Rakhine & Rohingya Reconciliation?
A significant online discussion event took place on 16 July, 2020 addressing the issue of Rakhine and Rohingya reconciliation. Its lofty ambitions were summarised thus by Dr Maung Zarni.
“Our seminar today embarked on the long term program of de-imagining and de-colonizing Myanmar as an internally colonial state and re-imagining a new type of genuinely post-colonial society and a cluster of autonomous regions with a set of inclusive national and regional identities based on common good, multiculturalism, and respect for all faiths”.
The very topic is an extremely sensitive one given the recent history of Northern Rakhine State. Many people in both communities will be highly sceptical of any such rapprochement. However with conflict raging between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military, could there be potential for some kind of reconfiguration of the realities on the ground, including a building of an alliance between the two communities? You can listen to the webinar in the link below. Additionally, we reproduce below the text of the presentation of Rohingya human rights activist Nay San Lwin. It gives some insight into the issues the two communities will have to confront.
