ROHINGYAS IN BURMA’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
Quest for Integration and Contribution
By Soe Myint
Rohingyas are abject orphans of Burma’s political landscape. They have had tried to integrate into the country’s mainstream democracy movement as well as to work in solidarity with the ethnic nationalities, with commitment to liberate Burma from the yoke of the military dictatorship and to rebuild it a genuine Federal Union that will ensure equality, federal democracy and human rights. Unfortunately, the majority members of the Buddhist Rakhine Arakanese, who include Rakhine racist politicians, intellectuals and activists, living both inside and outside Burma, are hostile to the Rohingyas.
Although most of the Rakhine politicians and activists stanchly oppose the Burmese military rule, they are readily reinforcing the ‘Rohingya extermination policy’ of the regime, providing it with planned disinformation and necessary cooperation. Some of their intellectuals are busy inventing regular make-believe stories, distorting Rohingya historicity and vilifying them as aliens or British-time settlers. Notwithstanding division among them, most of the Rakhine political or armed separatist groups who dream of ‘independent Arakan’ are in hallucination to rid Arakan of the Muslim population.
Rohingyas in Burma are under constant tyranny and persecution living in sub-human condition, worse than apartheid era of South Africa. Those who left the homeland to escape persecution are, sometimes, caught in a more terrible situation. In 2009, about 500 Rohingya boat people, who were intercepted by the Thai navy, were pushed out in engineless rickety boats without water and provision to be drowned in the high seas. From mid 2009 to early 2010 the self-settled Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh were victim to unprecedented levels of violence and attempts at forced repatriation. Without official recognition, they were prevented from supporting themselves, and were not permitted to receive official relief. Some died of starvation. More than 1,000 have been arrested, pushed back across the border, or jailed in Bangladesh. However, with these developments, the Rohingyas stood in the international spotlight that invited the attention of the international community, including European Union. Although ASEAN recognized it as a problem that warranted a regional solution, regrettably the case has been subsided.
Arakan is inhabited by two major indigenous people of Rohingyas and Rakhines, with small tribal and ethnic races distributed among Dinet (Chakma), Sak, Mro, Kamei, Chin, Kaman (Muslim). The total population of Arakan is estimated to be 5 millions including those about 1.5 million Rohingyas in Diasporas as follows:
1. Rakhine 1.6 million (approx.)
2. Rohingya 1.4 million “
3. Rohingya Diasporas 1.5 million “
4. Burman 0.2 million “
5. Others (Kaman, Mro,
Mramagyi, Hindu, SaK, Chin) 0.3 million
The Rohingyas are natural citizens of Burma with a glaring history of more than one thousand years. They have had exercised their right of franchise, and voted their representatives to Constituent Assembly and Parliament in all elections held in Burma from 1936 to 2010, including SPDC’s constitutional referendum in 2008. In spite of that the SPDC and recently military back parliament has rejected the existence of Rohingyas as an ethnic group in Burma. The Buddhist Rakhines of Arakan, the sister community of Rohingyas, also reject them as an ethnic group in Arakan. This unjust view has influenced the Burmese democracy movement and ethnic peoples greatly, and they are reluctant to accommodate the Rohingyas in numerous opposition alliances. Thus they have been excluded from the country’s political and democratic process.
In addition, the Rohingyas are not included amongst 135 ethnic groups that the SPDC defined as Burmese nationals. This declaration of Rohingya as non-nationals and 1982 Burma Citizenship Law, which was enacted in violation of the customary international law, have rendered them “defacto stateless” in Burma.
Arakan, also known as Rohang was an independent monarchy ruled by the Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. The Buddhist Rakhine Arakanese, who are also known as Maghs and the Muslim Rohingya Arakanese had ruled it in perfect amity. The heyday of Arakan began with the Muslim’s influence and civilization. The Muslims played a phenomenal rule of kingmaker for a considerable period of time until it was invaded and occupied by Burman King Bodawpaya on 15th December 1784 at the invitation of the Rakhine royal chieftains.
