[🇧🇩] Insurgencies in Myanmar. Implications for Bangladesh

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Rohingyas detail worsening violence in Myanmar

Rohingya refugee Syed fled Myanmar for a second time last month, after he was forced to fight alongside the military that drove his family out of their homeland years earlier...

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Rohingyas detail worsening violence in Myanmar
Agence France-Presse . Cox’s Bazar 24 September, 2024, 00:13

Rohingya refugee Syed fled Myanmar for a second time last month, after he was forced to fight alongside the military that drove his family out of their homeland years earlier.

Syed, whose name has been changed to protect him from reprisals, is one of thousands of young men from the stateless and persecuted Muslim minority rounded up to wage a war not of their own making.

Their conscription into the ranks of junta-run Myanmar’s military has prompted revenge attacks against civilians and pushed thousands more into Bangladesh, already host to around a million Rohingya refugees.

‘The people there are suffering a lot. I saw that with my own eyes,’ Syed said, soon after his escape and return to the squalid Bangladeshi relief camp he has called home for the past seven years.

‘Some are starving, they are dying of hunger,’ the 23-year-old added. ‘Everyone else is busy trying to save their own lives.’

Syed said he was conscripted by a Rohingya armed group operating in the camps in June and sent to fight against the Arakan Army, a rebel group waging war against Myanmar’s junta to carve out its own autonomous homeland.

He and other Rohingya recruits were put to work as porters, digging ditches and fetching water for Myanmar troops as they bunkered in against advancing rebel troops.

‘They didn’t give us any training,’ he said. ‘The military stay in the police stations, they don’t go out.’

Sent on patrol to a Muslim village, Syed was able to give his captors the slip and cross back over into Bangladesh.

He is one of around 14,000 Rohingya to have made the crossing in recent months as the fighting near the border has escalated, according to figures given by the UN refugee agency to the Bangladeshi government.

Experts say that at least 2,000 Rohingya have been forcibly recruited from refugee camps in Bangldesh this year, along with many more Rohingya living in Myanmar who were also conscripted.

Those pressed into service in Bangladesh say they were forced to do so by armed groups, apparently in return for concessions by Myanmar’s junta that could allow them to return to their homelands.

Both the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation, the two armed groups operating in the camps, have denied conscripting refugees.

‘We had never forcefully recruited anyone for us or others,’ senior RSO leader Ko Ko Linn said.

The UN Human Rights Office said it had information that the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army had both committed serious abuses against the Rohingya during the conflict.

Other rights groups say that the press-ganging of Rohingya into service alongside Myanmar troops has fuelled retaliatory attacks by the Arakan Army.

In the worst documented instance, watchdog Fortify Rights said last month that the rebel group had killed more than 100 Rohingya men, women and children in a drone and mortar bombardment on the border.

The Arakan Army has repeatedly denied responsibility for the attack and accusations of targeting Rohingya civilians in general.

But many of the thousands of new refugees crossing into Bangladesh accuse the group of killings.

Mohammad Johar, 22, said that his brother-in-law was killed in a drone attack he blamed on the Arakan Army while the pair were fleeing the border town of Maungdaw earlier this month.

‘Dead bodies were lying everywhere, dead bodies were on the banks of the river,’ he said.

‘The Arakan Army is more powerful there. The Myanmar military can’t keep up with the Arakan Army. And they both bomb each other, but it’s the Muslims who are dying.’

Bangladesh has struggled for years to accommodate its immense population of refugees, most of whom arrived after a 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar which is the subject of an on-going UN genocide investigation.

Still reeling from the sudden overthrow of its previous government by a student-led revolution last month, Bangladesh says the new arrivals are not welcome.

‘We are sorry to say this, but it’s beyond our capacity to give shelter to anyone else,’ interim foreign minister Touhid Hossain said this month.

But after deadly attacks on some of the estimated 6,00,000 Rohingya still living in Myanmmar, the new arrivals said they had no choice but to seek safety across the border.

‘After seeing dead bodies, we were scared that more attacks were coming,’ 20-year-old Bibi Faiza said after crossing the border with her young daughter.

