Many Rohingya entered Myanmar as part of these policies in the 17th century. The latest row comes despite a deal between Bangladesh and Myanmar in January 2018 to repatriate Rohingya refugees. However, they were not given an autonomous state. The Rohingya ethnic group represent only one puzzle piece in the ethno-political conflict in Myanmar. the Myanmar Military has caused a ... MYANMAR: Conflict between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar Military ... Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine, in some cases the more general term Muslims is … Engy Abdelkader does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. In addition, they beheaded men, raped women and murdered children. Amnesty International said there were indications that authorities in Myanmar have also placed illegal landmines at locations commonly used by refugees Among those killed were two children. Japan endorsed as early as 2013 the Burmese position that there are Bengali residents in Rakhine and that they included people without Burmese citizenship. A compromise was made in 1961: the Mayu Frontier District. When analysis the primary actors of this conflict, it can be seen that the conflict actors are mostly individual ethnic groups in Myanmar, since the conflict is of an internal nature. Colonial policies encouraged migrant labor in order to increase rice cultivation and profits. Despite their own hardships, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have donated funds to help Buddhists displaced due to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, Rohingya community leaders said on Friday. Available from: https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/rohingya-crisis, South A. Tragically, her actions signal there will be no end to the persecution of Rohingya anytime soon. The state, Myanmar’s poorest, is no stranger to violence, either. United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. Through the use of Paul Wehr’s conflict map, the complexity of the conflict becomes easier to comprehend and the conflict actors and their relationship become visible. Myanmar explains its doubtlessly planned campaign against the Rohingya as an anti-terrorist campaign it was forced to start against its own will. Those who break the law risk imprisonment, and the government blacklists their children. The 2012 Rakhine State riots were a series of conflicts primarily between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar, though by October Muslims of all ethnicities had begun to be targeted. Since many sanctions have been lifted, the Myanmar government is trying to strengthen the economy and participate in the international market through exports (22). This conflict is rooted in the fundamental incompatibility of identities of the various ethnic groups in Myanmar. 2013 [cited 2017 Oct 18];43(1). The general perception about Myanmar's Rohingya conflict is that it is a religious issue. The roots of the ethnic conflict can be traced back to British colonial policy in what was then Burma, but it was the decision to strip the Muslim Rohingya … Amid international criticism, she recently canceled her visit to this week’s U.N. General Assembly in New York. However, after the British rule, local leaders came into power and ruled the states, this shift is said to have increased ethnic awareness in Burma (9). Tensions between the Rohingya Muslims and the Buddhist majority date back to the beginning of British rule in 1824. 2015 [cited 2017 Oct 20]. Secondary actors, actors that have an indirect stake in the outcome of the conflict, include the affected population, states and organisations providing weapons, drug smugglers, human traffickers, the Myanmar government, and religious institutions. Without citizenship, they are deprived of basic rights such as access to health services, education and employment. 2017 [cited 2017 Oct 19]. United Nations in Myanmar [Internet]. Available from: http://yangon.sites.unicnetwork.org/2017/10/19/statement-by-adama-dieng-united-nations-special-adviser-on-the-prevention-of-genocide-and-ivan-simonovic-united-nations-special-adviser-on-the-responsibility-to-protect-on-the-situation-in-northern/, Asrar S. Rohingya crisis explained in maps [Internet]. Copyright © 2010–2021, The Conversation US, Inc. A burnt house in Rakhine state of Myanmar, where majority of Rohingya live. The Military and Democracy in Asia and the Pacific. A nationalist movement and Buddhist religious revival further contributed to the growing hatred. Without legal status, they cannot go to school, travel or buy property. In 1948, when Myanmar achieved independence from the British, violent conflicts broke out among various segments of its more than one hundred ethnic and racial groups. This law required that a person’s ancestors belong to a national race or group present in Myanmar prior to British rule in 1823, to become a citizen. The Independent. Silverstein J. Burma’s Struggle for Democracy: The Army Against the People. The KIA want autonomy and a different power distribution that exists now, which has resulted in violent altercations (5). Thus, this military rule created an environment of distrust (10,11). 2015 [cited 2018 Jan 29]. J Altern Perspect Soc Sci. Thus, the government is incentivised to reconcile and build peace. Nowhere in the sources given, does it state that Rohingyas wanted to create a separate state from Myanmar, or that it even considered the prospect of a Rohingya nation that early on. Available from: http://mm.one.un.org/, Petrie C, South A. Mapping of Myanmar Peacebuilding Civil Society [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2017 Oct 18]. As Human Rights Watch has noted, however, their presence actually dates back to the 12th century. Myanmar is largely comprised of non-Burman minorities, who believe that they do not have sufficient rights, freedom and access to power (14). In addition, other countries, such as China, also act as tertiary actors due to their investments in Myanmar and thus want to protect their investments (19). Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) put through ceasefires, which stopped the initial fighting between the government and ethnic armed groups. 2013;(Burma Policy Briefing Nr. The persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar dates back to the 1970s. Many in Myanmar saw the Rohingya as having benefited from colonial rule. The most persecuted people on Earth? Walton MJ. What is more, international humanitarian aid has been blocked, preventing necessities like food, water and medicine from reaching a quarter of a million people. Rohingya Muslims are labelled as the world’s most persecuted minority group, and have received considerable media coverage throughout the world (1–3). Similarly, India has been the only country to forcefully repatriate Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar despite global outcry. 2017. But it was also the first time a global court had acknowledged the decades-long persecution of the Rohingya, sparking rare scenes of joy among refugees … Despite Myanmar’s recent democratic transition, the persecution persists. They demanded citizenship; they also asked for the state that had been promised them. Myanmar has seemed immune to international pressure over its treatment of the Rohingya; despite pledges to improve conditions, the group’s experiences are virtually unchanged. More than 200,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh at the time because of further atrocities. The government became more democratic through the freeing of political prisoners, showing a greater openness towards public opinion, passing a law allowing peaceful demonstrations and improving US relations (12). Mismatched hopes. The ethno-political conflict in Myanmar has been caused by the lack of recognition of ethnic groups. The United Nations has called the Rohingya the world’s most persecuted minority group and described the atrocities by Myanmar’s authorities as “ethnic cleansing,” whereby one group removes another ethnic or religious community through violence. J Contemp Asia [Internet]. Asian Surv [Internet]. Due to this history, many Rakhine dispute the claim that Rohingya have a distinct ethnic heritage and historic association to the Rakhine State, because the Rakhine view the Rohingya as ‘Bengali’ and therefore they do not have religious, cultural or social ties to Myanmar and the state of Arakan (6). Available from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/2645346.pdf. View. In the last few months, the situation spiraled displacing hundreds of thousands — as the world stood by and watched. They also face restrictions on the right to marry, move freely and own property because of their religious and ethnic identity. As can be seen in the conflict map the primary actors that are identified are Tatmadaw, the government, Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and two ethnic groups: the Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya . [Internet]. The British ruled Myanmar (then Burma) for over a century, beginning with a series of wars in 1824. Available from: https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21654124-myanmars-muslim-minority-have-been-attacked-impunity-stripped-vote-and-driven, Broomfield M. UN calls on Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi to halt “ethnic cleansing” of Rohingya Muslims [Internet]. In: Alagappa M, editor. Much like today’s terrorists, the rebels at the time were called “Mujahid” or engaged in “struggle” or “jihad.” It is important to point out that the international community has never agreed on how to define “terrorism.” The legal definition could vary by country as politics dictates its contours. Prospects for Peace in Myanmar: Opportunities and Threats [Internet]. The Rohingya people, who do not have citizenship rights from Myanmar or Bangladesh, are being persecuted by the Myanmar government and are in violent conflict with the Rakhine (5). Glob Rev Ethnopolitics [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2017 Oct 19]; Available from: http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2146000,00.html. TIME [Internet]. Report of OHCHR mission to Bangladesh: Interviews with Rohingya fleeing from Myanmar since 9 October 2016 [Internet]. The Arakan state is populated by Rakhine Buddhist as well as Rohingya. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press; 1979. Myanmar’s Rohingya conflict is arguably the most sensitive and complex issue facing the country, both in terms of the extent of physical and social destruction, and the impact on Myanmar’s domestic reform and international standing. But the persecution of the Rohingya is not new. Since the conflict in Myanmar has various significant actors and parallel conflicts between the actors, this essay will primarily concentrate on the conflict involving the Rohingya ethnic group. Council on Foreign Relations. The Kachin Crisis : Peace Must Prevail. According to census records, between 1871 to 1911, the Muslim population tripled. Available from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14718800108405087, Selth A. Aung San Suu Kyi and the Tatmadaw [Internet]. In addition, through the media the Rohingya ethnic group has received recognition and legitimacy for their cause to fight for citizenship and land rights (19). Imran FH Al, Mian N. The Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh: A Vulnerable Group in Law and Policy. 