Rohingyas – The Citizens of Nowhere

Why in news?

Rohingyas Muslims of Myanmar are fleeing their homes for Bangladesh in the face of an intensive state supported pogrom & rising insurgency.

What is the current situation?

• A state supported pogrom of the minority Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar is snowbowling into a major humanitarian crisis.
• The recent clashes in the western State of Rakhine has claimed over 70 lives and forced thousands of Rohingya to flee across the border into Bangladesh.
• The latest flare-up began when militants suspected to be from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacked military outposts.
• Most of the victims are women and children, according to the UN’s International Organisation for Migration, which has called for additional aid to cope with Dhaka’s refugee situation.

What are the underlying political currents?

• A high-headed attitude in the corridors of power to address the Rohingya issue was what had led to the rise of insurgency.
• The government’s failure to act decisively and urgently to protect civilians from the raging crossfire between the security forces and insurgents is another shocker.
• Als0, an excessive counter-insurgency operation is currently underway, which has been widely condemned as disproportionate.
• The UN had described the slaughter of thousands and displacement of even larger numbers as crimes against humanity.
• But, on the contrary, the radical Buddhist nationalists who have traditionally refused citizenship to the Rohingyas, have demanded even tougher action from the government.

What has Ms.Suu Kyi done?

• It has been perceieved that Nobel peace laureate and “Foreign Minister Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi”, has failed to exert any moral pressure to secure humanitarian assistance for the systematically persecuted Rohingya.
• She has rightly come under criticism for her continued silence over the army brutalities and for irresponsible statements that could potentially disrupt aid and relief activity.

What does the future hold?

• The Myanmar government has an obligation to act on the recommendations of the UN appointed Commission, on the guarantee of citizenship rights to the Rohingya, freedom of movement and enforcement of the rule of law.

• While democracy was restored in Myanmar some years ago, a further consolidation will remain an arduous task so long as a large minorities are  systematically excluded from the political process.
• While, stopping the crisis is the urgent need, a pro-active work to ensure that ethinic peace is established is the needed for the l0ng run.

Source: TheHindu