‘I don’t hear gunshots any more, and there is peace here.’​

 

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Revisiting the Rohingya policy of Bangladesh

Bangladesh yet again faces a new exodus. At the global level, the Rohingya crisis is getting overshadowed by conflicts in Ukraine, and Gaza. Meanwhile, a vastly different Interim Government has taken over governance in Bangladesh. All these now demand a deep reflection on the Rohingya policy...

en.prothomalo.com

Revisiting the Rohingya policy of Bangladesh
Mohammad Sufiur Rahman
Updated: 23 Sep 2024, 11: 13

Rohingya influx from Myanmar Reuters

The Rohingya crisis lingers on even after seven years with no prospect of repatriation soon. Since the coup d'etat of February 2021, Myanmar Army's command has eroded significantly. There are new players at the Union level. In Rakhine, the Arakan Army has emerged as the dominant force and has taken an anti-Rohingya position.

Bangladesh yet again faces a new exodus. At the global level, the Rohingya crisis is getting overshadowed by conflicts in Ukraine, and Gaza. Meanwhile, a vastly different Interim Government has taken over governance in Bangladesh. All these now demand a deep reflection on the Rohingya policy pursued by the Awami League government.

As the Rogingya crisis unfolded in 2016-17, Bangladesh adopted a policy framework for Rohingya crisis management, comprising of sustainable return and general approach towards Myanmar. It had three major components-a) humanitarian assistance, b) address "root causes" in Rakhine Myanmar for sustainable return, and c) holding perpetrators accountable.

Given its principal focus on early repatriation, Bangladesh always had strong reservations on wage earning employment, self-employment, freedom of movement and the right to choose residence and naturalization provisions of the 1951 Refugee Convention. Such obligations for Bangladesh were politically, demographically and economically not viable.

Bangladesh thus settled with a nomenclature forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (FDMN), not refugees. In the camps with restricted access and opportunities, the Rohingya have been showing an increasing tendency to crimes. Unrestrained activities the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) has added to insecurity in the camps.

Myanmar has historically seen the Rohingya, an ethnicity with deep racial, linguistic and religious links with erstwhile Bengal, and perceived them as aliens. Myanmar continue to see the Rohingya through a prism of insecurity. Her policy and actions have been motivated by a desire to ensure demographic balance in the northern Rakhine and by long-defined national priority to "defend the western gate". Myanmar's perceived insecurity comes also from its western neighbor- Bangladesh.

By July 2024 in Rakhine, the Arakan Army (AA) has emerged as the de facto authority in the Mayu-Kaladan- Lemro region, the traditional abode of the Rohingya. The de facto controlling force, AA holds all levers in Rakhine and has the ultimate say on repatriation. Yet, the Tatmadaw and the NUG remain equally important stakeholders on repatriation and on citizenship for the Rohingya.

The AA leadership had sent signals to establish contact, that Bangladesh officially disregarded. AA cannot be expected to like Bangladesh handing over 700 fighters to Myanmar. Reported recruiting of Rohingya fighters in camps in Bangladesh by ARSA and RSO to fight beside the Tatrnadaw is another reason for AA taking an anti-Rohingya stance.

Importantly, with territorial hold over the state, the AA and the United League of Arakan (ULA) now have a historic opportunity to realise their Arakan dream. It is unclear at this stage whether they will seek to realise this as part of a truly federative structure within the Union of Myanmar or a quasi- autonomous region. While they seek to administer, they have an urgent task to arrange humanitarian supplies and stabilise Rakhine economically and reviving agriculture.

Besides, militarisation of almost all communities in Rakhine and Chin states is a source of instability in neighbouring Mizoram, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts and even some areas of Chittagong. Reemergence of ethnic conflicts recently in Manipur and Nagaland points to Indian vulnerability in the frontier areas and to its Kaladan multimodal project. China has direct stakes in Kyaukphyu port, and oil and gas pipelines to Yunnan. Meanwhile, the USA has signaled its keen interest in Myanmar.

The multiplicity of actors and their varied geo-strategic interests make things totally unpredictable in the areas bordering Bangladesh, Myanmar, India and China. Given the portends of regional instability, one cannot rule out Bangladesh being sucked into a vortex of military conflict. In 2017, the Myanmar Army and paramilitary forces did many things to draw Bangladesh into an armed conflict

As such, Bangladesh has to make a very hard task of creating a balanced approach to Rakhine and Myanmar. Bangladesh needs to revisit its outdated policy framework. As part of urgent review, Bangladesh ought to:

i. Engage all domestic stakeholders to develop a recalibrated Rohingya and Myanmar policy.

ii. Reflect seriously on what additional services that could be accorded to the Rohingya, such as access to employment and education as well as freedom of movement, with or without a change in the nomenclature to denote the Rohingya in Bangladesh.

iii. Ensure greater security measures in the camps and their neighbouring areas to keep control over the Rohingya armed groups.

iv. Consider some appropriate form of (indirect) engagement with AA/ ULA and discuss basic services, freedom of movement and citizenship for the Rohingya community, engage the NUG to secure a clear pathway towards citizenship of the Rohingya community.

