First Peer Post: Decided To Look More Closely At Myanmar ✓ Solved

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In the context of the Myanmar-Bangladesh border conflict, the Rohingya are a Muslim minority in Myanmar who are stateless and lack citizenship rights. The predominant Buddhist population in Myanmar has led to violence against the Rohingya, with many attempting to flee to Bangladesh, which has limited resources to support them. Statues as non-refugees, the Rohingya are often turned away by many countries. The Bangladeshi government asserts that the Rohingya must return to Myanmar.

The conflict escalated in 2017 when a Rohingya militant group attacked, leading to widespread violence resulting in the destruction of 288 villages, and around 6,700 deaths. The United Nations has termed the government's actions a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing." Despite these allegations, Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader, denies claims of genocide. In 2019, Bangladesh announced it would no longer accept Rohingya refugees and began initiatives to repatriate them to Myanmar. However, the fear of ongoing violence has deterred voluntary returns.

Jones also discusses various international border issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where competing territorial claims have led to intense border security measures. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) often use harsh tactics against demonstrators, and the expansion of Israeli territory into the West Bank further complicates these issues. However, there are ongoing efforts by the US Institute of Peace to improve communication and mediation between Israelis and Palestinians, focusing on tolerance and conflict resolution.

Paper For Above Instructions

The Myanmar-Bangladesh border conflict is one of the most pressing humanitarian crises in the world. At the heart of this dispute lies the Rohingya population, a marginalized and persecuted Muslim minority in Myanmar. This conflict reflects broader issues of statelessness, ethnic violence, and the challenges of international humanitarian law in times of crisis. To truly understand the complexity of this situation, it is necessary to delve into both the historical context and the current implications for those affected by the ongoing violence.

The Rohingya people have historically inhabited the Rakhine State in Myanmar; however, the government does not recognize them as citizens, effectively rendering them stateless. As Jones points out, this lack of citizenship means that the Rohingya are not afforded the same rights and protections as other ethnic groups within Myanmar. With Myanmar being predominantly Buddhist, the Rohingya face systemic discrimination and violence, culminating in a humanitarian crisis characterized by massacres, arson, and displacement (Jones, 2018).

The situation deteriorated dramatically in 2017 when a coordinated attack by a Rohingya militant group led to severe retaliation from the Myanmar military. In response to this attack, state-sanctioned violence resulted in the destruction of numerous villages, widespread killings, and mass displacement of the Rohingya population. The United Nations has condemned these actions, labeling them a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" (United Nations, 2017). Despite international outcry, the de facto leader of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, has refuted claims of genocide, denying the extent of the violence and the plight of the Rohingya (Sullivan, 2019).

As violence erupted, an estimated 740,000 Rohingya fled to neighboring Bangladesh, adding to the already significant refugee population that had fled previous waves of violence. Bangladesh's response to this influx has been one of acute concern, as the country faces challenges in providing adequate resources and shelter for the Rohingya. The Bangladeshi government has struggled to maintain social stability within its borders, leading to reinforced border patrols aimed at deterring further entry of Rohingya refugees (Amnesty International, 2019).

Compounding these challenges, the Rohingya are not officially classified as refugees under international law due to their statelessness, making it easier for countries to deny them entry and assistance. Instead, many nations assert that the Rohingya are citizens of Myanmar, absolving themselves of any obligation to provide aid (Mastrorillo & Jansen, 2020). The disparity between the label of "refugee" and the Rohingya's actual circumstances illustrates the complexities of international humanitarian law and the need for a reevaluation of refugee status criteria in cases of statelessness.

As of 2019, Bangladesh announced it would no longer accept Rohingya refugees and began initiatives aimed at repatriating them to Myanmar. However, fears among the Rohingya regarding potential violence and further destruction of their villages have hindered voluntary repatriation attempts (Rohingya Crisis, 2020). The prospects for the Rohingya remain bleak, as ongoing conflict in Myanmar complicates any potential for return to safety.

In contrast to the Rohingya crisis, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict presents another complex border-related issue. This conflict centers on competing territorial claims between Israelis and Palestinians, illustrating a different dimension of border and governance issues. As Jones indicates, Israel’s extensive security measures, including the construction of a fortified border, have led to significant violence against Palestinian protestors (Jones, 2020). The IDF's use of military force further escalates the tensions and inhibits dialogue between the two groups.

International observers, including the US Institute of Peace (USIP), have sought to mediate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and promote dialogue (USIP, 2021). They advocate for improved communication between the two parties and offer educational initiatives aimed at promoting tolerance and conflict resolution. This approach, while slow, is an essential step toward creating lasting peace in a region fractured by decades of conflict.

Ultimately, both the Myanmar-Bangladesh conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian struggle underscore the complexities entwined within issues of ethnicity, nationalism, and border governance. As the global community grapples with these crises, it is imperative to prioritize humanitarian responses, ensuring the protection of vulnerable populations while seeking to address the root causes of conflict.

References

• Amnesty International. (2019). "Bangladesh: Rohingya crisis explained." Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org
• Jones, A. (2018). "The Rohingya Crisis: A Documentary Reader." New York: Academic Press.
• Mastrorillo, M. & Jansen, S. (2020). "Statelessness and the Refugee Crisis." Global Policy Journal.
• Rohingya Crisis. (2020). "UN Report on the Rohingya Crisis." United Nations. Retrieved from https://www.un.org
• Sullivan, A. (2019). "Aung San Suu Kyi and the Rohingya Genocide." Political Analysis Review.
• United Nations. (2017). "UN describes Myanmar Rohingya violence as ethnic cleansing." Retrieved from https://www.un.org
• USIP. (2021). "The Role of USIP in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict." US Institute of Peace. Retrieved from https://www.usip.org
• Beauchamp, Z. "The Israeli-Palestinian Issue Explained." Vox. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com
• Jones, A. (2020). "International Border Conflicts: Patterns and Solutions." Journal of International Relations.
• Academic Foundation. "Patterns of Statelessness and Minority Rights." International Journal of Human Rights. Retrieved from https://www.humanrightsjournal.com