The Time for Rohingyas to Wake Up!

M.S. Anwar
RB Article
October 23, 2012

Rohingyas are one of the most persecuted people on the planet Earth according to United Nation. Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that Rohingyas are under high degree of extinction. Rohingya is an ethnic race residing in Arakan, Burma from the time of immemorial. Under different dictatorial regimes in Burma, they have been being historically discriminated and persecuted on account of their Indian ethnic origin, skin colors and religion. Since 8th June 2012, a state-sponsored ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas has been being carried out in cooperation with Rakhine extremists.

Since then, the atrocities against and mass killings of them have been being carried out in large scale. Rohingyas’ homes were burnt down and thousands of them were displaced on their own land. Many thousands of them were killed though Burmese officials grossly understated the number of their deaths. Their properties are looted on daily basis and their women and under-aged girls were or are either raped or gang-raped by Military and others. Their mosques and religious have been locked down. Their educated people and other innocent people have been detained for nothing. Their access to foods and medicines are blocked. As a result, they have been facing untimely demises caused by the Burmese animals in human form.

So often, there have been country-wide anti-Rohingya, anti-Kular and anti-OIC protests led by the skinned-head fascists in saffron and Burmese chauvinists so that they can commit more crimes against Rohingyas and conceal them. All these protests are indirectly incited and supported by the Burmese regime to justify their behaviors and implement their plans to root out Muslims from Burma. Burmese murderous regime and Rakhine extremists have lied, deceived and tried all the tricks to cover up their crimes against humanity. The world seems to have fallen into their traps. And Rohingyas are living in the hell on the earth and hardly anyone seems to put efforts into improving their dying situation. Burma has become ASEAN’s Bosnia for Rohingyas and their current situation is worse than Jews Situation in Nazi Extermination Camps during WW2 as one describes.

The situation in Arakan seemed to have calmed down in last few months because of the regime’s uncertainty of the support and side of USA (with them). As soon as the regime got green light and assurance from US that they (USA) are with them (regime), they have declared not to allow the establishment of OIC’s office in the country and have resurfaced the violence against Rohingyas a few days ago. Rakhine terrorists with the support of the authority have been torching the houses of Rohingyas in Min-Bya and Mrauk-U since last week. So far, around ten villages and more than a thousand houses of Rohingyas have been burnt down in Min-Bya and Mrauk-U. Thus far, two points have become clear. They are:

(1) During the earlier stage of the violence against Rohingyas, Rakhine extremist leaders openly encouraged their followers (Rakhines) to kill and root out all Rohingyas from Arakan. They said “we will plead guilty and take punishments on behalf of all Rakhines if the international criminal court of justice (ICJ) punishes us for what we are doing. No way ICJ can punish all Rakhine people as a whole.”

(2) President Thein Sein has asked UNHCR chief Antonio Gutterres to resettle all Rohingyas in third countries. But UNHCR chief has rejected his proposal.

Looking at the situation and the trend going in Arakan, not only Rakhines will kill Rohingyas and burn their homes as many as possible but also the government will be deporting Rohingyas to third countries. After all, USA is with them now!!!

The violence against Rohingyas in Arakan may be the result of global power struggles between USA and China and their proxy war. Or it may be the regime’s attempt to divert the attention of Burmese people from the crises it has been facing. Whichever the case may be, Rohingyas are scapegoated and being extinguished.

Therefore, the educated Rohingyas and their leaders must wake up and be realistic to be able to see the hypocritical patterns of the world today and to exist in Arakan as human beings. They must realize the saying “Might is Right” regardless of who or what is right or wrong. Above all, what is the thing that prevents Rohingya leaders and their educated people from coming together? If their target is just to save their suffering people, there is no room for divisions. They must put their ideological differences aside and work for the betterment of their people.

And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits. (The Holy Quran 2:190)

And what is the reason do you have not to fight in the cause of Allah, to rescue the helpless oppressed old men, women and children who are crying “Our Rabb! Deliver us from this town whose people are oppressors; send us a protector by Your grace and send us a helper from Your presence?” (The Holy Quran 4:75)

Fighting is enjoined on you, and it is an object of dislike to you; and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you, and Allah knows, while you do not know. (The Holy Quran 2:216)

Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. (The Holy Bible- Psalm 82:4)

And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” (The Holy Bible- Nehemiah 4:14)

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (The Holy Bible- Timothy 5:8)

“Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it.” (Malcom X, an American Black Revolutionary Leader)

Now, I rest the case on you to decide what should be done to save Rohingyas from being exterminated.

M.S. Anwar is an activist and student studying Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies at Westminster International College, Malaysia