POLI 330N Week 5 Assignment: Current Event – Totalitarian Restrictions or Ethnic Conflict

Name

Chamberlain University

POLI-330: Political Science

Prof. Name

Date

Current Event – Totalitarian Restrictions or Ethnic Conflict

The article titled “Three years later: Rohingya Muslims continue to face persecution and are torn apart from their homes” has been selected for analysis. The objective of this paper is to provide a summary of the article, assess the global significance of the issue, explore the role of external influence, and evaluate the article’s credibility. Myanmar, a country with a long history of persecuting minorities and enduring authoritarian rule, continues to commit crimes against humanity. The nation’s Buddhist-majority population stands in contrast to its minority groups, including Christians and Muslims. Among these, the Rohingyas, a Muslim minority, are considered foreign residents by Myanmar’s government and military.

Summary of the Article

The article addresses both the ethnic conflict and authoritarian governance in Myanmar, emphasizing the impact of international laws, such as Article 21, on the lives of Rohingya refugees. The Rohingya are depicted as one of the most persecuted ethnic groups globally, identified as the largest population of stateless individuals. They lack basic rights and are denied citizenship. In 2017, thousands of Rohingyas fled Myanmar, either by sea or on foot. The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights labeled the violence against them as “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” Myanmar’s government not only stripped them of citizenship but also destroyed their livelihoods (Parthasarathy, 2021).

Following their exodus, the Indian government ordered state-level surveys under the Foreigners Act to provide identity cards and establish refugee camps. However, political complications arose, and the Indian Union Minister asserted that India is not bound by the Refugee Act, signaling an intention to deport illegal immigrants. This sparked multiple Supreme Court cases in which petitioners cited the principle of non-refoulement and constitutional articles, such as Articles 14, 32, and 21, as well as international legal protections like the 1948 Genocide Convention (Parthasarathy, 2021).

POLI 330N Week 5 Assignment: Current Event – Totalitarian Restrictions or Ethnic Conflict

Myanmar’s 1982 Citizenship Law restricted citizenship to those who could prove Burmese ancestry before 1823. Despite having lived in Myanmar for generations, the Rohingyas were classified as foreigners. In 2015, they were disenfranchised from the electoral process, and Muslim and Christian representatives were removed from government positions (Parthasarathy, 2021). The article explains India’s stance that it is not obligated by refugee law, while applicants contested this using international conventions against discrimination.

The author questions how far the Indian Supreme Court can push the government to adhere to international law, especially the principle of non-refoulement, which they argue is embedded in Article 21. The article also highlights the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and increased international attention on the country’s military regime. Rohingyas, even without citizenship, are protected under Article 21 (Parthasarathy, 2021).

Importance of the Issue to the Global Community

The Rohingya crisis has significant implications for neighboring countries, such as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and China, as the refugee issue extends beyond Myanmar’s borders. More than 70,000 Rohingyas have fled, exacerbating tensions in the region. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as Rohingyas lacked resources to sustain themselves (Sikandar, 2021). Additionally, the international community must confront the violent campaigns led by Myanmar’s military generals, such as Than Shwe, which resulted in the deaths of over 24,000 people and the destruction of hundreds of villages. The military coup, led by Min Aung Hlaing, saw the detainment of Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and further escalated concerns about global peace and the use of military force against civilians. The involvement of China’s Pauk-Phaw has also heightened tensions, making this issue a global concern (MadrasCourier, 2021).

External Influence to Address the Issue

International leaders should take immediate steps to provide humanitarian assistance by working with neighboring countries to secure basic human rights and create refugee camps for the Rohingyas, adhering to international refugee and genocide laws (MadrasCourier, 2021). Furthermore, military intervention should be considered to halt Myanmar’s military operations in the Rakhine State, as the genocide bears similarities to the Hutu-Tutsi ethnic conflict in Rwanda (Finn, 2021). Imposing trade sanctions and diplomatic efforts to encourage elections and the establishment of a democratic government are also critical steps in resolving the issue.

The Neutrality of the Article

The article is largely neutral, as the author presents facts and highlights both domestic and international laws through various case studies. While the author expresses concern for the plight of the Rohingyas, advocating for their basic rights does not detract from the objectivity of the analysis. The publication, Live Law, is well-respected for covering legal and international affairs, and the author is a reputable lawyer from Madras with expertise in both domestic and international law, further enhancing the article’s credibility.

References

Finn, T. (2021). ‘It shames us all’: Rwandan genocide survivor says Myanmar persecution a repeat of history. Reuters. Retrieved April 1, 2021, from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-rwanda-genocide-myanmar-idUSKCN1U61U9.

MadrasCourier. (2021). Myanmar’s generals should be tried for crimes against humanity. Madras Courier. Retrieved April 1, 2021, from https://madrascourier.com/opinion/myanmars-generals-should-be-tried-for-crimes-against-humanity/.

Parthasarathy, S. (2021). Article 21 in a time of genocide: the Rohingya case before the supreme court. Live Law. Retrieved April 1, 2021, from https://www.livelaw.in/columns/article-21-genocide-rohingya-case-supreme-court-171896.

POLI 330N Week 5 Assignment: Current Event – Totalitarian Restrictions or Ethnic Conflict

Sikandar, R. (2021). Three years later: Rohingya Muslims continue to face persecution and are torn apart from their homes. The Gateway. Retrieved April 1, 2021, from https://thegatewayonline.ca/2021/04/three-years-later-rohingya-muslims-continue-to-face-persecution-and-are-torn-apart-from-their-homes/.