The Rohingyas and the Netherlands
This message appeared in the Dutch press earlier this week: “State Secretary Sharon Dijksma (Economic Affairs) is on a trade mission in Myanmar this week until Thursday.
She will be accompanied by representatives of fifteen companies, including Rabobank, grower Rijk Zwaan and animal feed company De Heus. In recent years, the Netherlands has been working on closer trade relations with Myanmar, formerly Burma. There has been a trade office as the official Dutch representation for a year and a half.
The focus is mainly on companies involved in agriculture and food security. Dijksma: “Myanmar is still in its infancy when it comes to developing agriculture and ensuring food security. The Netherlands can make an important contribution to this through knowledge transfer in the agricultural field. Moreover, there are many opportunities for Dutch companies.”
Waiver of sanctions
There is nothing wrong in itself with a trade mission, which results from the lifting of sanctions against Myanmar by the European Union. The cancellation took place in response to “De positive political developments in Burma. For example, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was able to enter parliament after elections and political prisoners were released. Laws were also passed that allow freedom of assembly and prevent forced labour”. (website Overheid.nl)
Rohingyas
No Dutch newspaper bothered to mention the problem with the Rohingyas, but the mission comes at a very inopportune time. The website marokko.nl added under the heading “The Netherlands to Myanmar: not for oppression of the Rohingya, but for money” the following to the press article:
The trade mission to Myanmar is remarkable. The country is under fire for the constant oppression of the Rohingya minority. Currently, hundreds of them are floating at sea after fleeing the country. Buddhist extremists regularly carry out attacks on the Rohingya, forcing tens of thousands to flee.”
Postscript Gringo
The trade mission has now ended and let's hope that it has been successful. Let us also hope that the State Secretary – perhaps with the power of the European Union – has also raised the problem with the Rohingyas and has insisted that Myanmar takes the problem of the Rohingyas seriously. We await her message with interest.
Very sad that the Netherlands chooses to make money. There are plenty of very poor countries that can learn something from the Netherlands with regard to agriculture or food security. This is used as an argument to condone something that is wrong. Why do business with a country that treats a large group of residents even worse than cattle. The discrimination and treatment of the Rohingyas is considered the worst treatment of people in the world. As with apartheid in South Africa, countries must increase the pressure. The companies that traveled with us really do not do it for development aid. argument 1 through 100 is money, money and money. This regime really doesn't do anything to raise problems, especially if you do business properly afterwards. If the Netherlands wants to do something in Myanmar, let them do a development program with the Rohingya people. But then we don't earn that much and we get kicked out of the country.
Only many Dutch naives remain, in the Netherlands but also in Thailand. Those Rohingyas are Muslims and once they have power they will do the same to those who think differently as what is happening to them now. Islam is an ideology that does not accept dissenters, Buddhism does. The Burmese have long understood that and that is why they are driving the Rohingyas out of their country. These people speak Malay and according to many they are a Malay tribe, who moved in Malaya and Burma during the British colonial rule. Quite a few have now landed in Aceh and hopefully they will all go there.
What are you talking about? It is the Buddhists in Burma who prey on Muslims. Ever heard of the monk Wirathu? Just go google. And the Rohingyas are a Malay tribe and speak Malay? Well, nevermind.....
Again it is high time to ask for a second room.
Money, money and more money, that is why these so-called trade missions travel.
By the way , they do not fly sardine class at the airline .
They don't see me in Myanmar, had plans for a tour in this country this year, but after the news of dealing with this group, I don't have to anymore.
Makes me sick just by what I see on TV , even worse than last time with the dogs .
Then go on holiday in my own country, so Thailand, because that's where I live.
Jan Beute.
It remains a dilemma, I like to eat fish in Thailand, but unfortunately I also realize every time that fish can be caught on board by illegal workers, including Rohingyas and Cambodians, who are often treated as slaves by the skippers.
The burden of proof is difficult to obtain, but the fact that the Thai skippers are an exception is not accepted.