What Is Keeping India on the Wrong Side of History With Myanmar?

THE WIRE
11 April 2021

India’s recent track record does not inspire confidence that democratic or humanitarian considerations will outweigh MEA’s perception of geo-strategic rationale and increasingly independent business interests.

Demonstrators are seen before a clash with security forces in Taze, Sagaing Region, Myanmar April 7, 2021, in this image obtained by Reuters. Photo obtained by Reuters

Why is India so defiantly indifferent to shaming to the point of attempting to deport a Rohingya girl child back to a Myanmar convulsed by violent turbulence?

And to compound that, the Supreme Court has legitimated Centre’s contentious directive of deporting the Rohingya refugees, holding inapplicable the legal principle of non-refoulement and turning its back on the genocide like situation in Myanmar.

What geo-economic and strategic compulsions are aligning democratic India on the wrong side of history with brutally repressive military dictators in Myanmar?

China, Russia undermine international Myanmar response, EU's top diplomat says

REUTERS

By Kate Abnett
APRIL 11, 2021

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union’s top diplomat said on Sunday Russia and China were hampering a united international response to Myanmar’s military coup and that the EU could offer more economic incentives if democracy returns to the country.

“It comes as no surprise that Russia and China are blocking the attempts of the U.N. Security Council, for example to impose an arms embargo,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a blog post.

“Geopolitical competition in Myanmar will make it very difficult to find common ground,” said Borrell, who speaks on behalf of the 27 EU member states. “But we have a duty to try.”

Security forces have killed more than 700 unarmed protesters, including 46 children, since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a Feb. 1 coup, according to a tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group.

Concern Worldwide Evaluation Report: Rohingya Emergency Response (2017 - 2020) - October 2020

Source-Concern

10 Apr 2021

Link : Here

Rohingya issue not Bangladesh’s responsibility alone: Kerry

Prothomalo

Diplomatic CorrespondentDhaka
09 Apr 2021,

John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate speaks at a joint briefing in the state guest house Padma after meeting with the foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on FridayCourtesy

Applauding Bangladesh for its extraordinary support for hosting 1.1 million Rohingya in the country, John Kerry, the United States’ Special Presidential Envoy for Climate on Friday said that the global community must step up its efforts in resolving the Rohingya crisis as it is not the responsibility of Bangladesh alone.

He came up with the views at a joint briefing in the state guest house Padma after meeting with the foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Friday.

He said the US president Joe Biden is grateful for the support of Bangladesh towards the Rohingya people.

Myanmar’s military junta uses explosives against protesters

LA PRENSA

LATINA MEDIA
April 9, 2021

Bangkok, Apr 9 (EFE).- Myanmar’s security forces on Friday launched explosive devices against anti-coup protesters in the city of Bago, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Yangon, amid continued condemnation by the international community against the repression.

A resident told online news portal Myanmar Now that, since early morning, the security forces have been firing with heavy weapons at a group of protesters after at least two people died in the city the previous day as a result of repression by the authorities.

The news website also published a series of photographs showing a projectile, which could be a piece of mortar.

‘Supreme Court has signed our death warrant’: Rohingya in India

Aljazeera
Aakash Hassan
9 Apr 2021

Supreme Court refuses to stop deportation of about 170 Rohingya detained in the Indian-administered Kashmir region’s Jammu area last month.

India's Supreme Court also underlined government’s claim that Rohingya posed a 'threat to internal security of the country' [File: Altaf Qadri/AP]

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir – India’s Supreme Court has refused to stop the deportation to Myanmar of about 170 Rohingya refugees detained in the Indian-administered Kashmir region’s Jammu area, with the members of the beleaguered community calling it a “death warrant” issued by the court.

“Possibly that is the fear that if they go back to Myanmar, they will be slaughtered. But we cannot control all that,” the top court said on Thursday, stating that the fundamental right to settle in India is available only to its citizens.

The Arakan Dream: The Search for Peace in Myanmar’s Rakhine State on the Verge of Civil War

TERRORISM MONITOR
Jack Broome
April 9, 2021

  Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 19 Issue: 7

On March 23, the Arakan Army (AA)—an ethnic armed organization (EAO) based largely in Myanmar’s Rakhine State—finally released a statement condemning the military’s seizure of power in the February 1 coup. AA spokesperson, Khine Thu Kha, said that the AA was “together…with the people” and would “continue to go forward for the oppressed Rakhine people” (Dhaka Star, March 23).

