The Rohingya people, “the world’s most prosecuted and least wanted [people]” as they have been described by the United Nations (UN) and the international community, are fleeing Myanmar to Southeast Asian countries and specifically Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand by boats!

According to the UN refugee agency “In the past three years, more than 120,000 Rohingyas have boarded ships to flee abroad”.

Victims of constant discrimination, abuse and prosecution by the country of Myanmar/Burma, the Muslim ethnic group face the government’s denial for citizenship for years and are being treated as Bangladeshi illegal immigrants.

Even though Rohingyas have been residing in Rakhine State, Western of Myanmar, for generations they have been denied their rights and Myanmar citizenship since the enforcement of the 1982 Citizenship Law.

According to the 2014 UN estimates, “the number of people leaving Myanmar and Bangladesh by boat” is approximately 53.000 with the majority of them being Rohingya, including a large number of Bangladeshi impoverished migrants.  (UN News Centre, 2015)

In his statement in May, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein expressed his concerns and disappointment over the issue stating that “Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have been pushing boats full of vulnerable migrants back out to sea, which will inevitably lead to many avoidable deaths”. He also noted that “until the Myanmar Government addresses the institutional discrimination against the Rohingya population, including equal access to citizenship, this precarious migration will continue”.

Reports reveal that hundreds have lost their lives at sea. Having limited supplies and facing the constant risk to fall in smugglers’ abusive hands, many vainly endanger their lives through this hazardous journey in hope for a better future.

Despite the minor rescue operations conducted by Malaysia and Indonesia during May, UNHCR estimated that approximately “4.000 people from Myanmar and Bangladesh [remained] stranded at sea with dwindling supplies on board” (UNHCR, 2015).

After international criticism against Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand that they have been pushing away the boats, leaving starved and hydrated Rohingyas and Bangladeshis at sea to die, Malaysia and Indonesia decided to stop turning back the boats.

In a joint statement, the two countries announced that they “agreed to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to those 7,000 irregular migrants still at sea [and] to offer them temporary shelter” on condition that they will be resettled by the international community within a year.

A few days ago, representatives of 17 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the US, Switzerland and international bodies attended a summit in Bangkok, Thailand to deal with the Southeast Asia immigrant crisis.

The meeting, according to the UN, concluded with a 10-point action plan concentrating on stopping trafficking, addressing the root causes, strengthening collective regional efforts, enhancing search and rescue operations, enhancing and improving reception and treatment upon arrival and others. (Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea - Proposals for Action, 2015)

Volker Turk, UNHCR assistant high commissioner for protection noted that “There is no solution without addressing the root causes […] Among other things, this will require full assumption of responsibility by Myanmar to all its people. Granting of citizenship is the ultimate goal."

However, Myanmar did not accept responsibility regarding the situation of Rohingyas during the meeting with Myanmar delegate Foreign Ministry Director-General, Htin Lynn responding that on "this issue of illegal migration of boat people, you cannot single out my country".

According to the UN “over 88,000 people have departed on smugglers' boats from the Bay of Bengal since 2014 and more than 1,000 are believed to have died as a result of abuse and deprivation at sea”.

CITIZENS RIGHTS WATCH (CRW) expresses its tremendous concerns over the ongoing immigrant crisis!

We note that this crisis will not stop until Myanmar takes responsibility and follow UN and international community’s recommendations by giving Rohingya people equal access to citizenship and stopping the constant discrimination against them!

We call Myanmar to end the discriminatory behavior, the extensive abuses and violent prosecutions against the Rohingya people, recognize their ethnic group and respect their fundamental rights and freedoms as set in the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDR).

References

AFP (2015) “Myanmar says don't 'single us out' at migrant crisis talks” Available at: http://www.afp.com/en/news/myanmar-says-dont-single-us-out-migrant-crisis-talks

Aljazeera (2015) “Myanmar navy allows 727 stranded Rohingya migrants to return to shore” Available at: http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/6/3/myanmar-navy-allows-727-migrants-to-return.html

Bay of Bengal And Andaman Sea - Proposals for Action, 2015 Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/55682d3b6.html

IOM Sees Progress in SE Asia Migrant Crisis, But Warns More Must be Done, IOM Press Release, 2015 Indonesia, Available at: http://www.iom.int/news/iom-sees-progress-se-asia-migrant-crisis-warns-more-must-be-done

Joint Statement on Andaman Sea: IOM, UNHCR, OHCHR, UN SRSG Migration & Development, IOM, Press Release , 2015, Switzerland Available at: http://www.iom.int/news/joint-statement-andaman-sea-iom-unhcr-ohchr-un-srsg-migration-development

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand Press Realease Summary Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean 29 May 2015, Bangkok, Thailand Available at: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/media-center/14/56880-Summary-Special-Meeting-on-Irregular-Migration-in.html

Pestano (2015) Indonesia, Malaysia accept sheltering 7,000 immigrants; boat rescued UPI Available at: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/05/20/Indonesia-Malaysia-accept-sheltering-7000-immigrants-boat-rescued/6261432121527/

UN News Centre (2015) “UN agency welcomes Southeast Asia region's proposals to address plight of refugees and migrants at sea” Available at: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51009#.VW9QNiHBzGc

UN News Centre (2015) “UN rights chief urges Southeast Asia States to protect migrants stranded at sea “Available at: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50873#.VWnYQSHBzGc

UNHCR (2015) “UNHCR urges governments to continue high seas live-saving operations” Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/5551f31cfdd.html

UNHCR (2015)“UNHCR says time running out for stranded boat people; urges South-east Asian governments to act” Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/555b03ee9.html