clips from
VJs |
VO 101 East spent six months reviewing and verifying hundreds of videos. |
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2:00 |
Archive of streets
of Yangon and Napyitaw following military coup |
VO We’re focusing on events following the military takeover of Myanmar in
February 2021. |
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2:09 |
“Rashid” Citizen journalist |
SOT People have no more hope after February 2021. VO Citizen journalist “Rashid” has been helping us make sense of the
footage. He’s asked that we disguise his identity. SOT |
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2:35 |
Archive of Rohingya Muslims fleeing in 1978 |
VO The persecution is well documented. The Burmese military conducted its first campaign against Rohingya
Muslims in 1978, forcing some
200,000 to flee their homes in Rakhine State for neighbouring
Bangladesh. Then in 1982, the government stripped the Rohingya off
all citizenship rights. |
https://www.unocha.org/rohingya-refugee-crisis https://burmacampaign.org.uk/media/ Myanmar%E2%80%99s-1982-Citizenship-Law-and-Rohingya.pdf |
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3:05 |
“Rashid” Citizen journalist |
SOT They won’t even accept the Rohingya Muslims as second or third-class citizens. There
is no class for the Rohingya. The Rohingya live in fear. |
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3:16 |
AP archive Soldiers in Rakhine state |
Upsound VO In 2017, following a
series of attacks by a Rohingya armed group, Myanmar’s military launched what
it called “clearance operations” in Northern Rakhine.
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https://www.unocha.org/rohingya-refugee-crisis |
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3:30 |
Footage from 2017 – villages burning, dead body in field |
VO This footage was filmed by some of the citizen journalists we’re now
working with. Rohingya villages razed. Their inhabitants killed. |
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3:49 |
AP archive – Rohingya cross into Bangladesh. Rohingya camps. |
Upsound VO An estimated 700,000 Rohingya
fled across the border to Bangladesh - most are still living in refugee camps
there. The Myanmar military insists
its actions were justified. |
/2019/09/1046442 |
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4:06 |
Archive Aung San Suu Kyi speech Super top left: September 2017 |
VO And prior to the coup, former
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi repeatedly spoke in its defense. SOT The security forces have been
instructed to adhere strictly to a code of conduct in carrying out security
operations, to exercise all due restraint, and to take full measures to avoid
collateral damage and the harming of innocent civilians. |
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4:31 |
Anthony Blinken US Secretary of State |
VO But members of the international community disagree. And in March 2022, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said this: SOT Beyond the
Holocaust, the United States has concluded that genocide was committed seven
times. Today marks the eighth as I've determined that members of the Burmese
military committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Rohingya. |
https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-at-the-united-states-holocaust-memorial-museum/ |
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4:56 |
Soldiers on road near Rohingya village |
Upsound VO Recent footage shows that
the military and security forces continue to maintain a visible presence in
northern Rakhine. |
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5:07 |
Soldier and Border Guard Police interrogate villagers at Rohingya
village |
Upsound VO In this video shot in mid-2021, the army and Border Guard Police
summon residents of a Rohingya village for questioning. Upsound Are there people here who are not from this village? VO They’re on the lookout for members of rebel armed groups. |
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5:25 |
Myanmar military interrogate Rohingya villagers |
Upsound Soldier Do you know the rough number of households and population here? VO Failure to report encounters with any armed group
could spell trouble for the villagers.