Up until this point, the AA had held back from issuing any kind of response to the coup, despite an increasing number of EAOs having already declared their support for the civil disobedience movement (CDM). Some groups, such as the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which is one of the AA’s alliance partners, have even begun to carry out attacks against the military in retaliation (Kachin News, March 12). Similarly, when the State Administrative Council (SAC), Myanmar’s new military government, announced on March 10 that it had removed the AA from the list of terrorist organizations, the rebel group made no formal acknowledgement of the move (The Irrawaddy, March 11).

Treasury Sanctions Key Gems Enterprise in Burma

U.S. Embassy in Burma

By U.S. Mission Burma
April 8, 2021

News, Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Myanma Gems Enterprise (MGE), a Burmese state-owned entity that is responsible for all gemstone activities in Burma. Gemstones are a key economic resource for the Burmese military regime that is violently repressing pro-democracy protests in the country and that is responsible for the ongoing lethal attacks against the people of Burma, including the killing of children. These sanctions are not directed at the people of Burma.

“Today’s action highlights Treasury’s commitment to denying the Burmese military sources of funding, including from key state-owned enterprises throughout Burma,” said Andrea Gacki, Director of the Office of the Foreign Assets Control. “The United States will continue to work tirelessly, including with partners throughout the region and the world, to support the restoration of democracy and rule of law in Burma and to bring accountability to those who seek to undermine these values.”

Security Council Arria formula meeting on Myanmar

UN Web TV
9 Apr 2021 -

On 1 February, Myanmar’s military launched a coup that halted abruptly the country’s democratic transition. The military prevented the convening of the democratically elected parliament and arbitrarily detained the country’s civilian leaders, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. The reaction of the people of Myanmar has been resolute – hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters have taken to the streets to demand that the outcome of November’s election is respected and to call for the reversal of the coup. 

US focuses on Myanmar issues, lauds Bangladesh's extraordinary generosity for Rohingyas

Dhaka Tribune 

UNB
April 9th, 2021

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to be recognized for Bangladesh's leadership in tackling climate crisis

The US remains very focused on helping all concerned in finding a solution to the Rohingya crisis and restoring democracy in Myanmar, John Kerry, the US special presidential envoy for climate, said on Friday.

He appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership in demonstrating "extraordinary active generosity" which, he thinks, is very expensive for Bangladesh.

Kerry made the remarks while responding to a question at a joint briefing at state guesthouse Padma after his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen in Dhaka.

He said the global community needed to step up in demonstrating their responsibility.

US Special Envoy: Restoring Democracy in Myanmar Will Ease Bangladesh's Rohingya Burden

Radio Free Asia

2021-04-09

US presidential climate envoy John Kerry (left) speaks during a press conference with Bangladesh foreign minister A.K. Abdul Momen in Dhaka, Apri 9, 2021

Updated at 3:25 p.m. ET on 2021-04-09

Democracy must be restored in Myanmar to ease the Rohingya refugee burden on Bangladesh, U.S. special envoy John Kerry said Friday during a lightning visit to the South Asian nation to drum up support for a Washington-hosted climate summit.

The American diplomat heaped praise on Bangladesh for its “extraordinary” generosity in sheltering the refugees from Myanmar, and even mentioned Dhaka’s controversial decision to relocate thousands to a flood-prone island.

He called the current situation in Myanmar “one of the great moral challenges of the planet today,” in referring to a coup and deadly violence against civilians by the same military that caused hundreds of thousands of traumatized Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh in 2017.

EU scales up aid for Rohingya fire victims

FINANCIAL EXPRESS

FE Online Desk

Published: April 08, 2021

The European Union is providing €150,000 (close to BDT 15 million) to step up its support for Rohingya refugees affected by the massive fire that swept through refugee camps in the Bangladeshi southern district of Cox’s Bazar in March this year.

This follows the initial assistance of €500,000 announced last week as an immediate response to the blaze.

“The fire has caused many Rohingya refugees, who have lived in displacement in camps over the past three years, to yet again lose almost everything,” said Daniela D'Urso who oversees the EU’s humanitarian response in Bangladesh.

Burmese opposition figure Dr Sasa: 'The world has to stop another genocide'

FRANCH 24   

Marc Perelman
08/04/2021

THE INTERVIEW © FRANCE 24

Exiled Burmese opposition figure Dr Sasa is the UN envoy for Myanmar's CRPH, a committee representing the parliament that was elected in November but which has not been able to take office because of the military coup. Dr Sasa called on the international community – Russia and China included – to stop the junta's military crackdown on Myanmar's people. He called on world leaders to act now to prevent the civil unrest from turning into a "genocide" that might soon send refugees into neighbouring countries.

