Who are the Rohingyas?
* They're a Muslim ethnic group in Buddhist Myanmar and are approximately 1.1 million in
population.
* They're said to be the world's most persecuted minority.
* They've faced systematic persecution since Myanmar's independence in 1948.
* Most of them reside in the Rakhine state on the country's western coast/border.
* It's regarded as one of the poorest states and lacks basic services in education and health care.
From the pages of history.
* Historians are unanimous in their conclusion that the group has been residing in Arakan(Rakhine)
as early as from the 12th century.
* When the British ruled between 1824 and 1948, they administered Myanmar as a province of
India and thus, any migration of labourers between Myamnmar and other south Asian nation
countries (like Bangladesh) was considered internal. The majority of the native Myanmar
population did not like that.
* In fact, many people of Myanmar consider them to be Bengalis or people from Bangladesh.
* The discriminating 1982 Citizenship Law, officially prevented them from obtaining citizenship!
The sad facts.
* Over the years, military crackdown on them have forced hundreds of thousands to escape.
* Between 1991-'92, more than 2,50,000 refugees fled to south eastern Bangladesh. With the influx,
the Bangladeshi government insisted that the refugees must return to Rakhine.
* By 1997 about 2,30,000 refugees had returned.
* The Burmese government declared that they would not receive anymore refugees after 15 Aug '97.
* What's sad is that Aung San Suui Kyi, who fought for democracy and reforms in Myanmar, has
not uttered a single word on the issue. She has decided to skip the UN General Assembly meeting,
next month, for the fear of having to face criticism in the world body!
The Indian dilemma.
* Many of the original Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh have already migrated into India. Who
knows as to how many of them form the new population of labourers in Kerala, to cite just one
example?
* India, a developing country, is striving to look after its population to get rid of their poverty. Any
additional set of refugees will upset that apple cart in addition to creating security issues.
* But many of our politicians are trying to convert this into a 'humanitarian issue' and beat the Modi
government with that stick, talking about the country's ethical past! The new population could be
added to their vote bank, you see.
My take.
* India must put diplomatic pressure on Myanmar to sort out the ethnic issue once for all. The Rohingyas must be made Myanmarese citizens through an amendment to their Constitution.
* The refugees who've come into India must be sent back to their country with honour and dignity.
Tailpiece.
Am reminded about the ethnic conflict in our neighbouring Sri Lanka. The majority Buddhists, there, do not accept Tamilians to be their fellow countrymen, fellow citizens. The problem, here, is identical! Sad!!
* They're a Muslim ethnic group in Buddhist Myanmar and are approximately 1.1 million in
population.
* They're said to be the world's most persecuted minority.
* They've faced systematic persecution since Myanmar's independence in 1948.
* Most of them reside in the Rakhine state on the country's western coast/border.
* It's regarded as one of the poorest states and lacks basic services in education and health care.
From the pages of history.
* Historians are unanimous in their conclusion that the group has been residing in Arakan(Rakhine)
as early as from the 12th century.
* When the British ruled between 1824 and 1948, they administered Myanmar as a province of
India and thus, any migration of labourers between Myamnmar and other south Asian nation
countries (like Bangladesh) was considered internal. The majority of the native Myanmar
population did not like that.
* In fact, many people of Myanmar consider them to be Bengalis or people from Bangladesh.
* The discriminating 1982 Citizenship Law, officially prevented them from obtaining citizenship!
The sad facts.
* Over the years, military crackdown on them have forced hundreds of thousands to escape.
* Between 1991-'92, more than 2,50,000 refugees fled to south eastern Bangladesh. With the influx,
the Bangladeshi government insisted that the refugees must return to Rakhine.
* By 1997 about 2,30,000 refugees had returned.
* The Burmese government declared that they would not receive anymore refugees after 15 Aug '97.
* What's sad is that Aung San Suui Kyi, who fought for democracy and reforms in Myanmar, has
not uttered a single word on the issue. She has decided to skip the UN General Assembly meeting,
next month, for the fear of having to face criticism in the world body!
The Indian dilemma.
* Many of the original Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh have already migrated into India. Who
knows as to how many of them form the new population of labourers in Kerala, to cite just one
example?
* India, a developing country, is striving to look after its population to get rid of their poverty. Any
additional set of refugees will upset that apple cart in addition to creating security issues.
* But many of our politicians are trying to convert this into a 'humanitarian issue' and beat the Modi
government with that stick, talking about the country's ethical past! The new population could be
added to their vote bank, you see.
My take.
* India must put diplomatic pressure on Myanmar to sort out the ethnic issue once for all. The Rohingyas must be made Myanmarese citizens through an amendment to their Constitution.
* The refugees who've come into India must be sent back to their country with honour and dignity.
Tailpiece.
Am reminded about the ethnic conflict in our neighbouring Sri Lanka. The majority Buddhists, there, do not accept Tamilians to be their fellow countrymen, fellow citizens. The problem, here, is identical! Sad!!
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