But the situation is
complicated, and the Rohingya are caught in a bind. |
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5:40 |
“Rashid” Citizen journalist |
SOT Rohingya Muslims risk getting
into more trouble now because there’s the Arakan Army, Arakan Rohingya
Salvation Army and the Myanmar military in Rakhine. We
are helpless among these groups. We can’t take sides. If we side with any
group, we’ll be targeted and get into more trouble. |
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6:04 |
AA fighters exit Rohingya village |
VO The rebel Arakan Army, or AA is the most
powerful armed group in Rakhine State. Made up primarily of ethnic
Rakhine Buddhists, it claims to have more than 30,000 fighters. In late 2020, AA reached a
ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar military, but that deal collapsed
following the coup. |
Fighting intensified in particular, in late
2022 |
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6:29 |
AA fighters leaving Rohingya village |
Upsound VO It has since established a
parallel administration, and intensified efforts to cement control of the
region. In this video, AA fighters can be seen leaving a Rohingya village. |
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6:42 |
Villager explains what happened
at AA meeting |
Upsound VJ What did they say today? Villager They were saying the same
things. That we have to give them money, manpower
and fighters. That we are providing nothing now. They say they control 80
percent of Arakan land. They will take control of the rest with or without
our support. Now, they welcome us to help them take control of the other 20
percent. VJ So they’re asking us Muslims to take part? Villager Yes, they say we must join us. We
have no choice. |
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7:15 |
“Rashid” Citizen journalist |
SOT They (the Arakan Army) need
money. They have over 30,000 fighters. People have to do what they want. Have to
pay tax to them. Every family
in each village has to pay
them. |
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7:31 |
Men going off to do free labour for AA |
Upsound What kind of knife are you bringing? VO The Rohingya are also expected to contribute in other ways. Upsound VJ Uncle, where are you going? Man Going to be free labour for AA. VO These men say they’ve been ordered to help the rebel group
build a new camp. They’re not paid, and are expected to bring
their own food. |
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7:53 |
Rohingya man says his son was tortured to death by AA members |
Upsound VJ Where was he captured? Man Inside the house. VO AA members also face multiple allegations of kidnapping and torture. Upsound VJ Who captured him? Who arranged it? Man The Arakan Army. VJ The Arakan Army captured him? Man Yes. VJ And after he was captured? Man He was tortured to death after he was taken to… VJ Where was he taken to after being captured? Man I don’t know where he was taken to at night
but we found his body in the forest. VO This man says his son was abducted by the rebels, who accused him of
supporting rival armed group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army or
ARSA. |
Rohingya citizen journalists showed us multiple clips of interviews
with alleged victims and theif families |
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8:28 |
“Ahmed” Citizen journalist |
VO Citizen journalist “Ahmed” has been tracking AA’s rise. We’ve disguised his identity. SOT The AA is telling the Rohingya to fight together for the freedom of
Arakan (Rakhine State). But
they have been committing different kinds of violations against the Rohingya people.The (Myanmar) military supported
the Rakhine Buddhists in
the 2012 communal conflicts. And the Rakhine people supported the military in
the 2017 Rohingya genocide. |
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9:03 |
Tracking shots into Rohingya IDP camp in 2012 |
Upsound car honking VO It’s not the first time we’ve heard those allegations. |
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9:07 |
2012 - Rohingya IDP camp outside Sittwe |
VO In 2012 - following an outbreak of communal violence in Rakhine State
- 101 East interviewed displaced
Rohingya Muslims near the capital, Sittwe. They had been forced into a camp surrounded by security checkpoints. |
101 East – “Nowhere to Go” - https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=A92yVasW9BE&t=437s |
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9:24 |
Rohingya refugee |
SOT Paramilitary forces gathered some Rakhine and opened fire on us. The
Rakhine joined the attack. The paramilitary forces fired again. Then more
Rakhine joined in. When the paramilitary forces and Rakhine attacked, we
cried out, “God is great!” And they mocked
us. |
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9:41 |
Rohingya refugee |
SOT Lots of Muslim Rohingya were killed by the Rakhine and security forces
over about six days. Then the paramilitary put us on trucks and moved us to a
camp. |
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9:51 |
Rathedaung 2017 |
VO Five years later, in August 2017 -
Citizen journalists in the Rakhine township of Rathedaung
interviewed fleeing Rohingya villagers. |
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10:02 |
Fleeing Rathedaung villager |
SOT Rakhine people started burning houses. After starting the fire, they
surrounded us on all four sides. The military was also present. The military
was with the Rakhine on all four sides. |
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10:14 |
Fleeing Rathedaung villager |
SOT We found out that the Rakhine, military and
riot police had surrounded us all all four sides.
