Plight of Rohingya Muslims
THE recent clashes between ethnic Arakan Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in Arakan (also called Rakhine state) in Myanmar have left at least 78 people dead and tens of thousands displaced.
An investigation by HRW found that the military government has since launched a crackdown on Rohingya, conducting violent sweeps, opening fire on villagers and arresting large numbers of Muslim men and boys.
It demonstrates state-sponsored persecution because most of Myanmar’s people don’t see the Rohingya as part of the country’s ethnic fabric.
Reports of the conditions of the Muslim minority after the violent attacks by the Buddhist majority community have caused deep concern among Muslim countries.
Graphic visuals of the violence and the distressing conditions in which the displaced people are living have further rouse public opinion in many countries.
Although permanently settled in western Myanmar and making one-third of the total population of Myanmar (nearly 800,000), they are not recognised as legal minority/citizens of the country.
They are denied fundamental rights and freedom while the military regime consistently perpetrates human rights violations against these powerless and unprotected people. According to an estimate, 90,000 Rohingya Muslims have now been forced
from their homes in the Rakhine state in western Myanmar.
The Muslim groups from Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey have rallied behind the Rohingya cause. Nonetheless, the miseries of 800,000 Rohingya Muslims deserve immediate redressal of the issue.
Despite state repression, some of the complaints by the Rohingya have been echoed by the 20,000 displaced Rakhine sheltering in the area’s camps.
Families in these camps rest in groups on the floor, some with bags holding the few possessions they were able to carry with them when they fled burning villages.
The plight of the persecuted Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar must be heard and the reinvigorated world media must highlight the significance of human tragedy taking place in Myanmar. The Myanmar government should handle the issue diplomatically and reassure the global community of its intention of building an equitable society, coming to terms with its ethnic minorities.
RAFIQUE AHMED
Islamabad
78 muslims killed in a foreign land make you sad,but how many muslims have been killed by muslims in pakistan in last 6 months alone.
Agree and the dawn should keep writing about this to plat their role like they relentlessly. Write about individual minority cases in pakistan
I agree with Mr. Ahmed; persecution Muslims of Burma must end. But I wonder what Mr. Ahmed things of the plight of non-Muslims in Pakistan.
Siddique Malik, Louisville, Pakistan.
Get your house in order, before commenting on others plight. Do something gud for your own minority.
They should use Islamic nations in general and Pakistan as a model to deal with minorities.
I suggest Pakistan should lead the way by asking Rohingya Muslims to move to Pakistan and live happily in peace.
dear ahmed .i don’t who you are ,i think you are using a fake name on the screen but you are real non muslim .that is why you put such as comment .
Is this because they are fellow Muslims? Or fellow Humans?
What about plight of minorities in Pakistan?????
There is definitely need for dialogue. The OIC must also bring Bangladesh into the negotiations when talks start.
We need to emphasize on the state of our minorities first then look after Muslims some where else .
World Community should care plight of human beings. Third world has huge population, they should have equal share of world resources according to population. Powerful countries have captured huge lands with smaller population. Settle this problem immediately on human grounds in order peace and progress prevail.
Please worry about the Muslims in Pakistan first.
Please concentrate on plight of Muslims in Pakistan who r killing each other
There’s a factual error here: The Rohingya make up nearly a third of the population of Rakhine state in Myanmar (3.8 million), not a third of the total Myanmar population (60 million)
I am surpirised with the number of comments on Rohingya Muslims. Without any second thought any inhumane activities have to be condemned not because they are muslims but becase they are humans! The same people never condemned prosecution of Tamils in Srilanka but instead the country supplied them with arms to gain influence in the region. Why even the killing in Syria (which is the worst ever massacre in few years) has not invited any comments. Turkey contiues to bomb and air strike their own citizens who happen to be Kurds but entire world is quiet. I dont think any calls to protect Rohingya is going to be heard as Myanmar is already cut off from other countries and what is required is some serious diplomacy. Even Sui Kyi is not vocal about this. But the reality is asking justice only for a particular relgious group all the time will not win any sympathy from other groups. Unfortunate but thats the reality
800,000 does not make up one-third of the population of Myanmar (55 million).