Myanmar’s Persecution ofRohingyas: What Can Japan
Do To Help End It?
FASID, Tokyo, Japan
24 Oct. 2018
Maung Zarni, PhD
Coordinator, Strategic Affairs, Free Rohingya Coalition
Fellow,(Genocide) Documentation Centre – Cambodia
Adviser to the European Centre for the Study of Extremism, Cambridge, UKA Map of My Talk

The key message to Myanmar’sJapanese Friends.
•Victims’ First-hand Tales•What is a slow burning genocide?
•Rohingyas: Official Lies vs FACTS•Justifying the genocide•Multiple-dimensional process of genocide2After 40 years since Myanmar launched its state-directed violent
expulsion campaign against the Rohingya in February 1978, UN has
officially called the persecution a genocide and uncovered war
crimes and crimes against humanity in Shan and Kachin states.
As the founder of the Tatmadaw/Myanmar Armed Forces and thebiggest supporter of Myanmar governments since independence,
Japan must come to terms with the Burmese military’s “gravestcrimes” and Aung San Suu Kyi’s culpability in these crimes.
Japan needs to critically review its unconditional support forMyanmar, when the world’s public opinion hold that country’s
policies towards Rohingyas, Kachins, Shan, as well as religious
minorities nothing short of criminal, genocidal and internallycolonialistic.

3When victims are your own fellow people

4What is GENOICDE?
(Raphael Lemkin, 1942)

5

MYANMAR OFFICIAL LIES ABOUT ROHINGYAS
1. “We don’t have a group called Rohingyas.” President Thein
Sein, Chatham House, London, UK, 2010-15
2. “Don’t destroy our country by creating a fake ethnic group.”– Rev. Wirathu, Yangon, Myanmar 15 Oct. 2018
3. “They are descendants of the colonial-era Bengali migrantfarm workers whose presence is “an unfinished business”.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Oct. 2018
4. “Don’t use the word Rohingya’”. - Aung San Suu Kyi to US
Amb. Scott Merciel, 20156

Official Evidence: Officially Ignored

7

Historical Primary Evidence:
Popularly Rejected & Officially Ignored8

1. “Predominantly Muslims, Rohingyas are an ethnic minority
integral to the Union of Burma. Northern Rakhine is theirancestral homeland. A majority are fishermen and farmers.”-Myanmar Encyclopedia, V. 9. Government Press, 1964
2. “Roo-in-ga are Mohamadens native to Arakan who speak
Roo-in-ga, “Francis Buchanan, 1798
3. “Rohingyas are our fellow citizens.” Deputy Commander-inChief Brig. Aung Gyi, 4 July 1961
4. Rohingyas had Mayu Frontier Administrative District from 1958
set up by NLD Vice Chair & then Lt. Colonel Tin Oo
5. Rohingyas had thrice weekly radio program on Burma
Broadcasting Service, till 1964.

9

Framing of Rohingyas“illegal migrants”“Islamicist invaders”“fake ethnic group”“viruses”“national security threat”“enemy of Buddhism”

10Genocidal Persecution: 1978 - present

11

Systematic Destruction of Mind and Body

12

THE SLOW BURNING NATURE
OF Myanmar GENOCIDE (‘78-present)
1. Institutionalized Restrictions on Freedom of PhysicalMovement
2. Denial of Access to Nutritional Sources
3. Blocking immediate and humanitarian relief
4. Destruction of property
13

5. Residential areas as “security grids”
6. Healthcare Denial (4checkpoints/clinic)(Doc: Patients: 1: 160,000; 1: 1.000)
7. Infant Mortality: 4 times nationalaverage
8. 85,000 children under 5 – in semifamine conditions14

9. Restricting on the growth of the population(via marriage licenses)
10. Destruction of places of worship
11. 80% ILLITERATE (intellectual destruction)
12. Forces Labour
13. Arrests & Executions, Sexual Violence or
Mass Rape with impunity

15

Chronic Waves of Exodus:
from Feb 1978 – present

16Cycle of Genocidel Destruction
Terror, Rationales, Forced Repatriation

Crime of Deportation by Direct Violence

18

Genocidal Leadership:
Perpetrators-Whitewashers

19

Spiritualizing Genocide
as “Faith Defence”

20Spiritual Leaders as Genocide
Whitewashers and/or Rationalizers

21Artists for Genocide22

Scholarship
In the Service of National Security

23

Popularizing Genocide as “Self-Defence”

24Weaponising Facebook For Genocide

25“Reception Camps” for Rohingyas
in Myanmar (on the right side, Auschwitz I)

26

Cheerleading Myanmar’s Farce:“Democratic Transition”

27

Genocide By-standing As A Global Norm

28

Global Alliance for Genocide

29

Global Economy: Indifferent to Genocides

30

From “a state guest” in 2006
to “Enemy of the State” in 201731

What can Japan do to help end
Myanmar’s international grave crimes?
1. Acknowledge genocide, crimes against humanity & war crimes
committed by Myanmar
2. Review Japan’s “Friends, right or wrong” Foreign Policy accordingly
3. Provide Intellectual and Political Leadership in Asia to end Myanmar’s
international crimes
4. Declare a moratorium on all foreign aids except emergency andhumanitarian assistance
5. Hold an International Conference to discuss concrete ways to end thegenocide and finally
6. Establish an international coalition of governments of conscience forending Myanmar’s international crimes
32