The Burman tyrannical rule over Arakan lasted for about 40 years. This invaded country was again colonized by the British in 1824 and put it under British-India administration, as a part of Bengal, until 1937. Burma gained her independence from British on 4th January 1948 and Arakan became a part of it. When Union of Burma emerged consisting of semi-federal states, Arakan remained as a division without statehood despite being an independent country for many centuries, essentially on the ground of Rakhine-Rohingya dichotomy on one hand, and the government then could not ignore the Rohingya people on the other. But on 14the December 1975, in an attempt to appease Rakhines, Ne Win’s Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) regime granted unitary statehood of Arakan under the name of “Rakhine State” thus attributing it to Buddhist Rakhine only at the exclusion of Muslim Rohingya.
Under the unitary system, all states which are equal to divisions in status and functions, are dominated by the military or Burmans. But the Rakhine officials in Arakan State have had played an influential role particularly in matters of Rohingya extermination, which in fact is a boomerang on them when the Rakhines themselves are knowingly or unknowingly getting themselves Burmanized in Burman-melting-pot.
Since 1942 Muslim massacre, series of drive operations have been conducted resulting in the massive destructions of Rohingyas’ lives, properties and settlements causing influxes of refugees into Bangladesh and other countries. The Nagamin or King Dragon Operation of 1978 and Sabe Operation of 1991-92 are unprecedented. In these two operations, each time nearly 300,000 Rohingyas crossed into Bangladesh with the memories of forced labour, rape, extra judicial killing, arbitrary arrest, massive destruction of their properties and crimes against humanity.
Over and above, the Rakhines are actively launching organized onslaughts jointly and severally. These activities have increased since military rule in 1962. Followings are some of the well-known xenophobes.
Inside Burma: The Rakhine officials and elites misguide and influence the administration with disinformation, make-believe accounts and strategic plans to eliminate Rohingyas. For example,
(a) On 9th October1988, Rakhine National Protection Organization, Maungdaw, had submitted a 12-paged strategic paper to State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), with copies to all important departments, giving the process of Rohingya extermination.
(b) In 1988 Col. Tha Kyaw, who is a Rakhine and Chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), had submitted an 11-point plan to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), detailing the method how to eliminate the Rohingya people in phases. From time to time, the regime used to apply these methodologies in its Rohingya extermination policy.
Out side Burma: With the exception of a few, all Rakhine political parties or armed groups, media groups, woman organizations, youth groups, academics and individuals living outside Burma or on the border are actively engaged in damaging activities against the Rohingyas, For example,
(a) Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), Arakan Liberation
Party (ALP), Democratic Party of Arakan (DPA), Rakhine Women Union (RWU), All Arakan Student and Youth Council (AASYC) and Dhaka based Narinjara News Agency are hostile to Rohingyas. Similarly The Rakhine civil society organizations worldwide and some intellectuals, including those based in Japan, Malaysia, USA, UK and other western and European countries, are antagonistic to Rohingyas. They are unhesitatingly opposing the Rohingya’s existence in Arakan. As it appeared in the numerous news reports, ALP and DPA are well-known to have been involved in robbery, murder, kidnapping, tax collection, poppy cultivation, deforestation and gun running and other crimes in Bandarban area of Chittagong Hill Tracts.
By Soe Myint
Rohingyas are abject orphans of Burma’s political landscape. They have had tried to integrate into the country’s mainstream democracy movement as well as to work in solidarity with the ethnic nationalities, with commitment to liberate Burma from the yoke of the military dictatorship and to rebuild it a genuine Federal Union that will ensure equality, federal democracy and human rights. Unfortunately, the majority members of the Buddhist Rakhine Arakanese, who include Rakhine racist politicians, intellectuals and activists, living both inside and outside Burma, are hostile to the Rohingyas.
