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 21st 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.
Shareen K
Great stories
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