Myanmar, understanding the conflict:
The Rohingya in Myanmar are, as previously stated, an ethnic, religious and linguistic minority. They are not included in the 135 recognised ethnic groups of Myanmar, thus are not entitled to any rights as citizens and are essentially stateless, despite having an area of which they can call home. Myanmar instead recognises the Rohingya people as Illegal immigrants or “fugitives from law” (Kipgen, 2013). Thus they are offered no protections and the Burmese authorities are accused of any number of atrocities towards these people including persecution, torture and harassment (Kipgen, 2013) To understand the contention that exists in Myanmar’s Rakhine state this section will focus on an analysis of the June …show more content…
Despite this however, Rohingya are also exploited and persecuted by Bangladesh. Unlike Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, Bangladesh is directly adjacent to the Rakhine state and is thus less likely or less able (due to geographic factors) to turn Rohingya away. This however does not mean that a Rohingya persons quality of live improves by any significant means when they reach Bangladesh. It is estimated that 29,000 Rohingya live in refugee camps with up to 200,000 more living in unofficial camps (Ganguly & Miliate, 2015). Despite being in ‘refugee’ camps Ganguly and Miliate report that they are denied legal and humanitarian support, despite UNHCR’s willingness to cover costs and help provide services to these refugees. The explanation to the governments unwillingness to provide protections, despite giving Rohingya a supposed refugee status, could lie in Ullah’s (2011) article; “Rohingya Refugees to Bangladesh: Historical Exclusions and Contemporary Marginalization.” In this article Ullah discusses the way in which firstly many Rohingya are repatriated and sent back to Myanmar. Repatriation would be much more difficult and regulated should international organisations such as UNHCR be …show more content…
Liminal phases are dangerous and can only be completed through rites of reintegration. What if one’s whole life is very much a liminal phase as is for the Rohingya people of Myanmar. As a minority who are not accepted by the Burmese authorities, who are cast out by society, cannot access state services fleeing seems to be an entirely valid option. This however does not play out as often times they will either get trapped in Refugee (or labour camps) in places such as Bangladesh or risk making the sea journey to Thailand where often they are pushed-back. This essay has explained why the Rohingya peoples are often turned away and raised questions surrounding why and how they are able to be treated in such ways. It has shown how Myanmar, Bangladesh and Thailand all have their own reservations and issues that prevent them from accepting the Rohingya peoples; whether this moral or legal at any level is still questionable. Overall it can be said that the Rohingya people are people just like anyone else, they are being persecuted and they do deserve to be treated as refugees not immigrants. The status of refugee would provide a sense of power through protectionism, something that the Rohingya desperately
The Rohingya in Myanmar are, as previously stated, an ethnic, religious and linguistic minority. They are not included in the 135 recognised ethnic groups of Myanmar, thus are not entitled to any rights as citizens and are essentially stateless, despite having an area of which they can call home. Myanmar instead recognises the Rohingya people as Illegal immigrants or “fugitives from law” (Kipgen, 2013). Thus they are offered no protections and the Burmese authorities are accused of any number of atrocities towards these people including persecution, torture and harassment (Kipgen, 2013) To understand the contention that exists in Myanmar’s Rakhine state this section will focus on an analysis of the June …show more content…
Despite this however, Rohingya are also exploited and persecuted by Bangladesh. Unlike Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, Bangladesh is directly adjacent to the Rakhine state and is thus less likely or less able (due to geographic factors) to turn Rohingya away. This however does not mean that a Rohingya persons quality of live improves by any significant means when they reach Bangladesh. It is estimated that 29,000 Rohingya live in refugee camps with up to 200,000 more living in unofficial camps (Ganguly & Miliate, 2015). Despite being in ‘refugee’ camps Ganguly and Miliate report that they are denied legal and humanitarian support, despite UNHCR’s willingness to cover costs and help provide services to these refugees. The explanation to the governments unwillingness to provide protections, despite giving Rohingya a supposed refugee status, could lie in Ullah’s (2011) article; “Rohingya Refugees to Bangladesh: Historical Exclusions and Contemporary Marginalization.” In this article Ullah discusses the way in which firstly many Rohingya are repatriated and sent back to Myanmar. Repatriation would be much more difficult and regulated should international organisations such as UNHCR be …show more content…
Liminal phases are dangerous and can only be completed through rites of reintegration. What if one’s whole life is very much a liminal phase as is for the Rohingya people of Myanmar. As a minority who are not accepted by the Burmese authorities, who are cast out by society, cannot access state services fleeing seems to be an entirely valid option. This however does not play out as often times they will either get trapped in Refugee (or labour camps) in places such as Bangladesh or risk making the sea journey to Thailand where often they are pushed-back. This essay has explained why the Rohingya peoples are often turned away and raised questions surrounding why and how they are able to be treated in such ways. It has shown how Myanmar, Bangladesh and Thailand all have their own reservations and issues that prevent them from accepting the Rohingya peoples; whether this moral or legal at any level is still questionable. Overall it can be said that the Rohingya people are people just like anyone else, they are being persecuted and they do deserve to be treated as refugees not immigrants. The status of refugee would provide a sense of power through protectionism, something that the Rohingya desperately