Regional Rule Still Practiced in Rohingya Documentation

Contrary to NLD’s stand over the naming of Rohingya, household lists and birth certificates are being issued to Rohingya in Sittwe labeling them racially as Bengali, in the wake of the continued attempt to Bengalize Rohingya ethnically.

On Dec. 7, 2019, the township directorate from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population ordered IDP camp in-charges to issue household lists, NV Cards, and birth certificates and begin e-ID process.

As Rohingya normally refuse to cooperate if the government openly tries to label them as Bengali, this time it used a tricky tactic that the form distributed to the IDPs has no “race” column.

When the documents were delivered, the people, as they said, are shocked to see their race written as “Bengali”.

In addition, it’s also specifically mentioned in an additional note that “strictly this household list is not related to the ownership of any land, structure, or house.”

In the birth certificate aw well, it is highlighted that “this certificate should never be a proof of citizenship.” making them documented stateless.

After the fallen Lady of Myanmar came to office, she urged the government to call this minority “Muslim from Rakhine” escaping the complicity between “Rohingya” and “Bengali”. During the ICJ hearings, she is also seen adhering to her previous stand, as she mentioned neither of the controversial terms.

Though the term “Bengali” as a race name referring to Rohingya was or is not in the history, any constitution, or any bill passed through in the parliament, it’s being used in the official documentation. It is a creation of military regime and pioneers of Bamar Supremacy.

In an interview with RVision Rohingya, the ex-MP U Shwe Maung described this practice to be under “regional rule” that Myanmar’s successive governments have been practicing in Arakan State to treat the Rohingya.

He also added that the local authorities of Arakan always don’t rule this Muslim population with a common law of the central government but with regional order or personal will of the immediate in-charges enjoying full freedom, impunity and lack of accountability.

Maung finally affirmed that this is the secret instruction and policy of the central government and is an aspect of genocide, “something is said publicly but done practically is else”.