While commenting on the situation of the Rakhine state for the second time Myanmar State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi said that she is trying to implement the Annan commission’s recommendations of ensuring economic development and social justice. However, though it is urged in the recommendation of the commission to ensure citizenship of the Rohingya people to overcome the Rakhine situation, Suu Kyi did not say anything about this. Meanwhile, Myanmar's National Security Advisor has indicated their negative position on the question of citizenship of the Rohingyas, who don’t have ‘legal citizenship'. He said, ‘The people who are fleeing from Myanmar must give evidence of citizenship if they return to the country.
Under the controversial racist ‘Citizenship Law of 1982’, nearly 1 million Rohingyas of Myanmar had been denied citizenship. In this act, Myanmar’s citizens are divided into three groups of Citizen, Associate and Naturalized. Even the Myanmar government hadn’t recognized them as an ancient ethnic group. People who came after 1823 are called ‘Associates’ and the people who applied newly after 1982 are called ‘Naturalized’. According to the 4th provision of that act, whether any ethnic group is the citizen of Myanmar or not that can be decided by the Council of State, not by the law or court. Because of this law, Rohingya are identified as floating populations.
Urging the Myanmar government to ensure the citizenship of Rohingyas and in the report of the commission led by Kofi Annan, it is said that if the legal complaints of the locals are ignored then they may lean to join the militant organizations. The commission fears that if the human rights of the Rohingya people are not ensured and if they are kept politically and economically marginalized, the northern Rakhine state will turn into a fertile land of militancy.
Suu Kyi said, ‘We are working to restore the peace and harmony of the Rakhine state. It will be resolved very soon.’ However, though in the report of the Annan Commission the citizenship crisis of the Rakhine state is mentioned as a major obstacle to the peace and development, she didn’t pronounce any word about it. Equating the Rakhine state situation with India’s Kashmir issue, Suu Kyi said, ‘We are facing the same problem as India is facing in Kashmir. Our responsibility is to look after our citizens. We do not have many resources in our country. We have to make all arrangements within these limitations.’
In 2012, white cards were issued to ensure Rohingya's voting right. In 2015, it was decided to be withdrawn through the democratic reform process. At that time, in a statement from the presidential office, it was said that the card would automatically be cancelled by March.
According to a report of that time of Myanmar Times, the state-owned media of Myanmar, 5 lakh Rohingyas had that card. At that time the office of the president Thein Sein proposed to make NVC (National Verification Card) for the people who didn’t have citizenship. But according to a report of Frontier Myanmar of that time, only 35,942 people applied for NVC. And in the whole Rakhine state, the card was issued to 7,548 people among 1 million noncitizens Rohingyas. If all of them are Rohingyas who were given NVC, then no Rohingya has legal papers regarding citizenship except these 7,548 people.
In the recommendations of Kofi Annan commission it is stated that ‘Like all countries, Myanmar will need a status for those who reside in Myanmar without being citizens. The rights of non-citizens who live and work in Myanmar need to be regulated. The Government should clarify residency rights and provide associated documentation, which is a common practice around the world. The Government should immediately ensure that those who are verified as citizens enjoy all benefits, rights, and freedoms associated with citizenship.’
Suu Kyi said nothing regarding the citizenship of the Rohingya people. But she said that her country is determined to protect everyone according to the law.
On the other hand, in a report of Myanmar Times, it is said that the national security counselor of Myanmar U Thaung Tun indicated not to return back the Rohingyas who fled from Myanmar in a press conference arranged in the office Aung San Suu Kyi. He did not mention directly about the Rohingya but said, ‘The people who fled Myanmar have to give evidence of how long they had been in Myanmar. If that evidence is true, they may return. But if they are not citizens of Myanmar, then it will not be possible to return back.’
Within a few days of army deployment in the Rakhine state for the clearance operation, on 24 August rebellious Rohingyas attacked at 24 police checkpoints at a time. In that attack and night long clash, 104 militant, police and army personnel died according to the military sources.
Since the attack, the anti-Rohingya operation was strengthened. The UN staff working in the border region of Bangladesh said that to save the life from the ongoing violence in the Rakhine state already 1,46,000 Rohingya entered into Bangladesh within the 12 days of violence. The Bangladesh Regional Head of World Food Program Mr. Dipan Bhattacharya said the number of Rohingyas fleeing at one stage can reach three lakh.
It is to be noted that a commission led by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was formed last year to investigate Rohingya situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state. State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of the Myanmar's D Facto government appointed Kofi Annan as the head of the commission. Earlier, Suu Kyi pledged to imply the recommendation of her commission.
