American Chronicle - Myanmar: The refugee factory

American Chronicle - Myanmar: The refugee factory
' Joe Fleishman '
April 15, 2009

Myanmar – the largest nation in South East Asia and one of the poorest nations in the world. But it was not always like this. It had a bright past which ends up in the darkness of poverty. All the wealth that Myanmar had has swollen by their military lead government. To make their way unhindered they have done whatever is needed. They brutally suppressed country´s movement for democracy, kept democratic leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi captive for many years. Yet there is any sign of releasing her.

Day by day Burma´s military government is causing trouble not only in their country its neighbors are also facing significant trouble handling Myanmar refugees. In 1991 more than a million Rehinga refugees from Myanmar´s northern region flee to the neighboring Bangladesh. At that time Bangladesh and Myanmar were about to start a war.

Fortunately that conflict was solved by dialog but still more than 30 thousand Myanmar refugees are living in Bangladesh. They are causing huge social and political problem for that country. People of Northern Myanmar speak Bangla - the official language of Bangladesh. They are Muslim like Bangladeshi people and they look like Bangladeshi people. So they can easily camouflage with the society –hiding their identity, make it difficult for the government to separate who is refugee and who is not. These refugees are hired for low payment by the local companies resulting local people to face trouble to get standard payment.

Another dangerous part of these Myanmar refugees is those who are not getting any job or don´t have a certain future -they are shaking their hand with the Islamic terrorists. Islamic militants are selecting them increasing growing concern for the country.

Another group of these people of Northern Myanmar took to the ocean. They use small boat to cross Bay of Bengal to reach another Muslim nation Malaysia. Some of them are use Thailand as their transit point. Thai authorities reacted very offensively to prevent flooding of refugees. CNN and some other news media have focused how Thai officials push Myanmar refugees in to the open ocean without any food and water. Most of these refugees are never seen again. Many countries and United Nation has expressed their concern about this incidence. Thai government has rejected the accusation but also said they would investigate. However only a handful of people could ultimately made it to Malaysia.

These movements of refugees are an agonizing issue for its neighbors. For the international rule they cannot do much but it is also very difficult to stay quite. Some sources said, Myanmar is once again accumulating troops in northern Arakan region threatening once again another outbreak of refugees to the neighbors. Myanmar sounds they have little headache for the feelings of the neighbors.

Myanmar is isolated from the international community. There are many sanctions have imposed on this impoverish nation. Sanctions came from west and United Nations –which has little effect on Myanmar government. Diplomatic effort does not work here. Some countries like China are behind the Myanmar government. Myanmar has no problem to work with its fellow ASIAN nations –many of which are ruled by such dictators. Military rulers are having not problem to deal with sanctions. Without the effort from all the courtiers miseries in Myanmar is far from over.