Tags: globlisation, Media, Rohingya, Buddhist, Dr. Tint Swe, burma, Ethnic violence, Islamic fundamentalists, Bhaskar Mitra, General Aung San, British, Muslims
In this age of globlisation, media has a very important role to play in terms of decimation of information. Its responsibility increases many folds when it comes to covering conflicts. Unfortunately, during the Rohingya-Buddhist conflict, the media seems to have failed to fulfill its responsibilities. This was pointed out by Dr Tint Swe during a discussion at the Indian International Centre."Ethnic violence in Burma is a result of external pressure. Unfortunately, media has not reduced the tensions. Rather it has polarised communities," said Swe, Former MP (NLD), Chairman, Burma Centre.
Swe was quick to point out that if things were not brought under control at the earliest, the situation could take a turn for the worse.
"Islamic fundamentalists who are fighting a last ditch battle for their survival in Bangladesh may find a safe heaven in Burma. The next battle is for a piece of land in Burma,"said Swe.
No country in this world likes any interference of any kind in its internal matters. Making matters worse the international community is trying its best to influence the situation in Burma.
"Foreign countries are asking us to amend the citizenship act in Burma, but can they do the same in any other country," questioned Swe.
During the discussion, Bhaskar Mitra pointed out that like many other problems in the world, the Burmese problem too was a legacy of the British.
"During British rule in Burma, waves and waves of migration took place. In twenty years, population jumped by 300 per cent till 1942, " said Bhaskar Mitra, Former Ambassador to Burma, IFS (Retd).
"During World War II, when the Japanese invaded Burma, General Aung San sided with Japan. At that time it was the British who armed Rohingya Muslims and promised them their own land. It was then that the real problem started," he added.
It is true that the ethnic problem in Burma is a legacy of the British, but the ruling Government is equally to be blamed for the current ethnic crisis.
"The Burmese Government does not accept that there is any such group as the Rohingya. Not only this, the Burmese Government has failed to put forward its views on the problem. This is the reason why the conflict has gone from bad to worse," said Mitra.
Interestingly, very few people know that when the partition of India was on the cards, Rohingya Muslims had met Jinnah in a last ditch effort to secede from Burma.
"In 1946, Rohingya Muslims had approached Jinnah to help them carve a portion out of Burma which would later join Bangladesh, but the meeting was fruitless," said Mitra.
Today Burma is burning because of ethnic violence, but at one point of time, it was these ethnic groups that had stood together in solidarity against the military rule in Burma.
"During a student protest in 2008 when some Burmese monks had died a fatwa was passed against the Army and within hours, the Army was on its knees, " said Mitra.
The crisis in Burma is not completely ethnic according to Mitra. He pointed out that one side is looking at the present crises as religious problem and is taking the help of organisations like the Jamaat which are based in Bangladesh, whereas the other side is taking it as a law and order problem.
"The Buddhist monks are aware and watching the situation. Had they come down, there would have been a complete bloodbath in Burma," said Mitra.
Supporting Mitra's point of view, Swe said, " It is a complex problem and it will take time. The solution to this problem depends on external factors. There are two types of Muslims living in Burma, the ones who are Burmese Muslims and the other being outsiders. We do not have a problem with Burmese Muslims, but we have a problem with those coming from other countries and militants."
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