After surrounding us, they didn’t allow anyone to escape. They started
shooting at all of us, including women, children and
infants. |
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10:31 |
Darkness, then flashes. The sound of gunshots. |
Upsound artillery fire VO Today, AA and the Myanmar
military are battling for control of Rakhine State. The sound of artillery fire fills the night. |
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10:48 |
Helicopter in sky |
Upsound VO In the day - military helicopters hover overhead. |
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10:56 |
“Ahmed” Citizen journalist
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SOT From August 2022 to November 2022, the fighting escalated. The AA were
attacked with artillery from all sides. There were also airstrikes. During
the fights, many Rohingya have been killed. |
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11:16 |
Villagers retrieve body of fisherman caught in crossfire |
Upsound We need a stretcher! VO Over the past year, citizen journalists have documented numerous
incidents of Rohingya civilians caught in the crossfire. Upsound Let me see. VO These are just some of the videos we’ve been given. Others are even more
disturbing. |
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11:39 |
Villagers crowd round body of fisherman caught in crossfire |
Upsound VO A fisherman killed, as he was returning home on his boat. He’d been attempting to flee a gun battle between AA and the military.
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11:52 |
Community leader shot dead by AA snipers |
Upsound The bullet hit him here. VO A community leader, shot dead, as he was
riding his bike home. |
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12:01 |
Elderly man walks down road after being hit by shrapnel |
Upsound VO An elderly man stands dazed on a street, after being hit by shrapnel. |
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12:11 |
Child victim of UXO explosion |
VO Children too, have been hurt. This young girl was
wounded when an explosive device detonated near her. |
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12:22 |
“Rashid” Citizen journalist |
VO Rashid believes the Rohingya are vulnerable because of tactics used by
the AA. SOT When there is a fight with the Myanmar military, they take positions
near Rohingya villages for their safety. When they fire from their positions,
the shells fall in the Rohingya villages. VO The AA did not respond to our
requests for comment. |
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12:46 |
Graphic showing junta’s response |
VO A government spokesman told 101
East there have been “hardly any armed clashes in Rakhine State” this year,
and the region is “peaceful and tranquil”. |
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13:00 |
Soldiers on road to Maungdaw “Ahmed” Citizen journalist |
Upsound VO But Ahmed says the military has been tightening its grip on civilians,
in a bid to flush out AA troops. SOT During the conflict, they restricted our movements and blocked roads. And
they also blocked food supplies. |
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13:21 |
Soldier stops travellers on road to Maungdaw |
Upsound motorbike engine Upsound soldier Hey, stop! Stop the bike for a moment. VO Videos shot towards the end of 2022 confirm this. A military roadblock in the middle of the day. Two Rohingya travelers have
been ordered to stop. |
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13:20 |
Soldier stops travellers on road to Maungdaw |
Upsound motorbike engine Upsound soldier Hey you! Come here. VO Videos shot towards the end of 2022 confirm this. A military roadblock in the middle of the day. Two Rohingya travellers have been ordered to
stop. Upsound soldier Where are you going? Rohingya travellers Maungdaw. Soldier To Maungdaw? Why are you going there? VO The soldier appears to be on the lookout for residents from a
particular village. Upsound Soldier You live in that village, right? VO He has a message for them. Upsound Soldier That’s why I stopped you. OK? If anything happens there, I will come for you. I will
remember you. |
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14:03 |
Police stop Rohingya travellers from
transporting food supplies |
Upsound police Go back! Turn around! Turn around! Go back! Turn around! Go back! VO Other tactics affect more than just one village. Upsound Police You cannot pass! Turn around! VO Near a bridge, police tell a group of Rohingya men they cannot pass unless they offload all
the food they are carrying. Some AA fighters have been relying on civilians for supplies. Upsound Rohingya man We’re not allowed to transport anything. Can you find someone to pick
it up? VO This action will not only affect the rebels, it
also means that some Rohingya people will go hungry. |
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14:43 |
Police stop Rohingya travellers from
transporting food supplies |
Upsound police Give me those things, and you can cross. Rohingya Leave the two packets of sugar
here. VO Nearly everything the men are transporting has to
be left behind. But in the end, police do make one
concession. Upsound police What? Rohingya Can we carry this empty bucket? Police Take your empty bucket. No problem, you can take it. Put it there. |
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15:12 |
GVS - Household list check |
Upsound VO The political upheaval gripping Myanmar has done little to disrupt the
institutionalised discrimination imposed on the Rohingya. Throughout the first half of 2022, scenes like these unfolded across
Rakhine state. |
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15:32 |
“Ahmed” Citizen journalist |
SOT The government still conducts the annual household inspection on the Rohingya
only. Rohingya who can’t attend the annual household inspection, or who
have fled, have “fled” written against their names. |
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15:49 |
People at household check, holding documents |
VO Because the Rohingya aren’t recognised as
citizens of Myanmar, a piece of paper known as “the household list” is often
their only identity document. Without it, they’re considered illegal immigrants. |
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16:03 |
Official checking list |
VO The list – which includes the names of every member of a household -
is checked every year. It’s also a time for parents to register new babies. This process is meant to be free. But the Rohingya are often expected to pay bribes for such services. |
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16:24 |
Paying “under table money” |
Upsound Give 30,000 kyat ($14.50). Rohingya victim Who for? VO A citizen journalist manages to capture one such moment. Upsound Have to give it secretly.
