Rohingya, gas and democracy

Source kashmirreader, 26 May

 

Persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, though on-going for the past few decades suddenly took a more beastly turn with unabated massacres of Muslims in the western state of Arakan last year. Ostensibly it was the alleged rape of a Buddhist woman by some Muslim men that sparked the whole cycle of violence against the Rohingya community, in June first and then a more planned massacre in October.

Coined as one of the most persecuted people in the world by UN, Rohingyas do not even possess citizenship rights owing to the tyrannical policies of successive communal governments in Myanmar. Such is the deep-rooted hatred towards the Rohingya that the Buddhist majority is openly advocating their complete expulsion with slogans of "Burma for Burmese". Few in Myanmar accept that Rohingya are true Burmese though many have lived there for generations.

Facing gruesome oppression, there has been no escape for the helpless Rohingyas as neighboring Bangladesh refused to entertain them. Myanmar's President Thein Sein's solution to the problem was grossly frank: "We will send them away if any third country would accept them."

While the violence against Rohingyas is not a new phenomenon, the dynamics are different this time around. Recent developments in Myanmar and its subsequent westward tilt might help explain the crisis. For years Myanmar was ruled by a totalitarian military regime heavily influenced by China. Needless to say, the West, particularly US showed little interest in the region after many unsuccessful attempts at control.

However, the recent regime change in Myanmar brought the country in the renewed focus of western powers. Myanmar's shift to democracy was hailed by the whole world; Aung San Suu Kyi having remained captive for years was given the Noble prize for peace. As Myanmar moved towards a democratic setup and away from China, the tentacles of globalization and capitalism began to ingress. Especially in the wake of trillions of dollars' worth of Gas recently discovered in the Arakan region.

The US is engaged in an economic confrontation with China. Building on its strategic objective of encircling China, the US has gradually been preparing proxies in Southeast Asia, heavily influencing countries like South Korea, Philippines and Taiwan. Myanmar under military junta was in the Chinese camp and had signed important deals on gas with Bangladesh, China and India. Two pipeline projects tapping the vast gas reserves in Myanmar are already in place: Myanmar-Bangladesh-India (MBI) pipeline which is transporting gas from Myanmar to Bangladesh and India and the dual oil and gas China-Myanmar pipelines.

As soon as the military rule in Myanmar came to an end USA moved in to secure its interests and bridge the gap that had been created over the years. It is part of the American strategy aimed at Southeast Asia in a bid to contain China.

Doors also opened for western corporations, NGOs among others to penetrate into Myanmar. World Bank opened its first office in the country in August 2012 in a bid to implant all that is needed for western capitalism to strengthen its foothold in the strategically important country. Shell, British Petroleum, Chevron are investing heavily in Myanmar to counter investments made by China.

West, especially the US has assumed silence on the Rohingya Massacre, partly because Rohingya are Muslims and partly because these took place when the supposed savior of humanity –Democracy - replaced military dictatorship.

However, the façade of the universality of democracy that the West propounds comes crashing down in its selective promotion of democracy in some countries and dictatorship in others. This hypocrisy forms the basis of hegemony and control by western powers. In Myanmar the democratic government is being supported by the West even in the wake of unabated persecution of Rohingyas.

Of course, if it were the military Junta that was in power while the Rohingya were massacred last year, the West and its sensationalist media would be all over Myanmar criticizing it. But because it is the democratic setup which is the culprit this time around, the West has assumed a deathly silence.

The Shwe pipeline project, a consortium of four Indian and South Korean companies led by Korea's Daewoo International that passes through Arakan state has also exasperated the Rohingya crisis. The pipeline project and its benefits have inspired the communal government of Myanmar to cleanse the country of Rohingyas.

Hypocrisy and capitalism is working overtime in 'democratic' Myanmar and the blood of Rohingya Muslims is being used to run this unholy and inhumane alliance. Consequently, the West has facilitated massacres against Rohingyas by skillfully exploiting Buddhist extremist hatred towards Muslims.