Rohingya citizenship issue fuels uproar

On May 1, Vijay Nambiar, the UN secretary-general’s special adviser on Myanmar, mentioned something in his speech to the International Peace Institute, which apparently stirred discontent among local officials and politicians.

Nambiar’s suggestion – the necessity that Rohingya Muslims in the state be granted citizenship – sparked a new round of debate over the status of Rohingya Muslims in the country.

On the same day, when the Arakan National Conference was wrapped up, Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann called for Rakhine nationals to uphold the rule of law in order to ensure peace and development. 

“In an effort to develop Rakhine state, the rule of law is crucial. The government has committed to building up a modern, developed and democratic country. In this regard, Rakhine nationals play a crucial part,” said the Speaker. The Speaker has promised that as an MP and a responsible person, he would make relentless efforts to ensure the peace and stability and the development of Rakhine state. 

It was obvious that he was referring to communal violence between the Buddhist majority and the Muslim minority in the state. It is also worth noting that international communities have expressed their disappointment with the government’s decision to block people in the state to identify themselves as “Rohingyas” in the national census. If joining, they were allowed to identify themselves as “Bengalis,” the immigrants from Bangladesh. 

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also urged Myanmar to immediately resume status verification to address the statelessness of the Rohingya population and begin the process of granting citizenship to those whose legal status in the country can be established. 

Nambiar noted that unless citizenship is awarded, the security of the Rohingya Muslims will remain threatened, “and that is sure to affect the international reputation of the country”.

The utmost necessity now for the Muslim community in Rakhine, he said, is to have their status verified and regularised, and to obtain a National Registration Card from the government and then citizenship, which would enable the Rohingya to travel throughout the country and get passports to go abroad. 

While a senior official of the President’s Office strongly rebutted that such a policy is impractical and impossible, a number of other officials and politicians have joined this stance in explaining why Rohingyas should not be granted the citizenship.

Aye Thar Aung, leader of Arakan National League for Democracy Aye Thar Aung, said that history, dating back over a thousand year ago, showed that there was no such race as Rohingya.

“Our government has already said that there is no such race in Myanmar. In Myanmar, there are 135 national races, but their race [ Rohingya] is not included. So, there is no race by the name of Rohingya in Myanmar. It is not natural to ask a race to become a citizen. It shouldn’t be,” said Aye Thar Aung.

Ex-political prisoner Myint Aung strongly condemned Nambiar’s use of the “Rohingya” word. “Using such a word is threatening the current condition in which both communities start to settle. Besides, there is no such ethnic as Rohingya in our ethnic groups. We assume the term ‘Rohingya’ as a dangerous word for our country’s tranquility. We agree and support the 1982 citizenship law. National peace, economy and culture must be considered in awarding citizenship. The one who wants to be a citizen of Myanmar must be legally accepted in accord with the 1982 citizenship law.” 

Min Zayya from the 88 Peace and Open Society, said Nambiar’s comment is encroaching the sovereignty of Myanmar and may lead to bigger conflicts in the state.

“Suggesting or criticising Myanmar’s citizenship criteria by a foreign organisation or a foreign national or a foreign government is a direct intervention in Myanmar’s sovereignty. Mr Nambiar’s remark is directly interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar. We can’t accept ‘Rohingya’ as an ethnic [group].”

The Yangon region Ethnic Rakhine Affairs Minister Zaw Aye Maung said: “What could he do as President Thein Sein said there is no Rohingya? His remark is totally ineffective. He has no right to interfere in Myanmar’s internal affairs.”

Myint Kyaing, director from the Ministry of Immigration and Population, noted that in line with the government’s stance on Bengalis, these people can apply for citizenship only if they can comply with the 1982 Myanmar Citizenship Law. “We won’t surrender to any pressure by the international community concerning the Bengalis’ citizenship,” Myint Kyaing said. “Only qualified persons should be granted citizenship. We need to stand tall, to protect qualified citizens,” said Min Zayya from the 88 Peace and Open Society.

According to the 1982 Citizenship Law, citizens of Myanmar are (a) persons born of parents, both of whom are citizens; (b) persons born of parents, one of whom is a citizen and the other an associate citizen; (c) persons born of parents, one of whom and the other a naturalised citizen; (d) persons born of parents one of whom is (i) a citizen; or (ii) an associate citizen; or (iii) a naturalised citizen; and the other is born of parents, both of whom are associate citizens; (e) persons born of parents, one of whom is (i) a citizen; or (ii) an associate citizen; or (iii) a naturalised citizen; and the other is born of parents, both of whom are naturalized citizens; (f) persons born of parents one of whom is (i) a citizen; or (ii) an associate citizen; or (iii) a naturalised citizen; and the other is born of parents, one of whom is an associate citizen and the other a naturalised citizen.

Min Zayya has indicated that weaknesses within the government has led to racial and religious conflicts, following the mass entry of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh into Rakhine state. It is just now that the public is starting to learn about the difficulties ethnic Rakhine people have experienced for many years due to lack of the rule of law. 

“Bad inheritances have been handed down from the time when the country did not have transparency and was ruled by incompetent governments. I believe that these bad inheritances can all be solved completely if we try to solve them democratically, transparently, and with rule of law. Another thing is that this issue is really an internal affair. No country has the right to interfere,” said Min Zayya.