Breaking The Silence On Rohingya Crisis

JAKARTA, Sept 11 (Antara) - The Rohingya victims of humanitarian crisis considered to be among the world's most persecuted people. Apart from being oppressed, they are also not recognized as citizens by any country or state, in simple terms, they are stateless. The predominantly Buddhist Myanmar considers them Bangladeshi, but the neighboring Bangladesh says they are Burmese. The Rohingya Muslim population have been living in a state of fear and misery since clashes between the Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists broke out in 2012, when Rohingya men were accused of raping and killing a Buddhist woman. The days of Rohingya people got worsened when the Burmese military on August 25 this year launched a massive offensive campaign against the Rohingya population in Rakhine, a state on the western coast of Myanmar and borders with Bangladesh to the northwest. The Myanmar government blames the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, an insurgent group, for starting the violence after launching a series of attacks on security posts that day. It triggered a counter-offensive raid that resulted in the killing of several thousands people, including civilians. UN reported that more than a quarter of a million Rohingya refugees have crossed the border into Bangladesh in just two weeks since August 25, when clashes between the Burmese military and militants intensified. The number represents roughly a third of the country's Rohingya people. While the media failed to identify the root of persecution of Rohingnya People, a popular claim in Myanmar is that Buddhism is threatened by a densely populated Muslim neighboring country, Bangladesh, whose population wish to flood into Myanmar. Although no such threat really exists, the portrayal of Rohingya as intruders from Bangladesh has successfully stirred hatred against Muslims in the country. The minority ethnicity are living in ghettos in Sittwe, the capital city of Rakhine State, where their basic human rights are violated on a daily basis. Being considered stateless population, Rohingya people are deprived of their basic rights such as healthcare, education, employment and freedom of movement. Such desperate living condition has been a strong push factor for Rohingya people to migrate. The Rohingya issue is a humanitarian crisis after all. World's organizations such as UN, IOC and ASEAN have tried to address the Rohingya crisis comprehensively. They have agreed that this humanitarian tragedy should be stopped by all of the conflicting parties in Myanmar. The government of Myanmar has been facing increasing international pressure to address the current crisis in its Rakhine State. Earlier this week, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi arrived in Naypyitaw, capital city of Myanmar, on Monday to meet some government's high officials to address the Rohingya crisis. Indonesia was the first country allowed to conduct a meeting with the Myanmar authority since the clash erupted. As a good friend from the Southeast Asian region, Indonesia was calling on Myanmar to stop violence and convey peace in Rakhine State. Before departing to Myanmar, the minister has actively maintained communication with her counterparts and UN chief Antonio Guterres. "We agree on the importance of immediately halting the crisis as well as stopping all the cycles of violence. The UN along with the Indonesian government call every warring parties to provide protection for all," Marsudi said. On board a marathon diplomacy, Minister Marsudi met Myanmar's high officials such as its Military commander in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and State Counsellor as well as Ministry of Foreign Affairs Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. "Efforts to de-escalate the situation in Rakhine State should be the main priority of the Myanmar security authority," Marsudi said conveying the message during a meeting with General Hlaing. Meanwhile, State Cousellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi welcomed Indonesia's proposal to resolve the current humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State organized in the 4+1 formula that includes the four main elements of recovering security and stability, maximizing self-restraint and no use of force, protecting all citizens of Myanmar regardless of ethnicity and religion, as well as opening access for humanitarian assistance. While the other one plus element is implementing recommendations from the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State led by former UN security general Kofi Annan. Restoring security and stability in Rakhine State is essential to allow humanitarian aid and rehabilitation process as well as the inclusive development that takes place in the region, Marsudi stated. Receiving the report's recommendation, the Myanmar government is expected to establish a special committee whose duty is to monitor the implementation of the recommendations. "We encourage the Myanmar government to create a mechanism for distributing humanitarian assistance that can be led by the government but at the same time involve the International Red Cross and countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including Indonesia," Marsudi explained. Earlier on Aug 31, Minister Marsudi launched the Humanitarian Assistance for Sustainable Community program for Myanmar as a form of commitment of the Indonesian Humanity Alliance to Myanmar, a group of 11 non-governmental organizations aimed at inclusively providing long- and mid-term aid in four sector; education, health, economy, and capacity building, to the community affected in Rakhine State. Furthermore, with the support of the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), Indonesian Buddhists Association, and humanitarian organization PKPU, Indonesia has begun the construction of a hospital in Mrauk U of Rakhine State in hope to provide health services to the people in the state. The construction has entered the second phase, involving building a room for doctors and nurses, and is scheduled to be completed in two months, after which the third phase for the main building will be carried out. Silence is too high a price For decades, Myanmar was ruled by a military junta. In recent years, democratic reforms have swept through the country when Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy Party were sworn into office, ushering in a new era. There is a lot of hope that the reforms will continue while people has been intoxicated with the romantic narrative that the democratic change is sweeping into the country and the situation will turn out better for all people of Myanmar. While Rohingya themselves think that the new president from the NLD party will bring about some change to their life. However, the reality that little has been done with regard to the Rohingya. The new ruling party has set situation in Rakhine State as not a priority. Even the noble peace prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, a darling of the international community, has been mostly silence when it comes to speaking up for the Rohingya.