2017 [cited 2017 Oct 19]. Burma Centrum Nederland. In: May RJ, Selochan V, editors. Albert E. The Rohingya Crisis [Internet]. The Rohingya ethnic group represent only one puzzle piece in the ethno-political conflict in Myanmar. The “Wages of Burman-ness”: Ethnicity and Burman Privilege in Contemporary Myanmar. Timeline: Reforms in Myanmar [Internet]. However, with the involvement in Myanmar, the international community also verbalises condemnation. Available from: https://www.amnesty.org.au/who-are-the-rohingya-refugees/, The Economist. ASIAN STYLE DEMOCRACY. 2013 [cited 2017 Oct 19]. The Tatmadaw has been engaged in a decades long conflict with not only Rohingya, but also the Kachin and Kokang peoples who live in Northern Myanmar. The tensions between the various religious groups in the country were often exploited by past military rulers of Myanmar. The Blog features interviews with guest speakers, current research, Centre news and events. Myanmar has been torn by civil war and ethnic conflict ever since it regained independence from British rule in 1948 (7). Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims have been subject to human rights abuses, been denied citizenship, and most recently, faced ethnic cleansing. Calling them foreigners, the army killed, tortured and raped. However, in order to reach peace, conflict reconciliation has to occur on all levels and between the various ethnic minorities, because without reconciliation between the primary actors ceasefires will only be temporary (24). Despite the democratic reforms that former President Thein Sein enforced, the Burmese society remains dissatisfied. Available from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00472336.2012.730892?needAccess=true, Hliang KY. Burma: Civil Society Skirting Regime Rules. In Rakhine, communal conflicts started in 2012. Thus, many Rohingya have fled due to being deprived of civil, economic, political and cultural rights. United Nations Information Centre Yangon. Since then, the Rohingya people have been persecuted on a regular basis by the government and nationalist Buddhists. The conflict with the Rohingya ethnic group has to be officially addressed by the government and reconciliation needs to occur between the Rohingya and Rakhine in order to establish peace. As can be seen from the conflict map illustrated above, the Myanmar conflict is a complex, multi-dimensional issue with different actors, and a variety of objectives. In 2011, the military rule ended and the government underwent a significant transformation. The Conflict Analysis Research Centre is a multi-disciplinary Faculty Research Centre based in the School of Politics and International Relations. One of the major ethnic rebel groups are the KIA that operate for the Kachin Independence Organisation. The government and the ethnic groups of Myanmar are ready for change and know that the ethnic struggles cannot remain and have to be addressed and mediated (23). According to the UN, Bangladesh has received the most Rohingya refugees amounting to 530,000 Rohingya (20,21). This persecution has two fronts: the Rohingya minority are in conflict with both the Tatmadaw and the Rakhine Buddhist population (13). Available from: https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/aung-san-suu-kyi-and-tatmadaw. It was an early emergency measure in what could be a years-long case – not a pronouncement of guilt. 2016 [cited 2017 Oct 18]; Available from: https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G16/135/41/PDF/G1613541.pdf?OpenElement, Beech H. The Face of Buddhist Terror. Maintaining and improving its stance internationally is of great interest in order to improve its economy and become less reliant on Chinese investments. The second narrative espoused in the growing Burman-Buddhist nationalist movement is that “the Rohingya started it.” That is, Rohingya throughout history have rarely followed Burmese national interests, instead several times having threatened Myanmar’s newfound sovereignty. However, Wehr’s conflict map provides only an overview of the conflict and does not provide a comprehensive and in-depth analysis. Available from: https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/157179/South-Prospects-for-Peace-in-Myanmar-PRIO-Paper-2012.pdf, United Nations. Situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. PRIO Paper. Following the war, the British rewarded the Rohingya with prestigious government posts. 2017 [cited 2017 Oct 20]. Although, Myanmar is becoming more democratic and wanting national reconciliation it is still filled with ethnic conflict (13). Available from: https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/144269/CSS-Analysis_115.pdf, Zartman W. The timing of peace initiatives: Hurting stalemates and ripe moments. The police can also arrest and imprison them. In order to protest the mistreatment of the Rohingya, and in order to gain citizenship, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army is fighting against the Tatmadaw. Who are the Rohingya and what is happenign in Myanmar? Unequal distribution of power, mostly held by former military leaders, persecution, violence and ethnic discrimination are still common in Myanmar. Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh told Human Rights Watch that Myanmar government forces had carried out armed attacks, and burned down their homes. Of the High Commissioner in by British colonizers time represents a ripeness in conflict. 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