The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Interview with Assoc. Prof. Selçuk Çolakoğlu, Head of USAK Center for Asia-Pacific Studies What does the current situation in Myanmar imply? First reports of the trouble in Myanmar (Burma) may have given the impression that this was another routine ethnic or inter-communal dispute of the kind commonly encountered in places like Asia and Africa. But when details of the events became clearer, it became apparent that the drama through which the Arakan (Rohingya) Muslims are living  is not a simple communal conflict but a process extending much further, towards genocide and even ethnic cleansing. The situation’s gravity is increased by the fact that the Myanmar authorities seem to be inflaming the troubles.

The Rakhine Investigation Commission will make their first official visit to Rakhine State later this week for nine days, an official said this week. Dr. Kyaw Yin Hlaing Photo: KASonline / flickr “Our main objective is to do a pre-survey to help carry out our tasks,” said commission Secretary Dr. Kyaw Yin Hlaing. The team will meet with victims from both communities, residents, government officials and other officials during the trip, he told the  Myanmar Times  newspaper. Following the trip, the commission will recruit and train people to collect data that will aid its investigation.