Although most of the Rakhine politicians and activists stanchly oppose the Burmese military rule, they are readily reinforcing the ‘Rohingya extermination policy’ of the regime, providing it with planned disinformation and necessary cooperation. Some of their intellectuals are busy inventing regular make-believe stories, distorting Rohingya historicity and vilifying them as aliens or British-time settlers. Notwithstanding division among them, most of the Rakhine political or armed separatist groups who dream of ‘independent Arakan’ are in hallucination to rid Arakan of the Muslim population.
Rohingyas in Burma are under constant tyranny and persecution living in sub-human condition, worse than apartheid era of South Africa. Those who left the homeland to escape persecution are, sometimes, caught in a more terrible situation. In 2009, about 500 Rohingya boat people, who were intercepted by the Thai navy, were pushed out in engineless rickety boats without water and provision to be drowned in the high seas. From mid 2009 to early 2010 the self-settled Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh were victim to unprecedented levels of violence and attempts at forced repatriation. Without official recognition, they were prevented from supporting themselves, and were not permitted to receive official relief. Some died of starvation. More than 1,000 have been arrested, pushed back across the border, or jailed in Bangladesh. However, with these developments, the Rohingyas stood in the international spotlight that invited the attention of the international community, including European Union. Although ASEAN recognized it as a problem that warranted a regional solution, regrettably the case has been subsided.
Arakan is inhabited by two major indigenous people of Rohingyas and Rakhines, with small tribal and ethnic races distributed among Dinet (Chakma), Sak, Mro, Kamei, Chin, Kaman (Muslim). The total population of Arakan is estimated to be 5 millions including those about 1.5 million Rohingyas in Diasporas as follows:
1. Rakhine 1.6 million (approx.)
2. Rohingya 1.4 million “
3. Rohingya Diasporas 1.5 million “
4. Burman 0.2 million “
5. Others (Kaman, Mro,
Mramagyi, Hindu, SaK, Chin) 0.3 million
The Rohingyas are natural citizens of Burma with a glaring history of more than one thousand years. They have had exercised their right of franchise, and voted their representatives to Constituent Assembly and Parliament in all elections held in Burma from 1936 to 2010, including SPDC’s constitutional referendum in 2008. In spite of that the SPDC and recently military back parliament has rejected the existence of Rohingyas as an ethnic group in Burma. The Buddhist Rakhines of Arakan, the sister community of Rohingyas, also reject them as an ethnic group in Arakan. This unjust view has influenced the Burmese democracy movement and ethnic peoples greatly, and they are reluctant to accommodate the Rohingyas in numerous opposition alliances. Thus they have been excluded from the country’s political and democratic process.
In addition, the Rohingyas are not included amongst 135 ethnic groups that the SPDC defined as Burmese nationals. This declaration of Rohingya as non-nationals and 1982 Burma Citizenship Law, which was enacted in violation of the customary international law, have rendered them “defacto stateless” in Burma.
Arakan, also known as Rohang was an independent monarchy ruled by the Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. The Buddhist Rakhine Arakanese, who are also known as Maghs and the Muslim Rohingya Arakanese had ruled it in perfect amity. The heyday of Arakan began with the Muslim’s influence and civilization. The Muslims played a phenomenal rule of kingmaker for a considerable period of time until it was invaded and occupied by Burman King Bodawpaya on 15th December 1784 at the invitation of the Rakhine royal chieftains.
The Burman tyrannical rule over Arakan lasted for about 40 years. This invaded country was again colonized by the British in 1824 and put it under British-India administration, as a part of Bengal, until 1937. Burma gained her independence from British on 4th January 1948 and Arakan became a part of it. When Union of Burma emerged consisting of semi-federal states, Arakan remained as a division without statehood despite being an independent country for many centuries, essentially on the ground of Rakhine-Rohingya dichotomy on one hand, and the government then could not ignore the Rohingya people on the other. But on 14the December 1975, in an attempt to appease Rakhines, Ne Win’s Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) regime granted unitary statehood of Arakan under the name of “Rakhine State” thus attributing it to Buddhist Rakhine only at the exclusion of Muslim Rohingya.
