Lesson 3/45 min
The Rohingya crisis and famous names of Myanmar
Rakhine and the Rohingya
- The Rohingya are a Muslim community living in Myanmar's Rakhine state. In Bangladesh they are called Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (Zubair's book: Displaced People of Myanmar).
- Rakhine was formerly called Arakan; its capital is Sittwe (Akyab). The word “Rakhine” comes from the Pali “Rakkhapura”.
- Two communities live in Rakhine: Buddhist Rakhine (called ‘Magh’ in Bangla) in the south, and the Rohingya in the north.
- Rohingya also live in Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung and nearby townships.
- In mainland Myanmar many people use the contemptuous word “Kala” for them.
Stages of the crisis
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1978 | During ‘Operation Dragon King’ the Rohingya first flee to Bangladesh |
| 1982 | The military government's citizenship law strips the Rohingya of citizenship |
| 25 August 2017 | The army begins ‘clearance operations’; hundreds of thousands cross into Bangladesh |
| 5 September 2017 | Over the Rohingya issue the Maldives cuts trade ties with Myanmar (date as given in the book) |
| 4 December 2020 | The first group of Rohingya is moved from Cox's Bazar to Bhasan Char, Noakhali |
More facts
- The world's largest refugee camp is in the Ukhiya–Teknaf area of Cox's Bazar (Kutupalong).
- ARSA stands for Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army; it was earlier called the ‘Faith Movement’ and locally ‘Harakah al-Yaqin’. Myanmar's government calls it a terrorist organisation.
- In 2019 The Gambia filed a genocide case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The court rejected Myanmar's objection and proceeded; the judgment is scheduled for 19 November 2026 (per reports).
- In 2024 the ICC (International Criminal Court) prosecutor asked for an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing.
Watch out: The ICJ hears genocide cases against states; the ICC tries individuals for crimes. One admission-test question names the ICJ as the court for a “criminal investigation”, which is not accurate.
Famous people of Myanmar
| Name | Known for |
|---|---|
| Aung San | Father of the nation; founder of the modern Burmese army; studied at Yangon University; signed the independence agreement with British PM Attlee in 1947; assassinated in 1947 |
| Aung San Suu Kyi | Daughter of Aung San; ‘Mother of democracy’; founder of the NLD; studied at Oxford; Nobel Peace Prize 1991; Congressional Gold Medal 2008; State Counsellor 2016–2021; held since 2021 |
NLD, film and famous places
- NLD = National League for Democracy; founded on 27 September 1988 by Aung San Suu Kyi.
- The film about Suu Kyi is “The Lady” (director Luc Besson).
- Ava (Inwa): the Ava kingdom was founded in 1364; the Shan confederation led by Mohnyin captured it in 1527; famous for its ancient ruins.
- Insein Prison, in Yangon, is a notorious jail.
Check yourself
In which year did the Rohingya lose their citizenship in Myanmar?
At a glance
- 1
The Rohingya lost citizenship in 1982; they first came to Bangladesh in 1978.
- 2
The army's clearance operations began on 25 August 2017; the first transfer to Bhasan Char was on 4 December 2020.
- 3
Rakhine was formerly Arakan; its capital is Sittwe.
- 4
ARSA: Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, earlier called the Faith Movement.
- 5
The NLD was founded on 27 September 1988; Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2008.
- 6
Aung San is the father of Myanmar's nation; he was assassinated in 1947.