BURMA PERSECUTION OF MUSLIM REPORTED TO HUMAN RIGHT GROUPS: BURMESE GOVT UNDER FIRE FOR COLLABORATING IN A CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING

photo: AFP

Human Rights groups are following the Burmese unrest with renewed preoccupation about what seems more than just a localized event against ethnic Rohingya muslims in the province of Rakhine.

In some reports the government was believed to have collaborated with some of the renegade monks who instigated the killing and destruction of Muslim property in Burma.  In fact some are accusing the Burmese government of downright ethnic cleansing.  

There have been reports of local government authorities coordinating efforts with buddhist monks and community leaders to push Muslims out of Burma by mob violence and destruction of property.  Human Rights Watch has also evidence of what appear to be mass graves.  

The violence is also not random, with a systematic approach that belies a precise plan to drive all of the Rohingya out of Burma.  So far, more than 125,000 Rohingya have been displaced and denied humanitarian aid. 

More than 180 Muslim Rohingya died in clashes since last year, with the worse spate happening just a few weeks ago. 

However Human Rights Watch believes that the toll of people killed in ethnic unrest is much higher than reported.  

One reported case has the local authorities driving a truck with 18 corpses to a Rohingya village and then dumping them in full sight of the villagers as a clear message to leave and intimidation.  

Requests for information about the massacre has been met with outright denial. The government even insists that there is no such thing as a Rohingya.  Slight acknowledgement of the unrest did come, but was treated as a minor glitch to the forward momentum of political reform that is sweeping the country.

The head of Human Rights Watch is trying to gain some traction for international intervention, but admitted that response has been weak to non-existant.  International feeling right now is buoyed by Burma's new found democracy, which seems to be obscuring all other concerns. 

Indeed this week sanctions previously in place to condemn the Burmese junta will be lifted to honor Burma's newfound freedom, with the exception of the arms embargo.  

Source: France 24/ 4.22.13