Last
year in Ramazan, there was no protruding media buzz over the sufferings and
pains of Rohingya Muslims. Thankfully, media and the international world has
started paying attention to this long neglected genocide and debating on the
acute difficulties faced by the Muslims in Burma.
Now
as Ramazan is just around the corner, Rohingya people are still waiting for
some miraculous change in their fate as the killings of the innocent people
continue. Persecution against the Burmese Muslim
minorities carries on even after voices from far off regions have been raised
against this unreasonable discrimination and violent behaviour of the fanatic
Buddhists towards the Muslim community living in Burma.
Burmese
Muslims are facing issues such as exemptions, driven from their houses and
stripped of the right of vote. Rohingyas, who according to them are the
offspring of the Arab traders, are settled in Burma since centuries. However,
as per the government Rohingyas are not a legitimate ethnic sect.
According
to the ruling authority and the dominating religious groups living in the
place, Rohingyas are the Bengali migrants and have no right to live in Burma,
therefore since 1970s government is formulating policies to further suppress
the Muslim minority group.
A
large number of Rohingyas are fleeing from the region since decades, yet there
are various aspects indicating that thousands of these people are stranded in
the oceans on their wobbly boats off the costs of Indonesia, Malaysia and
Thailand having a very limited supply of food and water. In due course, Turkish
government has shown a gracious gesture and has sent ships to help the deprived
people, yet the people living in camps and detention centres the life continues
to be challenging.
Ramazan
is a month of fasting, and pleading to Allah for forgiveness and mercy. Even in
this blessed month the largely ‘stateless” Muslims, who are stuck in
deteriorating situation in Burma and not getting shelter by the other countries
will remain homeless and hungry. Many people who have houses are not sleeping
there due to the fear of being arrested.
A
local youth said that once being arrested, they are forced to sign a paper
confessing that they are Bengalis and not Rohingyas. He said that often police
officers physically and mentally torcher the arrested ones if they refuse to
change their identity. During curfews the security forces paralyze all the
activities for the sake of the safety (which is definitely not for the
Rohingyas) making it more difficult for the people to manage their living.
Thousands
of people are living in camp with limited resources including food, water,
clothes, medicines and other basic necessities. Numerous people including kids
and women have died because of curable diseases due to lack of proper medical
support and medicines. In places like Rathedaung, Buthidaung and Maungdaw
townships IDPs are not getting any help from the government. Also, in the
southern side of the state of Arakan that includes Mrauk-U, Mraybon, Pauktaw
and Kyauktaw people are short of money, food and work.
Ramazan
carries message of peace and joy for the people especially for children who
spend the holy month with devotion and then anxiously wait for the festivities
and celebrations of Eid. However for Rohingya children, there will be no
celebration as they will be mourning their lost parents, siblings and friends.
All
Muslims around the world hope their Ramazan passes in peace and sanctification,
but for Rohingyas the month will be passed in hardship and starvation. The
starvation which will last even after the month of starving. Many of the people
will not have Sehri (Pre-Dawn Meal) and Iftar (break-the-fast meal). Several
will not be able to access clean water for ablution in order to offer prayers.
Likewise, people will not go for Eid prayers as many of the mosques are still
locked on government instructions.
Allah
has showered upon us countless blessings for which we should be highly obliged
and thankful. We must stop complaining for every little hitches that we face as
we are living in a much better situation than many of the people in the world
who are deprived of even the basic necessities of life. Moreover, while
spending this month of Ramazan in our cosy and comfortable homes with our
families we must remember the Muslims of Rohingya in our prayers.
