Southeast Asia fears US neglect, ostracised Muslims and resurgent extremists as Israel-Gaza war rages on

Institute of stragetc & Ineternational Studies
Thomas Daniel,
By Maria Siow and Amy Sood
- 23 October 2023 Related:
Israel, Malaysia, Middle East, Palestine, Southeast Asia

 

• Analysts warn of a spike in Hamas-inspired radicalisation and plummeting interfaith relations as the Middle Eastern conflict continues to escalate
• Washington’s attention, meanwhile, looks set to remain elsewhere due to a fundamental ‘shift of focus’ – unless China ‘does something really drastic’

 

As the civilian death toll from the bloodiest Israel-Gaza conflict in decades climbs ever higher, analysts warn that Asia must be on guard against deep divisions over the war tearing at the region’s social fabric – and the consequences of an increasingly distracted United States turning the bulk of its attention elsewhere.

SAV Explainer: International Law Has Failed to Protect the Rohingya Refugees

South Asian Voice
Written by Himel Rahman
October 10, 2023

On 25 August 2023, 1.3 million Rohingya refugees residing in southeastern Bangladesh observed ‘Genocide Day.’ This marked the 6th anniversary of their mass expulsion from northern Rakhine by the Tatmadaw, the Myanmar Armed Forces. The Rohingyas are one of the most persecuted ethnic minority groups in the world and the international community has so far failed to uphold their rights, allowing flagrant violations of international law.

Pakistan, Myanmar In US “Religious Freedom Violators” List

Newsnext

Newsnext Bangladesh
by our correspondent in Dhaka
December 9, 2020

Pakistan and Myanmar are among those listed for “religious freedom violators,” while neighbouring India’s status has been downgraded.

On Pakistan, it noted the condition has deteriorated with blasphemy and anti-Ahmedia laws have forced minority faiths to convert to Islam.

“The systematic enforcement of blasphemy and anti-Ahmadia laws, and authorities’ failure to address forced conversions of religious minorities — including Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs — to Islam, severely restricted freedom of religion or belief,” added the 2020 report noting that religious freedom conditions across Pakistan had continued to trend negatively.

Myanmar finds China-Pakistan nexus in arms supply to rebel group: Report

moneycontrol

Jul 18, 2020

Moneycontrol News @moneycontrolcom

 
The Arakan Army (AA), an insurgent group in the Rakhine state, reportedly placed an order for Chinese-made weapons. 

 

 

Myanmar has discovered a China-Pakistan nexus in the arms supply to two rebel groups in Rakhine after arrests by Thai authorities.

The groups allegedly targeted Indian infrastructure such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, and are fuelling terror in Myanmar and Bangladesh, The Economic Times reported.

The Arakan Army (AA), an insurgent group in the Rakhine state, placed an order for Chinese-made weapons, a source told the publication.

Why Pakistan must build the Shri Krishna Mandir in Islamabad

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE
Umair Zafar Malik
July 10, 2020

A view of a Hidnu temple pictured in Mithi. PHOTO: AFP 

It is a cruel irony that minorities in Pakistan face the kind of discrimination that Pakistan was created to abolish 

  

The recent fiasco surrounding the construction of Shri Krishna Mandir in Islamabad has once again highlighted the fault lines that have hamstrung Pakistan for decades. What was expected to be a symbol of religious tolerance and pluralism, has quickly turned into an ugly display of bigotry and narrow-mindedness. The current government, in its first two years in the office, had demonstrated an inclination to right the historical wrongs committed against Pakistan’s religious minorities.

Mushahid announces parliamentary forum on Palestine, Kashmir & Rohingya

International 
THE NEWS
June 29, 2019

Islamabad: Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has said that the unholy Indo-Israeli alliance has put regional and global peace at stake and this anti-Muslim nexus has crossed all the limits and norms of a civilised society by brutally violating human rights and suppressing the voices for freedom in Indian occupied Kashmir and Israeli Occupied Palestine, says a press release.

UN to raise BD issue at world forum.

INTERNATIONAL

                        THE NEWS

Tue Mar 26, 2019

DHAKA: The UN will raise the issue of Bangladesh incidents of 1971 in the international forum, visiting UN Under Secretary General Adama Dieng has said. The UN official announced this in a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office on Monday. After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters. The press secretary said the PM and the UN under secretary general discussed the Rohingya issue. He said Adama Dieng described the Myanmar’s atrocities on the Rohingyas as a genocide and renewed the UN’s strong support to Bangladesh on the issue.

SOURCE:

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/448756/UN to raise BD issue at world forum.

Six Rohingyas nabbed along Indo-Nepal border, after this happened

CIPPER28

February 10, 2019

In a major development, as many as six Rohingyas were arrested on Saturday by the Border Interaction Team.
The arrest came about at Panitanki along the Indo-Nepal border.
Sources said that the arrest took place as they were trying to cross over into Nepal from India.
The six arrested persons, including a woman, were handed over to Khoribari Police station.
It was said that at least two persons were sent to a correctional home while the other four were sent to police custody.

They were produced before the Siliguri Court

Source : https://www.clipper28.com/en/six-rohingyas-nabbed-along-indo-nepal-border-after-this-happened/

Myanmar’s 71st independence observed.

Sun Jan 13, 2019

Islamabad: To celebrate the 71st anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Ambassador U Win Myint and his spouse hosted a reception at the Marquee Hall of the Marriott Hotel which was attended by diplomats; defence officers of the Diplomatic Defence Corps; Pakistani officials and business persons. The guest of honour was Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan and the cake was cut after the national anthems and speeches were over. Video of the cultural and historical sites of Myanmar was screened throughout the evening.

( 20.11.2016 ) False news suspect held in Rakhine

Submitted by Eleven on Sat, 11/19/2016 - 17:05

The information committee for State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi's office has announced that a Buthidaung Township resident was arrested for sending allegedly "false information" about Rakhine State to a Rohingya Muslim group on Viber, an online messaging application.