Tuesday, April 16, 2013 - MUSLIMS all over the world are bearing
the brunt of systematic campaign of religious hatred and discrimination
but the plight of Rohingya community of Myanmar is worst of all as the
United Nations itself is describing them as among the most-persecuted
minorities on the planet. This is happening in the Buddhist dominated
society, which is considered to be torch-bearer of peace and affection
but treacherous silence of the UN and other influential members of the
civilized world to take concrete measures to protect lives, properties
and rights of Muslims of Myanmar is all the more distressing and
shameful.
As reforms are underway in the newest democracy of Asia and people of Myanmar are expecting improvement in their conditions, the Muslim minority of the country feel that they are becoming scapegoats of its reforms process following a wave of religious violence. There is no hope for better for them as President Thein Sein is suggesting relocation of Muslims in distress to other countries, no one knows where, despite the fact that they have been living in Myanmar for generations. This is really disgusting and shows that the country is not willing to accept these people as its citizens and their persecution would continue for an indefinite period. A report recently published by British newspaper The Independent said about 100 Rohingya Muslims died slowly of hunger after spending 25 days at sea on their way to find a new home. Rohingyas are living under a wave of threats, violence, torture and rape. For Rohingya Muslims, who have been deprived of their citizenship rights in the country in which they have lived since birth, there is no right for them to education, healthcare, or employment and are not allowed to own land. They have very few options in the face of violence and intimidation not only by organized criminal gangs and religious zealots but also government agencies including border security guards. It is shocking that instead of pressurizing Myanmar government to take concrete action to protect rights of its religious minority, some of the Western countries have sent trade and economic delegations to Myanmar to conclude commercial deals. This selective approach exposes claims of these countries about human rights concerns. It is really shocking that the West, the OIC and of course, Pakistan, are not taking enough interest to respond to the situation to safeguard life and rights of Rohingyas who are living in virtual siege in many cities of the region like Mungdaw, Min Pya and Mrauk, which may result in famine and mass starvation. When will the conscience of the world wake up?
As reforms are underway in the newest democracy of Asia and people of Myanmar are expecting improvement in their conditions, the Muslim minority of the country feel that they are becoming scapegoats of its reforms process following a wave of religious violence. There is no hope for better for them as President Thein Sein is suggesting relocation of Muslims in distress to other countries, no one knows where, despite the fact that they have been living in Myanmar for generations. This is really disgusting and shows that the country is not willing to accept these people as its citizens and their persecution would continue for an indefinite period. A report recently published by British newspaper The Independent said about 100 Rohingya Muslims died slowly of hunger after spending 25 days at sea on their way to find a new home. Rohingyas are living under a wave of threats, violence, torture and rape. For Rohingya Muslims, who have been deprived of their citizenship rights in the country in which they have lived since birth, there is no right for them to education, healthcare, or employment and are not allowed to own land. They have very few options in the face of violence and intimidation not only by organized criminal gangs and religious zealots but also government agencies including border security guards. It is shocking that instead of pressurizing Myanmar government to take concrete action to protect rights of its religious minority, some of the Western countries have sent trade and economic delegations to Myanmar to conclude commercial deals. This selective approach exposes claims of these countries about human rights concerns. It is really shocking that the West, the OIC and of course, Pakistan, are not taking enough interest to respond to the situation to safeguard life and rights of Rohingyas who are living in virtual siege in many cities of the region like Mungdaw, Min Pya and Mrauk, which may result in famine and mass starvation. When will the conscience of the world wake up?
No comments:
Post a Comment