Yangon, Myanmar - 12/27/2017
Reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo en route to their trial for
allegedly illegally obtaining secret government documents
For a long time, Myanmar has been under strict military rule. The current democratic government, which only arose after a long fight, has only been in place for 6 years. Hope was initially high that Myanmar could become a true democracy, but that all changed with the Rohingya Crisis, which started in 2016. This crisis has been perpetrated by the Army of Myanmar, which has committed countless atrocities on Rohingya Muslims such as random killings, arson and gang rape under the pretense of eradicating Rohingya insurgents, prompting many Rohingya to flee into neighboring Bangladesh. The most recent event in this crisis has been the arrest of two Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were in Myanmar to write about the discovery of a mass grave where 10 Rohingyas were found dead. The journalists are currently being charged with 14-year sentences for being in possession of "government documents" regarding the mass grave which seems to have been a police bait and trap to censor the media and cover up human rights violations. People around the world are concerned that the situation in Myanmar could escalate into genocide and press suppression if left unchecked.
Discussion Questions:
1. Should the Myanmar government be sanctioned or in some other way held responsible for the actions of the Army? Could sanctions lead to a Rohingya genocide by the Army in retaliation? Explain your answer.
2. Myanmar and Bangladesh recently approved a plan to send 150 Rohingya refugees (out of 600,000+) back to Myanmar every day, a plan that will take over 10 years to complete. Although they claim that moving back is voluntary, it may very well turn out not to be if the crisis worsens. What do you think is the best way to resolve the refugee crisis?
3. Myanmar's current State Counsellor (a title equivalent to Prime Minister) is Aung San Suu Kyi, a descendant of founding father Aung San, who is immensely popular in Myanmar. Aung San Suu Kyi won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her non-violent protests helping to put Myanmar on the path of transition from military control to democracy. In light of her support for the recent events in Myanmar, should her Nobel Prize be revoked? Why or why not?
I don't believe that Myanmar's current State Counselor should have her Nobel Prize taken away. She received her prize in 1991 for her own non-violent tactics trying to lead Myanmar to success. Although now the path to democracy and freedom has taken more of a violent turn for the country, it doesn't mean she should be punished and have her prize taken away. In 1991 she probably managed to keep things peaceful and because now, in 2018, if it's not as peaceful it doesn't mean it is her fault or her responsibility. If she helped in her time and managed to keep thing civil in her time, that's why she earned the prize, not depending on the fluctuating violence situation nearly 30 years later. So I believe she should be able to keep her prize because she deserved it in 1991 when she earned it. Although it is a tragedy what is happening in Myanmar right now, it would be unjust to blame Aung San Suu Kyi's former achievements.
ReplyDeleteThe Myanmar government shouldn’t be held responsible for the Army’s actions because although they didn’t try to stop their assaults, they didn’t openly encourage it. I believe sanctions could be a good idea, because if a penalty or punishment is put into place, the Army will hesitate to commit acts of violence to the Rohingyas since they know they will have a consequence.
ReplyDeleteI believe Myanmar’s state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s Nobel Peace Prize should be revoked. In her own country, she promotes non-violent acts of protest in order to transition Myanmar to a democracy. But when it comes to other races/religions, she promotes acts of assault on them which is exactly what the Nobel Peace Prize winners have renounced.
Myanmar should be sanctioned for the actions of their army. An army is an extension of the country itself, and given the military history of Myanmar, that is even more true. The United Nations itself has called this a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" and hundreds of young children have died (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41566561). As mentioned, Myanmar is now also attempting to censor those who speak out against this atrocity. At this point in the conflict, a genocide seems eminent and even if Rohingya suffer as a result of this, action needs to be taken against the army to show that this kind of action is not acceptable.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the government should take responsibility for the army. The army is a major branch of the government, created for the purpose of defending the country, not harassing its citizens. In addition, it was obvious that the government was the instigator for the arrests of multiple reporters, which might be an even worse offense than simply standing by and leaving the army free reign.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely believe that the actions of the military extend to the government. Brianna referred to the government never sending an open endorsement to the military, however I believe that the absence of any response whatsoever, might as well serve as one. Every government has the responsibility to govern both their citizens, and the organizations which operate under their control, as like Andrew said, "An army is an extension of the country itself". The fact that the Myanmar government has yet to formally respond to these acts, along with there actually being rumors of their support for them, is very troubling. It ultimately suggests that the government views these journalists as enemies of the state, and through their lack of condemnation, essentially are supporting the undemocratic and rather oligarchical acts of their own military.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the potential retraction of the 1991 Nobel Prize won by Aung San Suu Kyi, I believe that she does not have any involvement with the nation's current unrest, and she deserves to keep the prize. What is currently happening is not tied to anything she accomplished to win the Nobel Prize, but rather is the result of a variety of issues within the nation culminating into a rampant unrest. Even if she contributed to this unrest, it should not retract from her past accomplishments.
Although the attack of the Rohingya people can be attributed to the Burmese army, the government must be held responsible as well. Not only has the army managed to attack Rohingya muslims, but that have gone further to even incarcerate journalists who attempted to expose their actions. The army must be sanctioned, while the government is kept under a very watchful eye. The government has had the opportunity to make proactive designs to help the Rohingya muslims and by not doing anything and by not punishing the army, they are guilty by association. Because of Myanmar's rough history, it is understandable that the government may be falling into old habits. Myanmar, formerly Burma was ruled under an oppressive military dictatorship, a junta even, and because of this, the current government may be used to letting the army overextend their powers. The BBC article, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-12990563, details Myanmar's formerly oppressive regime as well as their current transformation to a democracy of sorts. If a country is making their best attempt to escape oppression, groups like the Rohingya should not have to fear for their lives. It is obvious the government is not handling the out of control army and by sanctioning them both, it may prevent Myanmar's current situation form snowballing into something similar to their past military regime.
ReplyDeleteAung San Suu Kyi's Nobel Peace Prize should be revoked. Myanmar's army is off killing, and raping, while Aung San Suu Kyi is sitting back and doing nothing. Yes, she did get the country into a better place in 1991 by non-violence, but doing nothing about the violence now is irresponsible. She needs to step up and not be hypocritical and put an end to these problems.
ReplyDeleteI also believe Aung San Suu Kyi's noble prize should be revoke. The atrocities carried out by the myanmar are straight up wrong and the genocide committed should warrant international sanctions for Burma.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Journalists should keep reporting to continue exposing the actions of the government.
DeleteI agree with Mavi that Aung San Suu Kyi should not having her noble peace prize taken away from her. Aung San Suu Kyi should not have the noble peace prize taken away from her because she rightfully earned it. Going through hardships to try and convert the government from a military rule to a democracy is not a task that is easy to do. Especially as women. Women are perceived as weak especially in that region of the world and them to have an opinion and to be able to speak up against the government is courageous. She should not have her medal taken for the events that are happening of recent when she got the medal for the work that she put in the past.
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ReplyDeleteIt is actually identified that "Myanmar forces may be guilty of genocide. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein has evidence against Rohingya" and condemned the "commission of crimes against humanity." The Myanmar government has already been condemned by multiple UN bodies but still has yet ceasefire, which proves that condemnation is not effective enough, and is a more effective solution. Also it must be considered and put into action. The most immediate action the UNHCR should enact is to continue to send even more aid (especially food and medical aid) to the refugees and set up more refugee camps. Sanctions would hurt the Asian nations, however by suspending their military this will lessen Rohingya causalities. Meanwhile, the UNSC should start drafting a resolution that cuts all military deals with the Myanmar government, which the UK has already done.
ReplyDeleteSource: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41566561