"What would you do.....?" series

DNA

Given the recent spurt in the number of opinion based questions in UPSC mains, it is imperative to have a multi-dimensional look at various issues and challenges in national and international arena. Pros and cons of various alternatives, and the best possible solution is what is expected in many questions.

Starting this thread to discuss various dimensions of different issues.

Starting off with Myanmar refugee crisis. What according to you should be the solution to this serious humanitarian crisis?

Some international experts have suggested a mix of short-term and long-term approaches. As a short term measure, no country should drive away refugee boats. Adequate arrangements for all basic amenities should be made in every country giving shelter to the refugees. In the long-term, ASEAN should hold discussion for proper rehabilitation and grant of citizenship to the refugees. ASEAN's solidarity should not be limited only to economic affairs(which they boast of), but also to social and humanitarian aspects.

Your valued opinion plz.

Ivan_TheTerrible

Bhai ek hi opinion dunga yaar main to ....

Aapne topic to bahut accha liya hai yaar.....Lekin pata hai , ye sab cheeze tab kaam ki hain , jab Prelims clear ho . ......Is saal prelims clear karna asaan NAHI hai bhai , jaisa ki last 2-3 years mein asaan tha clear karna kai logo ke liye ......You know what I mean ...

Is saal kai Diggaj aur Intelligent log Prelims mein hi khatam ho jaenge bhai .......Isliye pehle prelims ho jaaye bhai , uske baad mere khyaal se is thread ka kuch relevance hoga ....Shayad....

Baaki agar maine kuch bhi galat likha ho to uske liye I am sorry ....

Mooreeze

1. Apt thread. @mods, please dont close this.

2. Rohingya Crisis:

a. Bengalis(Muslims) also known as Rohingyas are from Rakhine state of Myanmar. Stateless citizens now, they migrated to SouthWest Myanmar during British occupation of Myanmar. Later migration took place after Myanmar's independence and also, during Liberation War of Bangladesh.

The majority Burmese refuse to accept the Rohingyas as Burmese nationals, mainly on ethnicity and religious counts. In the recent past, there had been violent confrontations between the two communities with Rohingyas taking a back seat.

b. The transition to democracy in Myanmar is incomplete without taking care of the minorities. Aung San Suu Kyi and her League would do well to transform poll promises of assured citizenship of the Rohingyas into reality. Bangladesh on her part must stop pushing economic migrants to her neighbours, India included. This would ensure that native Bengalis are not equated as part of the unabated influx of economic migrants from Bangladesh to Myanmar.

c. Myanmar and Bangladesh must find out solutions together to these simmering humanitarian crisis instead of forcing helpless citizens to the high seas.

Mooreeze

^The situation is more alarming in India than in Myanmar. Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are already a majority in many districts of NE India. They are the kingmakers in some segments of WB polls too.

While India treats these illegal immigrants as vote banks, Myanmar does the other way as has been highlighted in news bits.

osho_baba

^The situation is more alarming in India than in Myanmar. Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are already a majority in many districts of NE India. They are the kingmakers in some segments of WB polls too.

While India treats these illegal immigrants as vote banks, Myanmar does the other way as has been highlighted in news bits.

starting the answer with assertion that rohingyas are illegal immigrant is a bit incorrect..many have been living in burma since 200 years ....theya re a part of minority communities in myanmar though they may contain some bangladeshi immigrants which may have migrated after 1948 @Mooreeze

Mooreeze

@osho_baba

Point well taken. Yes, Rohingyas have been part of Mynmar for more than a long time to accord them the status of citizen of that country.

What I meant by my second statement was the point of unabated influx by economic migrants, mainly, from Bangladesh towards her neighbours and elsewhere. This exercise obfuscates the already fragile conditions in Rakhine, Myanmar.

