The Rohingya Problem I Know (What is Rohingya?)
by Min Thein

First and foremost, I would like to express that I am just an ordinary citizen. I am not a scholar nor am I a government official. Therefore, this note I wrote only expresses my view as an ordinary citizen. Even before the clashes in Rakhine State occurred, I observed that the Rohingyas were propagandizing via BBC, and that there were tens of thousands of them living in Rakhine State. I have sub-categorized this article into the following:

1. Where the name "Rohingya" have derived from and their real situation
2. The Feelings of Myanmar People and Their Perspective
3. How the Government Controlled the Situation and Future Prospect, Requirements
4. Problems That Would Derive Because of Their Presence and Solution

1. Where the name "Rohingya" have derived from and their real situation
Regarding the name of "Rohingya", international media who have been propagandizing for them claim that the name has derived from Rakhine language. But in truth, the name has derived from Bengali, the native language of Bangladesh. The name "Rohingya" in Bengali means "Someone Who Came Back from Another Land". The emphasis is on the phrase "Come Back" and I don't think it needs other explanation. Therefore, we can say that Rohingyas are not Myanmar ethnic nationals.
Secondly, in history there have been wars between Bamar and Rakhines, and Rakhine and Bangladesh. In those history records, there haven't been any mentions of Rohingyas in them. There also have been any history records that contains their name in the records of English-Myanmar wars either. Just because the Rohingya name needed to be concluded, you cannot make General Mahabandoola (or Mg Yit) as Rohingya. The name Mahabandoola is a Pali name of honour that derived from India, and the the name can be found in old Buddhist scriptures.
Let's look at the requests and claims of citizenship, and ethnicity by them. We should first observe and look through the citizenship rules and regulations of the nations who are the leaders of human rights and democracy such as Britain, America, Canada, Australia and other modern European nations. The first thing you would notice is that in order to become a citizen, they would need to know the official language of that country. Yet, Rohingyas rarely know how to speak the local Rakhine language, let alone the Burmese language. Even those who migrated deep into the middle of Myanmar by bribing immigration officers do not know how to speak the Burmese language. There are many ethnic races living in Myanmar, and there are many citizens of different races and religion living in Myanmar who knew how to speak Burmese because of closeness. Yet, the way how the Rohingyas living Myanmar in tens of thousands but does not know how to speak Myanmar shows how they are not even close to being a native ethnic race from Myanmar.
From what I observed from current situations, I despised Rohingyas but also felt pity towards them. I despise them because they faked history and lied. I pity them because of their condition of having to live a life without having any values of being human. Young women gets marry at the age of 12. There were true fact things that most of international society can't acceptable such as the son sleeping with the wife of the father, if allowed, or the father-in-law sleeping with daughter-in-law is not uncommon. A man can legally marry 4 wives. There are no guarantees for living, and they just live to live. A friend said that they only have two functions: running and giving birth. A doctor who came back from their camp said that their living standards is very low, contact many diseases, do not know any Burmese or are educated, and are living like gypsies. What we have to worry about is their birth rate. We should not forget that their birth rate is very very high. Just imagine the birth rate of a woman who married when she was 12 years old. Multiply that by four. You will see that their birthrate is the highest in the world. Therefore, I cannot think of how the male of the household works to be able to support them all.
2. The Feelings of Myanmar People and Their Perspective
Myanmar nationals have had the experience of communicating with people of different races and religions. But we have no ill feelings towards them as long as they do not hurt us. This is not related to the government, but just the feeling of the citizens. This is the Myanmar people's flexibility and honesty. However, the Myanmar people are angry that some "foreigners" are forging history and lying that they were ethnic races from Myanmar. The Rakhine people would definitely feel angrier than us. I understand how they would feel.
On the other side, Myanmar Muslims finds it hard to accept this truth. The Koran stated that Muslims have to protect each other. This fact is a very dangerous problem for Myanmar Muslims. Myanmar Muslims are also very different from other Myanmar national races because of their appearance, language and culture. The way they keep their beards long, the way they wear caps when they go to mosques, different appearances and speaks in Arabic language - Myanmar people have been understanding of their culture. But "would they understand our culture?" That is the biggest suspicion we have in our heart. Whether they will support the Myanmar people as fellow citizens instead of the Rohingyas who have the same religion and culture is, for us, a very complicated thing to understand. It depends highly on the Myanmar Muslims to get rid of these suspicions. Indonesia and Malaysia are Muslim countries, but some of us know that there are hardly any women who are walking around on the streets wearing headscarves. Therefore it would be best if they would accept changes when they are necessary. It is the deep desire of the Myanmar people that Myanmar Muslims are also regarded as citizens of Myanmar.
