Why has Myanmar become a country of civil war?

Point-Counterpoint

Myanmar is a multi-ethnic country. Different ethnic groups have differences in history, culture, religion, language and other aspects. These differences often lead to ethnic conflict. The ethnic policy of the Myanmar government is one of the reasons for the civil war.

Myanmar has approximately 677,000 square kilometers of land and a population of 54.58 million (approx.). It has a total of 135 ethnic groups and more than 100 languages. It is a federal country, but it practices Burmese nationalism. Northern Myanmar is mainly inhabited by ethnic minorities such as Kachin, Karen and Rakhine. These ethnic groups have been separated for a long time in history and have developed their own unique cultures and traditions.

বিজ্ঞাপন

The state cannot treat all ethnic groups equally, and state power is in the hands of the military government which is one of the causes of numerous conflicts between the national military government and local ethnic armed forces. There are as many as a dozen armed powerful groups in Myanmar. While the Myanmar government actually controls 7 provinces and 2 cities in the country, it cannot control the remaining 7 states where there are ethnic minorities because the Myanmar government does not give equal rights to ethnics. At the same time, there is a lack of adequate manpower to send troops to suppress them. And this is what has led Myanmar to its current state of fragmentation.

During British colonial rule, Myanmar's various ethnic groups were divided into different administrative regions, each with its own political, economic and cultural characteristics. This division leads to alienation and mistrust between ethnic groups. After independence, the Myanmar government tried to address these issues by enacting some ethnic policies, but these policies were often not well implemented and instead intensified ethnic conflicts.

বিজ্ঞাপন

One of the most famous racial policies is the policy of 'Greater Burmese'. The main idea behind this policy is to gradually integrate Myanmar's various ethnic groups into the larger cultural circle of Burma, thereby achieving the country's unity and stability. This policy was enforced through repression and discrimination against other ethnic groups in ways such as forced assimilation and cultural genocide. This policy aroused resentment and resistance from other ethnic groups, leading to civil war.

In addition, the Myanmar government has implemented some other ethnic policies, such as 'federalism' and 'multi-party system'. The main objective of these policies is to allow each ethnic group their own political rights and cultural freedom. However, the central government lacks enough sincerity to implement these policies in practice. Because the differences between different ethnic groups are huge. This makes it difficult to achieve true equality and freedom. Therefore, these policies intensified ethnic conflicts and confusion.

Among Myanmar's ethnic policies, the biggest problem is the government's forced assimilation policy for the Karen people. The government's policy of forced assimilation towards the Karen people manifests itself in many ways:

First, the government banned the Karen people from using their own language and script and tried to assimilate them into Burma.

Second, the government imposed restrictions on the Karen especially on the religious beliefs of the people. At the same time, the government also imposed restrictions on the cultural heritage of the Karen people. Banning them from inheriting their traditional culture and trying to assimilate them into Burmese culture.

However, the Karen are one of Myanmar's largest ethnic minorities. whose population is more than 1 million. Government restrictions on the language, religion and culture of the Karen people have forced the Karen people to behave unjustly. This has led to resentment and resistance among the Karen people.

Apart from the Karen, Myanmar's Shan, Kachin, Arakan, Rohingya and other ethnic minorities also face similar problems. They are trying many protests and armed resistance in an attempt to protect their rights and dignity.

The ethnic issue in Myanmar is not only a political issue, it is also a cultural and social issue. The government should respect the culture and traditions of every ethnic group and give them equal rights and opportunities. Only then can peace and stability be achieved in Myanmar.

এই বিভাগের সর্বশেষ

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বাংলা

লন্ডনে চট্টগ্রামবাসীর বিজয় দিবস উৎযাপন

আমাদের কেবিনেটে কোনো অসৎ ব্যক্তি নেই: নৌ উপদেষ্টা

নিজেকে জানুন

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Point-Counterpoint

There has never been a female president in the 248-year history of the United States. However, several women have run for president. In 2016, Hillary Clinton ran for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, but she lost to Donald Trump. This year, in the November 5, 2024 election, Kamala Harris lost to President Donald Trump as the Democratic Party's candidate. Out of the 538 seats in the Electoral College, Kamala Harris won 223 votes and Donald Trump won 279. Donald Trump has the good fortune of becoming president for a second time.

According to the custom of that country, he will be sworn in as the 47th US president in January. Congratulations to him in advance.