V. Remain open to consideration of humanitarian access to Rakhine through Bangladesh; on economic stabilisation of the Rakhine state, Bangladesh may explore all options for economic interaction with the Chattogram region as well as for access for the produces of Rakhine to the outside world through an appropriate value chain linkage.

Given the changed ground realities and new refugee pressure, Bangladesh may engage international stakeholders on developing safe zones within Rakhine to stop fresh flow of Rohingya and to consider options of enhanced humanitarian access.

They may be asked to contribute to economic stabilisation of Rakhine and an array of livelihood support for the Rohingya returnees. Beyond retributive justice at ICC and ICJ, they should commence work on healing of trauma, reconciliatio: among the Muslim Rohingya and the Buddhist Rakhines.

In sum, Bangladesh requires to deploy a new brand of proactive and creative diplomacy to engage various stakeholders for better outcomes on the resolution of the Rohingya crisis and a mutually beneficial, multilayered relations with Myanmar.

* Mohammad Sufiur Rahman, former Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar and Senior Research Fellow, SIPG/North South University​

 

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রোহিঙ্গা সংকট সমাধানে ড. ইউনূসের তিন প্রস্তাব

 

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Dhaka urges global action on Rohingya crisis at commonwealth meeting

Urging the international community to come forward to resolve the long-pending Rohingya crisis, chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said if this crisis is not resolved, not only Bangladesh but the entire region will also fall into trouble...

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Dhaka urges global action on Rohingya crisis at commonwealth meeting
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . New York 25 September, 2024, 01:14

Professor Muhammad Yunus | UNB file photo

Urging the international community to come forward to resolve the long-pending Rohingya crisis, chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said if this crisis is not resolved, not only Bangladesh but the entire region will also fall into trouble.

‘We have to be careful...we must pay attention to this,’ he said while speaking at a high-level discussion about the Rohingya crisis on the sidelines of the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday evening. Foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain, High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, ICC prosecutor Karim AA Khan and IOM director general Amy Pope, among others, spoke at the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Yunus proposed rethinking the solution to the Rohingya crisis to the international community.

‘First of all, we want the UN Secretary General to organise a conference on the Rohingya crisis in the presence of all parties involved as soon as possible,’ he said.

Reviewing the overall situation of the Rohingya crisis, the chief adviser said a new and far-sighted solution should be proposed to resolve the crisis.

Secondly, he said, there is a need to revive the ‘Joint Response Plan’ programme conducted jointly by the United Nations and Bangladesh.

Since there is a lack of funds to spend on Rohingyas, the process of raising money should be strengthened with political decisions, Prof Yunus said.

In the third proposal, he said the international community should come forward with sincere support to ensure justice for the crimes of genocide committed against the Rohingya people.

To ensure long-term peace and security in Myanmar, justice for these Rohingyas, who were persecuted by Myanmar’s military junta, must be ensured, he said.

High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said he was honoured to participate in the discussion on Rohingya crisis led by Prof Yunus.

‘Like every year, the event was held but the presence of Dr Yunus and his vision made this discussion particularly important. We must continue our efforts to end discrimination, statelessness and forced displacement of the Rohingya people,’ he added.

IOM Director General Amy Pope said the Rohingya people should not be forgotten, so all should do more to resolve this crisis and continue the necessary support and long-term process of solution to this crisis.

The IOM chief said it is committed to doing everything possible to achieve this goal.

While participating in the high-level UNGA sidelines event on the Rohingya crisis, US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya announced nearly $199 million in new assistance for Rohingya refugees and communities hosting them.

Meanwhile, during the ongoing UN General Assembly session, some Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh sent a message to world leaders asking ‘Do not make us frustrated’.

They, in the video message, said the Rohingya community should not be forgotten.

Later, at a reception, chief advisor Muhammad Yunus has sought cooperation from foreign friends to build a new Bangladesh dreamt by youth folks.

‘Through the sacrifice of lives and indomitable leadership of the youth, revolutionary changes have taken place in Bangladesh. They sacrificed their lives to build a discrimination-free society and a prosperous country,’ he said.

Yunus said this at a reception hosted marking the 50th year of Bangladesh’s membership in the United Nations Tuesday evening.

The chief adviser said: ‘The sacrifice of young people has created a great opportunity for us.

