30/09/2024
Thought provoking!
Exclusive Interview: This is an exclusive interview with Tanbirul Miraj Ripon, a Bangladeshi independent journalist widely known for his reporting on Myanmar's Rakhine war and Rohingya issues. Ripon's in-depth reports have had a significant global impact. He visited Rakhine multiple times during this ongoing war. Ripon mostly works with globally influential media like AFP, The Economist, ABC, and CNN.
★Voice for Refugees and Displaced : In recent times, the Foreign Adviser of Bangladesh vowed to establish a communication channel with the Arakan Army (AA) and put Pressure on the rebel group. Do you think it will drive the Rohingya repatriation?
Tanbirul Miraj Ripon: Pushing Pressure on AA will not bring a sustainable solution. Why did Bangladesh put Pressure on the AA? Is it a diplomatic approach? If not, Which approach will Bangladesh use? AA is a non-state armed group that controls 70% to 80% of Rakhine's area. It will control all over Rakhine maybe next month. They are not responsible to anyone except their multi-layer patrons. Do Bangladesh have bilateral relations with its patrons? Does Bangladesh have influential bilateral relations with them (patrons)? We haven't seen anyone. If Bangladesh's new interim government finds any new friends, if Bangladesh evaluates the old strategy, and if (Bangladesh) allows the Rohingya into their diplomatic dialogue, then Bangladesh can see at least some success. Still, a diplomatic approach will be the best way to seek a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis with the AA.
I think Pressure will not work; more official or non-official dialogue with AA and their patrons about regional security cooperation will bring a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis; it also helps both parties to avoid unnecessary conflict.
Dealing with the non-state actors will be strategic. In my recent investigation, I documented the victims of the Arakan Army's persecution (torture, gang-raped and slaughter cases). So we have to work on this to make them (AA) accountable, like the Myanmar military. Myanmar is a state, but in Rakhine, an armed group is rising in the Bandarban-Maungdaw-Naf River border area. It's obviously a tension for Bangladesh. But we have to find out all the forms of diplomatic steps to address the Rakhine crisis.
★VRD: Since Bangladesh is a state actor and the Arakan Army is a non-state entity, do you think that it would be a logical move for Bangladesh to deal with them?
Tanbirul Miraj Ripon: Bangladesh's foreign policy suggests that- Bangladesh does not involve any controversial context, mean frineds to all, malice to none. It's a great strategy to deal with everyone very simply.
If current policymakers take suggestions from the ground people and pressure groups like human rights organizations who are closely monitoring the Rohingya crisis, that would be a great step.
Bangladesh collectively failed to repatriate a single Rohingya. If Bangladesh accepts this and finds any strategic ways to solve this crisis, that would be brilliant. Rohingya and AA are not a bureaucratic problem at all. In the Rakhine, both (Rakhine and Rohingya) communities have root-level distrust. Both parties have to work on finding pathways to reduce the distrust.
If Bangladesh deals with AA, it would be viable. It will open a new door for the solution of Rohingya issues.
★VRD: In August, Professor Yunus vowed that Bangladesh would apply for ASEAN membership. Would Bangladesh's inclusion in ASEAN facilitate the repatriation procedure?
Tanbirul Miraj Ripon: ASEAN is a regional organization based on promoting economic cooperation and maintaining a non-interference policy on the internal affairs of a country. Since Myanmar portrays the Rohingya issue as an internal matter, other ASEAN members have little space to counter it. Even Muslim-populated ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei just raised their concern about the humanitarian catastrophe earlier. Over the years, the Rohingya issue has been muted in ASEAN as the Southeast Asian members do not want to deviate from the non-interference stance. If Bangladesh joins the ASEAN, there will be no new outcome, but Bangladesh can raise its voice to the member states. But the UN can play a vital role.
★ VRD: What policy do you think will solve the Rohingya crisis to some extent?
Tanbirul Miraj Ripon: Myanmar is a policy-doomed country. Whatever policy you formulate will appear as a failure. Still, nothing has changed Myanmar's position on the Rohingya issue. Not only Myanmar but also AA is dreaming of rooting out Rohingya from Rakhine. Rather, we have seen that a civil war is making Myanmar so precarious. There is another difficulty we have seen: AA is holding power in Rakhine's majority areas.
★VRD: Very recently, Dr. Yunus stated three points to resolve the Rohingya refugee crisis. He included issues like engaging all responsible stakeholders, forming a joint response plan, and holding accountable the war criminals involved in the oppression of the Rohingyas. What is your stance regarding the plans?
Tanbirul Miraj Ripon: It is a good point to engage all international parties in tunnelling a sustainable repatriation plan. But you cannot do it by sidelining the stakeholders in Myanmar, especially the ethnic Rebels. The Arakan Army is now the new stakeholder in Rakhine. Therefore, Bangladesh and the international communities have to persuade the ethnic rebels of Myanmar to include the Rohingyas in their societies again to restore the Rohingya's full rights and dignity and fulfil their demands shall be restored in Rakhine.
Moreover, patrons and great friends of Myanmar and AA, who have been unwaveringly supporting and patronizing Myanmar and AA, shall pressure the ethnic rebels. In particular, China is an influential actor here, as China has backed the ethnic insurgents and can persuade the rebels in Myanmar. Thus, international communities shall pressure China to implement the Rohingya repatriation procedure.
★VRD: Thank you for providing your valuable time.
Tanbirul Miraj Ripon: Thank you too. Good luck.