3. How the Government Controlled the Situation and Future Prospect, Requirements
It's true that the current government has transited from dictatorship to civilian government, but as it wants to boost its image internationally, it makes things more problematic. During the dictatorships such as U Ne Win and U Than Shwe, they clearly and effectively eradicated rebellions (Mujahid included), and mass demonstrations within the country, but the current government cannot take such actions. That is a problem that they face. But I would like it if the government will take firm actions on this matter.
There is a gentleman way of solving this problem. We can let them keep these Bengalis keep their name as Rohingyas. We will place them at refugee camps. Via military force, we can limit and control their ability to live beyond those areas and restriction of entry into other areas. Then UN agencies and other NGOs can take responsibility for them with their money. And we would also have to tighten the security on the borders so that more would not come in. The Third Countries around the world who respects human rights can accept these Rohingyas as refugees within their countries also. (Which I highly doubt that they will do. They will only make sounds. They will just say that these refugees do not meet with their rules and regulations to be accepted, and just ignore them)
Another thing that we have to worry about is terrorism. Terrorists can easily persuade those who are living in extreme poverty. Now, we get to know that terrorists who are in connection with Al-Qaeda are systematically fusing connections with organizations which are connected with Rohingyas. This is a very dangerous thing for Myanmar. The simple truth is that all of Myanmar people do not want their land to become a hideout or a base for world terrorist organizations.
Another thing I would like to point out is that former Bengalis have gotten into the Hluttaw (Parliament) as representatives. USDP Party and also the Hluttaw(Parliament) should recheck this situation and take action. They should remove such people from Hluttaw(Parliament), and also arrest them for breaking citizenship laws. The way that they got into the Hluttaw (Parliament) , which is the judicial pillar of the country, is in contempt of our sovereignty, and also it is very shameful act for the USDP Party. Maintaining sovereignty is one of the main three duties of the Constitution, and also one of the five promises that USDP had made to the people of Myanmar.
4. Problems That Would Derive Because of Their Presence and Solution
No one would put a tiger into a cattle ranch because you felt pity for the tiger. These Bengalis are a threat to us, however you look at them - as a group of people with terrorist threat, or due to the economical condition of being a developing country, or as liars who are demanding the same rights as ethnic Myanmar people. You have to keep in mind that whichever of the three aspects you look at, the unbelievably high birthrate and their sub-standard culture will create unsolvable problems (such as HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases, incurable contagious diseases) that will last not only within this generation but also to another 4 or 5 generations.
Just because we don't want to accept them, we can't say "Kill them all." It will be a genocide, a big crime. Myanmar people are not Nazis killers. On the other hand, they are still a threat to us because of terrorism, swallowing us up with their population, and their substandard culture.
The imminent threat of them killing or looting the Rakhines and Bamars living in the area, and group bullying is very high. Therefore, responsible officials should neglect the current situations, and should take control of this situation strictly and firmly, and assist them in systematic transporting to Third Countries, and to control with armed forces for future problems and clashes. I don't see any other ways to take control of this situation. What Thai Marine General said, "If there are any other countries who want to accept them, take them" was not wrong. So there are only three exits for them: 1. Run back to Bangladesh 2. Row out into the sea 3. Go and live in Third Countries as much as those countries can accept.
The most humane way would be for Myanmar to open refugee camps (like Burmese refugee camps in Thailand), and if there are any countries that want to accept them, they are free to take them away. UN and INGOs can take care of food and security. The army can tighten control so that they don't cross into another area, and don't create clashes.
I wrote this so that people can think this through. I accept that there would be different opinions. Thank you.
Min Thein
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