For decades the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma) have been subjected to systematic persecution by their largely Buddhist countrymen: denied citizenship, suffering forced labor, rape and killings. The United Nations has described them as “the world’s most persecuted minority” and other observers have warned of an impending genocide.

Despite the radical reform program which began in 2011, after decades of repressive military rule in Burma, the following year violence erupted in Rakhine state between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and the Muslim Rohingya, the American Newsweek Magazine REPORTED.

The REPORT stated that almost 140,000 people were displaced and at least 280 killed. Since then, the situation has stagnated and these people remain stuck in ¬internal camps and squatting on the outskirts of villages at the mercy of their -persecutors.

Nine of these camps, with a population of 75,000 refugees, are located closely together. The inhabitants of these camps are living in conditions that can be described as worse than prisons. There are many cases of diarrhoea, as well as numerous skin conditions and tuberculosis. In one camp, at least 20 people have died from treatable conditions.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation on human rights in Burma, Yanghee Lee, recently presented her findings to the UN General Assembly. After a 10-day visit to the area last July, she described the situation in the camps as “deplorable”. The report, while acknowledging Burma’s reforms, warns of backtracking and lists continuing abuses suffered by the Rohingya including: summary executions, disappearances, torture, forced labor, forced displacements and rape. “The government must meet its obligations,” says the report, to provide “lifesaving assistance” and adequate basic services including “access to livelihoods, food, water, and sanitation, and education”.

The issue of identity runs central to Burma’s on-going crisis. In March this year, the first census in 30 years was completed amid controversy. Despite living in Burma for generations, the Rohingya were excluded unless they agreed to be classified as Bengali Muslims.

According to the human rights group, Fortify Rights, persecution of the Rohingya is government policy. In a 72-page report, they documented senior ministers OPENLY discussing policies that amount to crimes against humanity as well as guidelines for security forces that enable the abuse of the Rohingya to continue.   »»» Sailan Muslim (Sri Lanka)

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