Asean's initiative to engage Myanmar on the Rakhine crisis is welcome. Since October 2016, when the first violent attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Solidarity Army (Arsa) on border guard posts led to months-long "clearance operations" by Myanmar's armed forces, the crisis has seen more than 800,000 Rohingya Muslims seek refuge in Bangladesh. While Myanmar had every right to defend its territory, its highly militarised and indiscriminate response worsened the situation.
The foreign ministers of Thailand and Singapore, representing the incoming and outgoing chairs of Asean, are expected to visit Nay Pyi Taw soon. Press reports indicate that they hope to focus their discussions with Myanmar on the return of the refugees.
The impact of the long-standing crisis in Rakhine state is not limited to Myanmar and Bangladesh. It is a regional crisis and it is not new. For decades, Rohingya have been fleeing oppression in Myanmar where many prefer to see them as interlopers from Bangladesh rather than recognise that for many centuries Muslims, including Rohingya, have been part of the diverse ethnic and religious makeup of the coastal populations. In addition to those now in Bangladesh, hundreds of thousands find themselves in Malaysia, Pakistan, India as well as in other countries in Asia and in the Middle East. Although it is difficult to find reliable figures for the number of Rohingya remaining in Rakhine state, estimates range from 200,000 to 400,000.
