The Rohingya genocide in Myanmar is a brutal targeted massacre of Rohingya Muslims. After decades of attacks, in 2017 violence in Rakhine State intensifies into a full-scale military operation of terror and death.
The Rohingya Muslims are a minority group subjected to over fifty years of discrimination and persecution. Ethnic persecution and an explosion of military violence shocks the international community.
The Rohingya live primarily in Rakhine State, Myanmar. Their origins are complex and contested, with some tracing lineage back to 800 AD.
Prevailing belief in Myanmar, encouraged by Buddhist nationalist views, portrays them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh arriving in the British colonial era. Denial of legitimate ties to the region contributes to their marginalization.
Modern conflict in Myanmar goes back to colonial rule (1824-1948). The British government fosters ethnic divisions to maintain control, with lasting effects.
After Myanmar gains independence in 1948, the Rohingya face increasing hostility and violence. Critical moments include the 1982 Citizenship Law, which strip the Rohingya of legal status and render them stateless.
This denies them fundamental rights including freedom of movement, access to education, healthcare and employment. Successive military regimes put restrictions on marriage and childbirth.
Authorities conscript forced labor and confiscate land. The long history of oppressive policies creates a volatile environment.
By 2012, violence erupts between the Buddhist Rakhine and Rohingya communities with over 140,000 Rohingya displaced. The situation escalates significantly in 2016 when the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army is formed.
The Army is one of many local militant groups in Myanmar. Claiming to defend the Rohingya people, citing killings and rapes, it launches coordinated attacks on police posts.
These trigger brutal repercussive military campaigns against Rohingya civilians. Reports of human rights violations are widespread.
Influencing Factors
Buddhist Nationalism: Radical Buddhist monks and nationalist groups help spread anti-Rohingya propaganda and incite hatred. They portray the Rohingya as a threat to Myanmar's Buddhist identity and national security.
In 2018, a year after the genocide, up to 70% of Buddhists in Myanmar continue to support discriminatory laws against Rohingya.
Economic Grievances: Competition for resources and land in the impoverished Rakhine State fuels animosity between the Rohingya and the dominant Rakhine Buddhist community.
Political Manipulation: The military regime exploits ethnic tensions to consolidate its power and undermine democratic reforms.
The political situation under Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy allow the military or Tatmadaw to retain significant power. This is because the military permit public elections only if they're guaranteed 25% of the seats.
The NLD and military often clash due to different goals and mindsets. It creates a dangerous environment, with military having held control since 1962, and Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD first elected in 2015.
Lack of International Intervention: A delayed and inadequate international response allows the situation to deteriorate, emboldening the perpetrators.
International indifference facilitates the genocide.
In the years leading up to 2017, while reports surface detailing human rights abuses, foreign governments largely abstain from taking effective action. This silence creates a permissive atmosphere for violence.
Military Tactics: Campaign of Terror
Reports and investigations by international organizations, including the UN, documented widespread atrocities including
mass killings
widespread sexual violence
burning of villages
arbitrary arrests and torture
The tactics are designed to inflict maximum suffering and force the Rohingya to flee their homes. The military's "clearance operations" are designed to eliminate the Rohingya presence within Rakhine.
Violence is carried out with involvement of local militias. Sexual violence as a weapon is commonplace. Survivor testimony shows sexual assault is strategic to intimidate and further disenfranchise Rohingya.
The Controversy of Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, faces significant criticism for her silence and inaction in the face of the Rohingya crisis. While she lacks direct control over the military, she's held culpable.
Critics quote her failure to condemn the atrocities unequivocally, and her defense of the military's actions on the international stage. This severely damages her reputation and smears her previous work in human rights.
Initially she downplays the military's actions, stating they're necessary for national security, without directly addressing the injustices. In a speech to the UN in September 2017, she refers to military operations as defensive.
It causes growing alienation from the international community. People say her failure to defend the Rohingya people betrays her legacy as champion of human rights.
It's unclear if she truly lacks control over the military or chooses to prioritize political stability. It's a festering stain on a long admirable humanitarian track record. She's still seen as a national hero and champion of democracy.
Aftermath: A Humanitarian Catastrophe
The 2017 genocide triggers a massive exodus of Rohingya refugees into neighboring Bangladesh. Over 900,000 Rohingya flee across the border.
They join hundreds of thousands already living in overcrowded and under-resourced refugee camps in Cox's Bazar. Conditions are terrible. Families live in poverty with limited access to clean water and health care.
With thousands killed and hundreds of villages systematically burned, the UN concludes the military has committed acts of genocide. In Myanmar, thousands of Rohingya remain displaced and live in precarious conditions.
The international community has expressed outrage, yet systematic responses are lacking. The United Nations report severe human rights violations but fail to hold responsible parties accountable.
Other Important Facts
Limited Access for Humanitarian Aid: The Myanmar government is once more a military regime, with Aung San Suu Kyi under arrest since 2021, due to her massive support in the elections.
The military continues to restrict access to Rakhine State. Humanitarian organizations and independent observers can't fully assess the situation to help those who remain.
Ongoing Impunity: Despite overwhelming evidence of atrocities, those responsible for the violence have largely escaped accountability.
Stalled Repatriation Efforts: Attempts to repatriate Rohingya refugees to Myanmar have been unsuccessful due to security concerns, lack of guarantees of citizenship and safety, and deep-seated distrust.
International Court of Justice (ICJ) Case: The Gambia has filed a case against Myanmar at the ICJ, accusing the country of violating the Genocide Convention. The Gambia is no stranger to human rights violations.
Youthful Demographics: Nearly 50% of the Rohingya refugee population is under 18 years old, without access to education or medicine.
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