Introduction
The Rohingya people are a Muslim minority group living in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. They have been described as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. Despite living in Myanmar for generations, the government does not recognize them as citizens, and they face systematic discrimination, restrictions on their movements, and other human rights abuses.
History
The Rohingya have been living in Myanmar for centuries, with some estimates suggesting that they have lived there for more than a thousand years. However, the government of Myanmar considers them to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, and as a result, they have been denied citizenship, voting rights, and access to basic services such as healthcare and education.
The first wave of violence against the Rohingya happened in 1978, when the government launched an operation to “register” Rohingya residents. Those who failed to provide sufficient evidence of their residency were deemed illegal immigrants and forced to flee to Bangladesh. The second wave of violence happened in 2012 when the Rakhine State witnessed violent clashes between the Rohingya and the Rakhine Buddhists. The government responded by launching a military crackdown, and many Rohingya were killed, raped, or forced to flee their homes.
The most significant wave of violence against the Rohingya happened in August 2017, when the Myanmar military launched a brutal campaign against the Rohingya. The UN described it as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” More than 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh, and many were killed, raped, or tortured.
Struggle
The Rohingya people have been struggling for their rights for decades. They have been fighting for recognition as citizens of Myanmar and access to basic services such as healthcare and education. The government of Myanmar has been systematically denying them these rights, and the Rohingya continue to live in abject poverty, with little hope for the future.
The Rohingya people have also been struggling to gain international recognition and support. Many countries have turned a blind eye to their plight, and some have even supported the government of Myanmar. The international community has been slow to act, and the Rohingya continue to suffer.
Current Situation
The situation for the Rohingya people remains dire. The vast majority of them are living in refugee camps in Bangladesh, where they face extreme poverty, lack of access to healthcare and education, and restrictions on their movements. Many are still traumatized by the violence they experienced in Myanmar, and they continue to face discrimination and persecution.
The government of Myanmar has made some token efforts to repatriate the Rohingya, but these efforts have been widely criticized as inadequate. The Rohingya themselves are reluctant to return to Myanmar, where they fear for their safety and security.
Conclusion
The Rohingya people are one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. They have been denied their basic human rights and continue to suffer from discrimination, violence, and poverty. The international community must take action to support the Rohingya and hold the government of Myanmar accountable for its human rights abuses. Only then can we hope for a brighter future for the Rohingya people.
Why in news?
The recent plea made by the Myanmar junta requesting a 10-month extension to file a counter-memorial in response to the case accusing them of breaching the International Genocide Convention has been denied by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The lawsuit concerns the heinous acts perpetrated by the Myanmar military during the "clearing" operations in the Rakhine state in 2017, which resulted in the displacement of the Rohingya community.