Before this vote, Kamala Harris was ahead in various polls. Kamala Harris is serving as the Vice President of the United States, and she is the first woman, the first black person, and the first person of Asian descent to run for this position. Kamala Harris's vice presidency and the election of many women to the Senate and Congress suggested that the American public was interested in female leadership. But her experience and poll results have been distorted by Donald Trump's victory.

It is not yet time to analyze the reasons for Kamala Harris' defeat in the election. However, some things can be said now. Harris is a woman and the first black South Asian American vice president. Some voters in the country are still more comfortable with white male leadership. This cultural bias may have influenced her campaign. While Kamala Harris' political experience seems sufficient to many, she is relatively new. Many voters have already raised various questions about her national and international leadership experience.

In addition, some of her policy positions and statements have caused confusion among voters. For example, there are differences of opinion within the Democratic Party regarding her positions on immigration, health care, and crime. This policy position has made her somewhat controversial to a section of voters. US politics is currently deeply divided, and many Republicans or moderate voters may not have supported her as the Democratic nominee.

In addition, there are several ideological divisions within the Democratic Party, which may have been an obstacle to her support. Harris has been the subject of negative media coverage at various times. Her personality, statements, and decisions have often been exaggerated, which may have damaged her image. Many believe that her popularity has been limited in various states of the United States, especially in rural areas. There are some significant challenges to the election of a woman as president in the United States. These challenges come from cultural, political, and social perspectives and affect the candidates' campaigns and the attitudes of voters. In Kamala's case, they may have had an impact. Some people still believe that women would not be able to handle the challenging responsibilities of the presidency while balancing family and personal lives.

The long dominance of male candidates in the US presidential race has led to some skepticism about the political competence of women. Many voters questioned the political and diplomatic capabilities of female candidates. Especially some immigrant voters from Africa and the subcontinent. In some parts of the United States itself, religious and cultural traditions still bias women's political power. Voters in these regions may be averse to female leadership, which may act as a major obstacle in the election. As a result, the survey results have been reversed in those regions. This seems to be largely responsible for Kamala's lagging behind, especially in swing states.

In addition, the United States has never had a female president elected, so becoming the first female president will be seen as a big change. Many voters may find this change contrary to tradition and may hesitate to accept this innovation. However, in recent years, women have reached the highest levels of US politics and are constantly removing these obstacles. As a result, it is expected that such obstacles will decrease for female candidates in the future, and the possibility of a positive change is created. On the other hand, how Trump won the hearts of immigrants despite talking about stopping immigrants is a big concern at the moment.

Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election largely on the promise of a tough immigration policy, which played a major role in his victory. He campaigned on promises to build a wall on the southern border of the United States with Mexico and to stop illegal immigration. These promises appealed to concerns about security, the economy, and job security in some parts of the United States. As a result, a tough stance on immigration control became popular with many of his supporters and is likely to have helped him win the election on November 5, 2024.

Although he has taken some steps as president to build a wall on the border and implement a tough immigration policy, these initiatives have been met with much controversy and She was also a hindrance. Yet her strategy kept her in the spotlight during the campaign and played a significant role in her victory that year, and it may well have done so again. President Donald Trump, like in the 2016 election, promised in the November 5, 2024 election that he would not start new wars and would try to end ongoing ones. During his presidency, he has partially fulfilled this promise. He has taken steps to withdraw U.S. troops from several war zones, such as Afghanistan and Syria, and to reduce the military presence in the Middle East. In addition, tensions with Iran and North Korea have increased during Trump's first term, although they have not escalated into full-scale war.

Many American voters support female leadership, but there are still some psychological and cultural barriers to electing a woman president. Although support for women has been growing in recent years. The United States has a long history of electing only men to the presidency. This departure from this tradition is a major change for many voters, and some voters believe that men are traditionally suited to leadership roles.

In addition, Donald Trump has used inflation, unemployment, illegal immigration, and the cost of the war in Ukraine and the Middle East during President Biden's election campaign to motivate voters by using it negatively. Kamala Harris has tried to win the hearts of voters by smiling at every public meeting - something that Russian President Putin also mentioned in one of his speeches.

