Emerging crisis over Bangladeshi trafficked migrants and Rohingya in Myanmar
by Harunur Rashid and Shahabuddin Rajon
In the last month, thousands of Rohingya have become subjects internationally. The growing problems of illegal migration in South-east Asian regions mostly lie in Myanmar and partially in Bangladesh. It is generally believed that powerful people with their say in politics and businesses are behind this multi-billion trade of human trafficking. So it is a matter of concern that the killings have blocked the sincere intention of the law enforcers to root out the scourge. After getting the independence another image is now associated with Bangladesh: that of the abandoned refugees who float on the Andaman Sea with no hope of rescue.
According to BBC report, Indonesia estimated there are about 8,000 people at sea and they think about 30 to 40 percent are Rohingya state, the rest are Bangladeshi; and they are not, in Indonesias words, asylum-seekers, they are not refugees -- they are illegal labourers. Theyve been promised or are seeking jobs in Malaysia. They said the Rohingya have gone to Bangladesh and have mixed up with the Bangladeshis who are coming to Malaysia in particular for jobs.
The news that caught up our attention in Tehran Times is-Myanmars government and Even Nobel laureate Aung San SuuKyi, a leader of the Myanmarese opposition and a celebrated figure of global conscience, has remained shamefully silent on the plight of the Rohingya. Other regional governments, including Thailand and Malaysia, have said the burden of housing the Rohingya is not theirs to shoulder alone. We cannot welcome them here, Malaysian Deputy Home Minister CNN when asked about his countrys policy of turning the illegal migrant boats away.
The spur of the crisis is in the remote, western part of that country, where the majority of the roughly 1.3 million Rohingya live. Even though Rohingya can trace their origins in Myanmar over many centuries, the Muslim minority is refused citizenship status by the Myanmarese state, which classifies them as Bengali interlopers from across the border.
Report says, in 2011 Myanmar government Attacks on Muslims people that followed left up to 280 people dead. Another 140,000 Rohingya were driven from their homes and are now living under apartheid-like conditions in crowded displacement camps.The Rohingya, numbering at around 1.3 million, have been identified by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. They have been denied citizenship and chased off their land in the latest bout of ethnic violence that left them with little access to education, medical care or freedom to move around. Another 140,000 Rohingyas were driven from their homes and are now living under apartheid-like conditions in crowded displacement camps.
Sadly, in Bangladesh we live in a paradoxical society. In one hand we have impressive statistics that show a growing national income, steadily rising exports, and impressive flow of foreign earnings. What these statistics do not show are the pathetic state of our rural economy, rising unemployment of rural youth, and growing disparity of rural and urban income.
On the other side planners spend time more on industrialization and supply of energy for industry and less on erasing the menace of rural poverty and the desperation of our unemployed youth. Stopping a few human traffickers from doing their business will not stem the flow of desperate people seeking desperate means to leave the country. If we really mean business we have to focus our planning and strategy on employment and income opportunities of our rural mass.
We know that the lure of higher income and living standards are the traditional attractions for people leaving for industrialized or oil rich countries. Our people go to extraordinary lengths to go to countries in Middle East and Europe, and perhaps Malaysia. They pay hundreds of thousands to brokers who arrange their employment and travel. But who would like to board a rickety fishing vessel and leave for unknown destinations knowing that this could be their final journey?
Bangladeshs State Minister for Labour and Employment MujibulHaqueChunnu, who was chief guest on the occasion said every year around 18 lakh people need employment anew. However, as it is not possible for us to make employment for them, many resort to go abroad even by illegal way to make their fortune. Minister also added not only the people of Bangladesh but also the residents of Mayanmar, Thailand and Malaysia are involved in the crime of human trafficking. So, it could be curbed through regional cooperation.
What a pathetic floating scene that exhibits sheer misfortune of the desparates- Some drown in the Andaman Sea; others, abandoned by the human traffickers they are forced to trust, drift without water and food aboard what activists describe as floating coffins. And unlike many migrants rescued by European governments in the Mediterranean, the Rohingya cannot even trust in the goodwill of Southeast Asias governments.When people are drifting on the sea, how we can search and rescue them and provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance that is a top priority at this time. More than 3,500 migrants have swum to shore or been rescued off the coasts of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Bangladesh since a Thai crackdown on human-trafficking in early May threw the illicit trade into chaos.
Recently UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday urged Southeast Asian nations to deal with the causes behind a growing humanitarian crisis that has forced thousands of Rohingyas from Myanmar and Bangladeshi migrants to flee by sea, leaving many still stranded in boats, according to the agency. More than 3,600 migrants - about half of them Bangladeshis and the others minority Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar - have landed ashore in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand since May 10. Thousands more are believed to be trapped at sea, and the United Nations has warned that time is running out.
The crisis ideally ought to be resolved by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) - Southeast Asias leading geopolitical bloc. But it is a notoriously toothless institution. Unlike the European Union, Asean shies away from taking moral stands on issues of human rights and democracy. Current signs, and the absence of popular sympathy for the Rohingya, seem to suggest that not much will change.
The message that deem the light of hope that Malaysia and Indonesia announced they would provide temporary shelter to the migrants for up to one year.To solve the problem permanently of migration of Muslims from the Rakhine state, the international community including the United Nations must pressuries Myanmar authorities to restore citizenship of Rohingyas with all other human rights. Without putting pressure or convincing Myanmar to do so, the exodus of Rohingyas will continue and the problem of illegal migration will continue to intensify, because of persistent persecution of some 80,000 Muslim minorities.
Likewise,the law enforcers in Bangladesh will have to upgrade their professionalism and will try to protect the alleged criminals to complete the cycle of investigation in probing heinous crimes of human trafficking.After all we should not forget itsalways important to save human lives first!
The writers are Assistant Deputy Secretaries, BKMEA
