After decades of Martial Law rule in Myanmar, it was supposed that Aung San Suu Kyi will introduce some peaceful initiatives to stabilize the region. However, the hopes were turned down by Ms. Suu Kyi. Aung San Suu Kyi not only supporting military crackdown in Rakhine state but is also silent on human right violations in Rakhine. Either she surrendered before the powerful military generals or she is willingly silent on this issue. Unfortunately, neighbors of Myanmar excluding Bangladesh are also silent on Rohingya crisis. In fact, India and China endorsed Myanmar’s military crackdown against the Rohingya population. In this article, we will discuss a historical background and future perspectives of the ongoing Rohingya crisis.
In a recent meeting of United Nation’s security council, Secretary General Antonio Guterres claimed that the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar is one of the worst humanitarian crisis.
However, the same meeting did not discuss the role of India and Myanmar in this crisis. Human right observers named Rohingya crisis as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”
We will have to look at the historical background to understand the situation. In the cold war, Myanmar had to face international sanctions. It was regarded as a satellite state of China. China helped Myanmar to come out of the economic crisis. China helped Myanmar both in economic and military domains. After the cold war, China’s influence in the region caught apace. Currently, China is managing many developmental and economic projects in Myanmar. Myanmar is also dependent on China for military aid.
In this region, India is the biggest rival of China. India has also refused to be a part of China’s belt and road initiative. India also has a long border with Myanmar. The Indian side of the border is heavily militarised which causes tensions between Myanmar and India. It was assumed that India will oppose the construction of a seaport in Arakan but India remained silent. Similarly, India did not say anything on the Rohingya crisis.
The Indian Hindutva’s views about Muslims in Assam are same as Myanmar’s Theravada’s views about Muslims in Rakhine. Both the extremist groups call them as “Bengali Muslims”. Both Hindu nationalist and Buddhist nationalists claimed that these Bengali Muslims can raise the slogan of freedom or merger with Bangladesh anytime. So the Muslim population in Assam and Rakhine are common enemies of these extremist groups.
Recently the nationalist government of India initiated a registration program in northeastern Assam. This region shares a border with Bangladesh. ABout 2.5 million Bengali speaking Muslims are facing the threat of statelessness due to this so-called registration program. Experts have claimed that nationalist government of India removed the names of Bengali speaking Muslims from the national registry. This may cause a situation similar to the Rohingya crisis in the future.
Experts opine that India is working on deporting these Bengalis Muslims. Therefore India did not raise voice on Rohingya crisis.
In the international community, Turkey is the only country who has raised this issue on various forums. Turkey’s first lady and foreign minister have also visited the affected areas of Myanmar. They closely watched the plight of Rohingya Muslims and raised this issue on an international level. While Bangladesh has also given refuge to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims. Both Turkey and Bangladesh are trying their best to help the refugees staying in camps inside Bangladesh.
As a world leader, the United States has a major responsibility. The United States can work in collaboration with its ally Turkey to address the issue. USA, Turkey, Bangladesh, and Myanmar will have to sit together to solve this issue. If not resolved on time the crisis may spread towards the entire region.
