Racism against Rohingya – a serious setback for the democratization of Burma

"Plain racism" is what the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) calls intentions of Burma's President Thein Sein to expel all 800,000 Muslim Rohingya from the south-east Asian country. "Instead of trying to call for reconciliation in the multi-ethnic state, the president acts as a populist arsonist by stirring up the ethno-religious conflicts. This is a serious setback for the democratization process in Burma," said the STP's Asia consultant, Ulrich Delius, on Thursday. "The international community must now make clear to Burma's government that the country is not allowed to arbitrarily exclude any ethnic groups."

During an interview with the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Antonio Guterres, on Tuesday, President Thein said that the 800,000 Rohingya living in Myanmar may only emigrate to another country or go to a UNHCR refugee camp. "We would send them away if any other country was willing to accept them," he said.

Last week, 31 international non-governmental organizations – including the Society for Threatened Peoples – had urged Burma's government to abolish the controversial citizenship law of 1982 which is used to justify the deprivations of citizenship for the Rohingya. The human rights organizations demand a new law based on equality and non-discrimination.

Partly, the Rohingya people have been living in Burma since the 7th century. Nevertheless, they are denied their civil rights today. The minority-group members are treated as so-called Bengali immigrants, are systematically deported and restricted in their freedom of movement.