Dr. M. Aminul Islam Akanda :
The Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority of Myanmar, has been being pushed out from their homeland for decades. There were 1.2 million refugees sheltered in a few neighboring countries until 25th August 2017. Continual violence thereafter bounded more than 40 per cent of remaining 1.1 million Rohingyas to flee into Bangladesh. Myanmar security forces have launched ‘operation clearance’ on August 25 responding to attacks by Rohingya militants on police posts. Many Buddhist extremists have also joined with security forces who are engaged in the campaign of systematic burning in the north Rakhine, as stated by the Amnesty International. Even a spokesman of Myanmar president has narrated that 176 out of total 471 ethnic villages have turned empty in three townships. Are they going to evacuate the homeland of Rohingyas within a few months?
The army chief, a man with deep root, on 17th September has called upon the people to unite on his argument of ‘no root of Rohingyas in Myanmar’! However, the history tells a different truth. Myanmar (earlier Burma) never sheltered Rohingyas as ‘Bengali migrants’ and but ever wished to push out calling them ‘Bengali Muslim’. The Burmese, being under British rule, took an opportunity of ‘driving away Bengali’ during World War II in 1942. Subsequent military-led aggressions year after year led many Rohingyas to fight for an independent ‘Islamic Republic of North Arakan’. The civilian fighters were resisted through ‘Operation Dragon King’ in 1978, which pushed out hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people. Though Bangladesh was successful in sending 200,000 refugees back, international watchdogs failed to retain safety, security and even citizenship of the Rohingya. Whatever the past was, no amount of historical research can justify the current violence – says Jonathan Saha, an England based eminent historian for Southeast Asia.
What is behind the planned catastrophic violence and pushing out of the Rohingya Muslims has been opened out. The security forces have tried to justify all of their operations including the current one with an international catchy term ‘war against Islamist terrorism’. However, analysts all over the world have explained the crisis as ‘more political than religious’. Peace lovers worldwide are astonished of observing an unbelievable stand of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi. This Myanmar leader was not hesitated to present herself as a power-lover in her speech on September 25. Amnesty International has criticized her as ‘burying head on sand’ for her sidesteps of crimes against humanity. The reality here is, she has practiced Buddhism in political construction, capitalism in transnational negotiation and utilitarianism in government formation. Hence, Bangladesh Prime Minister expects her not to stand against the military but to understand all evidences of Rohingya establishment for centuries. Sheikh Hasina wishes Suu Kyi to recognize Rohingyas as Myanmar citizen.
Meanwhile, the international scrutiny like ‘textbook example of ethnic cleansing’ (of the UN rights chief) has created reactions around the world. However, China, India and Russia are supporting Myanmar ignoring all scrutiny of the UN agencies, human rights watchdogs and international media. What is behind the crisis is the oil economics and land-grab politics which has nakedly appeared in media. China is not only the largest investor for Myanmar but also has taken control over her minerals resources. India has not much investment but has relentless pursuit of accessing to her resources. Both countries have accessed to the Bay of Bengal through their connectivity projects. Will Myanmar gain from giving them vacant lands forcefully confiscated from Rohingyas? Its answer seems to be negative as the country could not gain from selling oil and gas earlier. Only ties with weapon suppliers have kept her government happy as it has become a military power in South Asia! Who will make her understood that domestic tensions benefit outsiders. Realization of what would enable her not only to accept Rohingyas but also to stop violence against any of her 135 ethnic groups.
However, the resolution of Rohingya crisis largely depends on the orthodoxy of weapon suppliers. How long would China, India and Russia be blind for corporate and strategic interests with Myanmar? Why have they forgotten that Bangladesh is also their trade and investment partner? Bangladesh has the highest trade deficit with China who is selling even ‘toys lasting for one day’. India has an official trade surplus of US$ 3,998 million and a large amount from illegal border trade. Their giant economies might not weigh down ignoring Bangladesh! Are they really negotiating with Myanmar to exercise their veto in the UN Security Council against any proposals for ‘safe zones for Rohingyas’ and ‘economic sanction against Myanmar’? Won’t the UN turn into an inactive organization if the leaders act on self-commercial interests? Won’t any unethical practice put China far-off her slogan of ‘Asia for Asian’? How does India want to present itself? We expect the next generation leaders to be judicious soon like England, Unites states, France, Canada, European Union and many other countries in resolving Rohingya crisis.