Under the unitary system, all states which are equal to divisions in status and functions, are dominated by the military or Burmans. But the Rakhine officials in Arakan State have had played an influential role particularly in matters of Rohingya extermination, which in fact is a boomerang on them when the Rakhines themselves are knowingly or unknowingly getting themselves Burmanized in Burman-melting-pot.
Since 1942 Muslim massacre, series of drive operations have been conducted resulting in the massive destructions of Rohingyas’ lives, properties and settlements causing influxes of refugees into Bangladesh and other countries. The Nagamin or King Dragon Operation of 1978 and Sabe Operation of 1991-92 are unprecedented. In these two operations, each time nearly 300,000 Rohingyas crossed into Bangladesh with the memories of forced labour, rape, extra judicial killing, arbitrary arrest, massive destruction of their properties and crimes against humanity.
Over and above, the Rakhines are actively launching organized onslaughts jointly and severally. These activities have increased since military rule in 1962. Followings are some of the well-known xenophobes.
Inside Burma: The Rakhine officials and elites misguide and influence the administration with disinformation, make-believe accounts and strategic plans to eliminate Rohingyas. For example,
(a) On 9th October1988, Rakhine National Protection Organization, Maungdaw, had submitted a 12-paged strategic paper to State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), with copies to all important departments, giving the process of Rohingya extermination.
(b) In 1988 Col. Tha Kyaw, who is a Rakhine and Chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), had submitted an 11-point plan to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), detailing the method how to eliminate the Rohingya people in phases. From time to time, the regime used to apply these methodologies in its Rohingya extermination policy.
Out side Burma: With the exception of a few, all Rakhine political parties or armed groups, media groups, woman organizations, youth groups, academics and individuals living outside Burma or on the border are actively engaged in damaging activities against the Rohingyas, For example,
(a) Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), Arakan Liberation
Party (ALP), Democratic Party of Arakan (DPA), Rakhine Women Union (RWU), All Arakan Student and Youth Council (AASYC) and Dhaka based Narinjara News Agency are hostile to Rohingyas. Similarly The Rakhine civil society organizations worldwide and some intellectuals, including those based in Japan, Malaysia, USA, UK and other western and European countries, are antagonistic to Rohingyas. They are unhesitatingly opposing the Rohingya’s existence in Arakan. As it appeared in the numerous news reports, ALP and DPA are well-known to have been involved in robbery, murder, kidnapping, tax collection, poppy cultivation, deforestation and gun running and other crimes in Bandarban area of Chittagong Hill Tracts.
(b) Arakan National Council (ANC), an umbrella organization of the Rakhines, in its policy declaration, rejects the Rohingya ethnicity and labels them as illegal Bengali immigrants from Bangladesh.
(c) Saw Mra Raza Linn, President of the Dhaka based RWU is the foreign Secretary and Secretary General of ALP using the nickname Zeya Myo Line. She does not recognize the Rohingya’s existence in Arakan, and started injuring the Rohingya through false statements. On 4th April 2007, in an interview with BBC Burmese Service, Saw Mra Raza Linn, who married to a Bangladeshi, baselessly stated, “still Bangladeshi people are stealthily entering into Arakan. They committed rape of many Rakhine women.” Not to speak of committing crimes by Rohingyas against Rakhines, it is quite impossible for Rohingyas even to speak out against the wrongs and injustice done by Rakhines for fear of further victimization by the law enforcement agencies. In 2007 Saw Mra Raza Linn was designated for Yawari Human Rights Award from Japan but the prize was later withdrawn when the awarding committee found that she was a racist. In 2009 she failed to get Democracy and Human Rights award from Taiwan Foundation for Democracy Human Rights. From February this year, she is trying for Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award from Korea It will be an insult to the universalism of human rights if any organization confers human rights award on her. It was absolutely improper that she was chosen to represent Burma Democracy icon Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to receive an honorary doctorate degree, on 7th July 2009, awarded by the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland.
