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The crimes of a few condemn the fate of many
Article
- Aakar patel, Executive Director, Amnesty International has analyses about India’s insensitivity to Rohingya refugee
Important Analysis
- Rohingyas are ethnic muslims who were a minority in Rakhine state of Myanmar. After being pushed out by majority Buddhists, 700,000 of them had to take refuge in neighboring countries of Bangladesh and India.
- However, according to Amnesty International, Rohingya armed group called ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) committed human rights abuses against hindus in Rakhine.
- Thus, both hindus and Rohingyas are victims of human rights’ abuse.
- However, political opportunists have taken the excuse of ARSA’s attacks to push Rohingya’s back to Mynamar, knowing fully well the religious persecution they face at the hands of both state and non-state actors.
- At the same time, Indian government has labelled all 40,000 of them as ‘illegal immigrants’. It has also proposed their forcible return, calling them a threat to national security.
- In the past, GoI has said that best way to address security concerns is to conduct “fair and efficient refugee determination proceedings.”
- In pursuance of this, India has asked UNHCR to determine refugee status of Rohingyas. However, this exercise is futile, given the government’s determination to push all Rohingyas back to Myanmar.
- UN Refugee Convention excludes protection for refugees involved in serious crimes. Thus, it addresses India’s concern regarding ARSA members. However, India is not a party to the convention.
- Lack of sensitivity to Rohingyas’ problems may spoil India’s good record in the matter of asylum seekers’ and refugees’ protection.
