Nobody thought Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi would be able to do everything she promised to do as a fighter for democracy and the rule of law because the army was still holding ultimate power. What was shocking was that the worst ethnic cleansing was possible during her time in power and she did not even admit that to have happened.
How can one just deny the right of citizenship to Rohingyas of previously independent Rakhine State and uproot them to be miserable refugees in Bangladesh simply because of ethnic hatred of Buddhists? Let Rakhine State be free as it was before occupation.
Now the world appeals to stop military brutalities and take the Rohingya refugees back are going unheeded by Myanmar. But it should not be a favour that the Rohingyas should be allowed to back to Rakhine State. In our view the long-term solution lies in deciding status of Rakhine State.
After the Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan’s meeting with Myanmar leaders Wednesday the government must not suffer any more illusion that its isolated efforts will make Myanmar ready to allow Rohingyas go back. The Home Minister’s wish of goodwill from Myanmar will not come easy. Suu Kyi’s word was her government was working on a plan for the return of the refugees from her country.
What must be clear to us is that on the policy of ethnic cleansing Suu Kyi, the military and local Buddhist leaders including their human rights bodies are one and united against the Muslim Rohingyas. The recent lengthy report published in New York Times should make it clear. The report says all in Myanmar are determined not to take them back. Hatred against Rohingya Muslims has not emerged suddenly, but it was fomented for a long period of time. It is also a fear that Muslims population is growing unchecked posing a threat to the population ratio between Muslims and Buddhists.
We admit they have a serious ethnic problem but its solution they have to find.
It is enmity to create a crisis for a neighbouring country. Every enmity is a provocation for counter enmity. Our grievance is why Myanmar would create enmity with Bangladesh? We used to be good friend and we are still anxious to regard Myanmar as our friends.
We are being abnormally normal with Myanmar leaders who are abnormally inhuman in execution of their plan. We had the hope, though unfounded, that Myanmar will cooperate with Bangladesh and we shall not be the victims of their ethnic problem.
But we find there is no sincerity and they are non-serious with us. The formula of joint committee they discussed with our Home Minister to be formed in November is a formula of bluff. It is no response to our appeals. The formula is to delay any solution and keep us isolated.
Unless we can fully use sufficient international pressure on Myanmar no solution is possible for dealing with the concerted ethnic hatred in Myanmar. To demand their return is also not reasonable unless the government of Myanmar tackles the hatred created against Rohingyas. Myanmar being a vast country with small population can rehabilitate them in a safe area.
India is also finding it convenient to pushing Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh. So who is our friend and who is our enemy in this difficult time of ours? It is reported that India has forced six Rohingyas to Bangladesh through Meherpur border.
We are dealing with a human catastrophe which is bound to create huge political and economic instability in Bangladesh. It will have consequences in the neighbouring countries including Myanmar.
Myanmar was planning for a long time the solution of forcing Rohingyas out of the country. They have finally selected Bangladesh deliberately on the premise that without India and China Bangladesh is an easy place to burden with their domestic problem. In their estimate Bangladesh cannot be tough to be a concern for Myanmar.
Myanmar must be proved wrong.