(d) Khine Mrat Kyaw, the editor of Narinjara electronic media, who is also BBC Burmese reporter based in Dhaka, is a moderate revolutionary turned racist journalist. He used to send confusing news report regarding Rohingyas. Whereas he was one of the signatories of the Agreement of Political Alliance, singed on 16th September 2000, between the National United Party of Arakan (NUPA) and Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO), now he is reluctant to accept the existence of Rohingya in Arakan. His Narinjara news agency is a member of Burma News International (BNI) receiving financial support from Open Society Institute (OSI) and other sources for the promotion of democracy in Burma. Narinjara as a news media is welcomed, but it should not be manned with a prejudiced editor like Khine Mrat Kyaw.
(e) The Rakhine xenophobic academics are engaged in intellectual abuses against the Rohingya people. They are preaching hatred in the minds of fellow citizens to get rid of the Rohingyas. Dr. Aye Chan (Japan), Dr. Aye Kyaw (USA), Dr. Ashin Nayaka (USA), U Maung Tha Hla (USA) U Khin Maung Saw (Germany) U Nyi Nyi Lwin (Malaysia) and U Ran Naung Soe (Netherland) are some of the xenophobes. Dr. Aye Chan in his book called the Rohingya “Influx Viruses in Arakan”. In June 2003, In Collaboration with Arakan National Association Japan, he organized an anti-Rohingya seminar in Tokyo and published a book in Burmese of provocation. In 2009 he tried to hold a seminar at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London with an agenda to link Rohingya with terrorism. But, the university authorities withdrew permission when they found that it was a racist agenda. Dr. Aye Kyaw, who was an active collaborator of Ne Win’s BSPP regime, did harm to the Rohingyas. He said Arakan and Buddhism are synonymous, and called the Rohingya a floating people. Some of his writings and his interview of 7th October, 2009 with Irrawaddy, are full of animosity. U Mauung Tha Hla wrote two booklets, “The Rakhaine and Rohingya Hoax”, consisting of false and fabricated facts. U Khin Maung Saw in his works -- sometime quoting false references-- stated that the Rohingyas are Chittagonian infiltrators having no rights in Burma. He has also suggested that the Rohingyas may be at best considered for associate or naturalized citizens. His writings are full of xenophobia. In his article of 20th February 2001, U Nyi Nyi Lwin tried in vain to link Rohingyas with Taliban and Al-Qaeda, for being Muslims, with intention to injure them in an atmosphere of global Muslim phobia. U Ran Ni Soe used to bark at anyone -- Rohingya or non-Rohingya-- who supports the cause and case of Rohingyas. His jungle behaviors have been widely condemned.
HH
1942 was the turning point in the history of Rohingyas when Rakhine communalists in collaboration with Burma Independence Army (BIA) then under the command of Ne Win (later Gen. Ne Win/President Ne Win) massacred about 100,000 Rohingyas and destroyed hundreds of villages in the townships of Kyawktaw, Mrohaung and Minbya. More than 50,000 Rohingyas who fled to Bengal were sheltered in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Still their descendants are found in Denajpur and Rangpur districts.
During Burma independence struggle, the Rohingyas were left out from the political process that prompted them to embark on freedom movement, like Karen and others, in 1948. Rohingyas are peace loving. In 1960, they exchanged arms for peace, on the categorical assurance by the government of treating them on par with other national groups of the country. The then parliamentary government of U Nu recognized Rohingyas as one of the ethnic races of Burma. As such they took part in all national activities, including participation in Union Day celebrations held every year on 12th February. Mayu Frontier Administration was created for Rohingya development in a part of their Traditional Homeland in North Arakan. It was later abolished in 1962, when the military generals seized power from parliamentary government and abolished the democratic constitution. General Ne Win took extreme measures of persecution against the Rohingyas and were left with no option except to resume resistance movement for their inalienable rights and freedom.
