Rohingyar

A mixture of Bangali-Sanskrit-Rakhine languages in Rakhine [Arakan] State in the earlier time where people may have coined the word: 'Rooinga' or 'Ruïnga', or, literally and locally speaking, all Muslim in Rakhine State are referred to as Rooinga since 18th Century.

Rakhine State has a total population of [2010 est.] 3,836,000; and the ethnic diversity is: Rakhine, Kaman, Chin, and Islamic Bengalis.  The main religion in the area are: Theravada Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.

The Government of Burma do not have the habit of taking census on regular basis. In 2002 estimates, Rakhine State consists of four districts, showing areas and officially estimated populations: Sittwe [12,504 Sq km; 1,099,568 population]; Maungdaw [3,538 Sq km; 763,844 population]; Kyaukphyu [9,984 Sq km; 458,244 population]; Thandwe [10,753 Sq km; 296,736 people] - Total Rakhine State: 36,778 Sq km; with 2,915,000 total population. Combined, these districts have a total of 17 townships and 1,164 village-tracts. Sittwe is the modern day capital of the state.

The difference between 2002 estimates and 2010 estimates in the population statistics is: [3,836,000 - 2,915,000 = 921,000] which is something queer to make a note. Would the birth rate could be that high in 8 years' time span, 31.6% increased?

Rakhine was an independent kingdom until 1784-85 when the last Burmese Dynasty Konebaung invaded and dethroned the Rakhine King. With the Treaty of Yandabo {Rendezvous} [1826], which ended the first Anglo-Burmese War, Burma was forced to cede Rakhine [Arakan] along with Tanintharyi [Tenasserim] to British India. The British made Sittwe [Akyab] the capital of Rakhine. Later on, Rakhine became part of the province of Burma of the British Indian Empire, and then part of British Burma when Burma was made into a separate Crown Colony. Since then the influx of people from India into Burma, at that time Bangladesh had not existed, as yet,  was quite steady and continuous with no apparent hindrances.

According to the British statistics there were 30,000 Muslims in Rakhine State in 1825 but by 1930 Muslim population increased to 217,800, an increase of 626 %. Though alarming and forewarned the British Government ignored the potential racial conflicts and tensions.

The ethnic Rakhine is the majority. Rakhine  comprises [7] different ethnic  groups:  Rakhine, Kamein, Kwe Myi, Daingnet, Maramagyi, Mro, and Thet. The Rakhine reside mainly in the lowland valleys as well as Yam-byair and Mahn Aung islands. A number of other ethnic minorities like the Chin, Mro, Chakma, Khami, Dainet, Bangali and Maramagri inhabit mainly in the hill and northern regions of the state.

In such a small area ethnic diversity is quite high, so to speak, and the Rakhine, the native, and the Muslims - the new comers, especially, have never been gelled. The animosities between the two has always been high.

This small area could probably be dubbed as the Land of Detest; Rakhine Vs Muslims from the time way back in the history; and Rakhine dislike Burmese in their heart of hearts because not only Burmese dethroned their King, destroyed their Kingdom but stolen or misappropriated their most revered Buddha statues, Mahar Myat Muni from Rakhine to Burma after the military expedition. 

  

The quagmire Burma is facing at present is nothing new but partly responsible by the present day people that are populated in the Rakhine State, however, the Immigration, Army and Police officials are more responsible than the people. It was the British who had created all unexplainable and intricate problems not only to Burma but also for most parts of the world.

Burma's Population estimated in 2001 was 51 million; however, no census has been taken since 1983. Ethnic groups: Bama 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Arakanese 4%, Chinese 3%, Mon 2%, Indian 2%, other 5%; [many other smaller indigenous ethnic groups form a combined total of 30% of the population]. Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% [Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%], Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%.

Burma have Muslim since the first dynasty, i.e. Pagan Dynasty. A historical source pointed that Nga Yaman Karn [Mr. Rahman Khan], a playmate of the King Anawrahta's son was a Muslim. Nga Yaman tried to grab the State power but failed. Is Anawrahta a Burmese name? I doubt it. The Third King was Kyanzittha, what language and name was that; Chinese? In that lineage there was a King, by the name of Nara Thiha Patay. I can not decipher until I came across Marco Polo's Travelogue that mentioned the King Nara Thiha Patay as: Naram Sinham Patil; an Indian name!

At the same circa of Nga Yaman Karn's time we had two famous Indian Muslims in the Anawratha's Court: Byat Wi and Byat Ta. The younger brother Byat Ta served Anawrahta. According to the legion Byat Ta and an Olgress from Mount Poppa got two sons who also served in the Pagan Court. Later on the two young chaps were killed, but Anawratha, utilizing his Majestic prerogatives and power anointed them to be the Nats or Spirits and assigned an area called Taung Pyone to the two kids that were killed. The two Nats, Shwe Phyinn Nyi Naung are one of the most famous Nat Spirits in Burma that many people give their obeisance up to this time.      

