On 25th August 2017,Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army(ARSA) attacked more than 30 police posts in Rakhine state of Myanmar which led to the mass exodus
BACK TO HISTORY
This is not the first time that something like this has happened.In 1960 when military siezed powers,tens of thousands of people of Indian origin were ordered to leave Myanmar.During 19th and early 20th centuries,more than 300,000 people were forced to leave and their lands and properties were nationalized.The Burmese Indian refugess went back to India.In 1942,there was a communal fight between Rohingyas and Rakhine Buddhists.Since last few years,Rohingya are migrating out of the country to escape communal violence or alleged abuses by forces.
ATROCITIES FACED BY ROHINGYAS
Movement of Rohingyas without official permission was restricted.After 2012communal violence,the restrictions were more severe.Education of students was halted for more than 5 years.People could not even leave for medical treatments.
As of 2017,Myanmar Military accused 400,000 Rohingyas who have fled outside the country of involvement in attacks by militant group ARSA. Amnesty International says Myanmar Military also raped and abused Rohingya women and girls.They fled after troops,backed by Buddhists mobs,responded by burning their villages and attacking civilians.According to Medecins Sans Frontiers(MSF),at least 6,700 Rohingyas including approx. 730 children under age of five were killed in one month. More
On 10th anniversary of 2007 pro-democracy protests thousands of Buddhist monks joined the demonstration which came to be known as ‘the saffron revolution’.One of the monks there was asked about the discriminations faced by ethnic minorities to which he replied ‘in democracy all are equal but not the terrorists’.
REFUGEE CAMPS(14 JANUARY 2018)
Due to the fleeing of millions of people from northern Rakhine province,Cox Bazar of Bangladesh is fully-fledged with refugees, most of them living in squalid conditions.The list of camps with number of refugees is as follows-
- Kutupalong Expansion(547,616)
- Kutupalong RC(22,241)
- Thangkhali(43,542)
- Jamtoli(48,845)
- Chakmarkul(12,763)
- Hakimpara(32,999)
- Bagghona(19,564)
- Unchiprang(23,318)
- Leda MS(15,435)
- Nayapara Rc(23,065)
Bangladesh signed a deal with Myanmar to return hundreds of thousands of refugees,but few details have been released.
WHY AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS NOT REALLY TAKING STAND FOR ROHINGYA REFUGEES?
Aung San Suu Kyi is the state counsellor and the most famous political figure known to take extreme stands in Myanmar.Home Affairs,Defence and Border Affairs are controlled by military there.Aung San and the military opposed each other for more than 20 years.Burmese population is with the official view that Rohingyas are not citizens of Myanmar and they have hardly any sympathy for them.She has little power in Rakhine state and speaking out for Rohingyas would certainly prompt an angry reaction from Buddhist nationalists.If she challenges the genocide in Rakhine,the military might step in and replace her.If you go against the mainstream views,then everyone is likely to oppose you.
AIDING PROVIDED
-21,677 children under 5 have been treated for severe
acute malnutrition.
-315,000 children under 15 have received five-in-one vaccination.
-44,493 temporary emergency latrines have been built.
-21,000 metric tonnes of aid has been delivered in 17 airlifts.
WORLD VIEW
The whole world has condemned actions of Myanmar’s Government.
-UN security council appealed to stop the violence but no sanctions have been imposed.
-The US urged Myanmar’s troops to ‘respect the rule of law’,stop the violence and end the displacement of civilians from all communities.
-China says the inter nation community should support the efforts of Myanmar in safeguarding the stability of its national development.
-The UK has pledged 59 million pounds in aid to support those fleeing to Bangladesh.The UK has also suspended training courses for the Myanmar military.