TELL ME, WHAT IS WRONG IN CONTEMPORARY BURMA?

Dr. Abid Bahar

Burma's ethnic problems is over half a century's old. Rohingyas are a tiny minority who in Burma live mostly in the Arakan state in Western Burma. There are records of genocidal campaign against Rohingyas going on from the 30's. It is obvious that under many decades of xenophobic military rule with majority of Burma's people not over 5th graders and Burmese military's 30% personnel from hardcore ultra nationalist Rakhine Mogh background one can't expect something better either from the government or from the Rakhine populace for the racially different Rohingya community. As a result the ever present perpetrators now blame the victims as the perpetrators. Every indication shows that the present massacres were systematically planned and executed by Rakhine leaders one that is frequently mentioned in the media is Dr. Aye Chan. He has characterized Rohingyas a "influx viruses" requiring extermination." He is known in the Rohingya community as the "Doctor of death." (1)

FROM A RUMOR TO A DEADLY MASSACRE IN ARAKAN

Dr. Abid Bahar Ph.D.

Muslims in Burma are only 5% of the total population and they have been almost always used as escape goats by the military government to distract the attention of the Buddhist majority on the the oppressive military regime. A google search (see the reference) on riots against Muslims in Burma would show, the riots would invariably start on a Muslim rape charges. Almost always it starts as a rumor and some Muslims are attacked or a mosque is destroyed, followed by a riot. (1) The trend of blaming the victim repeated in Akyub on May 28, when the dead body of a Rakhine woman was found near a Muslim village.

1942 Rohingya Massacre in Arakan Revisited Again in 2012

Dr. Abid Bahar Ph.D.

A lesson needed to be learned by the Rakhine Moghs after it lost its legendary Arakan kingdom that anarchy and hatred against others in society could also be self-inflicting that it creates division within the society causing outsiders to interfere in its internal affairs. However, in the ever decaying Arakan, the Rakhine Mogh refuse to learn and the culture of anarchy continues.  Now the Mogh Rakhines have turned their vigorous menace not against anybody from outside but against the local minorities, particularly against the Muslim population of Arakan known as the Rohingyas, thus the cycle of  Rohingya suffering continues. With the culture of anarchy growing to its climax, in 1942 there was a huge bloodbath of Rohingyas in all over Arakan. To the Rohingyas it is still remembered as the Karbalae Arakan (the doomsday in Arakan). Ever since, there has been more organized efforts in 1978, 1992-93 to commit massacre on the Rohingyas of Arakan resulting in the displacement of the Rohingya population all over the world.

Who Won in the Bay of Bengal? Hasina!

Dr. Abid Bahar Ph.D.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on Wednesday 14th March issued its "judgment in the Dispute concerning Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary between Bangladesh and Myanmar."  The dispute concerned the delimitation of the territorial seas, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of these two states in the Bay of Bengal.

Dipu Moni, the Bangladeshi foreign minister, told reporters.“This is a great day for Bangladesh."Hasina claims, she won a battle in the sea. Some Burmese believe ",...the International Tribunal on the Laws of the Sea (ITOLS) in Hamburg, Germany was biased. Myanmar was pariah nation at the given moment and it was a way to punish Myanmar. If the dispute was addressed today the outcome would be different." Other Burmese observers report, "Bangla may have won their disputed deep sea block 11 but Myanmar will still retain Bangla's drawn up gas-field blocks 18, 22, 23, 27 and 28.(1)  

Tell me,what is Rohingya Genocide in Burma?

Dr. Abid Bahar Ph.D.

What is Genocide? What is Rohingya genocide? When did it began? In which part of Burma is this taking place? Are there refugees taking shelter in the neighboring countries? Who are the parties involved?, What should be done about it? Does it have anything to do with Rohingya’s race or religion? Are there democratic minded Rakhines to help stop the crisis?These are some of the questions people are curios to know. Human rights and international UN agencies are curiously waiting to know from the present “democratic” government what measures it is taking to stop genocide in Burma? . 

Understanding the Rohingya People: Similarities and differences between Bengalis and the Rohingya people of Arakan

Dr. Abid Bahar Ph.D.

