The protest in Centenary Square outside City Hall, Bradford on Monday 13th August 2012 against the Killing of Rohingya people in Burma attracted a large crowd of mostly young people from Bradford and its surrounding areas. This short notice demo with its large crowd is a testament to the way George Galloway reaches out to people. Credit also goes to the young people who worked behind the scene in organising and spreading the word on Twitter, Facebook, by text, e-mail and word of mouth. The big media outlets maybe silent but the voice of the ordinary people cannot be stopped.

The  Rohingya community in Bradford and elsewhere know we have not forgotten them.  It was heartening to see the Rohingyas who found sanctuary in Bradford and to hear their stories. The Rohingya girl who grew up in a camp in Bangladesh described the mistreatments, especially of women at the camp. How can anyone who has a mother, sister, wife or daughter ignore their plea?

As Salma Yaqoob said, use your mobile to tell people about the plight of the Rohingya people. This is just the beginning, the momentum is gathering, God willing, the world will know about Burma’s killing of Rohingyas. Aung San Suu Kyi will have to break her silence too.

Here is what you can do:

• Write to your MP (use this page to find your MP) and the Foreign Minister William Hague.
• Write to the Bangladesh High Commission in London (e-mail: bhclondon@btconnect.com).
• Donate money to charities working with Rohingyas e.g. Islamic Relief, HRF.
• Lobby the media e.g. ask why the BBC is silent, do it online here.
• Most important of all, tell others about it, via Twitter, Facebook, Text, E-mail etc.

Campaigns and News Reports:

• Channel4 – Dangerous waters for rohingyas forgotten people
• Restless Beings Project: Stateless Rohingya
• Bradford Rohingya Community
• Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO)
• Local Bradford Newspaper: Hundreds gather for Burma protest

The speakers and the video of their speech is as as below:

• Salma Yaqoob – Leader of the Respect Party
• David Green – Bradford Labour Council Leader
• David Ward MP – Bradford East Liberal Democrat MP
• Naveeda Ikram – Former Lord Mayor of Bradford
• Nijam Uddin – Bradford Rohingya Community
• Sajeeda – A Rohingya from refugee camp in Bangladesh
• George Galloway – Bradford West Respect MP
• Ummah Channel Speaker