We have Muslim in the last Burmese Kaung Baung Dynasty. Under the third last King, Pagan Min, the Mayor of the King's Naypyidor or the Capital City Amarapura was a Muslim by the known name of Bi-Sub [Khun Master, so to speak]. The real name was Sai Yet Khan, a notorious womanizer, rapist,  a crony, a legal dacoit and cock-fighting-mate of His Majesty the Pagan King.

We have Muslim in our Independence struggle. Mr. M. A. Raschid was a Muslim, was the President of the famous Rangoon University Student Union [RUSU] after U Nu in 1937, and had served as Minister in several portfolios beginning '50s until 1962. We had U Razark, a Muslim who was assassinated along with General Aung San on July 19, 1947. However, we do not have or never had Rhohingyar in Burma at all.

Burma have Mohammedans or Muslim; and the British brought in many Bengalis, or Chittagongians or Khor Taw Kalar as menial laborers to employ in the fishery and agricultural sectors and for Rangoon, as Municipal Laborers to clean up the city manure on daily basis. In those days even Rangoon, the capital city, did not have flush toilet; we only have Potty System.

Many Khor Taw were employed on Rhakine State's 80% of the arable land which was used for rice cultivation. Being so close to Bangladesh Chittagongians from Western Bengal of India fluxed into Rakhine State freely with no hindrance where life is much easier than their native towns and villages.

Boothidaung and Maungdorr area have become their concentrated areas and many prominent Muslims rubbed shoulders with the British Rajs. In the '30s a Muslim from that area by the name of Sultan Mahmut served as the Minister for Health in the British Governor's Executive Council for Burma.

After Independence Muslim of Rakhine State adopted a political idea, that was to have Muslim State, and their movement was known as Mujahidin as they claimed themselves as Mujahids. By 1952 there were about 2,000 Mujahid insurgents under arms in Rakhine State, and they controlled Rathedaung and Boothidaung. By 1953 Mujahid had smoked out to a mere 300 under Government's mopping up offensive.

  

Rakhine had 6 seats for the Lower House of Parliament after Independence. Rakhine or Arakanese National United Organization [ANUO] had won all 6 seats in consecutive elections. One of the MPs by the name of Sultan Mahmut, an independent MP from Bootheedaung-Maung Dor area or member of ANUO along with all Rakhine MPs solidly voted for Nu-Tin faction in Parliament at the time Non-confidence motion was submitted by the splinter AFPFL faction led by U Ba Swe and U Kyaw Nyein in 1956. U Nu did not courted the Rakhine MPs to gain votes but the Rakhine MPs found U Nu to be more amicable to them and voted for him. Non-confidence debaters were defeated. 

The term Rhohingyar came into use in the '50s by the educated Bangali residents from the Mayu Frontier Area. The term cannot be found in any historical source or documents in any language before then. However, migration to and fro between Rakhine and Bengal had taken place, for example, between 1784-1824 Rakhine was under Burmese rule and Rakhine were ruthlessly suppressed and therefore there were about 35,000 Rakhine fled to Chittagong District in British India. Even now there are Rakhine villages in Bangladesh.

Rakhine nationalism and Muslims's political fervor in Rakhine to form an independent Rakhine State and Muslim State respectively is brewing from the very beginning Burma came into existence as an independent country.  

Rakine leader U Seinda, on April 1, 1947 at an All Arakan Conference, with a fervent support of Thakin Soe's Red Flag Communist Party declared Bogyoke Aung San as an opportunist and later on joined the rebellion. Another Arankanese, U Hla Tun Pru at a Meeting in Rangoon demanded to form 'Arakanistan' for the Arakanese people.

Under the guise of Jihad Muslim Moulovis encouraged people in the remote area to commit banditry, arson, and rapes after January 1948. Mujahid, a prelude to Rhohingyar, started Muslim Liberation Organization [MLO] in March 1946, under the leadership of Chittagongian Zaffar Kawal. By May 1948  a conference was held in Garabyin Village, Maungdor District and the Mujahid Party was formed. Some arms were brought in from Chittagong area. Kawal became the Commander in Chief and his Lieutenant was Abdul Husein, a former police corporal from the Akyab District.

Dated June 9, 1948 Mujahid Party, in Urdur, sent a seven point letter to the Government of the Union of Burma; at the time U Nu was Prime Minister, demanding [only the two prominent demand are included in this study]:

1. Area between the west bank of Kaladan River and the east bank of Naaf River be recognized as the National Home of the Muslim in Burma;

2. Muslims in Arakan must be accepted as the nationalities of Burma.

U Nu's Government, I believe, did not even respond to the demand.

Burmese or Arakanese do not have much qualms of peaceful co-existence with Muslim, or Hindu or Chinese though they all are foreigners. But, the Muslims are variably different from other foreigners that came and dwelled on our land. Unlike other nationalities they married Burmese-Buddhist girls, converted them, and for that matter they were urged and supported by the foreign organizations. That behavior is one of the main crux of the problems. Blaming Buddhist monks is quite unfair and unfounded because as monks and as Buddhist it is their fervent religious responsibility to prevent the 'conversion' of Buddhists into other religion.

