Boat refugee crisis: Myanmar on the defensive
Representatives from seventeen Asian countries directly or indirectly affected by the refugee crisis were present in Bangkok yesterday, as well as the United States, Japan and representatives from international organizations such as the UN refugee service UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration.
Myanmar (formerly Burma) did not want to sit on the dock and the representative of Myanmar, Htin Linn (pictured above), warned other countries not to blame his country for the problems: "That will not solve anything."
Thailand described yesterday's meeting as "very constructive" and said that all 17 countries at the meeting agreed on a declaration on humanitarian aid for the believed 2500 migrants still floating at sea, as well as for the refugees already at sea. land in Malaysia and Indonesia.
The representatives of the human rights organizations are less positive: Much talk but few concrete decisions and actions. Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch Asia called the talks "a Band-Aid on a gaping wound." He found it strange that the name Rohingyas was not allowed to be mentioned in the closing statement: “How can you talk about a people if you are not allowed to name them?”
Norachit Sinhaseni, the Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, said that Myanmar is joining the international community's initiative to improve the living conditions of people in risk areas.
Meanwhile, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are dealing with increasing numbers of refugees fleeing Myanmar. It is mainly Muslim Rohingyas who have no rights in Myanmar and are not even recognized as citizens. More than a million Rohingyas live in Myanmar, of which more than XNUMX are imprisoned in camps. They are now hunted down like pariahs and regularly attacked by extremist Buddhists, resulting in rape and murder. The Myanmar government does not intervene so that the Rohingyas flee the country. They prefer to go to Islamic countries in the region to build a new life there.
Refugee organizations in particular want Myanmar to take responsibility towards the Rohingyas. "When this group is treated as citizens and given identity papers, the problem is almost solved." Volker Turk, assistant United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said yesterday at the summit in Bsangkok.”
It seems that Myanmar does not want to take any responsibility. For example, the word 'Rohingya' was not allowed to be mentioned in the invitation, because Myanmar did not want that and then it would have stayed away. The Myanmar government refuses to recognize the Rohingyas as an ethnic group; she considers them Bangladeshis.
Malaysia and Indonesia pledged last week to receive the Rohingya boat people because they would otherwise die at sea, but not for longer than a year. Both countries want help from the international community with the problem. Thailand only wants to provide humanitarian aid at sea and has called in the navy for this. The reason for Thailand's tough attitude is that more than 130.000 refugees have been staying at the Thai border for decades. These are mainly ethnic groups that have fled Myanmar. Thailand says it cannot accommodate more refugees.
Meanwhile, Thailand has authorized the US Navy to fly over its territory to help search for stranded refugees. The flights from Subang in Malaysia must be coordinated with the Thai Air Force.
Both the US and Australia have pledged to donate an additional $3 million and $5 million respectively in emergency relief for the refugees.
Source: Bangkok Post – http://goo.gl/DFQsoo
Buddhism, the other face.
Always thought Asian leaders were so diplomatic. But it now appears that Asian leaders become stressed when they are accused of something that is not up their alley. How could that be? Is that a remnant of the colonial days when Western arrogance despised the Asians? Or is it the contempt of Asians towards their neighbours? The raised finger is reminiscent of…
That Buddhists are humane people is, in my opinion, a farce.
You'll find yourself floating around on one of those rickety boats on the great ocean with large numbers of fellow sufferers.
Without or little food and drink and any medical assistance.
And then also in the burning sun on the high seas .
And meanwhile your fate is being decided at a high level by high gentlemen in smart suits.
In expensive meeting rooms with beautiful flower arrangements and air conditioning. They usually spend the night in expensive hotels during these types of measurements.
And flew in from their home country in Business Class .
The world in 2015.
Jan Beute.
The Republic of Union of Myanmar On January 31, 2011, a new constitution came into force, formally ending military rule. Despite this fact, it is an unfree country and not only for the
Rohingyas but also for many other minorities, there is also a Thai minority group in South Myanmar which also does not have too many rights. The fact that the majority of the population in Myanmar are Buddhists is less relevant in this matter, Thailand is home to many refugees from neighboring countries, which has never been a problem for Buddhists in Thailand.
However, a large part of these refugees are not Rohingyas but people from Bangladesh, Myanmar does not take responsibility for the large groups of Bengalis among the refugees, which I can understand, I don't know any countries that do that. Even in Bangladesh it was recently recognized that many of their nationals have fled the country, so I am looking for the person responsible more in Bangladesh. In that country Buddhists are a minority and many of their group have been murdered and their temples burned. The issue cannot therefore be viewed too one-sidedly.
Not everything you write is correct. Thousands of stateless refugees live in the mountains along the border with Burma. None of them are recognized by Thailand and Burma. They are only tolerated by the Thai government.
I have seen these people working in Thailand. Illegal that is. Often they are also professionals. But they have no acknowledgment of existence.
It is also not unilateral to look at the suffering of people who do NOT receive daily attention in the media. A humane people helps every refugee, regardless of origin or religion.
Where is Aung San Suu Kyi in this? She is a Nobel Prize winner and human rights activist. It may be that I have not followed the correct media.
You didn't miss any news, Dennis. She avoids statements and does not answer questions asked by journalists about the events. Nothing more has come out of her mouth than that it is 'complicated'. Very disappointing!
The reason? Elections. Reason why she was "cancelled" from her pedestal with me.