Devastations Caused by the Cyclone of Forced Bengalization of Rohingyas

Rohingya Aye Myaing

RB Article

June 24, 2013

A certain cyclone is taking place against Rohingyas in Arakan in the form of forced transformation of their ethnic identity into ‘Bengali’. It happens to be much more violent than the actual Mahasen was expected to be. The cyclone is caused by none other than a group of NaSaKa (border security force) under the commandment of NaSaKa administrator, Colonel Aung Naing Oo, at the head quarter of the border immigration affairs in Kyi Kan Pyin (Khawar Bil), Maung Daw Township.

It began in Kyi Kan Pyin in the end of April 2013 and has been going on until today. The Forced Bengalization of Rohingyas spread to other parts of the township later. Forcing Rohingyas for bio-metric finger prints and subsequent registration of them as Bengalis without their consents are some significant attempts taken by Myanmar authority to get rid of both ethnic and national rights from millions of Rohingyas. In Maung Daw Township alone, NaSaKa is getting rid of Rohingyas’ rights through so means not only in Kyi Kan Pyin where NaSaKa Headquarter is located but also in the regions like Nagpura (Ngakura) of NaSaKa Commandment area 5, Merullah (Myint Hlut) of NaSaKa Commandment Area 8 and Haisshurata (Alay-Than Kyaw) of the commandment area 7. 

The brutal means that NaSaKas implement against Rohingyas during their forced Bengalization operation has been devastating the futures of thousands of Rohingyas. They are harassing and raping Rohingya women, beating and torturing Rohingya men, vandalizing household materials and looting valuable properties etc etc. In fact, it is an unimaginably horrible physical and mental storm against Rohingyas that one ever can imagine of. Despite most of the Rohingyas in the village of Kyi Kan Pyin are trying their best to avoid the inhumane operation, NaSaKa group appointed to Bengalize Rohingyas are implementing all their barbaric plans and brutal means for it.

Hearing the vulnerable news of Rohingyas, some of UN’s representatives in Maung Daw requested Colonel Aung Naing Oo to hold a tripartite meeting among Kyi Kan Pyin villagers, UN representatives and NaSaKas on June 19, 2013 to take consensus or whether Rohngyas are willing to participate in the forced Bengalization process. The villagers gathered at the appointed place at the right time (at 10AM). However, Colonel Aung Naing Oo, despite his earlier promise, blatantly rejected UN’s proposal for the meeting saying he was too busy to participate in it. Consequently, UN’s representatives had to give up their attempts to settle down the matter through peaceful means.

To Rohingyas’ dismay, getting the information of Rohingyas’ gathering for the meeting, NaSaKa chased, beat up and forced many Rohingyas to give bio-metric finger prints for Bengalization process. It is an instance how the pseudo civilian government led by U Thein Sein is fooling the world as well as Rohingyas. Do you still think justice and rightness will prevail to Myanmar? 

Please watch this space for more updates!! 

Rohingya Aye Myaing is a Rohingya living in Arakan and graduate in English from Sittwe University.

(Photo: AFP)