(MintPress) – Despite efforts by human rights organizations to highlight the violence carried out on the Rohingya Muslim population at the hands of the Rakhine Buddhists and Burmese government, the conflict has only intensified — and the world has remained uninterested in a struggle that has targeted one of the world’s most persecuted populations.
Satellite imagery obtained by Human Rights Watch shows what the organization has been saying since the fighting began in June: The government is attempting to rid the country of the Rohingya Muslim population, and is doing so through violence and arson of dwellings.
And while the conflict goes both ways, Human Rights Watch has said for months that the Rohingya population is at the brunt of the attacks.
United Nations (U.N.) officials claim that as many as 22,000 Rohingya Muslims are now fleeing the violence in Myanmar. And considering they’re not legally recognized as citizens in any nation of this world — their options for retreat are few. Many have settled in boats and makeshift structures near Sittwe, on the western coast. Others have fled to Bangladesh, although the government there has made clear they’re not welcome.
Yet even in hiding, they are not safe.
Human Rights Watch has concluded that in 24 hours, 811 shelters were destroyed in the coastal town of Kyauk Pyu, including houseboats, of those belonging to the Rohingya population. The area includes roughly 35 acres — in that zone, 633 buildings were destroyed, along with 178 houseboats.
Now, after months of reporting similar incidents, Human Rights Watch is now saying enough is enough.
“Burma’s government urgently needs to provide security for the Rohingya in Arakan State, who are under vicious attack,” Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director, Phil Robertson, said in a press release. “Unless the authorities also start addressing the root causes of the violence, it is only likely to get worse.”
All the while, the U.S. has stood by statements that Myanmar is improving its human rights situation — a justification for the lifting of economic sanctions on the nation.
The US, Myanmar and oil
Considering the U.S. recently applauded the Burmese government for its alleged attempts to improve human rights in the nation, the rampant violence should be of concern for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — and for all peace-loving Americans.
Yet in September, months after the conflict began, Clinton met with Burmese President Thein Sein to discuss further lifting of sanctions.
“In recognition of the continued progress toward reform and in response to requests from both the government and the opposition, the United States is taking the next step in normalizing our commercial relationship,” Clinton said during a meeting with Sein.
Clinton isn’t a stranger to the acts of violence being carried out in Myanmar, but she also doesn’t seem to be addressing them through diplomatic means. In a June statement, Clinton said, “The situation in Rakhine State underscored the critical need for mutual respect among all ethnic and religious groups and for serious efforts to achieve national reconciliation in Burma.”
Yet it seems her statement was just that — a statement. Despite the fact that violence escalated for months, she continued to applaud Sein for work being done in the way of human rights improvements, resulting in the lifting of sanctions and improved trade relations between the U.S. and Myanmar.
Reuters reported in July that the easing of sanctions would allow U.S. oil companies to take part in oil exploration investments in Myanmar, as the country has been noted lately as an untouched resource for oil and gold in the Asia region.
How bad is the violence?
The violence in Myanmar has been occurring since June, but was escalated on Oct. 21, according to Human Rights Watch.
In August, MintPress News published a story on the violence, at which point human rights organizations were claiming that more than 100,000 people had been displaced, on top of hundreds of deaths. And while it was an issue of great magnitude, it was not covered widespread in the media. The online publication Raw Story published an article in October, describing the violence as largely one-sided and pinning the blame on the Rohingya population.
Human Rights Watch has consistently claimed that Burmese security forces failed to protect the Rohingya population.
“In June, Human Rights Watch documented killings, rape, and mass arrests by the Burmese security forces against Rohingya Muslims after the security forces failed to protect both them and Arakan Buddhists during deadly sectarian violence,” Human Rights Watch indicated in a press release. “Since then, government restrictions on humanitarian access to the Rohingya community left many of the displaced — at times as many as 104,000 people — in dire need of food, shelter and medical care.
A press release sent to MintPress details the most recent accusations against the Burmese government. The government has recognized that homes have been burned down and that people have been brutally killed, but their numbers have fluctuated, and Human Rights Watch doesn’t have much faith in the reporting.
“Human Rights Watch fears the death toll is far higher based on allegations from witnesses fleeing scenes of carnage and the government’s well-documented history of underestimating figures that might lead to criticism of the state,” the organizations aid in a press release.
And while Sein has in the past claimed the government would investigate allegations of violence in the nation, no official policies have been put into place. This doesn’t sit well for humanitarian observers, especially considering the president’s past accusations that Rohingya should leave Myanmar.
That sentiment may sound shocking, but Myanmar’s laws are in line with that mentality. The Rohingya people are not considered citizens of Myanmar, despite the fact that they and their ancestors have lived there for centuries. Because of that, they are not protected by the same laws afforded to the Rakhine Buddhists. They cannot marry without state permission and the children are not allowed access to the same level of education and health care.
Considering that, there’s reason to assume that the government has a slanted view toward the population.
“Burmese government officials and opposition leaders need to condemn the violence and work for lasting solutions to Arakan’s ethnic problems.”
And with the U.S. standing by during the midst of the conflict and applauding the budding relationship between the two nations, it’s difficult to see an end to the violence. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been quite vocal about atrocities committed in Syria — a country whose government, at this point, has no monetary ties to.
With no pressure on the Burmese government to attempt to halt the violence, what is the incentive for change?