Abstract:
This doctoral dissertation explores the multifaceted dimensions of the crisis, aiming to find
out whether the atrocities committed against the predominately Muslims ethnic minority
Rohingya community in Myanmar (former Burma) constitute religious persecution or ethnic
cleansing. The issue of Rohingya crisis emerged as a major humanitarian disaster to
international prominence since 25 August 2017, when organized violence forced over
723,000 Rohingya to cross the border to save their lives and seek shelter in Bangladesh.
While other research has examined the different social-economic, psychological, health, food
security, humanitarian crisis, repatriation, and other aspects of the Rohingya crisis, this study
aims to give a holistic analysis of whether it has been religious persecution or ethnic
cleansing. The secondary aim consists of identifying the root causes behind this
ethnoreligious conflict and reflecting on whether this crisis represents religious persecution
and if it can be referred to as ethnic cleansing. Particular attention is paid to exploring why the
Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) has used a 'total exclusionary' strategy and considering
how religious identity is intertwined with sectarian violence.
The central research questions of the study are: (a) How does the issue of religious
persecution or ethnic cleansing lead to the Rohingya crisis? (b) Why do Myanmar's military
governments consider the Rohingya illegal immigrants, rendering them stateless through total
exclusionary theory? However, the associated sub-questions were ((a) What led to the ethnic
and religious tensions between the Rohingya in Myanmar? (b) What are the historical and
socio-political factors involved? (c) What policies are applied for social segregation of the
Rohingya people? (d) What military and government operations in Myanmar exemplify its
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policy on the Rohingya as ethnic cleansing? (e) What strategies and motivations did the
Myanmar military use in their total exclusion policy? It is important to address these
questions because there is a little research available regarding the ethnoreligious dimension of
the Rohingya crisis.
Lessons from this research can provide guidance for global solutions in addressing the
ongoing humanitarian crisis to ensure that these types of atrocities should not occur again
against any other ethnic communities. It can also assist national, international and regional
policy-level institutions such as the governments of Bangladesh, Myanmar and India
including, ASEAN, EU, SAARC and OIC in advocating the restoration of their citizenship
rights, ensuring a safe return to Myanmar, and accountability from those responsible for
human rights abuses.
Accordingly, this thesis presents the findings based on 65 in depth interviews from Rohingyas
using semi-structured open-ended questioner across three selected camps intend to cover old
and new refugee in Cox's Bazar as primary data. Additional data was obtained from 14
experts, mostly scholars including university professors, researchers, and INGO professionals.
Secondary sources of information were also incorporated to analyze existing literature and
documents. The significant findings of this study show that the gradual change in
demography, imbalanced land settlement, and above all, monopolization of opportunity to the
new immigrants gave rise to antagonism between local Buddhist Rakhine and Rohingya
Muslims when the Colonial British authority adopted migration policy in northern Rakhine
after
the first Anglo-Burmese War in 1825. The overwhelming socio-economic
discrimination, also religious and cultural differences fueled this crisis historically. The
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British divide-and-rule policies further deteriorated these issues by creating ethnic and
religious divisions. Violence has also been pushed by religious ideologies and political
ambitions, further deepening the crisis.
This study found that the intention of establishing an Islamic state in northern Arakan jolted
an ethnoreligious mistrust and conflict between the two communities in pre-independent
Burma. Accordingly, with the advent of the Burma nation-state and Burman radical
nationalism, the discriminatory laws and policies against the Rohingya Muslims unveiled the
face of religious persecution that turned into a deliberate act of utmost ethnic cleansing.
Moreover, these findings underline the multifaceted nature of this conflict, with a certain
combination of historical resentment, economic motives, religious and political manipulation
contributing collectively to the long-term instability.
The thesis concludes that religious persecution is a part of the Rohingya crisis and, that
confirms the ethnic cleansing of this community. Therefore, this study declares the argument
that the Rohingya have been persecuted due to their religious beliefs and practices as Muslims
including their ethnicity i.e. as non-Burman. The state policy and armed forces supported
offenses anti-Rohingya resentment are ethnically and religiously driven. Moreover, this crisis
demonstrates the pressing necessity for international action, legal reforms in Myanmar, and
processes to ensure justice and protection of the Rohingya community.