Issue Brief # 222 Innovative Research | Independent Analysis | Informed Opinion Rudderless & Drowning in Tears The Rohingyas of Myanmar Roomana Hukil & Nayantara Shaunik Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies Within Myanmar there appears to be a And what has been the response of the decisive state policy designed in the international community so far? Will the interest of the government, military junta, Rohingyas continue to remain as, what Buddhist Rakhine, nationalist parties and has been termed by the UN - one of the other ethnical factions. With the 1978 most persecuted minorities in the world? ‘ethnic cleansing’ propaganda targeted against the Rohingya community, I Myanmar, has witnessed one of the most The Boat People: Rudderless & devastated large-scale sectarian strife’s in Drowning in Tears history. Albeit, political pressure, Myanmar, till today, maintains its ideological fancy in The Rohingyas identify themselves as the its inhumane treatment exhibited towards native settlers of Myanmar backed to the the Rohingya. This national venture whilst 7th century and disregard all literature supported by other Buddhist nations that propagates them as illegal migrants. predominantly of Burman and Rakhine For them, they are the native settlers who majority groups has left the Rohingya are being persecuted due to their varying community a dismantled lot. However, it linguistic and cultural traits. was only until 2009, when a worldwide coverage of the plight of the Rohingya The Rohingya highlight their grievances by vehemently spurred the international advocating the atrocities directed community in providing immediate towards them. They re-emphasize that reprieve to the issue. Within the larger they have been clustered into forced framework of social dynamics in labour with their lands confiscated by the Myanmar, this brief focuses on the ethnic Myanmarese Army. Their freedom of conflict affecting movement restricted; impermissible marriage within their community without What has been the internal perceptions of prior official approval that is further the Rohingya conflict within Myanmar? accustomed with a heavy fee. With no Southeast Asia Research Programme (SEARP) 1 THE ROHINGYAS OF MYANMAR 2 access to higher education or accommodation of vulnerable employment opportunities, 20% of individuals. Rohingya are malnourished wherein their life enhancing options are extremely The Rohingya identify the conflict as a fatal. Due to their statelessness, most massive human rights violation. They countries are reluctant to consider the believe the claims of the state Rohingyas as refugees and often label government and other pre-dominant them as economic migrants. Moreover, Buddhist factions are unsubstantial as they are quite frequently forcibly pushed they have birthrights in the state. Urging back by the neighbouring states, being for justice at the earliest, the Rohingya considered as socio-economic and seek support from regional organizations security threats, as and when they as well such as the OIC, ASEAN etc to navigate across seas seeking refuge in help provide them with basic sustenance these countries. rights from within the state. They question the Muslim solidarity when it comes to For the Rohingya, the conflict is not a issues and perpetual conflicting violence mere struggle to reduce the widened administered against other Middle Eastern ethnic disparity gap, there is mounting states or even Non-Middle Eastern Muslim evidence that suggests the government states. The Rohingya languish their Muslim opposes the community due to the counterparts of not providing significant perceived threat of an economical-strain heed to their plight considering them as propaganda which has directed further followers of Islam as well. Juxtaposing revulsion towards the Rohingya populace. such reasoning to their varying linguistic While the Rohingya fear the government characteristic. of eventually propagating a human genocide against them, thus, wiping off The Rohingya issue has historical their core existence in the near future. foundations, but it has only received Therefore, they emphasize an urgency of global attention in the recent years, international humanitarian intervention whenever it has contributed towards sought with an aim to promoting destabilizing either existing or emerging awareness among cross-transnational power configurations in the region. The borders about their current ordeal. interest in the new influx of Rohingya into Although, the international media in 2012, Bangladesh, a trend that continues to played a crucial role in garnering date, is connected to the broader politics attention to the grave plight of the of Burma’s democratic ‘opening’. The Rohingya, it is generally skewed towards new