The Rohingya people, one of the world’s most persecuted minorities, are once again being forced to flee their homes in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. This time, however, the threat is not only from Myanmar’s military, but also from armed rebels within their own homeland. As the Arakan Army, an ethnic Rakhine insurgent group, tightens its grip on the state, the Rohingya are caught in the crossfire, facing renewed violence, displacement and a desperate struggle for survival.
Having seized control of much of Rakhine state from the military, the Arakan Army has turned its wrath on the Rohingya. Reports from the region are harrowing: villages shelled, homes burned and men rounded up in what appears to be a systematic campaign of violence and intimidation.
The Arakan Army, which claims to be fighting for greater autonomy for the Rakhine people, has accused the Rohingya of collaborating with the Myanmar military, using this as a pretext for its brutal actions. But the Rohingya have been conscripted by force into the military’s ranks, coerced into fighting against the Arakan Army. In this deadly conflict, the Rohingya are not combatants but pawns, manipulated by both sides and left with little choice but to flee.
With their homes destroyed and their lives in danger, thousands of Rohingya have taken to the seas in search of safety. These dangerous boat journeys are a last resort, a desperate attempt to escape the violence in Myanmar. But for many, the journey ends in tragedy. Overcrowded and ill-equipped boats capsize, claiming the lives of men, women and children who had hoped to find refuge across the border. The Rohingya are not combatants but pawns, manipulated by both sides and left with little choice but to flee.
For those who do manage to reach Bangladesh, the reception has been far from welcoming. The country, already overwhelmed by the influx of nearly a million Rohingya refugees who fled the 2017 massacres, is struggling to cope with the new arrivals. Bangladesh’s security forces, overstretched after weeks of unrest that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have turned back many boats, leaving the refugees to face the perilous return journey to Myanmar. The new interim government in Bangladesh, led by Mohammed Yunus, has pledged to continue supporting the refugees. However, even Yunus, a Nobel laureate known for his humanitarian efforts, will find it politically difficult to absorb any additional refugees, especially as Bangladesh grapples with its own political uncertainty. The country is in the midst of a volatile transition, with widespread unrest and a deeply divided populace. The arrival of more Rohingya refugees could exacerbate these tensions, making it even harder for the government to provide adequate support.
Bangladesh has already imposed harsh measures on the Rohingya refugees, most of whom arrived after the brutal military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017. Work, travel and education have been severely restricted in an effort to encourage the refugees to return to Myanmar. However, repeated attempts at repatriation have failed due to the lack of guarantees for their safety. The ongoing conflict between the Arakan Army and the military in Rakhine state has only made the prospect of return even more dangerous.
The Rohingya crisis is not limited to Myanmar and Bangladesh. As the violence in Rakhine state escalates, Rohingya refugees are also likely to seek safety in other regional countries. Nations such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, which have previously received waves of Rohingya refugees, may soon find themselves facing a new influx. The burden of this crisis is one that must be shared by the region as a whole, rather than borne by Bangladesh alone.
Amid this escalating crisis, the silence of Myanmar’s national unity government is deafening
Amid this escalating crisis, the silence of Myanmar’s national unity government is deafening. This coalition, which represents the ousted civilian government and seeks international recognition as the legitimate government of Myanmar, has largely remained silent on the attacks against the Rohingya by the Arakan Army. This is particularly troubling given its stated commitment to a federal, democratic Myanmar that respects the rights of all its people.
The national unity government’s primary focus has been on gaining recognition from regional and international bodies, particularly the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as the legitimate government-in-exile. However, this should not come at the cost of turning a blind eye to the atrocities being committed against the Rohingya. ASEAN’s member states and other nations must use their influence to ensure that the national unity government publicly denounces the Arakan Army’s violence and takes steps to protect the Rohingya.
The international community must act swiftly to address the Rohingya crisis, which is rapidly spiraling out of control. Diplomatic pressure should be exerted on both the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military to cease their attacks on civilians, including the Rohingya. Humanitarian assistance must be increased for those who have fled to Bangladesh and other countries, ensuring that they receive the protection and support they desperately need.
Furthermore, the national unity government must be held accountable for its silence. The international community, including ASEAN, should demand that it uphold its commitment to human rights and speak out against the violence being perpetrated against the Rohingya. Recognition of it as Myanmar’s legitimate government should be contingent on its willingness to protect all of Myanmar’s people, including the Rohingya.
The Rohingya have suffered for far too long. It is time for the world to stand up for their rights and ensure that they can live in safety and dignity, free from the fear of violence and persecution. The plight of the Rohingya is not just a regional issue, it is a test of our collective humanity. The world must not fail them again.
Dr. Azeem Ibrahim is the director of special initiatives at the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington, DC. X: @AzeemIbrahim
Source: Arab news
