Protestors lash out over Dhaka newspaper op-ed

Protestors lash out over Dhaka newspaper op-ed

By Ye Mon   |   Sunday, 30 March 2014

Demonstrations gathered outside of the Bangladesh embassy in Yangon on March 26 to voice their anger over a recent article published by the Dhaka Tribune newspaper suggesting that parts of Rakhine State join Bangladesh.

A monk protests outside the Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon on March 26. (Aung Htay Hlaing/The Myanmar Times)

Zeeshan Khan wrote an opinion piece entitled "A Referendum in Rakhine State?", which was published by the English-language daily on March 20.

In the piece, Mr Kahn said that he believed holding a referendum to separate Sittwe and Maungdaw from Rakhine State and have them join Bangladesh's Chittagong division was a possible solution for the ongoing plight of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims.

Mr Kahn argued that there is a historical precedent for such action, citing examples like Scotland's upcoming referendum and Russia's support of Crimea's succession from Ukraine.

"Historical arguments, similar to the ones made by Russia regarding Crimea, can also be made for incorporating parts of Rakhine, once known as Arakan, into Bangladesh," Mr Khan wrote.

He also described to Myanmar as "xenophobic and oppressive" in its treatment of the Rohingya.

The protesters that marched outside the embassy accused Bangladesh of meddling in a domestic issue. Many carried placards calling for the Bangladesh embassy staff to leave the country. Others accused the staff of being terrorists.

"I have to discard the garb of the religious order and hold a gun to fight. Bengalis have snuck into Myanmar across the border and asked for self-administration," said Magway Sayadaw Ashin Parmaukha, a Buddhist monk who joined the protest.

"Any person, regardless of his nationality or religious belief, must follow the existing laws in Myanmar. I will protect my country with my people," he said.

U Nay Myo Zin, a member of Social Life Development Network, said that if Bangladesh attempted to interfere in Myanmar's domestic issues again, there would be a high chance of violence.

"We never forgive foreigners and different religious groups who attempt to intimidate our country when it is in a weak condition," he said.

Members of the Rakhine Youth Network who took part in the protest wrote an open letter to the Bangladesh embassy requesting that the Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar, Anup Kumar Chakma, be recalled because of the article and the potential unrest it may cause.

The protestors were not alone in their anger.

The article prompted outrage from Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which on March 24 issued an aide-memoire to the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and summoned Anup Kumar Chakma to discuss the issue.

Following the meeting Anup Kumar Chakma told the Dhaka Tribune that the article did not reflect the position of the government, but that Bangladesh supports freedom of the media and the author's right to express his personal views.

Also on March 24, the Myanmar Journalist Association denounced the article in a statement.

The group said that the article was based on "fabricated and distorted historical background and facts with intent to incite religious and racial hatred and conflicts in Myanmar", and called the piece a violation of journalistic ethics.

The Bangladesh embassy requested that questions pertaining to the protest be submitted by email but did not respond to those sent by The Myanmar Times.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2014/04/01/protestors-lash-out-over-dhaka-newspaper-op-ed/