Sir! Take the money! |
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16:42 |
“Rashid” Citizen journalist |
VO We ask Rashid what happens if a baby is not registered. SOT The baby becomes blacklisted. They can’t have access to education.
They can do nothing. So they remain uneducated. |
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16:55 |
GVS – Rohingya families assemble for annual household photo |
Upsound VO An important element of the annual check involves photographing the household. Families are lined up and made to wear number tags around their necks. The picture will serve as proof of their attendance. Rohingya who don’t show up at these checks risk facing severe
consequences. |
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17:19 |
“Rashid” Citizen journalist |
SOT They delete anyone who isn’t present at the annual household inspection.
This means people who fled during the 2017 clearance operations won't be able
to return. If the people who fled in 2017 return, they will be arrested and
put in jail. |
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17:41 |
Graphic of junta’s response |
VO In its response to 101 East, the Myanmar government described the
inspections as “necessary”. |
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17:51 |
Rohingya man applies to amend household list, clerk asks for bribe |
Upsound Applicant I think we need to fill this in. OK, wait. Let’s ask her. VO A visit to the local immigration office to update a household list. Upsound Applicant Here are the applications. Clerk OK. VO It might seem like a technicality, but for the Rohingya, having
outdated documents could mean trouble.
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18:10 |
Rohingya man applies to amend household list, clerk asks for bribe |
VO The man is applying to
transfer his wife and three children from her parents’ household list to his
own. Upsound Sign here. |
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18:20 |
Rohingya man applies to amend household list, clerk asks for bribe |
Upsound Clerk 30,000 kyat for the
daughter-in-law and 10,000 for each child. So, 60,000 kyat ($28.60). VO Government services are meant to be free of charge, so this is
illegal. But no one here seems
surprised. |
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18:34 |
Rohingya man applies to amend household list, clerk asks for bribe |
Upsound Clerk It’s 30,000 for changing the wife’s address and 30,000 for three
children. So isn’t that 60,000? Applicant Yes. Clerk And two household lists. A household list is
damaged. Applicant Yes. Clerk Go now and come back at 3pm. |
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18:44 |
“Rashid” Citizen journalist |
VO Rashid says such payments are a fact of life for the Rohingya. SOT We’re not supposed to pay for those documents. They charge because we
are Muslims. It’s not an official payment. They take it for themselves. The
Rohingya in northern Rakhine
State live by paying money. |
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19:04 |
Rohingya visits BGP to correct misspelled name on documents |
Upsound Need to correct a name. VO Videos we’ve received show that
the practice of demanding bribes from Rohingya Muslims isn’t just widespread
- it’s widely accepted. |
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19:16 |
Victim hands over bribe |
Upsound counting money VO A trip to the Border Guard Police to correct a misspelled name ends
with the Rohingya applicant handing over a wad of cash. |
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19:26 |
Police extort money from fish trader |
Upsound BGP What? Victim It’s all small fish, there are no big fish. BGP 5,000 kyat ($2.40) VO Not all demands for money involve the provision of a service. Here, a fish trader is stopped by Border Guard Police manning a
checkpoint. Victim Can you reduce it? BGP It’s not a few! It’s a full bucket! ************! VO For a while, it looks like the Border Guard Police won’t back down. But in the end, they relent. BGP 3,000 ($1.40). |
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20:00 |
Rohingya Muslim taking a cow to be slaughtered ahead of Ramadan is
stopped at police checkpoint. |
Upsound Rohingya victim This is just a small cow sir, don’t be like that. BGP OK, take it. VO Even religious rituals can be opportunities for corruption. Here, a sacrificial cow is
being led to the slaughter. Border Guard Police at one end of a bridge have just demanded a bribe
of about one dollar. Upsound motorbike VO The owner of the cow pays up and continues on
his way. But there’s another checkpoint straight ahead. Upsound Police It’s the standard price here. We’re not asking for