We don’t want to miss this opportunity. The youth want to build a new Bangladesh through a drastic change in the existing state structure and institutions. We need all of your support to implement it.’

Pakistan prime minister Shahbaz Sharif, US Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia Donald Lu and representatives of various countries attended the event.

On September 17 in 1974, Bangladesh became a full member of the United Nations.

Foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain, energy adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, permanent representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, principal coordinator (SDGs affairs) Lamiya Morshed, chief adviser’s special assistant Mahfuj Alam and chief adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam were present, among others.

Professor Yunus and photographer Shahidul Alam unveiled the covers of two books written on the events of the student-led uprising.

Recalling the sacrifice of the students, Yunus said the whole nation is united today.

The chief adviser said his government is working to put in place a new electoral system through institutional reforms.

Addressing the foreign friends, the Nobel laureate said the courage and determination the Bangladeshi youths showed has overwhelmed all.

Standing in front of bullets, the youths did not hesitate to accept disability, Prof Yunus said, adding ‘We want you (foreign friends) beside us in building democratic Bangladesh cherished by the youth’.

The chief adviser will address the UNGA session on September 27.

International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva has pledged support to Bangladesh’s reform initiatives, saying the Washington-based lender has sent a team to Dhaka to hold talks with the stakeholders over the matter.

The IMF managing director expressed her support at a meeting with the chief adviser at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

‘It is a different country. It is Bangladesh 2.0,’ Kristalina Georgieva told the chief adviser when he gave a short briefing on the student-led mass uprising which ousted the previous autocratic regime.

The IMF chief executive extended her support for the initiatives, saying the lender would fast-track financial support for the Bangladesh government.

She said she sent an IMF team ‘quickly’ to Bangladesh and it is in Dhaka at the moment. The team would place its report to the IMF management board next month, he added.

Georgieva said the IMF board could initiate a new lending programme for Bangladesh based on the report of the team, or it could also extend more lending under the existing support programme launched early last year.

Energy, power and transport adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan and eminent economist Debapriya Bhattacharya attended the meeting.

Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan told the IMF chief that the Bangladesh interim government took just a week to ‘dismantle the architecture of crimes’ in the power and energy sector.

Debapriya stressed the need for IMF support to bolster the country’s balance of payments.

He said the role of the IMF would be critical to stabilising exchange rates.

Meanwhile, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni meets the chief adviser on the sidelines of the annual session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday (local time).

During the meeting, Professor Yunus gave a brief outline of the student-led mass uprising which, he said, has created new opportunities for Bangladesh, pressing ‘the reset button’ for the entire nation.

Meloni said Italy would support the Prof Yunus-led interim government in its move to carry out vital reforms in key sectors.

The chief adviser urged the Italian leader to formalise migration from Bangladesh, paving the way of entry of more Bangladeshi workers in Italy through legal channels, which he said would cut risky illegal migration.

Meloni agreed, saying both nations should work together to stop irregular migration and conduct training for people planning to work in Italy.​

 

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Rohingya crisis: Foreign adviser urges UN Security Council to take decisive action

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has urged the UN Security Council to take decisive action in response to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh and the ongoing suffering of Myanmar's citizens amid conflict in Rakhine State

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Rohingya crisis: Foreign adviser urges UN Security Council to take decisive action

Md Touhid Hossain

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has urged the UN Security Council to take decisive action in response to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh and the ongoing suffering of Myanmar's citizens amid conflict in Rakhine State.

While addressing the UN Security Council Open Debate on "Leadership for Peace" on Thursday, he also shared Bangladesh's perspectives on fostering peace and stability.

The adviser noted that Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.2 million Rohingyas who fled their homes due to horrific atrocities.

He also said in the past month alone, more than 20,000 additional Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh as the conflict in Rakhine State has escalated.

"Unfortunately, our capacity is simply overstretched. This council can no longer remain indifferent to this question and let the civilians suffer," Touhid said.

He said the UN must prioritise political solutions in Myanmar and promote an inclusive and sustainable peace process.

He said the elected members shoulder responsibility to build consensus on critical issues before the council.

Stating that fostering regional cooperation is essential in reinforcing the council's efforts, he said the council needs to further empower regional entities, in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

"Cooperation with organisations like ASEAN, ECOWAS, and African Union, for example, needs to be deepened to address regional discord effectively and prevent their escalation," Touhid observed.

He said Bangladesh, led by Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, remains committed to contributing to the UN's collective endeavours for peace, including through robust participation in UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding.​