It is not yet safe for the Rohingya to return to Myanmar. The invitation to return to Myanmar will result in additional herding for death. I would not expect the circumstances to change.
Ethnicities: Rakhine, Rohingya, Kaman, Mro, Khami and others
Religions: Theravada, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and others
The return of 700,000 people require land with buildings or building materials with enough talent in building homes to make the return of human beings realistic. There needs to be a Mosque built in full view of those returning as an expression of safety and freedom. There is absolutely no reason for the Rohingya to trust the government of Myanmar; the trust the government and Rohingya need has to be expressed in a welcome both can believe.
There needs to be officials that are Rohingya by birth. Police and temporary leaders are to by Rohingya and not any form of Myanmar authorities. The Rohingya authorities, including law enforcement, are to be armed in the same manner found in other Myanmar settlements. The Rohingya children will require schools with classrooms staffed by born to the Rohingya ethnicity. There is to be no threat to any returning Rohingya.
Elections of local authorities have to be planned within the first year.
What concerns me as an American is the fact we have a President that has expressed openly disdain for Muslims in general. He has placed a Muslim ban on air travel without any provocation and has increasingly refused the migrants and/or refugees from Muslim countries. I am sorry to say the USA is probably worthless to these people and their tragedy. After all, the Trump White House has the motto: "I really don't care, do you?" (click here for jacket on sale for $42.39 on Amazon). Any assistance is left to the religious organizations within the USA for assistance in monies for building supplies, sanitation, food, clothing, household needs and books for learning.
The actual peace for the Rohingya is another effort entirely. In 2012, the Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhines (Buddhists; majority) clashed causing deaths, injuries and displacement of Rohingya people. This is a classic example of how the minority population is viewed as the enemy and then officially acted upon to displace them forever.
With violent clashes underway the Myanmar government moved troops to end the violence. The military took up sides and provided enough information about the Rohingya to the government to classify these people as non-citizens. The Rohingya being driven from their homeland were officially stated to be displaced Bangladeshis and not citizens at all of Myanmar.
There will be a lengthy process in rebuilding the history of those dead, but, citizens just the same. A memorial to the dead must be displayed where government buildings stand as a reminder to the horror misplaced authority can bring.
Kofi Annan's last words regarding this crisis (see above):
We propose a ministerial-level appointment to be made with the sole function of coordinating policy on Rakhine State and ensuring the effective implementation of the Rakhine Advisory Commission's recommendations. The appointee should be supported by a permanent and well-staffed secretariat, which will be an integral part of the Central Committee on Implementation of Peace and Development in Rakhine State and support its work.
July 24, 2018
Doh Athan
The crisis in Rakhine State (click here) has dominated headlines about Myanmar for the past year. While Myanmar’s government has said it is ready to begin the process of repatriating the estimated 700,000 people who fled into Bangladesh, many in the international community argue that conditions on the ground are not conducive to returns taking place.
Last month Doh Athan travelled to northern Rakhine State to speak to local communities – both Muslims and Buddhists – as well as officials to better understand how they feel about potential returns taking place.
