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At least 32 dead in Myanmar as Rohingya insurgents stage major attack

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You misspelled the county's name it's "Burma".

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

There really should be a permanent solution to this tragedy, but sadly, I don't see one coming. The Rohingya are like the Palestinians of SE Asia, and the longer the situation is allowed to fester, the more radicalized many will become.

Just nationalize them already.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Aung San Suu Kyi said in a statement, using the derogatory term "Bengali" to refer to Rohingya.

"Bengali" is certainly not a derogatory term, even if you object to its usage in this case. I'm sure the 160 million Bengalis living in Bangladesh and millions more around the world would agree.

@Laguna

Just nationalize them already.

Which ones? The ones who have been in Burma for over a century but who have no proof of this because they refused to register their children's births, deaths, and marriages with the secular authorities prefering instead to live in a parallel Islamic society? Or the hundreds of thousands who have just come from Bangladesh illegally since the 1970-80s? There are no feasible solutions to this mess.

If I were Rohingya, I would try to encourage my child to integrate into the majority culture and marry an ethnic Burmese husband/wife which would entitle my grandchildren to automatic full citizenship. This is the best solution to slowly integrate the Rohingya into Burmese society over time. Unfortunately they refuse this because as we know, religion poisons everything.

The Rohingya are like the Palestinians of SE Asia

How so? The Rohingya are more comparable to the Israelis in this scenario, occupying someone else's historic homeland. The only point where the Rohingya/Israeli comparison falls apart is that, unlike the Jews in Israel, the Rohingya can't claim an ancient connection with the Rakhine.

Perhaps Britain should clean up the mess they left in Burma? Maybe they could try to find a land without people for a people without a land. I hear they will have a labour shortage after Brexit.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The situation which the Rohingya find themselves in has been ongoing for quite some time now.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38345006

Criticism of Myanmar doesn't seem to make much of a difference and it's hardly surprising these retaliations from insurgents are increasing.

You treat people like animals and what do you expect happens next?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

How so? The Rohingya are more comparable to the Israelis in this scenario, occupying someone else's historic homeland. The only point where the Rohingya/Israeli comparison falls apart is that, unlike the Jews in Israel, the Rohingya can't claim an ancient connection with the Rakhine.

Wow! That's a bit much! Pretty easy to find a few more points where the Rohingya/Israeli comparison 'falls apart' (or quite frankly, looks silly at best): unlike Jewish Israeli (and other Burmese) Rohingyas do not have access to basic health care, education nor legal employment. 

Agree with you though that the term Bengali isn't derogatory as such. Not sure it is correct though as some so called 'Rohingyas' are in fact Rakhine Muslims who have been there for centuries ( 9-10th century?) and have no connection to Bangladesh.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Not sure it is correct though as some so called 'Rohingyas' are in fact Rakhine Muslims who have been there for centuries ( 9-10th century?) and have no connection to Bangladesh.

Yes that's absolutely true goldorak, and because the Muslims you mention settled in Burma prior to 1948, they are free to come forward and collect full citizenship. Many have.

The problem is that many others have thumbed their noses at secular Burmese laws since 1948 which require everyone to register with the authorities and now find themselves in a position where they have no records or proof to distinguish themselves from the hundreds of thousands of more recent Bengali migrants who have no right to citizenship. They are the authors of their own misfortune.

Needless to say I condemn all violence, but instead of putting pressure on Burma, perhaps the West should be putting more pressure on Bangladesh to recognise and take back their citizens. And where is the generosity and hospitality of fellow Muslim nations? Surely the Middle East, Malaysia, Indonesia and others could easily absorb these refugees. But once again we see them doing little to solve a humanitarian crisis involving their co-religionists.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

*correction, to be precise, those who were settled prior to 1948 can apply to become 'naturlised citizens'. Those who were in Burma prior to 1823 can apply to be 'full citizens'.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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