Historically speaking, due to its location on a racial faultline, Arakan has remained an epicentre of refugee production in the region until our present time. In understanding these phenomena, for historians in particular, I think several dates are significant in the history of Arakan, beginning from 957 AD, through the 1430, 1660, 1666, 1784, 1824 and 1982. In consideration of the above premise, when I say most of the Rohingyas have historically similar background as was with people of Bengal until the 11th century, I mean several things:

1.    Like in Arakan, Bengal was first Hindu then became Mahayana Buddhist. In Arakan, the Mohanuni statue was by the Mahayana Buddhists of the Chandra time and racially people were 100% of Indo-Aryan stock. “The coins of Wasali had the image of Siva engraved on it.” Arakan was known to Indian missionaries as the “Kalamukha” (land of the dark-skinned people). “The second phase of Indianization of Arakan occurred between the 4th and the 6th century AD, by which time the colonists had established their kingdom, and named their capital Vaishali.” By this time Arakan became a Mahayana Buddhist kingdom. As a port city, Vaishali also developed some pockets of Muslim settlements from Arab and Persian

A Brief History of Arakan : From Kingdom to a Colony

Dr. Abid Bahar, PhD

On December 31st 2011, Arakanese Diaspora marked its 227th anniversary of the fall of the famous Arakanese medieval kingdom. Arakan's powerful kingdom was established by King Noromikhla. Arakanese nationals didn’t forget that in 1784 Burmese king Budapaya sent a large army led by his son who mercilessly razed the city to ground and took away the Arakanes symbol of pride - the Mohamini to the Burmese heartland. It was a genocide pure and simple, it was also the end of a kingdom which was known far across the land upto Europe. It was a kingdom that was built by artisans that Noromikhla brought from Gour of Bengal. It was a liberal, civilized kingdom and its citizens prided themselves to be called as the citizens of the great Mrohaung city. The ruling people were known as the Moghs now Rakhine Mogh and others were called as the Kula (Hindus and Muslims) now Rohingya.

Living in the Racial Fault line: Rohingyas Look like Bengalis but are the People of Burma

Abid Bahar Ph.D.

Who are the Rohingyas? An Arakani xenophob named Aye Chan says they are "Bengalis" from Bangladesh, and many of his hoodlum followers even call Rohingyas the "Talibans"; some even call them as "terrorists" perhaps because most Rohingyas are Muslims and some racist people it is easy to find all Muslims as being terrorists. However, research shows that Rohingyas look like Bengalis but aren't Bengalis. If Rohingyas are not Bengalis, who are they?  Rohingyas are a mixture of people beginning from indigenous Chandra people of pre 10th century Arakan, and also Rohingyas in them had Arab and Persian traders from the 7th century settled in Arakan, and the Bengali Sultan's soldiers send to Arakan with General Sindi Khan to help restore Noromikhala in the mid-15th century, and finally they also had in their people Bengali slaves captured from lower Bengal during the 16th and early 17th century from raids by Mogh (Rakhine) pirates in the Bay. These flows of people from the north and west of Arakan are recorded in history.

BURMA LIVES IN THE PAST

Dr. Abid Bahar, PhD

( Part of the essay is adapted from Abid Bahar's book "Burma's Missing Dots," 2010) 

Burma is a medium-sized country; rich in mineral resources and agriculture, and the majority of its people are followers of the Buddhist faith. With such material and spiritual assets, it should be a peaceful and prosperous nation, but the reality is different. Burma has become a despotic country with a world-wide reputation for human rights violations and producing refugees. It is now clear that from the time of Burman King Anawrahta’s accession to power, through the advent of military rule in the 1960s until the present day, Burmese rulers have treated ethnic and racial minorities as subject peoples or even aliens. This is the most important idiosyncrasy in Burma’s history; even at the present time, it is causing massive refugee movements to neighboring countries. Seen in this light, Burma’s problem is not primarily a democratic predicament but an ethnic one. In this work, I hope to provide the missing dots to the derisory understanding of Burma presented in the popular media. 

Predominance of Collective Rights in Totalitarian Countries and the Act of Genocide

Dr. Abid Bahar Ph.D.

Most of the events of genocides worldwide are committed in totalitarian countries from the fear in the majority population that they would lose their collective ownership over land. The case in point is present Burma, in former Yogoslavia, Nazi Germany, and Rwanda, These countries have similar history in common. These countries give predominance of collective rights over individual rights.

