Rebuttal to Derek Tonkin‘s Misjudgment on “The Rohingya Identity”

By Ibrahim Shah

Burma Times

May 12, 2014

An unauthentic and illogical commentary by Derek Tonkin: (The ‘Rohingya’ Identity –The British Experience in Arakan 1826-1948)

Never, I thought I would have to write against Derek Tonkin, former British diplomat to Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, an advisor to Bagan Capital Limited and Editor of Network Myanmar. However, I have to unwillingly write against Derek Tonkin who intentionally writes unjustly for endorsement the genocidal practice of Burmese chauvinistic rulers against Rohingya. The Burmese imperialistic rulers have been imposing double stand policies in western Burma, Arakan( Rakhine) to eradicate an existing ethnic group also known as Rohingya from this earth since 1044 AD. Arakan was a sovereign kingdom until 1784 in which year it was annexed by Burmese king Maung Wei. Afterwards, it became a part of Burma known as western Burma.

With the Census in Myanmar on its way to completion, I looked to see how the British in their time had handled the issue of the ‘Rohingya’ identity which is currently a matter of deep concern: there sadly appears to have been a last minute change of heart by the Myanmar Government not to allow self-identification by Muslims as ‘Rohingya’, under the threat by Buddhists in Rakhine State to boycott the census if that was permitted.

Here the above paragraph written by Derek Tonkin seems that he recalls the world for colonial period exercised by his British compatriots, Colonizer British. Generally, it is the way of colonizers to influence the territory they occupied with their own wills because they were unaware to freedom and equality of the native people. Similarly, the Colonizer British conducted the census in 1872, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, 1921, 1931 and 1941 referring the inhabitants according to the respective religious faiths of the residents to depopulate the indigenous people of Arakan.

There is a very simple answer to the matter of British practice. There was no such identity as ‘Rohingya’ known to the British Governments of either India until 1937 or of Burma after the separation from India on 1 April of that year. In the 122 years between their conquest of Arakan in 1826 and Burmese independence in 1948, not a single reference to ‘Rohingya’ is to be found in any British official report, regional gazetteer, census, legislation, private correspondence or personal reminiscence.

I would like to remind to Derek Tonkin and his counterparts that there is not even one single evidence, except Mogh or mugh , which proved there was Rakhine in British record.

Asiatic Research 5 (1799):219-240 by Francis Buchanan Stated that Mohammedans who have long settled in Arakan and who called themselves Rooinga or native of Arakan.

Identification of Rohingya Ethnicity was expressed in the classical Journal of London published in 1811 and also at 1815 of collectiones vocabulorum in Berlin of Germany.

An Account of the Burman Empire, Compiled from the works of Colonel Symes, Major Caning, Captain Cox, Dr Leyden, Dr Buchanan by Henry G. Bell, ESQ in 1852 stated in page (66) that the Mahommedans who have been long settled in the country, call themselves Rooinga or Native of Arracan.

In page (21) to (36) of A Short Report on Arakan by Mr Charles paton, Sub- Commissioner of Arakan in 1826, stated about Head of village divison and the population of Arakan and its dependencies, Ramree, Cheduba and Sandway does not at present exceed 100,000 souls, may be classed as Mughs six tenths , Mussalman three tenths and Burmese one tenths.

Census of India, 1911 vol:(IX) described that in 1829, a census taken in Arakan show that the population was 121,288. Three years later in 1832, it has risen to 195,107.This remarkable increase of 60.86% was principally due to return from Chittagong of the Arakanese, who had fled from Arakan during the occupation of that Kingdom by Burmese from 1784 to 1826.

Rohingya was categorized with Indigenous races of Union of Burma as defined in section 3(1) of Union Citizenship Act 1948 referred to Citizenship Election Officer of Buthitaung of Judicial Department dated on 31st December, 1949, No. C.4A. In the speech of Prime Minister U Nu made on 25th September 1954 addressed the Union Nationals, Rohingya race residing at Buthi Daung, Maung Daw region was Muslim. According to decision of the cabinet, a Rohingya broadcasting programme had been performed three times per week as Nationalities programme with effect from May 15, 1961. Such facts were described in page (71),Myanma Radio book for (30)years published by Department of Information and Broadcasting. One behalf of Government, Deputy Chief of Defense commander (Army) described on November15, 1961 that Mayyu district was adjacent to frontier of Pakistan in the west so that there were Muslims in Eastern side and Western side of State. The people residing at Western side were called Pakistanis and the people residing at Eastern side with Union of Burma were called Rohingyas.

In pages 89 and 90, vol:(9) of Myanmar Encyclopedia published in 1964 described about Mayyu frontier Area was declared by Government on 30th May, 1961 and it had population of (4) Lakhs to nearly(5) Lakhs ,75% were Rohingyas. Mayyu frontier Area was handover to Ministry of Home affair from Frontier Area Administrative on 1st February 1964 kept under Sittwe district Administrative system.

