Myanmar recently hosted the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) summit and was earlier elected the chairman of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). These are big leaps forward for a nation which remained largely isolated from the rest of the world until the other day because of its undemocratic rule and repressive treatment to ethnic and other minorities. Its "pariah" status is being changed slowly because of reforms undertaken by the government. But the country needs much more to accomplish to achieve democratic credentials ahead of the next elections in 1015. What is more needed is the better treatment of the minorities, especially the Rohingya Muslims, who are being targeted with increasing ferocity in their own country on various pretexts.
The population census undertaken by the government has come as a fresh source of discrimination against these Muslims in the violence-prone Rakhine state as they are unable to register their ethnicity in the nationwide census. The authorities ordered that these people be registered as Bengalis in the face of threats by radical Buddhists, who have been targeting the Rohingyas for last several years on religious grounds. The census in Myanmar in 30 years came as a shock for the Rohingyas who are undergoing harassment and repression in many forms in the country. The Myanmar population is composed of more than 120 ethnic groups and unfortunately, the Rohingya Muslims appear to be the worst sufferer.
The Rohingya issue is often discussed at various international fora since they are identified by the United Nations as a persecuted community. Foreign dignitaries often speak against the discriminations being meted out to these people in Myanmar by both radical Buddhists and the authorities.
Former US President Bill Clinton is one of the last important international figures to visit Myanmar when he made a surprise visit to the country late last year and called upon all concerned for cessation of the sectarian violence. His visit coincided with the three-day visit of a high-powered European delegation led by its foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, which also expressed concern on the issue. No less important is the visit of an Islamic delegation headed by the then Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. The members of the OIC team included several member nations including Bangladesh. The delegation sought to go into the bottom of the problem arising out of the treatment to the Rohingya Muslims by the hardline Buddhists.
Earlier, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned Myanmar that it must stop attacks on minority Muslims if it wants to be seen as a credible nation. He urged the Yangon government for necessary measures to address the legitimate grievances of the Muslims. What had been particularly noteworthy in the statement of the UN chief was that he stressed on the need for responding to the demands of the Rohingya Muslims for citizenship of Myanmar.
The issue received greater focus in the international arena following the visit of President Obama in late 2012 to Myanmar when he, among other matters, discussed the subject with the Myanmar authorities. It was expected that Myanmar would take care that its people are not subjected to undue harassment and coerced to leave their country for being minority Muslims. But nothing much has occurred in that direction so far.
Even though the Rohingya issue is not a new phenomenon and remains a vexed problem, the UN chief's remarks gave a new dimension to the problem that should help these people overcome their terrible plight. However, the issue has many dimensions and what is really needed now for a settlement of the critical issue is unremitting thrust towards peace and stability. And to make that happen, all concerned quarters should work in concert in a bid to prevent the matter from further snowballing. Despite the fact that the matter is essentially a domestic issue of Myanmar, the international community takes interest in it because of its grave repercussions transcending Myanmar border. The UN categorised Rohingya Muslims as a "persecuted" ethnic group.
Myanmar government's treatment to the minority Rohingya Muslims in the western Rakhaine state has come in for criticism even by its fellow South East Asian nations - let alone many democratic and Islamic countries. Bangladesh, as the neighbour of Myanmar, has given shelter to many Rohingyas who fled their homes, but could not take further burden when those people again looked for shelter. This raised some controversy both at home and abroad as regards whether Dhaka is right in shutting its doors for those refugees. While many feel that Bangladesh is no longer in a position to carry further load in the form of accommodating the Rohingyas, an impression also exists that humanitarian side should not be ignored. While the government defends its policy, the critics say that authorities have been too stringent on these refugees. Without joining the debate, one can conclude that the issue is linked - if not inextricably - with Bangladesh's interest, and Dhaka should remain engaged with the complex matter without demonstrating indifference or turning a blind eye.
The bottom line is that Rohingyas need better treatment and that is what President Obama underlined during his visit to Myanmar. Several incidents of violence took place against the Rohingyas in recent times, resulting in the exodus of more of these people to other countries including Indonesia and Thailand. Thousands left their homes for safer places within Myanmar. What is worse, an impression has gained that the authorities have not performed their duties in protecting these people in the face of killing and repression by the radical Buddhists. Â
In 1982, Myanmar passed a citizenship law recognising eight races and 130 minority groups, but omitted the nation's eight hundred thousand Rohingyas from the country's 60 million people. This is clearly unfair and the emphasis by the UN chief on their citizenship should assume particular importance. But the decision to exclude the Rohingyas from the census is another grave injustice to them.
 It is imperative that Myanmar improves its democratic and humane credentials as it seeks to play an important and positive role at the regional and global levels. Â
zaglulbss@yahoo.com
Myanmar continues to persecute Rohingyas
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury | Published: April 17, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
Share if you like