Racism Pervasive in Myanmar

By Abu Aneen

RB Article

June 3, 2013

Racism in Myanmar politic was introduced since 1962 military coup d’état. Now people are so deeply immersed in racialistic mentality that they themselves do not realize that they become racialists. Today even democracy activists are blind in race, related issues. When race question appears before them, they cannot see the essence and value of democracy and human rights. There, they do not speak out against racial discriminations.

One child, two child official restrictions is nowhere, save India and China, in the world. The remark of a popular leader on the two child policy introduced in northern Rakhine State become subject to criticism from this ultra racists.

Recently in Pyi Myanmar weekly journal, (24.5.2013) a former religious affairs minister (a Lt-general) said "the guests (the Bengalis) in Rakhine state are very aggressive and expelling forcibly the hosts (the Rakhine). In response, the hosts had to assault on them and make them homeless, displaced, compelling them to take refuge in camps. It was done so in defence of our national security. The guests (The Bengalis) should choose methods of peaceful co-existence with the hosts (the Rakhine)". There what he means is the fate of the so called guests (according to his version) should be in the hands of the hosts. Is it a right/correct rationale? There are a lot of concrete primary source materials which indicate so called guests are original settlers of Arakan. 

In Rakine state, there is no any armed group insurgents of so called guest people. Instead, there, the regular army, police, para-military, immigrations and Nasaka (Border Immigration check forces) are heavily stationed along the border. 26 Nasaka stations comprising more than two hundred personnel each have a tight grasp on the daily life of this so called guest people. So called guests are not allowed to move freely. They need travel permits. There are six-monthly registration and check of both man and household animals. How could they assault on the favored and privileged Rakhine people. How could they, the guest take away the properties of hosts and expel them from their homes and hearths. Is there no proper, effective state mechanism? Are all government departments standing a loaf, doing nothing to protect the hosts?

Real fact is the guest Bengalis (Who themselves called Rohingya) have been subjected to hundreds of suppressive, discriminatory executive mechanism including forced two child policy. Their economic and social lives - not speaking of political rights - are so stifled or stagnated that they are literally almost lifeless and vulnerable. It is unimagined able that such a oppressed minority could be harmful to a privileged ruling class. It is just a mispropaganda to deceive Myanmar public. It is only to justify the gruesome in human atrocities committed against the guests (Bengali or Rohingya) in the past year. The world today according to HRW report recognized this as an ethnic cleansing, well planned campaign. It is continuation of U Ne Win's Rohingya cleansing agenda.

Mr. ex-minister! You deceived yourself. But you cannot mislead the world. The world is very small and closes now. Nothing remains unseen and unknown. People know and assess what is happening in any corner of the world within shortest time. The injustice done on Rohingya in the past year and the inhuman cruelty in various forms they are subjected to are now fully and clearly exposed to the word. The world's judgment is it is a systematic ethnic cleansing despite your accuses and denial. It is not a riot. It is one sided assault on the Rohingya. This one sided assault continued and spread to dozens of towns in the country. 

Here again so called 88 generation leaders say 1982 Myanmar citizenship law/act is the best one to solve Rohingya problem. How can you dare say that? Are you not dreaming to be state leaders in the future? How can the public rely on you? How do you lead the country? Don't you know the 1982 citizenship law was deliberately enacted at the after math of 1978 failed dragon operation to strip of Rohingya’s existing citizenship? 1978 refugees over two hundred thousand proved to be Burmese citizen by showing NRCs of Burma. Then Burmese government had to accept them and repatriate them, resettling in their original places. Here, Burmese government got a second thought; that is to strip Rohingya of Burmese citizenship and make this people stateless or a permanent degraded citizenry. Here came 1982 new citizen ship law, sections or provisions of which have no place for Rohingya's being citizens.

The whole world from the time of enactment have been decrying and condemning that law as an unjust, unfair and discriminatory one, containing retrospective effects. Alas! To the agony of Rohingya the world today has forgotten that reality. The world today is only talking on humanitarian ground. The world should raise the question of the invalidity and arbitrary nature of that law. The world today falls in the grasp of black propaganda that Rohingyas are illegal immigrants from over populated Bangladesh ignoring the fact that half of the Rohingya population today became diasporas in various countries. They have sound historic back ground and legal points to be genuine Burman. 

Once 88 generation criticized the law that had put them in jail. Now they say the law which makes Rohingya stateless and put them in permanent confinement is very excellent one for the state security. When the world cried for their release from prison, they say a lot of kudos to the world. But now as the world ask for the relaxation and release of Rohingya from present statelessness and confinement, they say sorry! It is our internal affair. We cannot tolerate foreign interference."

This contradictory political mentality of 88 generation in fact discredits their reputation. The respect and hope the public put in them is slowly fading away.

The worst is what Ko Ko Gyi in an interview with Carlos Sardina on 8th July 2012 said. He said "millions of foreigners illegally entered Myanmar from east and west and obtain citizenships after 1988 upheaval. Real fact is there cannot be one million Bengali illegal immigrants as the total so called Bengali population is officially said to be only one million. Again there is no single Rohingya who got citizenship after 1988 to confirm the allegation of Ko Ko Gyi.

If all Rohingyas are recent migrants, then who were the ones who voted in elections from 1947 to 2010. This allegation has no substantial evidence. This is just the whim of some people. If the reason of two child policy is the terribly high birthrate of Rohingya, why the Rohingya population in percentage remains the same as 1826. In 1826 Rohingya population was one third of total Rakhine population which still today is also one third. Even in 1973 census Rohingya were half of total population; seventeen hundred thousand. There is no increase but decrease of this Rohingyas.

Most of the political leaders, democracy activist and some academics are found to be racialistic, blind and chauvinistic in their political mentality. That is why Rakhine state investigation committee report was nothing but a photocopy of what R N D P statement described before. The report is totally biased and partial. It did not point out who the main culprits in the violence were. Even it tried to put the blames on the victimized Rohingya.

In the emergency session of the Pyihtaungsu Hluttaw on 20th May RNDP Chairman U Aye Maung explained the causes of the violence. He said in Arakan, Bengalis have been swallowing Rakhine economically and politically. Rakhine people were constricted by the Bengali. Bengalis are over whelming Rakhine with a tremendous, terribly high birthrate. In Myanmar proper Muslims become the exploiters, all businesses are controlled by them. So our ethnic people have no option other than to resort to violent revenge on them. This version is quite similar in essence to what Hitler once said about the Jews. 

Ko Ko Gyi compared Bengal-Myanmar border with Mexico-American border. There the parallel comparison between the two is not a realistic approach. American per capital income is ten times bigger than Mexico. Every immigrant can find out a living in America very easily. American society is a homogenous one. Myanmar (Rakhine) GDP is lesser than Bangladesh. Rakhine is a hostile and antagonistic society for Bengali. There is Nasaka and other departments strictly watching any foreigner illegally cross the border. Rakhine is not an industrial area. Minister U Khin Yi told in the parliament Rohingya cross the border to find jobs in Bangladesh. It means Bangladesh is a better place for livelihood than Arakan.

Ko Ko Gyi said there was the question of preserving our historical, cultural and political interests. Yes, OK. But Arakan was politically, culturally and historically more closer to Bengal than to Myanmar. This two were one country for many centuries. Arakan kings used Indian languages and literatures in courts and most courtiers were Muslims. Arakan kings including first Mrauk-U King Narameik Hla who did not have possession of land west of Naf river had Muslim littles (or) names.

There were fluctuations of population: Bengalis in Arakan and Rakhine in Bengal. Rakhine in Bangladesh are called Mrama where as Bengali affiliated people in Arakan are Rohingya. Rohingya is a mixed blood race.

Rohingya in Arakan were never a threat to state security. They served Rakhine and Myanmar Kings as faithful soldiers and officials. Rohingya supported Bodawpyaya's rule. They got the recognition of the kings. They got prizes, medals and other awards from the kings. Qazi Abul Karim, an awardee of gold sword who fought along with Bandoola with his own Muslim army. Bagyidaw allowed his Rakhine Muslim combatants during the war, to build two mosques in Yangon alone. These mosques still are known as Rakhine Bali or Rakhine mosques. Official registration name too is Rakhine Bali. The one who fought with British army was not Rohingya but so called ethnic Rakhine. The first group of insurgents to make peace with the government is the Mujahid in 1961. The constitution of 2008 got 97% approval in Mayu district. People used to vote their own party and own candidates. But in 2010 Rohingya voted for USDP candidates. These all are proofs Rohingya are faithful to the country and peace loving. Araknistan movement in late 1940s was not led by Rohingya but by so supposed faithful Rakhines. Who is crying now for federation and separation?

Just what we need is change of attitude and heart towards Rohingya. Once Rohingyas are treated as equal, peace and tranquility will prevail as it was in parliamentary period. Racism is a Virus that draws back country's development. The earlier you get rid of racism the better for the country.