But nowadays, voters in any country do not want to forget just a smile on their face. They want to ensure sustainable economic, social, and human welfare for everyone. There is a section of some Americans who think that women are too emotional and incapable of dealing with war or critical situations. Although this idea is largely wrong. Still, it can repeatedly become an obstacle in the way of American women rising to the presidency. In this view, many analysts believe that female leadership in the US presidency may remain elusive for many more years to come.

The author is a Professor in the Department of Social Work and former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Rajshahi University. E-mail: [email protected]

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Dhaka: More than 15 lakhs Rohingyas who have taken refuge in Cox's Bazar are frustrated because they cannot return to their homeland in Myanmar. Terrorism and deprivation surround them. Moreover, this refugee and homeless population is struggling with a crisis of identity and citizenship. Meanwhile, some Rohingya refugees are coming to Bangladesh every day by water and land after being attacked by rebel armed groups in the Arakan or Rakhine state of Myanmar. In this situation, a new political dream has been seen centered on refugee life.

The refugee camps in Ukhia and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar are said to be the largest refugee camps in the world. After visiting the camp and adjacent areas for a few days in mid-October, no one saw a ray of hope in their eyes or faces. The locals are just as frustrated as the Rohingyas. No one knows when people will be able to return to their homeland. Many are thinking about a new course of action.

The young man Abdus Salam knows a little Bengali. Describing the inhumane conditions inside the camp, he said, "I am somehow surviving. The situation is deteriorating day by day. How long will I stay like this?"

Rohingya researcher Shafiullah believes, "As new crises arise in the world, the international focus is gradually shifting away from the Rohingya. As the Rohingya crisis continues and the international community's attention shifts elsewhere, financial support for the Rohingya has decreased and those concerned are facing financial difficulties to continue the programs they are running."

He said, "The number of health centers in the Rohingya camps has decreased from 160 to 120, and the current health centers have also been forced to significantly reduce their services due to the financial crisis. The amount allocated for the Rohingya has also decreased significantly."

Locals believe, "Due to poverty, deprivation and despair, the Rohingya are getting involved in criminal activities. Many of them are being forced to participate in drug, arms and human trafficking. Many are also being linked to terrorism. Alternative measures need to be taken to end this situation immediately."

These statements are largely true. Inter-group armed clashes often take place in the camps. On Monday (October 21) morning, 3 members of the same family were shot dead after entering a house in Ukhiya's Rohingya camp No. 17. Often, 15-20 unidentified miscreants raid the camp from the S-4 and B-7 block areas adjacent to Lal Pahar of the extended camp-20 under the Walapalong police camp. Local people are also scared and terrified because of this.

Although several Rohingya organizations are interested in repatriating the Rohingya, they have given some conditions. One of which is granting Myanmar citizenship to the Rohingyas and repatriating them safely to their respective homes. According to them, 'Why go to the place where we fled with our lives if we do not get security for our lives?'

Elderly Rohingya Shakur Mahmud said, 'We cannot knowingly return to the face of death unless we get security assurance through international assistance.'

Meanwhile, neither the Myanmar government nor the Arakan Army (AA), which occupies Arakan or Rakhine Province, recognizes the Rohingyas as citizens of Myanmar. According to them, the Rohingyas are outsiders. But the Rohingya claim that, 'Historically, they are residents of the Arakan region. They have a fighting contribution to the national history of Myanmar. But due to ethnic hatred, they have been forced to flee the country due to genocide and persecution. They have a birthright in Arakan. Their land, resources, businesses and ancestral graves exist there. They will not give up their claim to nationality and citizenship.'

During a discussion with some Rohingya leaders and local people to learn about the 'future of the Rohingya', their new political dream was revealed. They said, 'Out of extreme despair, the Rohingya are turning to terrorism. Severe deprivation is pushing them on a hard path. This situation must be stopped. The Rohingya community, who has taken refuge in various places around the world, including Bangladesh, must be united and international pressure and campaign must be started for their repatriation. World public opinion must be created against the Rohingya genocide. It will not be enough to just sit in shelter. We must fight systematically for our demands.'

Despite years of genocide and persecution, the Rohingya people, who have been homeless in refugee camps, are suffering from terror and deprivation, but the glimmer of new and positive political dreams among them is giving birth to a hopeful future.

Dr. Mahfuz Parvez: Associate Editor, Barta24.com; Professor and Chairman, Department of Political Science, University of Chattogram and Executive Director, Chattogram Centre for Regional Studies, Bangladesh (CCRSBD).