#RohingyaMuslims and Burma become top trends
By Minerwa Tahir
NEWS DESK: The Rohingya people in Myanmar are facing perhaps the most heartrending form of persecution in recent times. Meanwhile, everyone has an opinion on the ongoing crisis. While the general perception about Myanmar’s Rohingya conflict is that it is a religious issue, some people see the crisis as more politically and economically driven.
Many people took to Twitter to express outrage at the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya people, majority of whom are Muslims, criticizing the Myanmar government and its de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Others lashed out at rich Muslim states that have done nothing to protect their ‘Muslim brethren’. As a result, #RohingyaMuslims and Burma became top trends on Twitter.
Why are the Rohingya people being persecuted?
The Rohingya are an ethnic minority in Myanmar and inhabit the western state of Rakhine. They are not officially recognized by the Myanmar government as citizens and for decades the nation’s Buddhist majority has been accused of subjecting them to discrimination and violence.
The UN has demanded ‘equal access to full citizenship for the Rohingya minority’ and ensure their equal access to all services, reported Deutsche Welle (DW). “But Myanmar’s government has so far refused to grant citizenship to the Rohingya,” says the report. “It views the estimated 1.1 million people as illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh. Myanmar also objects to the use of the term ‘Rohingya’ in any UN resolution and says it makes the government’s efforts more difficult in addressing the issue.”
According to DW’s report, Myanmar says it is ready to grant Rohingya Muslims citizenship if they identify themselves as Bengalis – a term which members of the minority group object to strongly.
‘Brother countries’
Here are some facts about how other Muslim countries are practically dealing with the Rohingya crisis:
Bangladesh’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy
According to a report published by DW, Bangladeshi authorities have taken a hard line with Rohingya refugees, attempting to limit their numbers in their country. “Following the August 25 attacks, hundreds of Rohingya attempted to cross over to Bangladesh but got stranded at the Naf river along the border,” said the report. “The South Asian country’s authorities say they have a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for Rohingya entering Bangladesh.”
Bangladeshi authorities intercepted, detained and forcibly returned Rohingya civilians fleeing along their border with Myanmar despite ongoing fighting between Myanmar’s security forces and Rohingya militias, the report added.
A report published in The Hindu on August 25 read: “Bangladesh’s border guards pushed back 146 Rohingya refugees who were coming to the country in the wake of fresh tensions between Rohingya insurgents and Myanmar security forces.” Moreover, Rohingya Muslims fleeing from fighting in Myanmar ‘face attempts by Bangladesh authorities to send them home despite a UN appeal that they be allowed to stay’, reported DW.
Pakistan – expressing solidarity?
“In line with its consistent position on protecting the rights of Muslim minorities worldwide, Pakistan will work with the international community in particular the OIC to express solidarity with the Rohingya Muslims and to work towards safeguarding their rights,” read the recent statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Rohingya crisis.
Interestingly, however, there were reports about Pakistan selling JF-17 aircraft to Myanmar. After deciding to purchase 16 JF-17 Thunder multi-role combat aircraft in 2015, Myanmar is now in advanced negotiations with Pakistan to also licence-build the third-generation fighter, defence industry sources in Yangon and sources close to the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) told Jane’s in mid-January.
Moreover, the Rohingya neighbourhoods in Karachi are deprived of basic facilities, such as safe drinking water and sewerage system, forcing them to live in filthy and unhealthy conditions. “Even as being third-generation and born in Karachi, the National Database and Registration Authority is not issuing us identity cards, making the community vulnerable to harassment by law enforcement agencies,” a Rohingya community leader had told Dawn in 2015. “It compels the community youth to join ethno-political and religious parties, Jihadi groups and criminal gangs to seek shelter and security and in return, these groups use them for their political and violent activities,” he said.
