Although Rakhines (Maghs) carry malicious sentiments against Rohingyas
dating back to the time Indian Prince Shah Shujah as it is mentioned
(here[1]),
it can be said that the anti-Rohingya propaganda that led to current
genocide has become obvious after a report of BBC reporter Anna Jones in
2010. She mentioned in her reports that Rohingyas are one of those
minorities in Burma that has the possibility of extinction. Although she
never mentioned Rohingyas as ethnic people or citizens of Burma, her
report was made a mountain out of molehill by racists and
self-interested groups in Burma. Yet, anti-Rohingya movement was not in
full swing until November 2011. Exactly after one year of the report,
anti-Rohingya movement started home and abroad. Different campaigns had
been held demanding BBC to issue an apology for mentioning Rohingya as a
minority in Burma. BBC said they had nothing to apologize since they
were on the right path.
However, led by Rakhine (Magh) extremist leaders and backed by the
Burmese regime, the domestic media in Burma started to portray Rohingyas
as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and a threat to both sovereignty
of the nation and the state religion, Buddhism. Due to systematic
isolation of Rohingyas for decades, Rohingyas or the term “Rohingya” was
unknown the rest of the Burmese until 2010. When they did come to know
Rohingyas, it was in the negative light.
The Malevolent Conspiracy: On 28th May 2012, a certain Rakhine
lady called Ma Thida Tway was looted and murdered at an outskirt of a
village called KyaukNimaw, Arakan, by unknown people. The murder could
be either accidental or conspired but Burmese regime and Rakhine
extremists saw it as the perfect opportunity to instigate the violence
against Rohingyas and Kamans in Arakan. As it had been planned, the
Burmese regime and Rakhine extremists blamed three Rohingyas for raping,
looting and killing her. But according to the medical reports, the lady
was not raped but looted and murdered. The medical report was kept in
dark as it was seen inappropriate to their plans of instigating the
violence. Of the three alleged rape criminals, a person called Htet Htet
was not a Rohingya but a Rakhine whose father had converted into
Islam.
Mr. Thein Tin, a Rohingya from KyaukNimaw, who had left the village just
a few days before the alleged rape occurred, said “Htet Htet is a
Rakhine National and Muslim. He was a newly married man at the time of
the case happened. He, together with his other two friends, went to a
nearby Rakhine village to buy coconuts for the traditional party to
be-held for his wife’s post-marriage first visit to her parents’ home.
They returned to their village with coconuts. They didn’t have a clue
about the fact that they were being scapegoated by Rakhine extremists.
On the same day, Ma Thida Tway was murdered and thrown at a place not so
far from the road from KyaukNimaw to Tabbre Chaung (the village of the
murdered woman). A Rakhine elder passing by the road saw a dead body. He
informed the Rakhines in the nearby villages.
So, some Rakhine leaders came to KyaukNimaw and asked Rohingya villagers
who, that day, went out of their village. Rohingyas replied that the
above-mentioned three guys went out of the village not knowing the plot
of Rakhine leaders. So after, without saying anything, Rakhine leaders
went straight to the police station and filed a rape-loot-murder case
against the three young men. The three men did not even see the murdered
woman that day let alone raping and killing her. If I had been the
person (instead of them) to go out of the village that day, I would have
been accused of raping and killing her. Rakhine leaders were just
watching which Rohingya was the first to come out of the village to
accuse them for raping and killing her.” So, according to many analysts
as well, the rape case is nothing but a sheer conspiracy.
Beginning of the Hidden Genocide: Soon after that, the doctored
images of hers went viral on internet and in some domestic media. The
anti-Muslim handouts were spread out Taung Gote Tsp by Rakhine
Extremists Youth Wing. On the other hand, the director of the
president’s office, Bohmuu Zaw Htay, through his Facebook account
started to incite anti-Rohingya/anti-Muslim violence alleging Rohingyas
as illegal invaders and problem creators. As the world knows, on 3rd
June 2012, 10 Muslim pilgrimages, who were neither Rohingyas nor had any
connections with the said rape case, were brutally murdered on their
way from religious efforts in Sandoway of Arakan state by 300 Rakhine
terrorists or (some say) government-hired thugs nearby an immigration
office. Quite disgustingly, Burmese state media spread the news using
derogatory words against Muslims such as Kular (Note: Kular is a
derogatory term for the people of Indian descends in Myanmar and most of
the Muslims in Myanmar happen to be of Indian origin) and took it as a
tool to trigger anti-Rohingya or anti-Muslim hatred among general public
of Burma.
On 8th June 2012 (i.e. on Friday), Rohingyas in Maung Daw planned to
pray for murdered Muslims at the religious centre at Myoma Kayintan and
demonstrate after the prayer. Not only the way of Rohingya congregators
to the religious centre was blocked but also they were brutally quelled
by NaSaKa (Border Security Forces) and Hluntin (Security Forces) at the
downtown of Maung Daw. As the dispersed Rohingyas were running hither
and thither, the stones from Rakhine houses and guest houses started to
rain on them. And some Rakhines were shooting the video of those running
Rohingyas with the video cameras they had set up in advance in order to
portray them as the rioters.
Jamil, a resident of Maung Daw said “Hla Kyaw, a Rakhine extremist and
the owner of the photographing business called “Shay Thou” in Maung Daw,
shut down his shop nearby the Main Mosque in the town prior to the
Friday prayer and started to set up cameras at a road junction and at
the top of the “United Guest House.” (Note: the above mentioned Hla Kyaw
is under detention now for the illegal possessions of the three
grenades.) How did he know in advance that such violence would occur
unless it was plotted? Rakhine extremists surely knew that many
Rohingyas would come for prayer and react on being offended. Rakhines
extremists might have directed the state government (made up of Rakhines
only) how to make a mountain out of the little reactions that would be
coming from Rohingyas. (Perhaps Rohingyas’ biggest mistake was that they
(who are considered illegal invaders by the government) thought they
could demonstrate in a country where even Monks are not allowed to
protest if it is against the state policy)
As I were saying, as pre-planned, the NaSaKa and Security Forces started
shooting at them. At first, one Rohingya was killed and several were
injured. Soon after, the burning of the houses in Maung Daw began. It
was reported that government used Hindus who have similar physical
appearances with Muslim Rohingyas to burn the few Rakhine houses to make
Rakhines torch Rohingyas’ houses in return. (Today, almost burnt houses
are of Rohingyas). There were clashes between Rakhines and Rohingyas
for beginning few hours of the day. From the early evening onward until
today, it has been one-sided attacks against Rohingyas and Kamans led by
Rakhine terrorists, Security Forces, Military, NaSaKas and Police that
amount to the Genocide against them.
M.S. Anwar is an activist and student studying Bachelor of Arts in
Business Studies at Westminster International College, Malaysia
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