By Colin Hinshelwood
DVB News
December 11, 2013
The secretary-general of the Organisation for
Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, spoke with DVB about his
recent trip to Burma where he pledged OIC
assistance to all communities in Arakan state – Buddhist and Muslim alike. We
asked him about Rohingya rights, Rule of Law, and the path to a peaceful
future.
Q: Several figures in Burma/ Myanmar have expressed
opinions that the major reason for sectarian violence or anti-Muslim riots in
the country is a fundamental lack of rule of law. To what extent do you believe
law enforcement (or a lack thereof) is to blame? And, is this the major reason
for the violence? If not, what is?
A: From 13-17 November 2013, a seven-member OIC
Ministerial Contact Group Delegation visited Myanmar at the invitation of the
President to assess the situation on the ground and toured camps for Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs). The Delegation held discussions with government
officials, members of civil society organizations and political parties, which
enabled the OIC to obtain a better appreciation of the local conditions and
causes of the communal tensions on the ground.
While Myanmar is making tremendous steps towards
democracy there is still a need to strengthen institutions and maintain
enforcement of the rule of law, particularly in Rakhine [Arakan] state.
However, the inter-communal tensions that erupted stem largely from fundamental
misunderstandings and misconceptions amongst different communities about each
other. There is fear, suspicion and mistrust driven by false propaganda against
Islam and Muslims on social media and by some extremists. The Government
recognizes that this lack of trust that pervades the community makes
reconciliation and harmonious living difficult and the OIC has made itself
available to play a role, if requested, in this regard.
Q: Several politicians in Burma, including
President Thein Sein, have openly suggested that a solution to this ongoing
problem of religious violence is to request Muslim nations and third countries
to accept the Rohingyas as refugees. Is this proposal open to debate? Under
what circumstances? If not, why not?
A: The Rohingya people have been in Arakan state
for centuries and this is a matter of historical record. The Muslim political
influence can be traced back to 1784, when the Burmese King Bodawpaya conquered
Arakan.
As for the Rohingya refugees who have been pushed
out of their territory, there are around 2.5 million refugees spread around the
world, particularly in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE [United Arab
Emirates], Thailand and Malaysia. The OIC acknowledges that much more reforms
are needed to solve human rights and citizenship issues and to ensure the safe
return of Rohingya refugees to their ancestral land. The Rohingya are not an
alien people to the land of Arakan. There is currently a process of
verification underway by the Government for those living in IDP camps and the
OIC hopes that this process can be completed soon so that the government can
proceed to rectify the status of those who have a right to citizenship.
Q: Much of the rhetoric coming from the anti-Muslim
or anti-Rohingya voices in Burma focuses on the notion that in the 1830s, 135
ethnic groups were identified and recognised in Burma. Do these voices have a
valid point? To what degree is Burma bound by international norms to accept an
influx of people such as the Rohingya?
A: During our visit to Myanmar, we did encounter
protesters who were influenced by such anti-Muslim rhetoric propagated by a
small minority of extremists. However, this is fuelled by a great deal of
misunderstanding about Islam and fear of cultural differences, which are
driving the tensions. In fact, the Rohingya are an indigenous people of the
land and should be accorded their legal rights. In previous years Rohingyas
living within the borders of Myanmar faced severe human rights violations by
the military junta such as revoking of their citizenship, refusal to reinstate,
restriction of travel, denial of marriage and education, confiscation of lands,
forced cheap labour, as well as rape and extortion. Under the leadership of the
President and a democratic and pluralistic government we would like to see
prosperity, development and social harmony be achieved in Rakhine state for the
benefit of all people there and in Myanmar more generally.
Q: What is your opinion on whether the 1982
Citizenship Law should be amended to accommodate the Rohingya community and
other groups?
A: From the earliest days of the modern Burmese
state, the Rohingya enjoyed recognition of their language, their culture, and
their right to citizenship, which was stripped from them by the arbitrary and
discriminatory nature of the 1982 Citizenship Law. The discriminatory
provisions of this law have been used to deny citizenship to most Rohingya
Muslims and other minority groups, and should be amended. The Law recognises
not one, but three categories of citizens: citizens, associate citizens and
naturalised citizens. The latter two categories of associate or naturalised
citizens can lose their citizenship for very minor reasons. It should be noted
also that just two weeks ago the Human Rights Committee of the UN General
Assembly passed a resolution urging Myanmar to give the stateless Rohingya
minority equal access to citizenship and to crack down on violence against them
and other Muslims in the Southeast Asian nation.
Q: During your last visit to Burma, the OIC pledged
to help both or all communities in Arakan state. How do you envisage OIC’s role
in providing humanitarian aid and to a larger degree, helping to establish
peace in the region?
A: At the conclusion of the visit a joint
communiqué was issued which expressed the common understanding of the way
forward for OIC-Myanmar relations. The joint communiqué outlined the framework
of cooperation; it was agreed that coordination of activities would take place
through OIC ASEAN member states (Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei) specifically for
the delivery of humanitarian aid. In addition, the need for interfaith
dialogue, reconciliation and building mutual trust was identified and efforts
are underway to develop programs that will bring peace, stability, and economic
prosperity for the benefit of all communities in Rakhine state.
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