Whereas in democratic countries individual rights are guranteed through state machineries like police, army, and the court, However, in totalitarian countries the same institutions protect the majority by denying the minority's population's individual rights, to own property, right to education, right to movement etc. In Bangladesh Rakhines who migrated during the British period enjoy these individual rights.

Poem: Anti- Rohingya Racism and Holliganism in Arakan

Dr. Abid Bahar 

Oh holligan man, youuuu the enemy of the nation

You commit holliganism in the state of Arakan

Holliganism in the Bay, ancient Mogh pirates ran 

Now you promote racism in the Burmese province of Arakan

Oh, holligan man, the enemy of the nation!

Oh holliganman, youuuu, the enemy of democracy and the nation

Pungi leader began in the 30's racism in Arakan

Anti Muslim,anti Rohingya riots by his racist holligan

Rohingyas not included in the census of the nation 

Holligans persuded the military to deny Rohingyas as Burmese citizen

Oh, holligan man, the enemy of the nation!

Debate: First Round: Is Aye Chan an academician or an anti-Rohingya?

Dr. Abid Bahar Ph.D.

Dear Arakan Readers:

At first when I began reading Aye Chan, I thought he was a scholar but as I went into details I found out that he has problems dealing "with multiple sides of issues" as is normally the case with xenophobes. You would notice here Aye Chan comments to Dr. Siddiqui and says:

"Main theme is 'Whether these Muslims who call themselves Rohingya are the immigrants from Chittagong District or not.'

I have proved 'They are.' Don't avoid the main topic, Siddiqui, the liar." Aye Chan also identifies himself as "A Challenger for life on this topic." It seems that Aye Chan is more of a Rakhine crusader on this topic than an academician. Unfortunately, the Rakhine extremists use him as a true "academician."

Arakan, the Epicentre of Refugee Production in the Region

Dr.Abid Bahar

Lately, Rakhines of Arakan "Protest against the BBC and demand apology" for showing Rohingyas in the Burma map. But why apology? For showing the Rohingya homeland in Arakan? I understand that BBC knew all about the Rakhine-Rohingya problems and also that the ultranationalist Rakhine's sucess in convincing the Burmese military to declare the Rohingyas as the noncitizens of Burma. Not surprisingly, showing the Rohingya existance in Arakan only flamed the racist fire. But the BBC was polite enough to not say openly that Arakan is the epicentre of refugee production in South Asia and South East Asia and it is the Rakhine-Moghs to blame..

ISLAM IN BUDDHIST ENVIRONMENT: MUSLIM LEADERSHIP AND THE CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES IN BURMA

Dr. Abid Bahar Ph.D.

The region of South East Asia is almost entirely Buddhist. To account for Islam in Burma is to account for Islam in a Buddhist environment. In our contemporary period, surviving as a Muslim in the Burmese Buddhist environment has become very challenging. The biggest challenge before the Muslim leadership seems to be to learn to fight the common local and international stereotypes propagated against Muslims. 

Aye Chan again selling anti Rohingya old snake oil in the new bottle

Dr. Abid Bahar Ph.D.

The Rakhine xenophob Aye Chan is active again and sending out emails about his new discovery. He is not a rocket scientist to discover a new star in the distant horizon. As a xenophob he is crying wolf again. Aye Chan who earned his popularity among people in the anti democracy movement for his anti-Rohingya activities by writing a book called "Influx viruses" identifying the Burmese Rohingya people as being viruses to be exterminated is active again against the Rohingya people with an old piece of paper he found to put down the entire Rohingya people. This time he claims that he found a leaflet he claims produced by a splinter group of the Rohingya community. With this discovery he is vainly identifying this suffering community as being Islamic terrorists. This is not a new revelation by him, please see his previous works where he use to make people surprised about Rohingya people as being "dangerous" in this practice he does pass along old wine in his new bottle. This time he is not even selling wine but snake oil to be precise.