more or less. Rohingya man Pay them 2000 kyat ($1). Upsound Police 5,000, 5,000. I’m not asking for anything more. 5,000 is normal. Rohingya man This is just a small cow. Police Whatever it is, however big or small it is,
5,000 is the standard amount. Rohingya man Does everyone with a cow have to pay? Does everyone have to pay? Police What? Rohingya man Does everyone have to pay? Police Yes. |
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21:02 |
Students at government office following lifting of university ban |
Upsound
This footage was shot in the second half of 2022. A group of Rohingya students are at a
government office, following some rare good
news: The lifting of a 10-year ban on Rohingya
attending university. Upsound Official Where is the original? Student I have it. Official You have to leave the original here. Student I have to leave it? Official Yes. Student Why? Official I said you have to leave your documents here.
Why are you asking questions? |
https://english.dvb.no/sittwe-university-to-admit-rohingya-students-after-ten-year-ban/ |
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21:33 |
“Ahmed” Citizen journalist |
VO But re-enrolling isn’t going to be so easy. SOT Although Rohingya students can attend university from 2022, they have
to apply for permission to travel. They have to
pay bribes for a travel permit. |
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21:48 |
Government clerk tallies up amount of bribes
students will have to pay, for now |
Upsound VO It’s an exhausting process, involving stacks of paperwork, time and money. Upsound Official Where is your letter? Student What letter? VO The students will also
need letters of recommendation and, because of the pandemic, vaccination
certificates. Upsound Official You have to pay 5,000 kyat for the vaccination
certificate and 10,000 kyat each for this. This is not for me. I’m collecting
on behalf of other people for your convenience. We each have our own
responsibilities. I want you to get all the services in one place. |
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22:27 |
Official gets angry after student tries to negotiate cheaper bribe |
Upsound official Here. VO A student attempts to negotiate. Upsound Student People say we only need to pay 5,000 kyat for a recommendation letter? VO But this draws a strong reaction from the official. Upsound Official If that’s what you want to pay, don’t pay me anything. Student No. Official Don’t pay a penny. Student No, it’s not like that. We have to pay you
sir. No, we are facing economic hardship now. That’s why. We have to pay you 5,000 each for tea money. Official It is not good to give money. Student It is good. Official It’s OK, don’t pay. Student Sir, you’re doing something for us. It’s not good not paying you. We’ll
pay you 5,000 kyat tea money. Official Go, don’t pay me. VO It’s all a bit surreal. Upsound official Go! Go! Student No, I am paying. Official No need, go. VO The students must now plead with the official to take their money, or
risk not being able to go back to school at all. |
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23:24 |
Students plead with official |
Upsound Are you angry? Official Why do I need to be angry? You’ll need us again. No, I’m not taking
it. Take it back. |
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23:35 |
Exiting office |
Upsound official You go! Student No. Sir? VO The official storms off, leaving the students as uncertain about their
future as when they first arrived.
Upsound Student Come, come. |
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23:52 |
POV – students walking out of government building…. Archive – Rohingya fleeing in 1978 |
Music VO Life has always been precarious for the Rohingya. |
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24:07 |
Rohingya fleeing in 2017, soldiers on the road to Maungdaw, officials
taking bribes, GVS Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State |
VO Today, Myanmar’s military government continues to dismiss allegations
of abuse and discrimination faced by the community. It told 101 East: “There is no such race as Rohingya among the Myanmar ethnic races at
present or in the past.” |
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24:41 |
“Ahmed” Citizen journalist |
SOT It is now 2023. There is no justice for the Rohingya’s suffering. That
is why we are doing this work, so the world can see the oppression suffered
by the Rohingya. |
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24:59 |
Phone |
SOT We will continue documenting. We will not stop. |
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