Bangladesh has shown colossal humanity accepting half a million new refugees even after being affected by four disasters this year. So far it has sheltered more than half of the 1.6 million Rohingya refugees in the world. Early entrants did cost us a lot engaging in careless destructions, occupancies and smuggling in the main tourism zone of the country. How many of the 300,000 early entrants remain in refugee camps? Some Rohingyas have managed citizenship of Bangladesh even. Hasn’t a group of brokers helped them to spread around? This time, the government initiated biometric registration for newcomers to refrain them mixing with common people. Sheikh Hasina seems to have taken a meticulous strategy for their sustainable return. Hasn’t her the government maintained affable diplomacy against antagonistic diplomacy of Myanmar? She has used well an opportunity in building consent among global leaders gathered for the UN general assembly. She has placed five points proposal to the UN so to end the crisis forever as per the recommendations of Kofi Anan commission. Many global leaders have expressed deep concerns but needs expeditious UN and global interventions to make Myanmar ready to accept her citizens.
Even after Myanmar’s readiness in repatriation, difficulties may appear with readiness of Rohingyas to go back. Ziauddin Chowdhury, former deputy commissioner of greater Chittagong, has described his experiences on Rohingyas’ unwillingness to return in 1978 in his recent column. The returnees at that time were Myanmar citizens who stayed here for a few months. However, potential returnees are not citizens of either country who have experienced several assaults in the Rakhine state. What will ensure them any violence and push out not to happen again? Moreover, vested interest groups, who are benefitted from handling Rohingya issue, will de-motivate them. Won’t Rohingyas show strong unwillingness to back home whose wealth and homes have been destroyed and occupied? All related problems could only be resolved with extensive bilateral and multilateral negotiations with Myanmar. This dream will not turn into a reality without active participation of the UN agencies and global leaders in the process of ‘sustainable return’ of Rohingyas.
(Dr. M. Aminul Islam Akanda, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Comilla University, Email: [email protected])
The Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority of Myanmar, has been being pushed out from their homeland for decades. There were 1.2 million refugees sheltered in a few neighboring countries until 25th August 2017. Continual violence thereafter bounded more than 40 per cent of remaining 1.1 million Rohingyas to flee into Bangladesh. Myanmar security forces have launched ‘operation clearance’ on August 25 responding to attacks by Rohingya militants on police posts. Many Buddhist extremists have also joined with security forces who are engaged in the campaign of systematic burning in the north Rakhine, as stated by the Amnesty International. Even a spokesman of Myanmar president has narrated that 176 out of total 471 ethnic villages have turned empty in three townships. Are they going to evacuate the homeland of Rohingyas within a few months?
The army chief, a man with deep root, on 17th September has called upon the people to unite on his argument of ‘no root of Rohingyas in Myanmar’! However, the history tells a different truth. Myanmar (earlier Burma) never sheltered Rohingyas as ‘Bengali migrants’ and but ever wished to push out calling them ‘Bengali Muslim’. The Burmese, being under British rule, took an opportunity of ‘driving away Bengali’ during World War II in 1942. Subsequent military-led aggressions year after year led many Rohingyas to fight for an independent ‘Islamic Republic of North Arakan’. The civilian fighters were resisted through ‘Operation Dragon King’ in 1978, which pushed out hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people. Though Bangladesh was successful in sending 200,000 refugees back, international watchdogs failed to retain safety, security and even citizenship of the Rohingya. Whatever the past was, no amount of historical research can justify the current violence – says Jonathan Saha, an England based eminent historian for Southeast Asia.
What is behind the planned catastrophic violence and pushing out of the Rohingya Muslims has been opened out. The security forces have tried to justify all of their operations including the current one with an international catchy term ‘war against Islamist terrorism’. However, analysts all over the world have explained the crisis as ‘more political than religious’. Peace lovers worldwide are astonished of observing an unbelievable stand of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi. This Myanmar leader was not hesitated to present herself as a power-lover in her speech on September 25. Amnesty International has criticized her as ‘burying head on sand’ for her sidesteps of crimes against humanity. The reality here is, she has practiced Buddhism in political construction, capitalism in transnational negotiation and utilitarianism in government formation. Hence, Bangladesh Prime Minister expects her not to stand against the military but to understand all evidences of Rohingya establishment for centuries. Sheikh Hasina wishes Suu Kyi to recognize Rohingyas as Myanmar citizen.