GeneralKuribayashi

Illegal or legal is determined by the law of the land. The Burmese govt. does not consider Rohingyas as Rohingya ethnics, instead they label them as bengalis. Thereby excluding them from the definition of Burmese ethinicity,thus they became Illegal immigrants. Burma is a multi ethnic state having various separatist movements and and have been at the lower end of becoming an unstable state. Not only Rohingyas there are various other minority ethnics such as kachin , Shan etc. who has been fighting for independence against the majority Bamar ethnic which constitute around 60% of the Burmese population. There are some autonomous regions devoid of government control within Myanmar. On the other hand, in the case of the Rohingyas, they are relatively weaker and do not have any external support. That is the main reason for their exodus.

osho_baba

Illegal or legal is determined by the law of the land. The Burmese govt. does not consider Rohingyas as Rohingya ethnics, instead they label them as bengalis. Thereby excluding them from the definition of Burmese ethinicity,thus they became Illegal immigrants. Burma is a multi ethnic state having various separatist movements and and have been at the lower end of becoming an unstable state. Not only Rohingyas there are various other minority ethnics such as kachin , Shan etc. who are fighting against the majority Bamar ethnic which constitute around 60% of the Burmese population. There are some autonomous regions devoid of government control within Myanmar. On the other hand, in the case of the Rohingyas, they are relatively weaker and do not have any external support. That is the main reason for their exodus.

there are many countries which do not accept certain citizens as legal based on religios/ethenic preferences of the govt in power..that doesnt mean they are globally acknowledged as illegal immigrants..i m just saying maybe better use of words can be done in answer

GeneralKuribayashi

Illegal or legal is determined by the law of the land. The Burmese govt. does not consider Rohingyas as Rohingya ethnics, instead they label them as bengalis. Thereby excluding them from the definition of Burmese ethinicity,thus they became Illegal immigrants. Burma is a multi ethnic state having various separatist movements and and have been at the lower end of becoming an unstable state. Not only Rohingyas there are various other minority ethnics such as kachin , Shan etc. who are fighting against the majority Bamar ethnic which constitute around 60% of the Burmese population. There are some autonomous regions devoid of government control within Myanmar. On the other hand, in the case of the Rohingyas, they are relatively weaker and do not have any external support. That is the main reason for their exodus.

there are many countries which do not accept certain citizens as legal based on religios/ethenic preferences of the govt in power..that doesnt mean they are globally acknowledged as illegal immigrants..i m just saying maybe better use of words can be done in answer

yes you may be right. However ,citizens based on religion and ethinc preferances cannot be found in a democratic country. But when it comes to non-democratic states, these are the popular criteria to be fulfilled in order to become a citizen of that country.

GeneralKuribayashi

There is other element of Rohingya crisis, that is initial Rohingya separatism. As many of you know Burma was part of India, till 1935 (it was separated through GoI Act, 1935) an elitist band of Rohingya muslims was also involved in All India Muslim League. Later when Pakistan was created, some of those persuaded Jinnah to include Rakhine with East Pakistan, Jinnah, because of distinctiveness of two cultures-Bengali and Rohingya, and also because it was functionally a vague proposal, didn't accept. This separatist activity was taken very seriously by Burmese Nationalist initially and then Military junta also cracked hard on all of Rohingya community (there are many tribal separatist movements in Myanmar at least 10, and they cracked hard on all). Even in Rakhine state, there are ethnic Rakhine people (non-muslims) living in south and Rohingyas living in the north of the province, those ethnic Rakhines don't accept Rohingya as Rahine but bengali.

However, this is about what to do know, rather than nitty-gritty of the Problem.

I haven't thought about it or read some exquisite article on the issue, if someone has, please share.

If we go further into history, Burma was a independent kingdom in ancient history, later fell under mongol invasion and came under Chinese Yuan empire, became a independent kingdom again in 16th century and during early 19th century Burmese armies annexed assam (Ahom) and manipur kindgom. When Britishers won the Anglo- Burmese war, Burma came under the British and along with Burma, Assam and Manipur kingdom came under the British Indian empire.
ps: nothing but an extra dose of history.

DNA

Some interesting historical insights on the issue. Will help in "intro" part of our answers Thank you all!

As an immediate step, UNHCR should station its representative in the region to oversee temporary settlement of refugees.

US, which has considerable clout in the region, should help facilitate a permanent solution. May be a package and technical aid to Myanmar to help settle refugees in the long run.

A lasting solution(already in progress) to ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka may prove to be a role model for Myanmar. India can play an important role.

Violators of human rights should be tried in international court and the offenders brought to book. This will send across a strong message.

Eventually, an atmosphere of trust and confidence has to be developed. Laws and penal actions cannot bring a sustainable solution.