Address Rohingya's Problems : Need Of The Hour

Ravi Nitesh *

Rohingyas camp at New Delhi

"When the tears came out from his eyes and when his throat became choked, I just saw the smile on the face of his daughter who were unknown to feelings of his father because she was new to this cruel world while I know that very soon she will be familiar to all these tears and will loose her smile just because she will be able to understand that there are man made boundaries in this world, human identified with castes and religions and desires and freedom always comes under government policies. " Recently, when the world was looking (and was happy) on the progress of democratic powers in Myanmar (a country that bridge south asia and southeastasia), New Delhi witnessed hundreds of people who gathered at one place and called themselves Rohingya.

Some of the members of our organization along with other human rights activists and organizations visited them. We saw that how they were ready to stay in difficult condition at New Delhi only with a hope for a better and safe future.

Rohingyas camp at New Delhi

We came to know that these people belong to Rohingya muslims community of Myanmar. They told us that they migrated from Myanmar time to time through Bangladesh to India. The reason was obvious, security and happiness. They also went to some other countries as well and many of their community members are living in Bangladesh and Thailand too.

They narrated horrible stories of their days in Myanmar, they narrated their dangerous decision of migration and how it happened, they narrated about problems they faced during this whole journey of migration and they narrated that how they escaped themselves from eyes of security personals at borders.

Rohingyas talking with delegation members

About their days in Myanmar and the reasons of their migration, they described that they were not allowed to marry freely, government want to prevent their population growth, they were denied to citizenship and were not allowed to move freely at all places. They were continuously facing threats from government supported agencies and the majority communities. They described us about how due to various mistakes of all sides, violence happened many times.

Infact, these muslim community had not received the self respect, security and dignity and they started migrating from their place. Now, in India, they reached as an illegal immigrant and went to various Indian states. They are living here since many years. They work as a labor, worker, vegetable seller etc. and thus consists low income grade.

At the time when Maynmar started taking shape of democratic reforms, they gathered here to showcase their condition and to bring focus to their problems. Though, India, as a country provided them temporary stay in this country but they still didn’t received any citizenship, neither they granted refugee status. Here with our delegation visit, (that includes members of Mission Bhartiyam, NCHRO and Khudai Khidmatgar), we felt that religion should not be a tool of discrimination instead religion should get respect by the government of all type and at all places. People who went to visit these migrated Rohingyas , were not visited with any religious tag, instead they all went there just for a cause of humanity and many people came in support for their security and better living. They also provided some sort of economical help and groceries.

A scene of camp that received support of local people

We were shocked to see the children who were denied to basic education in this 21st century world, we were unhappy to see that religious human can become so rude that it can act with cruelty on God's creation (upon the human), we became serious to know that political forces are so mean that they only want to ensure their continuity in higher side and we also believe that probably men in uniforms cannot succeed in politics with the motive of development with happiness until they will start believing in non violence, politeness, democratic values and humanity.

Recent violence in Myanmar , once again put focus on the ethnic violence there and an urgent need to settle the dispute. It is the time, when Myanmar government should take initiative to protect the interest of its people by providing additional benefits and opportunity to its minorities Rohingya Muslims. Government should also start providing facilities to encourage communication among various communities. In addition to government, these are the people who can take the challenge in their hands; the challenge to start looking everyone just as a human being, the challenge to start arrangements for foresided development of all communities, the challenge to start loving each other, the challenge to live peacefully.

In spite of the militarized environment, we should believe that people’s wish can take breath there. If it all will happen and the safe environment can be built there for all, then Rohingyas may return to their parent country and by this way Myanmar have every capability that may present an example to this world.

(Based on experience during delegation visit to Rohingyas camp at New Delhi. Delegation includes members Sulabh Srivastava from Mission Bhartiyam, Md. Tanveer from NCHRO & Maulana Fateh Nadvi from Khudai Khidmatgar)