Despite Rohingya’s all out efforts to identify themselves with the main stream democracy movement and ethnic politics of the country, they have been denied accommodation. Many a time Rohingya organizations applied for due membership of the numerous democracy and ethnic nationalities alliances, such as National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB), the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB), Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC),National Democratic Front(NDF) etc. but to no avail. The Rakhine groups -- the serious of all, for example, Arakan Liberation Party/ALP -- have had blocked any such attempts made by the Rohingya parties by influencing other component members of the alliances, who continue to prefer not hurt the sentiment of the Rakhines.
The people of Burma are passing a very critical period now. As the Burma democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had urged upon her release from the house arrest on 13th November 2010, we the people of the country are required ‘to work in unison to reach the goal’, which is to rebuild a genuine Federal Union of Burma. In this 21st century, the world becomes like a global village. The people are changing in their idea, thinking and social conduct. There is no place for xenophobia, racism, imperialism, terrorism, colonialism and fascist militarism. It is a futile exercise to continue harping on the tune of ‘Rohingya extermination’. It needs to stop fighting this losing battle right now. It is mandatory for the two sister communities of Rohingya and Rakhine to rationally resolve their differences, hold in their arms, and work together in order to charter their own future and the future of their children in Arakan within Burma Federation.
(c) Saw Mra Raza Linn, President of the Dhaka based RWU is the foreign Secretary and Secretary General of ALP using the nickname Zeya Myo Line. She does not recognize the Rohingya’s existence in Arakan, and started injuring the Rohingya through false statements. On 4th April 2007, in an interview with BBC Burmese Service, Saw Mra Raza Linn, who married to a Bangladeshi, baselessly stated, “still Bangladeshi people are stealthily entering into Arakan. They committed rape of many Rakhine women.” Not to speak of committing crimes by Rohingyas against Rakhines, it is quite impossible for Rohingyas even to speak out against the wrongs and injustice done by Rakhines for fear of further victimization by the law enforcement agencies. In 2007 Saw Mra Raza Linn was designated for Yawari Human Rights Award from Japan but the prize was later withdrawn when the awarding committee found that she was a racist. In 2009 she failed to get Democracy and Human Rights award from Taiwan Foundation for Democracy Human Rights. From February this year, she is trying for Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award from Korea It will be an insult to the universalism of human rights if any organization confers human rights award on her. It was absolutely improper that she was chosen to represent Burma Democracy icon Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to receive an honorary doctorate degree, on 7th July 2009, awarded by the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland.
(d) Khine Mrat Kyaw, the editor of Narinjara electronic media, who is also BBC Burmese reporter based in Dhaka, is a moderate revolutionary turned racist journalist. He used to send confusing news report regarding Rohingyas. Whereas he was one of the signatories of the Agreement of Political Alliance, singed on 16th September 2000, between the National United Party of Arakan (NUPA) and Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO), now he is reluctant to accept the existence of Rohingya in Arakan. His Narinjara news agency is a member of Burma News International (BNI) receiving financial support from Open Society Institute (OSI) and other sources for the promotion of democracy in Burma. Narinjara as a news media is welcomed, but it should not be manned with a prejudiced editor like Khine Mrat Kyaw.