Mystery behind the Chakma and the Rohingya’s linguistic similarities

For "What is this" a Chakma would say "Yian ki?" in Rohingyalish, it is the same "Yian ki." Were the Chakma and the Rohingya ancestors the citizens of the ancient Chandra kingdom of Arakan?                                                                         

CHAPTER 4

Mystery behind the Chakma and the Rohingya’s linguistic similarities

(This excerpt is from Abid Bahar’s book Burma’s Missing Dots-the Emerging Face of Genocide, Ch. 4)

Chakmas are the largest racially Mongoloid people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Thanchingya’s are the close cousin of the Chakmas. Both of the above tribal groups speak in Chittagonian dialect. There is Chakma population also in Burma’s Arakan who also speak in Chittagonian dialect. History of the Chittagonian Chakma shows that they originally arrived from Arakan to Chittagong in the 14th century during the Sultani period. Due to their origin in Arakan, the language was believed to be influenced by Rakhine or the Burmese language, but surprisingly it is a corrupted Chittagonian Bangali.

I have Never Heard of the Name “Rohingya”

Dr. Abid Bahar Ph. D.

Well, the above can't be my statement. Those of you, who know me, know I have been working with the Rohingya people and on Burma for the past 31 years. So I have heard the name “Rohingya” many times. But surprisingly some Burmese people, who lived with the Rohingya people in Arakan and in Burma all their lives are of the claim that they have never heard of the name "Rohingya. It is as if saying “I have never met my brother, I have never seen my sister or even saying I have never seen my neighbor;” It sounds strange to me but not funny. Such assertion about an ethnic group aimed at intentionally ignoring them because you dislike them is called xenophobia, fear of the stranger. When Rohingyas as Burmese are made into strangers by the Rakhine gentlemen like Aye Kyaw, Aye Chan and the monk Ashin Nayaka, it is more than xenophobia; it is racism. It is a matter of extreme intolerance: an idea that also goes against even Buddhism.

Rohingya Nation: Contemporary Problems and Making Certain of the Uncertain Future

(A working paper on the Rohingya people)

Dr Abid Bahar Ph.D.

Historically speaking, Rohingya people have been driven out of Arakan in large numbers from A.D.1784, 1942, 1978, and 1992. But the worst one in the words of FIDH International Federation of Human Rights: The …exodus is a deep, sustained trickle of low visibility. The Rohingyas progressively leave Burma in small groups, families or individuals…. Little by little, the population is being forced to leave Arakan because of a deliberate policy of cleansing." Today over a million people, approximately 200,000 live in Bangladesh, 20,000 in Malaysia and about 700,000 in different Arab countries and smaller numbers in Western countries and in Japan. There are still another 1 and a half million Rohingyas live in Arakan under serious hardship and repression. Burma continues to have anti-Rohingya xenophobic military government. The scenario doesn't look good.

Barbarity in the Bay and the Battered Beast

Dr. Abid Bahar

(Reply to Aye Kyaw’s recent article "The Rohingyas and Rakhing")

Arakan, once a beautiful kingdom in the Bay of Bengal, rose to its fame when it looked to West for help from the Sultan of Bengal. Sultan Jalaluddin’s army reestablished the exiled Arakanese king and helped to establish its historic city Mrohaung. Unlike its Burmese rivals of the time, Arakan’s glorious kings had learnt to develop civilization not as a matter of creating terror through destroying human habitat, raping women, using human beings in forced labor but by knowing the art of civilization; how to be kind to it subjects, encouraging tolerance among communities, be just and to encourage the development of art and literature. In Arakan however, with this beauty was also born a beast.

The reply of Abid Bahar's to U Khin Maung Saw's on “Rohingya”

The “Rohingya”, who are they? The origin of the name “Rohingya”

Abid Bahar:

It is unfortunate that after the invasion of Arakan by the Burmese army in 1784, turning Arakan forever into a tiny province of Burma, Arakan continued to sink in to the level of a place that is pumped up in prejudice and now is famous only for producing refugees. Such is the sign of degradation, evident in its xenophobic site www.Rakhapura.com , its famous historians like Aye Chan and now U Khin Maung Saw (Berlin).

What surprised me is to see how prejudice can blind people's eyes. U Khin Maung Saw wrote an article with the following title "THE "ROHINGYAS" WHO ARE THEY? THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME "ROHINGYA." This gentleman lives in the West, and surprisingly even says jokes like a village joker but pretends like a historian. In the following I will explain how: