It is quite disturbing that instead of taking back Rohingyas, Myanmar now remains busy in "persistent campaign" to mislead the international community to avoid its obligations for the "sustained repatriation" and reintegration of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas. Bangladesh recently noticed yet another round of such farcical attempt by Myanmar Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin. He resorted to misrepresentation of the whole issue as well as laying unjustified blames on Bangladesh in his effort to refute the well-founded remarks by Bangladesh Foreign Minister on Rohingya crisis at the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting of the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement.
We condemn such absurd response from Myanmar. It is clear that Nay Pyi Taw is doing so to avoid its obligations for the sustained repatriation and reintegration of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas. Myanmar has always portrayed Rohingyas as “illegal migrants” from Bangladesh during the colonial era, and recently tried to label them as refugees from across the border who fled the 1971 Liberation War that led to Bangladesh’s independence.
Attempts to create controversy over the
identity of the Rohingyas at this stage clearly
indicate that Myanmar still pursues the
policy of exclusion and
marginalization of its ethnic minority
According to historians, Rohingyas are a distinct ethnic community in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, having evolved over the centuries through mingling of migrated people of various races and cultures from different parts of the world with the local people in Rakhine. Attempts to create controversy over their identity at this stage clearly indicate that Myanmar still pursues the policy of exclusion and marginalization of its ethnic minorities.
Myanmar often complains against Bangladesh for non-cooperation in repatriation. Such accusation is baseless and could be guided by an ulterior motive. No one agreed to return on two previous repatriation attempts, as the Rohingyas are not convinced of the level of security and sustainable livelihood in Rakhine.
It needs no emphasizing that Bangladesh wants to resolve the Rohingya issue through peaceful negotiation, and the country expects similar reciprocity from Myanmar and international community. But the silence from the so-called international community is deafening. Dhaka has always been serious about a safe repatriation of the refugees. It has done its best to help the Rohingyas return to their homes. The onus now is on Myanmar authorities to address the Rohingya issue sincerely and convincingly. The situation demands concrete intervention from international community to intensify pressure on Myanmar to create a congenial environment for Rohingya repatriation. Bangladesh expects a more vigorous role of the international community in the diplomatic front to make Myanmar take back the Rohingyas.
