Myanmar (Rakhine State), Asia
The Rohingya are a Muslim-majority ethnic group inhabiting Myanmar’s northwestern Rakhine State, near the border of Bangladesh. The origins of the Rohingya are highly contested – most claim historical status in the region from the twelfth century, although the Myanmar government repeatedly refers to them as ‘illegal immigrants’. Since the end of the colonial era, the Rohingya have been routinely subjected to worsening oppression and discrimination, rendering them the “most persecuted minority in the world,” according to the United Nations.
Myanmar (officially called Burma until 1989) has imposed a series of discriminatory policies that effectively bar the Rohingya from participating in civic life. Since 1949, most Rohingya have been denied citizenship, and a series of laws since then have reinforced and intensified this. As a result, they are a stateless people, meaning they are not protected by the civic laws of any country. The Rohingya are also extremely limited in their ability to marry, secure employment, or access education.
In recent years, the situation has sharply escalated and roughly one million Rohingya have fled into neighboring Bangladesh. The Tatmadaw (Myanmar’s armed forces) has intensified their crackdown on the Rohingya, embarking on a colossal ethnic cleansing campaign. The Rohingya have experienced extrajudicial killings, rape, forced labour, and many of their villages have been burned to the ground. Many had no choice but to flee to Bangladesh, where they are living in precarious refugee camp settlements in Cox’s Bazar. Though, due to overcrowded camps, many refugees have been relocated to a third country or Basan Char, a remote island that lacks proper infrastructure and is prone to inclimate weather.
In November 2019, Gambia filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Myanmar for violating the Genocide Convention. Aung San Suu Kyi, a democracy fighter and nobel peace prize winner, defended Myanmar in preliminary hearings as she stated there was “no genocide in Rakhine,” and refused to acknowledge the Rohingya. The hearings continued into February 2022 and Myanmar routinely denied the accusation of genocide, claiming it was organizing a counterinsurgency campaign.
Refugees in Bangladesh
trapped in camps
Deaths: Myanmar has reported 400 deaths since the beginning of the recent crackdown. However, since August 25, 2017, human rights organizations have estimated approximately 24,000 Rohingya have been killed
Bangladesh: 909,000 people are trapped in Bangladesh with little rights. Majority of these refugees are women and children. Approximately 40% of them are under the age of twelve.
Kutupalong Refugee Settlement: Population of 919,000. This is the largest refugee camp in the world and holds the majority of the Rohingya refugees.
UNHCR: The United Nations have provided significant resources to Rohingya refugees, as well as providing assistance during the monsoon season (May-September). UNHCR has passed a resolution on the situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar. The Council urges Myanmar to take all measures necessary to reverse and abandon policies, directives and practices that marginalize Rohingya Muslims and other minorities.
R2P: “Responsibility to Protect (R2P)” doctrine as customary International law. The United Nations and other states have a responsibility to intervene in Myanmar, whether diplomatically or forcefully.
The Key Actors
The Rohingya inhabit Myanmar’s northwestern Rakhine State. The Myanmar government has persecuted the Rohingya for decades.
Genocide, sectarian violence and violation of International Law
The situation is currently static. With the recent and sudden escalation of the situation in Afghanistan, the geopolitical attention has shifted towards the Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban administered so called “Islamic Emirates.” The world community has overlooked the gruesome situation Rohingya’s are in for the past 70 plus years.
The Advisory Commission on Rakhine State has comprehensiv