Myanmar/Rohingya People

The Rohingya are a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority group, mainly found in the Rakhine State of Myanmar (Burma), where they’ve faced persecution for decades. Their modern history has been marked by systemic discrimination and violence, particularly from the Myanmar military, or the "junta," and local nationalist groups.

The Modern History of the Rohingya:

1. Colonial Legacy: The roots of the conflict can be traced back to British colonial rule (1824-1948), which brought large numbers of laborers from Bengal (modern-day Bangladesh) to Myanmar, particularly in the Rakhine region. The British were involved in local politics and often played ethnic groups against each other, setting the stage for long-term ethnic tension.
2. Post-Independence Exclusion: After Myanmar gained independence in 1948, the Rohingya faced exclusion from the national identity. While other ethnic groups were recognized as citizens, the Rohingya were largely left out of the 1982 Citizenship Law, which effectively made them stateless. This legal exclusion has been a cornerstone of their persecution.
3. 1980s-2000s: Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Myanmar government ramped up its campaign against the Rohingya, stripping them of their rights, limiting their movement, and even forcing some into internment camps. The military junta's oppression worsened, including violent crackdowns, forced labor, and religious discrimination.
4. 2012 and Beyond: The Peak of the Crisis: The situation hit a boiling point in 2012, with violent clashes between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims. In 2017, the military launched what it called “clearance operations,” in response to attacks by a Rohingya militant group (ARSA). These operations turned into widespread atrocities: killings, gang rapes, and the burning of villages, leading to a mass exodus of Rohingya to neighboring Bangladesh. The United Nations and human rights organizations have described these actions as ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Why the Junta Dislikes the Rohingya:

The military junta and the wider nationalist sentiment in Myanmar often view the Rohingya with deep suspicion and hostility, and there are several reasons for this:

1. Ethno-Religious Nationalism: Myanmar has a strong sense of Buddhist nationalism. The country’s majority ethnic group, the Burmans, and the military have historically viewed the Rohingya as foreign, associating them with Bangladesh (and by extension, as "illegal migrants"). They are seen as a threat to the Buddhist cultural and religious identity that the military sees as central to Myanmar's national identity.
2. Political and Economic Control: The military junta has used the "Rohingya threat" as a tool to rally nationalist sentiment and distract from the real issues at hand, including corruption and mismanagement. By creating an “enemy,” the junta can consolidate power and deflect attention from its own human rights abuses and failures. This approach also aligns with the junta’s efforts to maintain control over the Rakhine region, which has significant natural resources.
3. Strategic Rhetoric: The junta portrays the Rohingya as “terrorists” or as aligned with international enemies like Bangladesh or Islamic extremists, using this rhetoric to justify violence against them. This not only legitimizes the persecution but also appeals to nationalist factions within the country that support the military regime.
4. Dehumanization: The Rohingya are often dehumanized in the media, with government-controlled outlets and Buddhist extremists spreading misinformation and inflammatory propaganda. This creates a situation where violence against the Rohingya is justified in the eyes of the public. This dehumanization also makes international pressure easier to ignore, as the Rohingya are seen as less deserving of rights and protections.

Current Situation:

The junta's stance has not changed much, even after Myanmar transitioned (in theory) to a quasi-democracy in the early 2010s. In fact, with the military’s coup in 2021, the Rohingya issue is once again swept under the rug as the country faces greater internal conflict. Their statelessness persists, with the junta showing no intention of granting them citizenship, and they continue to live in harsh conditions, either in camps or as refugees in neighboring countries.

To sum it up, the Rohingya’s persecution is rooted in a combination of historical, religious, and political factors. The military junta’s treatment of them can be seen as part of a broader effort to consolidate control, enforce ethnic and religious purity, and maintain power through divisive nationalism. The international community’s response has largely been inadequate, with many countries failing to hold the junta accountable for their crimes.