Speakers attending the discussion recognised that the ongoing civil war in Myanmar is spreading to bordering areas and is posing security threats to the neighbouring countries of Myanmar, like Bangladesh and India and that the situation would get more complicated if Rohingyas joined hands with the Arakan Army.
A discussion on the “Current Crisis of Myanmar and Its Impact on Neighbouring Region”, organised by the Center for Peace Studies (CPS) of the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, concluded that the Rohingya crisis is imposing serious security threat to countries that share a border with Myanmar.
Kyaw Zaw, spokesperson and adviser to the President of National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar said that genuine repatriation of Rohingyas cannot be possible with the military regime in power in Myanmar.
About the NUG’s position, he said, ‘We pledge full individual and collective rights, including full citizenship, for the members of the Rohingya community’.
He said the NUG acknowledged the violence and human rights violations inflicted on the Rohingyas by the military, including the forced displacement of hundreds and thousands.
Promising immediate repatriation of the displaced people, he said, genuine repatriation will not take place as long as the present ‘genocidal military junta’ is in power.
“And our government also committed to abolishing all the discriminatory laws, including the 1982 citizenship law,” he said, adding, “What we do know is that the first thing we need is to win. We need to topple this brutal military government and end this military dictatorship to build a federal democracy.”
He claimed that the NUG is the most inclusive government in history as it has cabinet ministers from all ethnic groups, including the Rohingyas.
About the policy of NUG, he said, “I can assure you that there will be no more Balkanisation, because we all are united not only against the brutal military but also in building genuine federal democracy”.
On the current civil war, he said, the NUG fighters, called as the People’s Democratic Force (PDF), have turned the tide against ‘the criminal, brutal military’ because of their bravery, commitment, and professionalism.
“And as you may remember, almost everyone believed that as the Myanmar military is one of the strongest armed forces in Southeast Asia, they cannot be defeated by the people’s movement… but now, everybody is saying that the military is collapsing.”
“We have captured over 500 military bases across Myanmar, and six major generals and over 4000 troops have also surrendered,” he added.
Speakers attending the discussion recognised that the ongoing civil war in Myanmar is spreading to bordering areas and is posing security threats to the neighbouring countries of Myanmar, like Bangladesh and India and that the situation would get more complicated if Rohingyas joined hands with the Arakan Army.
