The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Abu Tahay, is a Rohingya Politician with the Chairman of Union Nationals Development Party in Myanmar. (Photo: Vitri Angreni) B y Vitri Angreni October  06, 2014 Myanmar's national government has reportedly drafted a plan that will give members of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority a choice: accept ethnic reclassification as ‘Bengalis and the prospect of citizenship, or be detained. Many Rohingya lost documents in the widespread violence, or have previously refused to register as "Bengalis" because they say the term implies they are illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh. Most of Myanmar's 1.1 million Rohingya already live in apartheid-like conditions in western Rakhine after deadly clashes with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in 2012. Abu Tahay, is a Rohingya Politician with the Chairman of Union Nationals Development Party in Myanmar. He is visiting Jakarta and explained to Vitri Angreni why they reject the plan. Here is a transc

The quasi-military government of Myanmar seems determined to isolate the Rohingya Muslims, numbering about 1.1 million, living in the western Rahkine state. Its Rakhine State Action plan aims to ostracise these hapless people and convert them into the dregs of Myanmar society.  Under the plan, the Rohingyas must identify themselves as Bengali – a term, which implies they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and most reject it – in order to possibly receive citizenship. Yet another problem is that many Rohingyas do not have the necessary papers to prove they have lived in Myanmar for a long time. Some lost them during the 2012 violence.  All this would mean that thousands will be forced into what is being termed by authorities as “temporary camps.” Of course, the Rakhine State Action Plan has been sugar-coated by the government which said the projects aimed at “reconciliation, economic development, and providing accommodation” for those who remain displaced by the 2012