[ms] The World Reaction and UN Role in Handling Violence towards Muslim Ethnic Rohingyas

Abstract

This article discusses the issue of ongoing serial violence against the Muslim ethnic Rohingyas by Buddhist extremists since the year 1982. This longstanding ethnic violence has been protracted as time progresses. Ethnic violence comprises of violent acts against an ethnic group by another ethnic group or state, whether by means of mass murder, ethnic cleansing, expulsion or torture. Incidents of violence towards ethnic Muslims in Arakan are the continuation of a series of violent acts since almost three decades ago. They have been helplessly experiencing very severe violations of human rights by Buddhist extremists, without protection from any party. Day after day thousand of innocent people are being murdered, burnt alive, raped and expelled from their homes by Buddhist extremists and by the Myanmar authorities. Even more unfortunately for some fleeing to be refugees at the border, Bangladesh does not protect and assure their fate, but in fact they are also killed and evicted by Bangladeshi authorites. Although this situation affects international peace and security, the United Nations (UN) and international community seem to turn a blind eye to all the atrocities and violence afflicted on the Muslim community in Myanmar. The ongoing human rights violations and violence against the Rohingya Muslim ethnic group do not at all get due world attention and concern. The purpose of this article is to analyse world reaction towards the violence afflicted on the Rohingyas as well as examine the United Nations’ role to overcome the ethnic conflict. This research is designed using the qualitative method of content analysis. Research results find that various parties, including the UN and other international institutions, need to work together to play a more effective role by putting pressure on and insisting that the Myanmar state cease all violence against the Rohingya ethnic group, whose fate is still unknown.