Twitter reactions
Let’s take a look at how people are responding to the situation on Twitter:
Think it’s busy allowing Yemen 2 b bombed back to the stone ages- Muslims live there as well but since other Muslims r bombing it seems ok https://t.co/1HEoQE729V
— Sharmeen Obaid (@sharmeenochinoy) September 4, 2017
All for calling for action against Myanmar government for its treatment of Rohingya Muslims but once again I love how Gulf states stay quiet
— R. (@rahimaxarsenal) September 4, 2017
yorumsuz… pic.twitter.com/fDPHC4KMny
— Müjdat GÖKÇE 🇹🇷 (@MujdatGOKCE) September 4, 2017
#Rohingya genocide has been going on for yrs and this is how Pakistan Govt was reportedly responding back in Feb https://t.co/KL4yblIDf6
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) September 3, 2017
All those raising their voices for the Rohingya Muslims should also speak for the 162 missing and 72 extra judicially killed in Karachi.
— Syed Ali Raza Abidi (@abidifactor) September 3, 2017
If we cant access those in Burma we can at least help millions of #Rohingya living in Khi get citizenship rights https://t.co/vFzgBBTlFH
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) September 3, 2017
Rohingyas number at least 500,000 in Karachi and one area they live in is Arakanabad, named after a Myanmar province https://t.co/gndP4I1460
— Hasan Zaidi (@hyzaidi) September 4, 2017
Aung San Suu Kyi taught us y Nobel Peace prize should b given posthumously. #RohingyaGenocide #RohingyaMuslims #Speak4humanitySaveRohingya pic.twitter.com/SkTJOQxb1D
— Danyal Gilani (@DanyalGilani) September 3, 2017
#Pakistan must support #RohingyaMuslims speak against #RohingyaGenocide. #AungSanSuuKyi character role is an insult to #NobelPrize
— Raza Haroon (@mrazaharoon) September 3, 2017
Burmese Muslims are being massacred. Why are the UN and Islamic countries silent on the oppression ? #RohingyaMuslims
— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) September 3, 2017
I question where is @UN ? Why all so-called @UNHumanRights representatives silent on killing of #RohingyaMuslims ?
Aren’t they human 😭💔 pic.twitter.com/iP2ZUg9BzB— Wa Q aS (@Waqas_amjad) September 3, 2017
World must act to stop #Genocide of #RohingyaMuslims in #Burma https://t.co/lbd7bPU9re
— Raza Haroon (@mrazaharoon) September 3, 2017
#RohingyaMuslims Pak is host to abt a million Rohingyas who live free of persecution but r deprived of identity. https://t.co/PMS9GzocNi
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) September 4, 2017
#AungSanSuuKyi should be stripped of @NobelPrize. Her denialsilence on inhuman atrocities carried out agnst #RohingyaMuslims is criminal
— Saman Jafriسمن جعفری (@SsamanJay) September 3, 2017
As world celebrates Eid Al Adha #RohingyaMuslims are scarifying their sons, daughters, fathers and family.😟😢 #RohingyaGenocide #Rohingya pic.twitter.com/5E43MBZTZv
— Muhammad Latif (@latifkehar) September 2, 2017
My statement on the #Rohingya crisis in Myanmar: pic.twitter.com/1Pj5U3VdDK
— Malala (@Malala) September 3, 2017
#Burma‘s leader Aung San Suu Kyi “turning out to be someone who has no real abiding interests in human rights” @hrw https://t.co/faPNEdv45r pic.twitter.com/UN4exbLw7y
— Phil Robertson (@Reaproy) September 1, 2017
Aung San Suu Kyi is lipstick on the pig of Burmese Fascism.They are massacring Muslims, this day, and NO-ONE is lifting a finger #Rohingyas
— George Galloway (@georgegalloway) September 1, 2017
فوج فوج ہوتی ہے برما کی ہو یا پاکستان کی۔
— Ahmad Waqass Goraya (@AWGoraya) September 3, 2017
With Muslim States not exercising diplomatic weight to safeguard #Rohingya they are making ground fertile for Militant Outfits in S/SE Asia
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) September 3, 2017
Can’t General Raheel-led ‘Muslim NATO’ create and protect ‘safe zones’ for Rohingaya Muslims, inside the Burmese Territory?
— Nusrat Javeed (@javeednusrat) September 3, 2017
Good luck with that: thousands of Bangladeshis have had their #Pak ID cards cancelled after living here for decades. https://t.co/JY259kqhNG
— irfan husain (@irfan_husain) September 3, 2017
Story first published: 4th September 2017
Article source: https://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2017/09/rohingyamuslims-burma-become-top-trends/