August 02, 2018
By The Nation
After high-profile
resignations from its previous investigation into Rohingya atrocities, Nay Pyi
Taw tries again
Judging by the
statement from Myanmar’s government, the new commission it has launched to
investigate human rights abuses in Rakhine state is little more than a
publicity stunt.
The panel appears to
be a last-ditch effort by Nay Pyi Taw to stave off internal criticism of
atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims under the auspices of the
government.
Headed by retired
Filipino and Japanese diplomats, together with two Myanmar nationals, the
commission has been tasked to “address reconciliation, peace, stability and
development in Rakhine”.
This so-called
independent commission will “investigate the allegations of human rights
violations and related issues, following the terrorist attacks by ARSA”,
according to the Myanmar government statement.
ARSA, or the Arakan
Rohingya Salvation Army, is a little-known rag-tag, lightly armed rebel outfit
that came to the world’s attention in August last year when it launched
simultaneous attacks against 30 police and military outposts in Rakhine
state.
A few YouTube posts
and Twitter statements every now and then are pretty much all we hear from this
group. Observers and security experts have yet to figure out exactly who is
behind ARSA.
Some even suggest
that it might have been created – or at least bolstered – by Myanmar’s powerful
military, the Tatmadaw, as a pretext to launch an all-out offensive against the
Rohingya Muslims. About 720,000 Rohingya were driven out of their homes to join
another 200,000 who had crossed into Bangladesh years earlier to flee
atrocities committed by Myanmar authorities.
The Rohingya arrived
with testimonies of widespread murder, rape, torture and arson at the hands of
Myanmar security forces and ethnic Rakhine Buddhist mobs.
The UN human rights
agency called the atrocities a classic case of ethnic cleansing. Powerful
words, indeed, and ones that Myanmar cannot ignore.
The move to set up
the commission came amid growing calls from members of the international
community for the International Criminal Court to probe the atrocities against
the Rohingya. UN Security Council delegations visited the country two months
ago and the outcome was not good for Myanmar.
But the government
is sorely mistaken if it believes this so-called “independent” commission of
inquiry will wash away past crimes. It might buy the regime a little more
breathing space but pressure is building and time is running out.
The Rohingya had
their citizenship status stripped away in 1982 by a military government that
regarded them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Myanmar refuses to even
refer to them as “Rohingya”, insisting on Bengali to suggest that these Muslims
are illegal migrants from Bangladesh.
“Given the weight of
evidence collected by Amnesty International, the UN, and the media, this CoI
[Commission of Inquiry] is tantamount to a rude gesture, not a genuine
inquiry,” said Yangon-based analyst David Mathieson, who called the new
commission a “political gimmick”.
Members of the new
commission include two foreign and two Myanmar nationals: former Philippine
deputy foreign minister Rosario Manalo, Japan’s former UN representative Kenzo
Oshima, the former chair of Myanmar’s constitutional tribunal U Mya Thein and
Aung Tun Thet, who lead the Myanmar government body supposedly seeking
resolutions to the Rohingya crisis.
The pre-existing
commission, set up by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi last December, is
experiencing a crisis of its own after two prominent members – former Thai
ambassador Kobsak Chutikul and US diplomat Bill Richardson – expressed
frustration with Myanmar and quit their posts. That commission has proved to be
little more than a distraction and shield from international pressure.
The junta in
Thailand has moved closer to Myanmar and thus retains influence with Nay Pyi
Taw. The Thai government elected or not, needs to keep in mind the atrocities
committed against the Rohingya by its counterparts over the border.
The junta should not
be blinded by its new-found friendship with a Myanmar administration that,
despite its democratic façade, is still overseen by hardline generals who have
no qualms about allowing their soldiers to rape and kill ethnic groups so they
can gain access to the valuable resources on their land.