This particular ethnic group would not satisfy with their peaceful 'permanent stay' status, for example, they have to be known as the 'Muslims of Arakan' and had to declare 'Urdur' is their language; and when their demands were ignored the Mujahids destroyed villages in the northern part of Maungdor Township. On July 19, 1948 Mujahids attacked Ngapruchaung and villages in the Maungdor Township and the Buddhist monks, the most revered highest order in the Buddhist hierarchy were kidnapped and asked for ransom.

On July 15, 1951 All Arakan Muslim Conference was held for two days at Alethangyaw Village and published: The Charter of the Constitutional Demands of the Arakani Muslims; in which 'the balance of power between the Muslim and the Arankanese, two major races of Arakan, [where] north Arakan should be immediately formed a free Muslim State as equal constituent Member of the Union of Burma like the Shan State, the Kareni State, the Chin Hills, and the Kachin Zone with its own Militia, Police and Security Forces under the General Command of the Union.' Such behavior of any ethnic group is unfit to be part and parcel of the Union. 

Up until to this juncture Muslims are addressing themselves as Muslims of Arakan. For the first time the word Rhohingyar appeared in the annals of Burma was in the Guardian Daily newspaper on August 20, 1951 in an article 'The Sudeten Muslims' written by an MP from Boothidaung. However, when U Nu's Clean AFPFL Government introduced the Bill to form Mon and Rakhine States in the Parliament in 1960 Muslim MPs from Boothidaung, and Maungdor Townships not only objected but denounced the Bill and demanded for the establishment of Rhohingyar State.

Political scenario of Burma changed after 1962 coup. After massive nationalization of 1964 under Ne Win's dictatorial military regime over 100,000 Indians and over 12,000 Pakistanis left Burma for good. But, the Muslims that were engaged in the agricultural sector in the northern Arakan State were not affected since they were issued with National Registration Cards.

In 1973 when a referendum for the new constitution was implemented under the Revolutionary Council Muslims from Mayu Frontier submitted a proposal that a separate Muslim State or at the very least a Division be created. May be, as the result, in 1974 election, Muslim, mostly Bengalis from Mayu Frontier were denied the right to elect their representatives to the Lower House of Parliament.

On July 15, 1972 with the arms and ammunition flowed in from Bangladesh an All Party Rhohingyar Congress was held at the Bangladesh-Burma Border and called for Rhohingyar National Liberation.

Under 1982 Citizenship Law citizenship was granted to those who had or who could prove that their ancestors had lived in Burma before the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1824. Thus many Muslim became aliens in Rakhine State. However, 24.3 % were categorized as Muslims and 67.8 % were categorized as Arakans in Rakhine State as reported by the Immigration and Manpower Dept in 1987.

Though the Arakan-Muslim problem was brought in by the British it would be quite incomplete if we omit the myopic Burmese authorities at the Bangladeshi-Burma Border who have the discretionary arbitrary power in issuing the National Registration Cards. Newly minted young Immigration Officer or well seasoned Immigration Officers regarded the posting to the Bangladesh-Burma Border as winning the State Lottery multiply. Thus Rakhine State have many Muslim illegal immigrants or the Border Crossers, uncontrollably through bribery. The rates in Kyat for legalization of illegal Border Crosser: State Level Officer Kyat 1,000,000; Township Level Officer Kyat 300,000 to 500,000; and Group Level Officer Kyat 10,000 to 15,000.    

Burmese do not have much qualms for peaceful co-existence with Chinese or with Muslim as long as the new comers assimilated into the existing traditions and customs where they could keep their religious rites and ritual and building Communal Temple - Joss-houses, or, Mosques.

However, if any ethno-politico group demands for separate, and special preferential treatment, and at the same time raping local damsels here and there, and or, offering special monetary rewards for converting Burmese Buddhist damsels into their religion will always be the cause of troubles, not necessarily racial and ethnic tension or cleansing. Those acts of unnecessary ultra sensitive demands will be looked upon as 'Looking for Trouble'.

Allowing to use the name Rhohingyar over the Burma Broadcasting Services did not construe the recognition as an new entity in the Union. If the existing ethnic Muslims wants to call themselves as Rhohingyra or whatever the existing Government may allow it to be called that way. But, if the name is used as a political banner by any ethno-politico group no Government will ever allow such an endeavor. In every country there is Immigration Law concerning Citizenship. Citizenship comes in some cases naturally and in some cases need application. Rakhine State quagmire can be solved only if both races, Arakan and Muslims accept peaceful coexistence. That will not be that difficult if one race does not rape the women from other race and if retaliation occur, recourse to law and order, not burning down other peoples' houses and kill unnecessarily.

My concluding remark is that the culprits who brought in or allows illegal Bengalis need to find scapegoat especially at the time several Bengalis as well as Rakhine were killed and the Rakhine riot became an international concern.

The culprits found the scapegoat in U Nu. The improper propaganda was used by the suckers, especially the Westerners and the Western Media, who always want to show off their knowledge of the world that they do not understand fully well. Time and again, this line of propaganda was used against U Nu.

If one study thoroughly, the statistics will prove that the propaganda was nothing but a distorted information.

U Aung

March 2, 2013.