refugees are fleeing bloody clashes emphasizing the perceived between the Muslim Rohingya and unsympathetic role played by Rakhine Buddhists in Burma’s remote but Bangladesh and Thailand in turning back resource-rich Rakhine State. Their genuine refugees, and criticizes the desperate escape from the present country’s overall approach towards the circumstances depicts their anxiety in the hope of a better future. Armed gangs from both communities have killed dozens, burned down several villages, Due to their statelessness, most countries are and displaced tens of thousands of reluctant to consider the Rohingyas as refugees people. and often label them as economic migrants. The Rohingya plight has embarrassed the Moreover, they are quite frequently forcibly state and the international community pushed back by the neighbouring states, being who pin for a seamless transition of Myanmar to democracy through the considered as socio-economic and security threats, reforms being pushed forward by as and when they navigate across seas seeking Burmese president Thein Sein and refuge in these countries. 2 2 IPCS ISSUE BRIEF # 222, JUNE 2013 supported by Aung San Suu Kyi. Inside Burma, Given these circumstances, it is More disturbing is the fact that even some little wonder that the international pro-democracy dissidents, refuse to obligation to protect the Rohingya is acknowledge the Rohingya as compatriots. often sidelined in favour of economic and geo-strategic considerations. A timely Pro-democracy organisations view the look to help us awaken to the reality of Rohingya not as a Burmese ethnic group, our stupor and apathy towards the and that the root cause of the violence largely Rohingya voices is essential. But comes from across the border and foreign unfortunately, the impetus for humanitarian action often comes more countries. from the dictates of realpolitik than it does from the state itself. they voted for the military regime’s II representatives. Citizenship, however, is Internal Perspectives: The State still not restored. The plight of the and Other Majority-Minority Rohingya has yet to be made an integral Groups part of any reconciliation program involving ethnic groups, which is a What has happened recently is just more dismaying warning sign. of a symptom of a long history of More disturbing is the fact that even some discriminatory treatment toward the pro-democracy dissidents from Rohingya. With the 1982 Citizenship Law, Myanmar’s ethnic Burman majority, refuse the then military ruler Ne Win stripped the to acknowledge the Rohingya as Rohingya of their citizenship. The compatriots. Pro-democracy government, particularly the military organisations are of the view that the junta, has handled this situation badly for Rohingya are not a Burmese ethnic decades, encouraging a perception that group, and that the root cause of the the Rohingya are stateless, and making violence largely comes from across the little effort to integrate them or resolve this border and foreign countries. Their problem in a sustainable way. nationalist stance further adds that Aside from being stateless, the Rohingya countries that criticise Myanmar for its are subject to a rule, embedded in refusal to recognise the Rohingya should marriage licenses, that they are only respect the country’s sovereignty. They permitted to have two children. They lack are not alone in this position. access to health care, food, and Thein Sein has said that the violence in education and are subject to forced Rakhine, known as Arakan State in British labour and travel restrictions. The religious colonial times, was fuelled by dimension of the Rohingya problem is also dissatisfaction harboured by different particularly troubling, since the military religious and ethnic groups and the desire junta over the past 20 years particularly for vengeance, warning that it could emphasised Buddhism as the religion of scuttle his reform agenda which is key to the 'true' Burmese people. lifting of international sanctions. Thein The current government of President Thein Sein's reform plans include negotiations Sein, which has been lauded for with armed ethnic groups fighting for implementing political and economic autonomy. However, even the new reforms over the last year, has also come democratic reforms have not altered the under criticism for continuing the junta's perception of the Rohingya with President discriminatory policies towards the Thein Sein suggesting in July 2012, in the Rohingya. The Rohingya were given wake of this violence, that he would not voting rights in Myanmar’s landmark 2010 recognise the Rohingya or their rights and elections, with the promise of citizenship if wished to turn over the entire ethnic 3 3 THE ROHINGYAS OF MYANMAR 4 group to the UNHCR. Buddhist