Myanmar – Rohingya Muslims Plight

March 16, 2018

Myanmar – Rohingya Muslims Plight

Padmini Arhant

Anytime a nation’s minority group experience isolation, persecution and human rights violations, that nation’s leaderships and government are in spotlight. Myanmar has been systematically involved in expelling Burmese born citizens of ethnic origin despite them being the second and third generation since the country was taken over by military junta through coup d’état, in the early sixties in the past century.

The military reining control over key resources like natural gas, precious metals and minerals with deals struck between them and western energy behemoths as well as emerging economic power viz. China care less about humanitarian problems and remain focused on respective economic goals.

On the other hand, Myanmar’s military rule having accommodated western backed candidate and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s leadership and political party representation in a quasi democratic setting designed to convince the world on Myanmar’s desire towards political evolution and possible democratic environment has interestingly found a partner with similar sentiments in the wake of brutalities against Myanmar’s ethnic demography, the Rohingya Muslims.

Above all, the western leaderships and Britain in particular with the incumbent Prime Minister Theresa May recently calling out India on the treatment of minorities while ignoring the blatant violations and genocide of Rohingyas in Myanmar explains the political nature of selective empathy in humanitarian issues rather than applying one standard i.e. the golden rule on human rights abuse anywhere.

Notwithstanding the imperialists responsible for wiping civilizations and pioneering prejudice in the divide and conquer strategy until today owe an apology to victims families and the descendants besides reparation costs for depleting resources and exploiting human capital in various colonies around the world.

The western backed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s stance on this issue not only as a government representative and authority but also as a Nobel peace prize recipient confirms political expediency over humanitarian affairs demanding fairness, justice and equality in any society regardless of political system in place.

The Rohingyas conditions in Myanmar is parallel to Sri Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka and subsequent summary execution of civilians especially the youth targeted by then Sri Lankan government. The systemic killings carried out not without regional and international i.e. India and United States support in 2009. Additionally, to facilitate the massacre, the UN peace keeping corps was withdrawn at critical juncture abandoning the pleading Sri Lankan Tamils entirely at the mercy of the former Commander in Chief and President Mahinda Rajapaksha authorized merciless killing of unarmed Tamil civilians in the island nation.

With no condemnation on Sri Lankan air raids and shelling, the Sri Lankan government’s actions barely noticed by the UN Security Council that otherwise never miss an opportunity to impose economic sanctions against the favorite adversaries like North Korea, Venezuela and alike citing human rights issues together with nations earmarked for alienation and trade embargo.

The ethnic cleansing in Myanmar by radicals that should have been prevented at onset is reprehensible. As such nations regardless of political structure are obligatory to guarantee safety and security of all citizens nationwide prohibiting discrimination and disenfranchisement.

In fact, when every nation is expected to provide the same safety measures to tourists, visitors and business travelers from overseas and safeguard them from any harm during their visit to any country,

It is incomprehensible to witness the unruly conduct and hostility against Rohingyas – one of the many ethnic groups in Myanmar.

Myanmar’s government slighting responsibility in defending the particular ethnic minority from genocide leaving them with no choice but to flee the nation offshore only to be turned down by neighboring states across the border or alternatively preyed upon by predators like human traffickers and criminal agents to abuse them for their illicit commercial trade is unacceptable. The activities could only be described as callousness on those responsible for the tragic yet avoidable humanitarian disaster.

Myanmar is not alien to ethnic diversity. In fact, there are at least one hundred and thirty five ethnic groups and Rohingyas are one of them. Among these members, the major ethnic races representing Burmese society viz. Karen, Kayin, Kayah, Bamar, Karenni, Shan, Mon, Wa, Rakhine, Palaung, Chin, Kachin and Kokang to name a few are well known in the spectrum. The segregation of a single ethnic segment, the Rohingyas denying them statehood and citizenship is a national default.

Again, the incumbent leadership Aung San Suu Kyi as the State Counsellor equivalent to Prime Minister post choosing to remain oblivious and worst failing to recognize the assault and expulsion of Rohingyas as violent and undemocratic event is extremely disappointing and deeply regrettable.

Whatever the reasons might be behind such complicity, the lack of humanitarian concern from Myanmar’s authorities and especially a Nobel Peace Prize awardee reflects poorly on individual basis and those favoring them in the international domain.

Likewise, the out of control situation in this instance towards Rohingya Muslims also raise questions about Islamic nations complacency and silence to the exclusion and expatriation of population belonging to their faith with no initiatives and pressure on western counterparts involved in economic and strategic partnerships explains the trend in humanitarian matter.

Rohingyas belong to Myanmar and ousting them using aggression and inhumane standards does not bode well for a country aspiring to be democratic and tolerant in the efforts towards political and economic development.

No nation’s progress could be real and legitimate until the people of different sect, class, gender and social paradigms possess equal rights and opportunity without being threatened in maintaining their relevant cultural heritage. Inappropriately, the definition of progress is entirely tied to economic growth, modern infrastructure and foreign investments alongside neglecting social inequality or participating in elimination of certain ethnic denomination with generational legacy.

The other tradition during racial, sectarian and communal unrest in any society is using religion as the pawn for political and fundamental cause. The practice to tarnish religions is aimed at further discord and chaos within community and the world at large. Any followers of sacred religions would refrain from unholy indulgence and strive hard to exemplify peaceful and positive traits through genuine commitment and disposition not performing for camera and audience to win superficial credit.

Nonetheless, there should be no misconception on the established truth the elements using religion to advance personal and vested interests invariably meet their fateful outcome in the end justifying the means serving as precedence to deter future engagement.

In conclusion, Rohingyas and people from anywhere confronted with synonymous plight deserve to be respected and accepted barring social indignation and injustice. Rohingyas are part of mainstream population in Myanmar and forceful deportation from their domicile is against the norm in political, social, humanitarian, ethical and practical sense.

Moving forward the restoration and rehabilitation of Rohingyas and others sharing the dilemma in Myanmar is absolutely necessary and important for the authorities in Myanmar and abroad to sustain fragile peace and stability in the South Asian and Southeast Asian region.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Padmini Arhant · Filed Under Featured, Humanitarian | 1 Comment