Rohingya commemorate fifth anniversary of ‘Genocide Day’

Among the screams of protest and many unable to hold back their tears, Refugees held demonstrations in various camps calling for an end to the humanitarian crisis.Where they live, where they want to conclude with a safe and early return to Burma.

The wave of repression that started five years ago It caused 774,000 Rohingya to migrate to Bangladesh, In addition to previous migrations, it places members of this minority in close to a million in camps at Cox’s Bazar in the southeast of the country.

“We are nobody”

“Today is that day we left almost 300 villages“Today is the day thousands of Rohingya were killed, today is the day thousands of Rohingya women were raped,” he said.

Naing, who lacked citizenship and lived in overcrowded camps, was close to the obvious. the loss of rights suffered in the last five years.

“Our ancestors studied at Yangon University. But today we are nobody in Burma” he remembered.

Thousands of people in the same camp with banners and posters asking for the support of the international community or He filed a lawsuit with the International Criminal Court, where his case has been pending for years.

Referred to as ‘Genocide Day’ by the Rohingya, Professor Mohammad Selim said: This year’s demonstrations have not only served to protest and seek justice, but also to remind the youngest of what they have lived through. Rights.

“For us, every day is a ‘Genocide Day’. YeahHowever, we celebrate this program especially today to remind the young Rohingya what the Myanmar Army has done to us.”

This is the case of the young Rohingya Faizul Islam. about a third of his life away from home.

“Burma is my country. I want to go back there” said this young man, about 15 years old.

back home

However, the end of the humanitarian crisis does not seem imminent, especially After the February 2021 military coup in Burma. Its official newspaper, for example, made no reference to the violence that erupted on its territory five years ago.

tried twice To initiate the return of the Rohingya from Bangladesh, but both failed due to the lack of citizenship or security guarantees provided by Burma.

this The death in 2021 of one of the leading leaders of this discriminated minority in one of the Cox’s Bazar camps, Rohingya refugee Sonar Ali told Efe that Mohammad Mohibullah also poses a new obstacle to his return attempt.

“He was the leader of 1.1 million Rohingya. If he was alive, we could at least see some progress on our return.” said Ali.

Mohibullah was shot dead on September 29, 2021. an attack by Rohingya Liberation Army guerrillas, according to the victim’s family Although Arakan does not recognize the existence of Bangladesh on its territory.

Mohammad Jubair, Mohibullah’s successor, head of the Arakan Rohingya Peace and Human Rights Association, said that Mohammed Jubair was pointing in the same direction, assuring him that he was killed by dissidents. repatriation of the Rohingya.

“Before they killed Mubibullah, they heavily threatened us.. They continued the threat after Mohibullah was killed, but the government is giving us protection. They killed him to send him back to his country. “Many of them are criminals, so they can’t go back to Burma,” he said.

international response

On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the exile, the embassies of Turkey,Several countries represented in Dhaka today issued a joint statement calling for an end to the “culture of impunity” in Burma. and Bangladesh for “continuing to host Rohingya refugees”.

“Our countries have imposed sanctions on many people who violate and harm the rights of the Rohingya.yes We will also continue to press for a solution to the political and humanitarian crisis in Burma. It was caused by the military coup in February 2021,” it said.

Signatory countries, including Spain and the United States, have announced that they will continue to work with the government of Bangladesh and the UN. “Ensuring Rohingya refugees receive humanitarian aid, protection and education” and to prepare them to return to Burma “when circumstances permit”.