United for Rohingya

As two of PostBag’s inveterate contributors, we have disagreed on almost everything over the years and it is hard to imagine two more polarised ideologues.

However, on one thing we are united: Our abhorrence and disgust of Myanmar’s persecution of the minority Rohingya over many years. This racially and religiously inspired hatred and ill-treatment has culminated in recent months in hundreds of thousands of these hapless human beings fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh to escape the murderous Myanmar military.

They have fled to avoid the fate of many of their family members and fellow villagers, who have been murdered, raped, tortured, and have had their villages and homes pillaged and razed. And according to latest reports, their livestock is being rounded up and their rice fields harvested for the benefit of Buddhist Myanmar people. The exact number of those killed may never be known, but it is safe to assume it at least runs into the hundreds, if not thousands, including unarmed men, women and children.

Slowly, the world is giving recognition to the atrocities, and the use of the phrase “ethnic cleansing” is increasingly being spoken, not only by humanitarian organisations, but some governments with a touch of humanity and conscience.

So we, Eric Bahrt and David Brown, join hands and call on Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, to summon the Myanmar ambassador to deliver Thailand’s condemnation of these atrocities in the strongest possible terms and to demand their immediate cessation. ERIC BAHRT DAVID BROWN