The Rohingya community continues to face devastation and uncertainty, not only due to the military takeover of Myanmar’s government but also as a result of resettlements from Cox’s Bazar and disappearances in Indonesia’s Lhokseumawe, writes Anmol Kothari.
For decades, the Rohingya community in Myanmar has been victim to attacks, persecutions, and ethnic cleansing. The Rohingya are a (mostly) Muslim minority ethnic group, historically having largely resided in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
Violence significantly escalated in August 2017, resulting in the forced displacement of around 1 million Rohingya; with over 900,000 settlings in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. Already poverty-stricken, the surrounding Cox’s Bazar area has experienced increased economic strain as well as tensions between the host community and refugees. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has hindered efforts to improve conditions within the camps, with volunteers being ordered to stay home during Bangladesh’s lockdowns.
Relocation to Bhashan Char
As of mid-February 2021, around 8,000 Rohingya refugees have been relocated from Cox’s Bazar to Bhashan Char, an uninhabited island in the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh’s government has insisted that this has been a voluntary process, however, there have been reports of refugees finding their huts in Cox’s Bazar camps padlocked; thus being forced to relocate.
This relocation has been condemned by human rights organisations and the United Nations. It has also been highly criticised due to bans on international journalists from entering the Bhashan Char island. The island is extremely vulnerable to cyclones and flooding, therefore putting the Rohingya refugees at high risk, after an extremely turbulent few years.
The Bangladeshi government asserts that it has spent over $350 million on housing and infrastructure, in order to make the island inhabitable. Flood protection embankments, hospitals, and mosques have been built. The government claims this has been an attempt to ease the strain on the Cox’s Bazar community, and some refugees have reported that they relocated to Bhashan Char voluntarily.
However, with many still reporting that they were forced to leave Bangladesh there remain many ethical concerns surrounding the transfers, including the issue of 'warehousing'. This entails the practice of confining refugees to isolated areas separate from the rest of society, thereby restricting their freedoms and mobility. This containment of refugees has dire consequences for their economic wellbeing, as well as severely infringing upon their human rights. 2,000 Rohingya were moved to the island in February, with thousands more expected to be moved in the following months.
Disappearances in Indonesia
Hundreds of Rohingya refugees residing in the Aceh refugee camp in Lhokseumawe on Indonesia’s northern coast have been reported missing. 400 refugees had arrived on the island between June and September 2020, with only 112 remaining at the end of January 2021, and neither Indonesian local authorities nor United Nations forces being able to locate the missing persons. The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) stated that the refugees residing in this camp were asked not to leave due to the potential risks faced upon doing so; however, it is believed that many have turned to smugglers to escape these areas. There are concerns that the missing individuals have been trafficked and taken to Malaysia via the Malacca strait, likely enduring extremely dangerous conditions during the journey.
What does the future look like for the Rohingya in Myanmar?
The ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi by Myanmar’s military has increased fears of further persecution and ethnic cleansing attempts against the 600,000 Rohingya remaining in the country. Although Aung Sun Suu Kyi’s government failed to address or prevent the horrific treatment of the Rohingya community, the new military government may pose even more danger for them. General Min Aung Hliang, acting as commander-in-chief, has himself been criticised by the international community for his facilitation of violence against ethnic minorities in the past.
The military has detained former government officials and declared a year-long state of emergency in Myanmar, after contesting November’s election results. With communications blackouts, flight cancellations, and the army patrolling streets, Myanmar’s Rohingya community is faced with huge uncertainties concerning the future of its security and wellbeing.
Furthermore, Myanmar continues to be on trial for charges of genocide, following Gambia’s launching of the case in 2019. Myanmar’s former officials had been accused of preventing court proceedings after having objected to the International Court of Justice’s charges, and it remains unclear whether the new military government will engage with the case. The future looks bleak for the Rohingya residing in Myanmar, who have already faced decades of ill-treatment and genocide.
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