Meanwhile, the international scrutiny like ‘textbook example of ethnic cleansing’ (of the UN rights chief) has created reactions around the world. However, China, India and Russia are supporting Myanmar ignoring all scrutiny of the UN agencies, human rights watchdogs and international media. What is behind the crisis is the oil economics and land-grab politics which has nakedly appeared in media. China is not only the largest investor for Myanmar but also has taken control over her minerals resources. India has not much investment but has relentless pursuit of accessing to her resources. Both countries have accessed to the Bay of Bengal through their connectivity projects. Will Myanmar gain from giving them vacant lands forcefully confiscated from Rohingyas? Its answer seems to be negative as the country could not gain from selling oil and gas earlier. Only ties with weapon suppliers have kept her government happy as it has become a military power in South Asia! Who will make her understood that domestic tensions benefit outsiders. Realization of what would enable her not only to accept Rohingyas but also to stop violence against any of her 135 ethnic groups.
However, the resolution of Rohingya crisis largely depends on the orthodoxy of weapon suppliers. How long would China, India and Russia be blind for corporate and strategic interests with Myanmar? Why have they forgotten that Bangladesh is also their trade and investment partner? Bangladesh has the highest trade deficit with China who is selling even ‘toys lasting for one day’. India has an official trade surplus of US$ 3,998 million and a large amount from illegal border trade. Their giant economies might not weigh down ignoring Bangladesh! Are they really negotiating with Myanmar to exercise their veto in the UN Security Council against any proposals for ‘safe zones for Rohingyas’ and ‘economic sanction against Myanmar’? Won’t the UN turn into an inactive organization if the leaders act on self-commercial interests? Won’t any unethical practice put China far-off her slogan of ‘Asia for Asian’? How does India want to present itself? We expect the next generation leaders to be judicious soon like England, Unites states, France, Canada, European Union and many other countries in resolving Rohingya crisis.
Bangladesh has shown colossal humanity accepting half a million new refugees even after being affected by four disasters this year. So far it has sheltered more than half of the 1.6 million Rohingya refugees in the world. Early entrants did cost us a lot engaging in careless destructions, occupancies and smuggling in the main tourism zone of the country. How many of the 300,000 early entrants remain in refugee camps? Some Rohingyas have managed citizenship of Bangladesh even. Hasn’t a group of brokers helped them to spread around? This time, the government initiated biometric registration for newcomers to refrain them mixing with common people. Sheikh Hasina seems to have taken a meticulous strategy for their sustainable return. Hasn’t her the government maintained affable diplomacy against antagonistic diplomacy of Myanmar? She has used well an opportunity in building consent among global leaders gathered for the UN general assembly. She has placed five points proposal to the UN so to end the crisis forever as per the recommendations of Kofi Anan commission. Many global leaders have expressed deep concerns but needs expeditious UN and global interventions to make Myanmar ready to accept her citizens.
Even after Myanmar’s readiness in repatriation, difficulties may appear with readiness of Rohingyas to go back. Ziauddin Chowdhury, former deputy commissioner of greater Chittagong, has described his experiences on Rohingyas’ unwillingness to return in 1978 in his recent column. The returnees at that time were Myanmar citizens who stayed here for a few months. However, potential returnees are not citizens of either country who have experienced several assaults in the Rakhine state. What will ensure them any violence and push out not to happen again? Moreover, vested interest groups, who are benefitted from handling Rohingya issue, will de-motivate them. Won’t Rohingyas show strong unwillingness to back home whose wealth and homes have been destroyed and occupied? All related problems could only be resolved with extensive bilateral and multilateral negotiations with Myanmar. This dream will not turn into a reality without active participation of the UN agencies and global leaders in the process of ‘sustainable return’ of Rohingyas.
(Dr. M. Aminul Islam Akanda, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Comilla University, Email: [email protected])
