How can one justify that Myanmar/Burma is, in fact, the Rohingya people's ancestral land?
All history books across the board agree that there were several dynasties in Arakan areas which for centuries extended on both sides of the Naf river. Today this area is marked by the coastal regions around the Burmese and Bangladesh border.
At the Harvard Conference on Genocide Professor Amartya Sen, who won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998, said that "Rohingya did not come to Burma, Burma came to Rohingyas." He was referring to the fact that the Arakanese kingdom was conquered on December 31, 1784, by the Burmese Konbaung Dynasty which was then conquered by the British later.
The existence of mosques and pagodas on both sides of the border point to the fact of this area was always occupied by populations of Muslims and Buddhist.
Burma Task Force has conducted 120 plus interviews of Rohingya refugees. Majority of them were in Rohingya villages through the 80s and 90s. When asked about their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, it was revealed that about 90% of them have been residing in the same Rohingya villages for more than four generations back. Less than 10% were born in other villages still located in the Rakhine state (formally officially called Arakan). In one such village, Tula Toli, where almost 1,700 people were murdered, there were no Rakhine Buddhist there until in 1955 when the government brought them there.
At the Harvard Conference on Genocide Professor Amartya Sen, who won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998, said that "Rohingya did not come to Burma, Burma came to Rohingyas." He was referring to the fact that the Arakanese kingdom was conquered on December 31, 1784, by the Burmese Konbaung Dynasty which was then conquered by the British later.
The existence of mosques and pagodas on both sides of the border point to the fact of this area was always occupied by populations of Muslims and Buddhist.
Burma Task Force has conducted 120 plus interviews of Rohingya refugees. Majority of them were in Rohingya villages through the 80s and 90s. When asked about their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, it was revealed that about 90% of them have been residing in the same Rohingya villages for more than four generations back. Less than 10% were born in other villages still located in the Rakhine state (formally officially called Arakan). In one such village, Tula Toli, where almost 1,700 people were murdered, there were no Rakhine Buddhist there until in 1955 when the government brought them there.
Why is this more than just ethnic cleansing, why call it a genocide?
"Ethnic cleansing" as a term does not exist in any book of law. Whereas the term Genocide is defined by the Convention on Genocide as well as in American law as punishable crimes. You can read more about this on our Campaign to call it genocide page.
What is the current % of raped women?
52% of women who were surveyed as the UN published. This is still the only report on the issue. The UN said it is underestimated and we agree. Most Rohingya women don't prefer to talk about their trauma. A female board member of Doctors Without Borders who worked with Rohingya women for two months told us "[she] has been in 7 war zones and...not seen anything like this anywhere."
What is the amount of calories being provided in the Myanmar concentration camps, how can we prove it's lower than that in the Nazi concentration camp?
This is the research of Professor Penny Green of the Queen Mary University Law School London.
Any updates on calories in BD camps?
No research exists. However, UNICEF has some information on the issue.
How are the orphans reacting to mental health issues?
Unfortunately, this aspect of the crisis situation not being addressed. We do know that many children are taking care of their younger siblings and acting as head of the family since no adult is left in their life.
Can we justify the imbalance, example the doctor's ratio between the Rohingya population and the Buddhist population of Burma?
It is unjustifiable. The reason for these imbalances is that Burma has implemented an apartheid system with its anti-muslim and anti-Rohingya policies.
What do the Rohingya refugees say about repatriation?
They want to go back with security and citizenship. You can see the two positions adopted by Rohingya leaders here.