Biography of Secretary General of OIC H.E. Mr. Iyad Amin Madani (born April 1946)

Biography of Secretary General of OIC H.E. Mr. Iyad Amin Madani (born April 1946) is a Saudi public figure who served in different cabinet posts. In addition, he is elected as the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. He will be the first Saudi official to hold his position. Madani was born in Mecca in April 1946. He holds a bachelor's degree in production administration, which he obtained from Arizona State University in 1969. Madani began his career as general director in a Saudi Airlines’ administrative office in 1970. Then he joined media and he was editor-in-chief of Saudi Gazette until 1999, being the first editor of the daily. At the same time he served as general director of the Okaz Organization for Press and Publication until his resignation in April l993. He was appointed to the shoura council as a member. He served there until 1999 when he was appointed hajj minister. He was in office as Hajj minister from 1999 to February 2005. Next, he was appointed minister of culture and information in February 2005, replacing Fouad bin Abdulsalam Al Farsi, who in turn became Hajj minister. On 1 August 2005, Madani as information minister announced the death of King Fahd on state television. Madani was elected as the head of the Islamic International News Agency (IINA) and the Organization of Islamic Broadcasting in 2007. He was in office until 2009 and was replaced by Abdulaziz Al Khoja in the post. During his tenure, Madani drew criticisms from Saudi clerics due to his tolerance towards the publications that were questioning the strong effects of the religious establishment in Saudi Arabia. Then Madani was appointed chairman of the board of directors of Knowledge Economic City in Madinah on 10 March 2012, replacing Sami Mohsen Baroum. He also served as vice president of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Foundation for housing development. In November 2012, Saudi Arabia nominated Madani to the post of secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the 39th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC member states in Djibouti. On 2 February 2013, Arab News reported that Madani would replace Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu as secretary-general of the OIC. His appointment was officially announced after the 12th Summit of the OIC in Cairo on 8 February 2013. Madani's term as secretary general of OIC will be effective in January 2014.

The Sudden Abolishment of NaSaKa Institution and Its Aftermaths

Maung Aurther

RB Analysis

July 12, 2013

The institution of NaSaKa (Border Security Force) has been abolished by the government of Myanmar today. According to the announcement order “59/2013” issued by the President’s Office today (i.e. July 12, 2013), the institution has been abolished from today onward. 

The sudden abolishment of NaSaKa might come as a shocker to many and at the same time, the news might sound sweet to some. Meanwhile, many can’t decide whether it is for better or worse. 

NaSaKa force was founded by the toppled ex-general Khin Nyunt in early 1990s. Some of the purposes behind the establishment of the NaSaKa Force were:

(1) To put restrictions on Rohingyas’ marriages

(2) To limit Rohingyas’ birth

(3) To confine their movements and travels

(4) To carry out regularly twice a year census operation against Rohingyas

(5) To depopulate their population by exerting various pressures on them, torturing them in many ways, driving them out of Arakan, even killing them 

(6) And many.

In short, it was a force and tool created to implement ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas and genocide against them. Therefore, NaSaKa Force had been red-handed with blood of Rohingyas right from its establishment. 

Moreover, especially in the ongoing violence against Rohingyas in Arakan that erupted in June 2012, the destructive role that NaSaKa played in the cleansing of Rohingyas has been spotlighted by various human rights groups, international community and Rohingya community themselves.

Therefore, the intention behind the sudden abolishment of NaSaKa Institution can be interpreted in many ways.

(1) NaSaKa had been the effective tool machine in exterminating Rohingyas. And hence, it committed countless crimes against humanity. The only way for the government to get impunity for those crimes committed by the institution is the abolishment of the institution. WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT NASAKA COULD ACT UPON NOTHING WITHOUT THE COMMANDMENT FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF MYANMAR. HENCE, THE GOVERNMENT OF MYANMAR MUST ANSWER FOR ALL THE CRIMES AGAINST ROHINGYAS, NOT ONLY NASAKAS. Nevertheless, the current pseudo civilian government made up of ex-generals can easily shake off any accusations against them and hence will be able to get impunity.

(2) The abolishment can merely be a replacement of old and rusty exterminating machine with a new, efficient and effective one. That is to say NaSaKa is being replaced with a well-trained, worse, more cruel institution effective in exterminating Rohingyas. 

(3) Or it can be just a mind game, without practical implementation of the abolishment, to change people’s perceptions on Myanmar. 

Meanwhile, the responsibilities of NaSaKa can be taken over either by Police or by Military. If Police, composed of mainly Rakhine extremist, are handed over the responsibilities of NaSaKa, then Rohingyas especially in Maung Daw and Buthidaung are going to face a life of hell. 

However, we pray and hope everything turns out to be peaceful and better for all the people living in Myanmar.