What's going on in Myanmar? ------------------ The Rohingya Muslims are a Muslim sect numbering a few million. About one million resided in the Rakhine state in Myanmar, comprising nearly a third of the population and retaining their historic residence which traces its origins to pre-colonial Arakan Kingdom. The majority Buddhist population, primarily after Rakhine became Burmese (originally a British India colony), often leads anti-Rohingya sectarian violence and the government is complacent---the Rohingya's identification is not considered legitimate and the group was considered "Bengali" in the last census, reflecting the government's belief that Rohingya are illegal immigrants. They also do not have full documentation of their presence in Myanmar or in surrounding countries (like Bangladesh). Murder, rape, dehumanization, and cultural erasure (requiring Muslims to not wear headscarfs or to shave in wedding photos) are all occurring as precursors to a genocide which has already started. Eight hundred thousand Rohingya have already fled to nearby nations, including Bangladesh where overcrowded refugee camps compound upon the military oppression in their native Rakhine, which is claimed to be a response to incredulous terrorist attacks by Rohingya. Why are the Rohingya being targeted? ------------------ The Buddhist nationalist majority/government claims that the ARSA is a Rohingya terror group intending to revolt against the population, and continues to lead "security campaigns" because of explicit distrust between the two groups. However, the Western community widely regards these actions as ethnic cleansing because of cultural erasure, unprompted attacks on civilians and their rights, and propaganda claiming that the Rohingya are to blame for economic woes of the state. The Myanmarese government continues to look the other way and is supported by the regimes of China and Russia asking for "stability." What are the similarities and differences between this genocide and previous ones we've talked about? ------------------ This genocide, like the Rwandan genocide, has occurred mostly without international interference, despite media outcry and extensive warning signs: a strong military attacking a minority group, sectarian violence, and "security campaigns." Also, like the German Kristallnacht, it mounted into a single regional attack against a minority group, with thousands of Rohingya killed in a month. Concentration camps designed to isolate the Rohingya from the majority population and create "million deaths is a statistic" thinking already exist and are likely leading to extermination of the Rohingya. Unlike the German or Crimean genocides, Western powers are avoiding stepping in because of undue timidity and unreasonable belief that the government will do better soon. What is the UN doing to help the Rohingya Muslims? ------------------ The UN signed a deal requiring the Myanmar government to reinstate the Rohingya Muslims as full citizens, but this has holes: the Myanmarese don't want to return to Myanmar because of the deplorable violence they have to face, and there is no system of accountability. The government's peace officer has stopped relations with UN officials, effectively ending the deal. The deal also doesn't incorporate any Rohingya judg- -ment, so it's a step in the right direction but insufficient to end the concentration camp situation or allow for foreign intervention within Myanmar because it's just a UNGA resolution since the UNSC would be vetoed. To what extent has inaction by the international community contributed to the persecution of the Rohingya? ------------------ The Myanmar military has required the removal of Rohingya fences, the limitation of Rohingya fertility, and insufficient medical care within nearby states for refugees. The "easier" issue for the West to face is the refugee crisis; relieving nearby countries, especially Bangladesh of the Burden of thousands of refugees is amenable by the government and would allow for fleeing of Myanmarese to be a reasonable decision and reduce the holding power of the government. The other issue, preventing persecution within the country itself, is much harder since the gov't has overall improved: democratic elections are regularly held, human rights are strengthening in general, and economic growth is occurring. But the Rohingya aren't seeing any of that benefit; they can't par- -ticipate in elections as full members of society because they are treated as illegal immigrants, and they remain in the poorest region of the country. The international community refuses to intervene, believing that Buddhist nationalists will destabilize the state, and ignoring the punishable acts which already happened.