Some words which are accurately similar to the Rohingya language from the book Asiatic Researches volume the fifth by Dr.Francis Buchanan that was published in 1799:

English	Rooinga	Rossawn	Banga
Sun	Bel	*Sooja	Bayllee
Moon	Sawn	Sundfa	Satkan
Stars	Tara	*Nokyoto	* Tara
Earth	Kool	Murtika	*Matee

The current spoken language of the oldest native people of Arakan or Rohingya people in 2013:

English	Rooinga/Rohingya	Bengalee	Rakhine
Sun	Bel	chuzzo	Nay
Moon	Sawn	Sawndro	La’
Star	Tara	Nokkotoro	Krey
Earth	Kool	Matee	Mray

The linguistic difference between Bengalee and Rohingya is like the distance between sky and land:

English	Bengalee	Rohingya
Struggle	Shonggram	Juddojihath
Pond	pukur	Fooi’r
Coconut	Narkael	Najjol
Guava	Paeyara	Gawyawm
World	Bu’bon	Duniyai

The language of the stone inscription of Ananda Chandra which was written by Nagri literature at the end of 8th century is exactly similar to neither the intruder Burman nor their settler Rakhine, except, the Rohingya language by 70 percent.

“The Anand Chandra Inscription, which contains 65 verses (71 and a half lines) and now sited at the Shitthaung pagoda, provides some information about these early rulers.

Is there any witness or evidence of the official language of any state declared with either alien language or the mother tongue of the majority of that state? Yes, it is only with mother tongue of the oldest native people of that state. I.e. in Malaysia, the official language is either Burmese or Bahasa Melayu: Bahasa Melayu, in USA, is it either US English or Chinese: US English, in Middle East, is it Arabic or Urdu: Arabic.

Undoubtedly, we find here the foremost indigenous people of Arakan is only the Rohingya due to the official language of Chandra dynasty is similar to only Rohingya by 70 percent according to the stone inscription of Ananda Chandra written at the end of 8th century.

Genealogically Rohingya are Indo-Aryan descendants who converted into Islam in 8th century A.D.

Genetically, they are mixed blood of Arab (788 A.D – 801 A.D) plus Persian (700 AD -1500 A.D) plus Bangali (1400 AD – 1736 AD) plus mogul in 16th century AD. They are in South Asian appearance in contrast to Southeast Asian.

A logical debate : who will know exactly the situation of a family either its members or a guest? The answer is simple, its family member. Similarly, how Derek Tonkin, a stranger for Arakan territory, can express about the ethnic background of its native inhabitants, Rohingya?

We might ask whether the Arakan Muslims of yesteryear in Akyab were indeed the descendants of the original Muslim residents of Arakan. This seems very likely. But where are they today, after the vicious sectarian fighting which followed the Japanese invasion in 1942, the disruptions of the Second World War, the Jihadist Uprising which lasted from 1948 to 1961 and the massive exodus to Bangladesh first in 1978 and then in 1991, and eventual repatriation? Are there any Muslim residents who can today provide historical documentation and assert, in the style of President Kennedy: “Ich bin ein Arakaner”?

According to above paragraph by Derek Tonkin, I think he wrote it blindly for his humanity-eyes have been transformed into racist-eyes. Dictator Ne Win conducted a major operation known as King Dragon Operation (Naga Min Si’Sin Yey in Burmese) in 1977-1978 and expelled all the Begalees, who were settled by British, including Rohingya -mixed blood of Bengalees.

Many Rohingya men and women with children fled to Bangladesh in fear of arrest as they married Bengalees. Afterwards, they never return to Burma since Burmese brutal rulers mistreat people of Burma while democratic rulers practise democracy in Bangladesh. Since then, there was not left any Bengalee inside Arakan.

Naturally, any kinds of liquid discharge from upper place to lower place. Similarly, human beings prefer to live in peaceful and convenient places rather than catastrophic and inconvenient places.

Questions to Derek Tonkin on “The Rohingya Identity”, dear distinguished former British diplomat to Thailand (1989-1989) Derek Tonkin,

1. Do you ever ponder and judge over your inner-self that how do the people of Bangladesh who experience Democracy with great joy will migrate into Burma while people from Burma flee into its neighboring countries—Bangladesh, India, Thailand and China— to escape the systematic discrimination and persecution of Hilterite Burmese militaristic rulers?
2. Do you know that how long the innocent Rohingya people have to struggle to restore their deprived rights for such a minute, unauthentic and illogical commentary— (The ‘Rohingya’ Identity – The British Experience in Arakan 1826-1948) ?

Derek Tonkin knowingly omitted the influx of Chinese into central Burma Mandalay where the native Mandalians have to flee. Derek Tonkin never expressed how and why the new arrivals Chinese can hold Burmese Citizenship card. Similarly, Derek Tonkin seems to be blind on this matter that many Bangaldeshi Rakhines (Anokka Mogh) penetrate into Burma and bear Burmese Citizenship Card.

There is a genocidal motto at every immigration office in Arakan that reads “Mye myo ywey lumyo ma pyok, lumyo ma’lumyopyouk mi” its nigh translation in English “a Race can’t be swallowed by Earth but by another Race.

Rohingya people are being segregated from Rakhine Buddhists at Aungminglar quarter in Sittwe. The segregated Rohingya are kept in internally displaced people (IDP) camps. According to the 6 out of 8 stages of Genocide Watch, the segregation is to be called Rohingya genocide.

Accordingly, the ongoing endemic discrimination and persecution against Rohingya is genocide. I think there is no one to interpret the above motto alternatively to protect the racists.

I think Derek Tonkin mistakenly or irresponsibly wrote his racist commentary— (The‘Rohingya’ Identity – The British Experience in Arakan1826-1948) which acknowledged itself that its writer prefers to racism or genocide.

*The writer is the chief editor of Burma Times and a student of comparative religion based on esoteric thoughts. He can be reached at @ibrmshah