Will ‘Rohingya’ issue receive greater international focus after Obama visit? By Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury

By Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury
The "Rohingya" issue has undoubtedly received a greater focus than before in the international arena following the visit of United States President Barack Obama to Myanmar. It is now expected that the Myanmar authorities would take care of its citizens as being not subjected to undue harassment and coerced to leave their country. The "Rohingya" issue is not a new phenomenon and remains a vexed problem that also involves Bangladesh -- regardless of the relevance of the involvement. But President Obama's remarks about the "Rohingyas" in Myanmar has added a new dimension to the issue that should help these unfortunate people overcome their terrible plight.

However, the issue has many dimensions. What is really needed now for a settlement of the problem is the unremitting thrust towards restoring peace and stability in the country, nay the region. And to make it happen, both Myanmar and Bangladesh authorities should work in concert in a bid to prevent the present situation from further snowballing, although the issue is essentially a domestic one of Myanmar.

The international community, which has not alienated itself from the issue because of its grave repercussions that transcends the Myanmar border, is required to remain conscious as well, so that a community -- categorised by the United Nations as "persecuted" -- can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

After all, issues like the "Rohingyas" can not be ignored when viewed from both humanitarian and political standpoints.

President Obama, fresh from his successful re-election for another term, landed in three South East Asian nations -- Thailand, Myanmar and Combodia. Undeniably the focus of his visit was more on Myanmar for obvious reasons. Here is a country which is admirably coming out from its isolationist policy and is slowly opening up towards a pluralistic society, much to the commendation of the West and the democratic world.

Although the present rulers in Myanmar represent yet only a semblance of democratic order with real power still resting with the military junta, their recent record in reforming the society is praiseworthy.

President Obama's visit to the country has culminated a phase that began with the visits of several foreign dignitaries to Myanmar including US secretary of state Hillary Clinton last year; this marks a watershed in the contemporary global scenario.

With all said and done, this is also equally true that the treatment of the minority "Rohingya" Muslims in the western Rakhaine state by the Myanmar authorities has come in for strong criticisms even from some its fellow South East Asian nations -- let alone many democratic and Islamic countries.

Bangladesh, as the immediate neighbour of Myanmar, gave shelter to many "Rohingyas" who had fled their homes in the past on alleged grounds of persecution and repression. But it could not take further burden when those people again looked for shelter this time. This has raised a controversy both at home and outside, about whether Dhaka is right in shutting its doors to those refugees.

While many agree with the fact that Bangladesh is no longer in a position to carry any further load in the form of accommodating the "Rohingyas", the impression also exists that the humanitarian side should also not be fully ignored. While the government defends its policy, the critics say that the authorities have been, too, harsh in dealing with such refugees. 

Without joining the debate, one can say that the issue -- if not inextricably - has, at least, peripheral links with Bangladesh's interest and Dhaka ought to remain active and alert about its complexities without demonstrating indifference or turning a blind eye, to it.

This is particularly needed when in Myanmar, the issue has become a subject of apathy by both the government and the opposition since none wants to deal with it, with pragmatism and morality as interests of the minority "Rohingyas" have been relegated to the background because of the overwhelming majority of the Buddhist population.

The bottom line is that the "Rohingyas" need better treatment; that is what president Obama has underlined, saying they deserve dignity and humane touch.

Hopefully, the repression on such hapless people will now abate, if not end totally, with larger efforts by all concerned with this thorny issue in this or that way.

(zaglulbss@yahoo.com)

Source:Here