Rohingya crisis
It is very welcome
to know from the UN secretary general that his organisation is ready to provide all the necessary support to both Myanmar and Bangladesh to
solve the current problem
The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged the Bangladesh authorities to allow Rohingyas come into the country. While the humanitarian concern of Rohingya population by the UN is well understood, the fact of the matter is this is not a new problem which is not just Myanmars internal one, but Bangladesh is bearing the brunt of it as a neighbouring country. After one episode of violence against Rohingyas dies down, another erupts after some time.
The violence that is going on in the Rakhine state of that country has largely been ignored internationally. The situation is serious enough to be handled internationally and the UN must take the desired lead in this regard. Rohingyas used to be regarded as citizens of Myanmar until the countrys military junta robbed of their citizenship status.
Now a democratic government is in power in Myanmar and rather intriguingly this democratic government, through issuance of an official note, prohibited Rohingyas to be called as Rohingyas. Following this, a fresh wave of persecution began. But latest round of violence comes after the attacks on Myanmar security forces on August 25. Despite the call from international quarters, Myanmar is again using excessive force against the Rohingya civilians including women and children.
It is very welcome to know from the UN secretary general that his organisation is ready to provide all the necessary support to both Myanmar and Bangladesh to solve the current problem. But what is necessary is solving the Rohingya problem permanently addressing the root cause of it. Unless this minority ethnic group is given back their citizenship status and accommodated in the mainstream society of Myanmar with all rights of a citizen, the problem cannot be expected to be solved.
As of now, the US and EU have not taken the problem very seriously. Bangladesh this time has urged the US to take a lead to solve the problem. Time is ripe now for the international community under the auspices of UN to address the plights of Rohingyas. The international organisation and powerful nations of the world should put pressure on the Myanmar government to acknowledge the Rohingyas legal and fundamental human rights in Myanmar. If it fails to do so and if the Myanmar government maintains its present attitude, this communitys future looks bleak indeed.
