Enigma

As a self-proclaimed avid foodie, I am always keen to experience the various, and sometimes hidden, restaurants in and around Glasgow, particularly those that aren’t in the city centre. Many a weekend has consisted of finding delectable little spots packed away in different areas of the southside. Having drove past ‘The Battlefield Rest’ many times, noticing how busy it always seems to be, I decided to take myself along for some late brunch with the girls.

This quaint little building was originally used as a resting and courting place for tram travelers – that’s tram travelers not time travellers. To quote a long term Battlefield resident: “It used to be a toilet!”

The restaurant is small but cosy - once inside your eyes are instantly scouring the high decorative ceiling, which eradicate all misconceptions of claustrophobia one may have from the outside looking in. The interior has been updated where necessary, but kept vintage chic with gorgeous artwork. The large windows are adorned with decorative lights allowing for a wonderfully intimate ambience.

For starters, I ordered a long time favourite of mine, the ‘Bruschetta Verdura’. This was a tasty start- the bread used wasn’t soggy by the time it reached us, which I find some restaurants can end up doing by drowning it in pesto sauce. This was crisp with mixed peppers, spinach and cherry tomatoes, complete with a gorgeous homemade pesto sauce on the side giving the dish that necessary twang to finish it off.

Service was cheerful and quick, although it was still pretty quiet at the time we went along. We were seated in the middle of the rest, across from the extensive and very Italian-esque bar. From our spot we could also admire head chef Darren Smith cooking up our delicious food through the open kitchen behind the bar.

If you’re like me, and have eyes bigger than your stomach, be careful not to order too much, as portions are generous to say the least. For mains my friend and I opted for the ‘half pizza and pasta’ to share. We split the ‘Pizza Mercato’ and ‘Rigatoni Piamonte’. The pizza was topped with oven roasted tomatoes, goats cheese, grilled meanzane, caramelised onions and pesto. Once more, their pesto was divine. However, the pizza was slighlty tough and the onions a little too caramelised for my liking – which resulted in me just taking them off. Other than those pernickety personal preferences, I finished it all.

Rigatoni is my favourite kind of pasta, and this specific dish consisted of a mix of ricotta, spinach, roasted peppers, sun dried tomatoes and red onion, all smothered in a delectable napoli sauce. I did worry that due to the pasta itself being very big, they might give me too much. However, I had nothing to worry about and the portion was presented in a cute square dish with just the right amount, rich in taste and also finished completely. 

Prices are very reasonable. There was three of us at our table and we all ordered main courses. We split the bill and it came to £12 per head, making the place excellent value for money.

All in all, a very enjoyable late lunch, and one that I would definitely recommend to any fan of Italian cuisine. With over twenty years experience, ‘The Battlefield Rest’ is a must try.

S.K. 

The current situation in Myanmar, also known as Burma has been of a horrendous and shocking nature. Where to begin? Trying to explain such a complex and ongoing affair is not easy. What we do know is that it has escalated into a humanitarian crisis, which is happening in the 21^st century to add to its incredulity. 

The estimated number of Muslims in Western Burma, known as the Rohingya who are being persecuted by extremist Buddhists rises every month. Stripped of citizenship in 1982 the Rohingya are at the heart of the worlds most longest running civil wars. Now, more than 800,000 individuals lack citizenship in the Rakhine State.

Amidst the current migrant crisis that has littered the news, this includes the scarcely mentioned Rohingya refugees who are fleeing persecution. The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, estimates since 2014 more than 1,100 refugees have died when departing from the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Furthermore, an additional 1,000 who were thought to be at sea last May remain unheard from.

More than 240,000 individuals have been internally displaced in Myanmar.

Rohingya are now stateless and lacking the most basic of human rights. They are not regarded as one of the 135 official ethnic groups and are denied citizenship by the Myanmar government, under the 1982 citizenship law. This has all occurred due to past and recent clashes in the state of Rakhine, between the Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya.

According to UNHCR, majority of those leaving home are of Rohingya ethnicity. The UN are also conscious of the fact that these people are now facing regular food shortages, and as violence continues in their home area, their desperate circumstances have a reached a crisis point.

A number of aid agencies, including Amnesty International have continuously highlighted the plight of the Muslim Rohingya enduring human rights violations under the Burma junta since 1978. As a result many ended up fleeing to neighbouring Bangladesh.

The military junta gave up its power in 2012. Yet the violence and torture of which the Rohingya endure has only escalated.

Humanitarian agencies have been strictly prevented from delivering aid by the government to the Rakhine State. Listening to and reading of the Holy Qur'an has been prohibited. Performing prayers have been banned with over 400 mosques shut down.

Some international peace organisations seem to have adopted a silent attitude on the destruction, violence, and genocide- which is deeply deplorable.

Whilst the West are turning a blind eye, legal experts say that human rights violations against the Rohingya constitute crimes against humanity, and that “there is evidence that genocide is being committed.”

One of the reasons even countries such as Saudi Arabia are silent can be seen as having ulterior motives;

"The west is more concerned to secure trade and inroad into the economy -- Burma is a very rich country, has a lot of resources -- and to sign deals for military and arms equipment." UK’s Jahangir Mohammed, director of the center for Muslim Affairs.

In simpler words they do not wish to interfere for fear of eradicating opportunities regarding business and wealth.

The United Nations has described the Rohingya as a “religious and linguistic minority from Western Burma and as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.”

Human rights groups all over the world including Amnesty International have condemned the government for targeting the Rohingya for ethnic cleansing. 

Following major clashes from May 2012, it has become increasingly difficult for the Rohingya to utilise or publicly speak on matters such as freedom of movement, employment, livelihood, access to healthcare and freedom of religion.  

A global campaign for a ‘United Nations Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations against the Rohingya’ has been set up.

People are able to visit the website http://burmacampaign.org.uk and email British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammon calling on the UK to back a UN inquiry.

It is key to remember that against the bleak backdrop of the world we live in, that some situations are not getting enough coverage as they should be. The refugees fleeing genocide by boat, is a tragic ordeal that needs all the attention it can get.

You can also donate to the Burma Campaign here http://burmacampaign.org.uk

S.K.