Distress of Rohingya
The biggest tragedy about the Rohingya crisis is how unnecessary it is. A responsive government at Nay Pyi Taw could have responded to or even prevented the violence and suffering. The international community, which has practically adopted “never again” as a slogan, has been unhelpful. Decades of neglect are also weighing on civil society, which far too often has poured millions into relief and development aid for issues that made front pages instead of where help is truly needed.
Now, the hopes of the Rohingya have been dashed by yet another high-level committee sent to study the tragedy and recommend ways to help. Kofi Annan, former secretarygeneral of the United Nations, spent months in Myanmar, including in restive Rakhine state bordering Bangladesh. His report, complete with recommendations, was released last week. Calling it “disappointing” would be an understatement.
The distinguished and much-admired Ghanaian statesman produced a paper that was filled with little but cliches and bromides. A close reading of the report, produced with the help of the Myanmar government, discerns no new or innovative steps. It outlines the well-known descent of the Rohingya people under military dictatorship and democratic forces. And it advises only familiar fixes.
It’s tempting to call the Annan Commission study a waste of time. While the ex-UN chief was conducting his study and writing his report, the situation in Rakhine and along the Bangladesh border continued to deteriorate. Mr Annan not only failed to come up with any new or “outside the box” ideas, he chose — presumably diplomatically — to ignore the events on the ground.
Since Mr Annan arrived in Myanmar to begin his mission, a violent group has escalated attacks on government police and army positions along the Bangladesh-Myanmar frontier.
Supposedly formed with the help of Saudi jihadists and mentored by Bangladeshi extremists, this so-called Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) has claimed to be attacking and killing government forces in the name of the ethnic group.
On Aug 25, these militants orchestrated a coordinated attack on 30 police posts and an army base just inside Myanmar. It killed a number of security forces and dozens of attackers. Predictably, the Myanmar army began yet another pogrom of the Rohingya. Soldiers once again razed villages, beat random Rohingya, and caused the flight of another 18,000 Rohingya from their homes and villages.
It must be mentioned that the Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi stood by once again while this happened. Once the bright shining star of democracy, the Lady has refused to even speak up for the beleaguered Rohingya. Her defenders claim she has to balance her power with the army.
But there never has been balance. As in last week’s “crackdown” soldiers have a free hand, even enlisting violent Buddhists to help in mistreating the Muslim Rohingya.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has put the armed forces and respective government agencies on alert. While currently unlikely, it is entirely possible the victimised Rohingya villagers will once again attempt to find better treatment in other Asean countries. “We will provide them with shelter like in the past,” he said.
The saddest part of such alertness and preparation is that it is necessary at all. Ms Suu Kyi, her government and even the army know very well what will bring peace to Rakhine state and the areas where Rohingya live.
Thailand, Asean and the UN should be putting every possible diplomatic pressure on Ms Suu Kyi and her government to act responsibly, stop mistreating the Rohingya and move to a responsible accommodation with the ethnic group including granting citizenship.
Ms Suu Kyi, her government and even the army know very well what will bring peace to Rakhine state.