The Conflict in Western Myanmar

1. The Conflict in
Western Myanmar
MARTY SHANAHAN

2. Current Issues
 Rohingya people not currently recognized by Myanmar Government
 Living in a state of apartheid
 Many are displaced
 Widespread hate from other Burmese
Amnesty International called them ‘the most oppressed people in the world’
in 2015

3. History
 Muslims have lived in Arakan/Rakhine area since 15th century
 Many left after Burma absorbed Arakan
 Many returned from Bangladesh after both were part of British Empire
 More emigrated toward end of 19th century, before/during WWII
 Attempted to form own country after Burmese independence, then wanted
own state
 Some fled after both former requests denied

4. History of the tensions
 When imperial Burma invaded, widespread rape and pillaging to the point
that Arakan area was almost empty
 Relative peace and prosperity during British Imperial rule
 Tensions built when Buddhists were marginalized and oppressed in a way
that Muslims were not, some initial violence
 WWII: British armed the Muslims to fight the Japanese, Muslims used
weapons to attack Buddhists
 Many Buddhists assisted the Japanese as a result

5. Where do we go from here?
Rohingya issues leave Aung San Suu Kyi’s legacy questionable, and the rhetoric
used currently against the Rohingya by prominent religious and political
leaders is shocking.

6. References
 Beaumont, P. (2012, October 27). Burma’s leader admits deadly attacks on Muslims. The Guardian.
Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/27/burma-wave-anti-muslim-violence
 Chan, A. (2005). The Development of a Muslim Enclave in Arakan (Rakhine) state of Burma (Myanmar).
SOAS Bulletin of Burma Research, vol. 3(2). 396-420.
 Leider, Jacques (2013). “Rohingya”, Rakhaing and the Recent Outbreak of Violence – A Note. Retrieved
November 4, 2016, from http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs21/Jacques-P-Leider-2013-Rohingya-
Rakhaing_and_the_Recent_Outbreak_of_Violence-A_Note-en.pdf.
 (2012, July 31). “The Government Could Have Stopped This.” Retrieved October 15, 2016, from
https://www.hrw.org/report/2012/07/31/government-could-have-stopped/sectarian-violence-and-
ensuing-abuses-burmas-arakan.
 (2012, July 25) Burma’s monks call for Muslim community to be shunned. Retrieved October 15, 2016, from
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/burmas-monks-call-for-muslim-community-to-be-
shunned-7973317.html
 (2015, May 28) Dalai Lama presses Aung San Suu Kyi over Rohingya migrants. BBC News. Retrieved from
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32925805
 (2015, October 7). Rohingya most persecuted refugees in the world. Amnesty International. Retrieved from
https://www.amnesty.org.au/rohingya-people-most-persecuted-refugees-in-world/