Link : Here

Rohingya Camp Fire Eyewitness Account: 11 Deaths, 300 Missing

Doctors

Worldwide

April 8, 2021

On the 21st March, our Doctors Worldwide team was in the Camp 9 Clinic in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, visiting IOM colleagues to discuss our emergency care project. Less than 24 hours later, on the 22nd March, the entire structure and surrounding area had been destroyed by a devastating fire.

Below, Georgia Venner (DWW Project Manager) reflects on her experience witnessing the aftermath of the fire, and considers the impact of the event for the Rohingya communities:

The Rohingya Camp Fire: “just call if you start sending anyone, we are ready.”

CNN team confronts Myanmar’s military on deadly coup

CNN
April 8th, 2021

In an exclusive report from Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward, CNN shows a new look at life inside Myanmar’s coup and confronts the military junta about the violent suppression of protests taking place in the country.

CNN was the first international media organisation permitted to enter the Southeast Asian nation since the military unseated the civilian government in a coup on February 1. Since then, the military has waged a brutal clampdown on pro-democracy protesters, which has led to more than 500 deaths.

Ward confronted Major General Zaw Min Tun, a senior member of the military junta, about the intensifying violence taking place against civilians and peaceful protesters.

Revolutions Are Built on Hope. That's Why I Believe Myanmar's Protesters Will Succeed

TIME
MIMI AYE
APRIL 8, 2021-

 

S

omething I rarely talk about is that to be Burmese is to be afraid. It’s a low-level, visceral feeling most of the time, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. Because all the worst things you can imagine that could happen to you or your loved ones have happened, to you or to people you know, because of the Tatmadaw, as Myanmar’s military is known. There’s a reason Aung San Suu Kyi’s most famous book was called Freedom from Fear.

I grew up in the U.K., but my second home was in Myanmar, where my family remains. In a country ruled by dictators since 1962, I witnessed decades of gaslighting and fear piped into people’s minds and homes, from our newspapers to our TV to the billboards around town with bilingual slogans like “The Tatmadaw is your Mother and Father,” “The Tatmadaw and the People in Eternal Unity—Anyone Attempting to Divide Them is Our Enemy.”

Seeking Refuge in India a Crime? The Rohingya Crimmigration Story

the quint

KARAN TRIPATHI
Published: 08 Apr 2021, 

India’s crimmigration policy dehumanises Rohingyas as security threats, subjecting them to detention & deportation.

Sound sleep has become folklore for Minra Begum. For the past two months, she just can’t put her running thoughts to rest, and rest her head without fear. She doesn’t want to lose sight of her three children, two girls and one boy, as they sleep quietly lying next to her. A moment of slumber, just a blink, she believes, might separate her from her children forever.

Minra Begum is haunted by the fate of her aunt Husseina, an 85-year old partially blind woman, who was picked up by the police on 21 January 2021. As Husseina was escorted to a police van by three officers, all men, the plea of her 26-year-old son fell on deaf ears. Minra was aware of her aunt’s destination; after all, that’s where they took her father 11 years ago. But, she still asked, with a quivering voice, “why are you taking her, she’s so old, she has a family... where are you taking her.”

Video: SC on Rohingya, SC on Anil Deshmukh’s plea

INDIA

LEGAL

April 8, 2021

Supreme Court refuses to release Rohingyas detained in Jammu, says they should be deported to Myanmar

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US sanctions on Myanmar gems target key junta funding source

AP

ELAINE KURTENBACH
09 April 2021

FILE - In this May 25, 2012, file photo, a worker carves jade from Myanmar at a jade processing factory in Ruili, near Myanmar border, Yunnan Province, China. U.S. sanctions on Myanmar Gems Enterprise target an army-controlled gems business rife with corruption and abuses that is one of the junta’s key sources of revenue. The sanctions announced Thursday, April 8, 2021, freeze any assets the firm holds in the U.S. or in U.S. jurisdictions and bar American citizens from doing business with it. The company is a major exporter of gems and semi-precious stones like jade, which bring in significant amounts of revenue to government coffers. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Myanmar Is on the Precipice of Civil War

FT
BY LUCAS MYERS
APRIL 8, 2021,

Existing conflicts with ethnic groups add fuel to the fire.

Protesters hold homemade weapons during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon's Tamwe township in Myanmar on April 3. STR/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Since the Feb. 1 military coup, Myanmar has rapidly destabilized into widespread protests and indiscriminate violence. According to the monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least 614 protesters have been killed and 2,857 detained as of April 8. The Tatmadaw, as Myanmar’s military is called, appears unwilling to back down despite growing international pressure.