BANGLADESH/BURMA
Twice-made refugees
For decades now, the fate of ethnic Rohingya refugees living on the border between Burma and Bangladesh has been subject to the ever-changing political dynamics between the two governments. This Muslim minority, whose population spreads across the Rakhine (Arakan) state of Burma and spills over into Bangladesh, has been bounced about by governments unwilling to acknowledge their rights or citizenship. Now, at last, there seems to be some movement.
Having long faced discrimination in Burma, the 1970s saw a Burmese campaign to expunge the population of these supposed foreigners. At first, this forced about 250,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh, followed by another major influx of a quarter-million in the early 1990s. Today, there are around 30,000 Rohingya languishing in UN-overseen camps in southeastern Bangladesh, unwelcome and poorly provided for.
Engaging the military government on the issue, Dhaka again asked for the repatriation of these refugees during bilateral talks (dealing with trade and maritime issues) in late December. Surprisingly, Naypyidaw junta officials have now promised action on the issue, acknowledging some 9000 Rohingya as Burmese citizens. While this appears to be good news for the Rohingya, the truth is that hardly any of the refugees actually wants to be repatriated, given the extremely harsh treatment that they fear receiving in the home country.