(e) The Rakhine xenophobic academics are engaged in intellectual abuses against the Rohingya people. They are preaching hatred in the minds of fellow citizens to get rid of the Rohingyas. Dr. Aye Chan (Japan), Dr. Aye Kyaw (USA), Dr. Ashin Nayaka (USA), U Maung Tha Hla (USA) U Khin Maung Saw (Germany) U Nyi Nyi Lwin (Malaysia) and U Ran Naung Soe (Netherland) are some of the xenophobes. Dr. Aye Chan in his book called the Rohingya “Influx Viruses in Arakan”. In June 2003, In Collaboration with Arakan National Association Japan, he organized an anti-Rohingya seminar in Tokyo and published a book in Burmese of provocation. In 2009 he tried to hold a seminar at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London with an agenda to link Rohingya with terrorism. But, the university authorities withdrew permission when they found that it was a racist agenda. Dr. Aye Kyaw, who was an active collaborator of Ne Win’s BSPP regime, did harm to the Rohingyas. He said Arakan and Buddhism are synonymous, and called the Rohingya a floating people. Some of his writings and his interview of 7th October, 2009 with Irrawaddy, are full of animosity. U Mauung Tha Hla wrote two booklets, “The Rakhaine and Rohingya Hoax”, consisting of false and fabricated facts. U Khin Maung Saw in his works -- sometime quoting false references-- stated that the Rohingyas are Chittagonian infiltrators having no rights in Burma. He has also suggested that the Rohingyas may be at best considered for associate or naturalized citizens. His writings are full of xenophobia. In his article of 20th February 2001, U Nyi Nyi Lwin tried in vain to link Rohingyas with Taliban and Al-Qaeda, for being Muslims, with intention to injure them in an atmosphere of global Muslim phobia. U Ran Ni Soe used to bark at anyone -- Rohingya or non-Rohingya-- who supports the cause and case of Rohingyas. His jungle behaviors have been widely condemned.
HH
1942 was the turning point in the history of Rohingyas when Rakhine communalists in collaboration with Burma Independence Army (BIA) then under the command of Ne Win (later Gen. Ne Win/President Ne Win) massacred about 100,000 Rohingyas and destroyed hundreds of villages in the townships of Kyawktaw, Mrohaung and Minbya. More than 50,000 Rohingyas who fled to Bengal were sheltered in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Still their descendants are found in Denajpur and Rangpur districts.
During Burma independence struggle, the Rohingyas were left out from the political process that prompted them to embark on freedom movement, like Karen and others, in 1948. Rohingyas are peace loving. In 1960, they exchanged arms for peace, on the categorical assurance by the government of treating them on par with other national groups of the country. The then parliamentary government of U Nu recognized Rohingyas as one of the ethnic races of Burma. As such they took part in all national activities, including participation in Union Day celebrations held every year on 12th February. Mayu Frontier Administration was created for Rohingya development in a part of their Traditional Homeland in North Arakan. It was later abolished in 1962, when the military generals seized power from parliamentary government and abolished the democratic constitution. General Ne Win took extreme measures of persecution against the Rohingyas and were left with no option except to resume resistance movement for their inalienable rights and freedom.
Despite Rohingya’s all out efforts to identify themselves with the main stream democracy movement and ethnic politics of the country, they have been denied accommodation. Many a time Rohingya organizations applied for due membership of the numerous democracy and ethnic nationalities alliances, such as National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB), the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB), Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC),National Democratic Front(NDF) etc. but to no avail. The Rakhine groups -- the serious of all, for example, Arakan Liberation Party/ALP -- have had blocked any such attempts made by the Rohingya parties by influencing other component members of the alliances, who continue to prefer not hurt the sentiment of the Rakhines.
The people of Burma are passing a very critical period now. As the Burma democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had urged upon her release from the house arrest on 13th November 2010, we the people of the country are required ‘to work in unison to reach the goal’, which is to rebuild a genuine Federal Union of Burma. In this 21st century, the world becomes like a global village. The people are changing in their idea, thinking and social conduct. There is no place for xenophobia, racism, imperialism, terrorism, colonialism and fascist militarism. It is a futile exercise to continue harping on the tune of ‘Rohingya extermination’. It needs to stop fighting this losing battle right now. It is mandatory for the two sister communities of Rohingya and Rakhine to rationally resolve their differences, hold in their arms, and work together in order to charter their own future and the future of their children in Arakan within Burma Federation.
