About the government policy toward Rohingya or

Bengali migrants In Myanmar

1B 5092 Myo
Rakhine State
Geography Demography Conflict area
It situated on the western coast.
It is bordered by theBay of
Bengalto the west, and
theChittagong
DivisionofBangladeshto the
northwest.
It has an area of 36,762 square
kilometers
Background
RohingyaRohing+Ya(the people of Rohing).Rohangis the old kingdom name of Andrew Simpson (2007).
Arakan

The First settlement of Muslims in the Rakhine Kingdom at around 1430 AD.

A period of mass migration occurred to Myanmar during the colonial era.

1852 - Britain annexes lower Burma

1885-86 - Britain captures Mandalay and becomes a province of British India.

1937 - Britain separates Burma from India and makes it a crown colony.

Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) and its accompanying genocide made a lot of
Bengali as the refugees to neighboring countries.

Economic migrant and Human trafficking occurred in 21 st century.

POPULATION CENSUS
Bangladesh Liberation War (1971)

Muslims in Rakhine
1400000
1200000
1000000
800000
600000
400000
200000
0

The population of Rakhine state is around 3.2 million

Bengali migrants nearly 1.3 million in 2014 (Stateless)
Within 33 year, the population of Bengali migrants has increased double (0.62 to 1.3 million)
In 2050, the population of Bengali migrants would increase nearly 2.6 million.
EVOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT
First incident Second incident

World War II, Japanese forces invaded Myanmar, The

Insurgence known as Mujahideen insurgency
British forces retreated
broke out in April 1948
British created a buffer zone from Japanese invasion by
Demanded autonomy (the northern part of
using British Armed Bengali Force
Rakhine which is located in the Bangladesh
Communal violence broke out during the Japanese Myanmar border)
invasion
After the Mujahideen were defeated, a small
Bengali Muslims from Northern Rakhine State killed around armed groups emerged
50,000 Arakanese
Each community moved to places where they were a
majority
The state became somewhat divided

A Rohingya mujahid
surrenders his weapon to
Brigadier-General Aung
Gyi, 4 July 1961.
EVOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT
Third incident
In 2012
The communal violence occurred.
(Flare)The rape and murder of a Buddhist
woman by Muslim men on 28 May 2012
was the trigger event
Fourth incident
On 9 October 2016
The terrorist groups violently raided three
outposts of border guard police force in
northern part of Rakhine State
10 security personnel dead and bringing 65
guns and ammunition
BENGALI MIGRANTS CAMPS

44 Camps 5 Camps
Myanmars Bengali (Rohingya) Dilemma
(President U thein Seins administration 2011- 2015)
Anyone who could prove their citizenship would be readily accepted back.
1982 Citizenship Law ( closely related to the 1948 Citizenship Law)
The Government not allow the word Rohingya (They are Bengali migrants not Myanmar nationalities)
Based on the Historical records, it is obvious that they lived in Myanmar for more than 6 to 7
decades
The issue is still present with huge international pressure from international society
The issue gave a lot of negative effects to Myanmar government and society.
1982 CITIZENSHIP LAW
Citizen
3. Nationals such as the Kachin,
Kayah, Karen, Chin, Burman, Mon,
Rakhine or Shan and ethnic groups
as have settled in any of the
territories included within the State
as their permanent home from a
period anterior to 1185 B.E., 1823
A.D. are Burma citizens.
1500000
1000000
500000
0
Associate Citizen
23. Applicants for citizenship under
the Union Citizenship Act, 1948,
conforming to the stipulations and
qualifications may be determined as
associate citizens by the Central
Body.
Bengali in Rakhine
Naturalized Citizen
42. Persons who have entered and
resided in the State anterior to 4th
January, 1948, and their offsprings
born Within the State may, if they have
not yet applied under the union
Citizenship Act, 1948, apply for
naturalized citizenship to the Central
Body, furnishing conclusive evidence
PROFESSORS QUESTION

How Myanmar government is trying to "solve" the problem related to

the existence of Rohingya or Bengali Muslim in coming years?

People in Rakhine will continue to be divided between native

Arakan population and Bengali migrants and live in conflict after 33
years?

What actions can the government undertake to resolve the conflict

in Rakhine state?
ANSWER
People in Rakhine will continue to be divided between native Arakan population and Bengali
migrants and live in conflict after 33 years?
Yes, they live in conflict in the Future.
The issue will continuous as the geopolitical, economy, media, religions and the Bengal migrants'
perception
Geopolitical: Rakhine State is as a backbone or backdoor of Myanmar because of its location.
The government cant control illegal migrant and the growing of birth rate of the Bengali migrants.
Economy: Rakhine is rich in natural resources (oil, natural gas and minerals).
The issue is not only a threat for national security but also to Myanmars economy.
Religions: The Bengali migrants population growth is highly increasing.
If Rakhine fails, Myanmars back door will be broken down and everybody can easily enter the
country.
Media: It tries to maximize the issue as a Religious conflict by using the irregular information and
propaganda.
Bengali migrants' perception: The Bengali migrants try to get as a one of ethnic list in Myanmar
and try to influence this area with the assistance of other Muslim organization.
They also request separate ethnic identity and part of Rakhine state as their own land.
ANSWER
What actions can the government undertake to resolve the conflict in Rakhine state?
The government needs to solve this issue with peaceful way as son as possible.
The government should corporate with the international society and the Bangladesh to get
pragmatic solutions.
As the lesson of the history,
Hostile action is not a good solution.
The government should persuade the Bengali migrants to obey the Law of Myanmar
government.
The government should consider border security.
The government should try to reconsider the 1982 citizenship law
For instance, if the government cannot accept this people as one of ethnicities,
the government should accept these people under Bengali name and can give the Associate
Citizen or Naturalized Citizen as the pragmatic procedure and regulation.
CONCLUSION
A highly complex problem
The country has a long history of communal mistrust.
Myanmar government should solve the problem by using
lessons learn from similar stories
Improve relations between the two communities.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
To build the future, the two major communities have to move beyond decades of mistrust and find ways to embrace
shared values of justice, fairness, and equity.
Myanmar government should consider regarding the human security and regional stability for the
future generation.
Even take time to solve the problem, the government should emphases to solve the problem as
soon as possible by using a realistic way to achieve the optimal level of the problem
Thank you