12-Nov-2012

I am in the support of the case for Rohingya (Burma-Rohingya), I would whole heartedly congratulate this report writer, U Myo Aung, to whom I do not know in person, however. We do need this kind of in-depth reports on Rohingya crisis, noting that every report must have to be checked in for its accuracy.

For the record, I have had advocated strongly for UN protection of displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh during 1992-94 refugee influx; you can check-up my website: www.netipr.org/uneoo/. At that time, and until also now, I am not however convinced that the Rohingya are one of the 'indigenous' group of Burma. I do, however, see the reports from time to time, that the Rohingya people have existed in Arakan state long before the British colonization of Burma. I can be corrected, of course.

When we talked about the 'indigenous' people (တုိင္းရင္းသား) of Burma, it is fair thing to take the time pointer at the British colonization of Burma. The word, indigenous is not a free-usage, does have a specific meaning: for example,

"Indigenous peoples primarily refers to ethnic groups that have historical ties to groups that existed in a territory prior to colonization or formation of a nation state, and which normally preserve a degree of cultural and political separation from the mainstream culture and political system of the nation state within the border of which the indigenous group is located.[1] (wikipaedia)"

"indigenous people" has criteria which includes cultural groups (and their continuity or association with a given region, or parts of a region, and who formerly or currently inhabit the region) either:

before or its subsequent colonization or annexation, or
alongside other cultural groups during the formation or reign of a colony or nation-state, or
independently or largely isolated from the influence of the claimed governance by a nation-state,

and who:

have maintained at least in part their distinct cultural, social/organizational, or linguistic characteristics, and in doing so remain differentiated in some degree from the surrounding populations and dominant culture of the nation-state, and
are self-identified as indigenous, or those recognized as such by other groups.(wikipaedia)"

Given that, I still think Rohingya may still have problems claiming the 'indigenous' status simply because the perception by proper Burman majority is the Rohingya group had migrated to Burma along with British colonizers in 1824.

I am very disappointed with those Burmese-MPs elect, and NLD democrats, who has not done something just to stop violence in Arakan. Yes. The military thugs in Burma are still in charge and so forth. But, at least, the NLD democrats should visit the displaced Rohingyas (and the Rakhines too, of course) and talk to these communities on the ground first hand. I am still hoping. Life goes on.

Regards, U Ne Oo, Australia.
http://www.netipr.org/uneoo