British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once described the atrocities
committed against the Russian people by German soldiers during the Second World
War as a “crime without a name.” But would Churchill use the same words if he
lived long enough to witness the numerous “killing fields” of the second half
of the 20th century?
True, these are not the total
state wars that consumed the first half of the 20th century. Still, the unspeakable crimes endured by our
elders are still present today in one form or another.
A case in point is the continuing
suffering of the Rohingya community in western Burma. The United Nations has in
fact called them the most persecuted ethnic group in Asia because no country is
willing to grant them citizenship. In fact, Burma refuses to recognize the
Rohingya ethnic community even though the latter have been living in the
country for many decades.
Using Churchill’s words to
describe the plight of the Rohingya, one might say that we too are in the
presence of a crime; but it’s a crime with many names. There are crimes against
humanity; and there are crimes against Rohingya. Already stateless, landless,
and homeless, Rohingya people are faced with daily doses of various forms of
discrimination. As unwanted residents, they are deprived of basic human rights
and welfare services. Regarded as outsiders, they are collectively accused of
inciting violence in Burma every time a member of their community is found
guilty of committing a crime.
But the Rohingya are not merely
battling the racism of the junta-backed ruling party in Burma. Unfortunately,
they are also victimized by the supposedly pro-democracy opposition parties,
many of whom have echoed the government’s position that the Rohingya are
illegal residents of Burma.
Further inflaming the tension and
hatred in Burma is the irresponsible action of some groups which have posted
false images on the internet to draw attention to the suffering of the
Rohingya. Naturally, it angered many Burmese who suspect that Western groups
and foreign governments are conspiring to isolate Burma in the international
community.
Foreign groups may have exploited
Rohingya issue to further their sinister agenda, but this doesn’t excuse the
continued marginalization of the ethnic group. Nor does it invalidate human
rights groups’ criticism about the deteriorating situation in Rohingya refugee
camps. It also doesn’t make the global petition to support the Rohingya on
humanitarian grounds any less valid.
It isn’t helpful to perpetuate
the Rohingya-Rakhine dichotomy. A stand in favor of Rohingya doesn’t mean we
are condemning the Rakhine. Both groups are victims of violence who must learn
to coexist peacefully.
The first step towards that goal
would be the Burmese government recognizing that its policy towards the
Rohingya is causing further division and conflict in the country. It could also
ensure that the often invoked “rule of law” should apply to the parties
perpetrating the horrendous crimes against the group. If Burma is hesitant to
listen to Western institutions about the need to rethink its policies
concerning the Rohingya, then maybe the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) can intervene by listing the Rohingya issue as part of its agenda in the
next caucus of the regional grouping.
Mong Palatino
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