Back
About RSIS
Introduction
Building the Foundations
Welcome Message
Board of Governors
Staff Profiles
Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
Dean’s Office
Management
Distinguished Fellows
Faculty and Research
Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
Visiting Fellows
Adjunct Fellows
Administrative Staff
Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
RSIS Endowment Fund
Endowed Professorships
Career Opportunities
Getting to RSIS
Research
Research Centres
Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
Research Programmes
National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
Future Issues and Technology Cluster
Research@RSIS Newsletter
Other Research
Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
Graduate Education
Graduate Programmes Office
Exchange Partners and Programmes
How to Apply
Financial Assistance
Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
RSIS Alumni
Alumni & Networks
Alumni
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
SRP Executive Programme
Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
Publications
RSIS Publications
Annual Reviews
Books
Bulletins and Newsletters
Commentaries
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
Commemorative / Event Reports
IDSS Paper
Interreligious Relations
Monographs
NTS Insight
Policy Reports
Working Papers
RSIS Publications for the Year
Glossary of Abbreviations
External Publications
Authored Books
Journal Articles
Edited Books
Chapters in Edited Books
Policy Reports
Working Papers
Op-Eds
External Publications for the Year
Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
Media
2024 Indonesia Elections
Great Powers
Sustainable Security
Other Resource Pages
Media Mentions
News Releases
Speeches
Video/Audio Channel
External Podcasts
Events
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University
  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
  • Research
      Research CentresCentre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Future Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSIS Newsletter
      Other ResearchScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      Graduate Programmes OfficeExchange Partners and ProgrammesHow to Apply
      Financial AssistanceMeet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other eventsRSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
      AlumniAsia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
      International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)SRP Executive ProgrammeTerrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
      RSIS PublicationsAnnual ReviewsBooksBulletins and NewslettersCommentariesCounter Terrorist Trends and AnalysesCommemorative / Event ReportsIDSS PaperInterreligious RelationsMonographsNTS InsightPolicy ReportsWorking PapersRSIS Publications for the Year
      External PublicationsAuthored BooksJournal ArticlesEdited BooksChapters in Edited BooksPolicy ReportsWorking PapersOp-EdsExternal Publications for the Year
      Glossary of AbbreviationsPolicy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
      2024 Indonesia ElectionsGreat PowersSustainable SecurityOther Resource PagesMedia Mentions
      News ReleasesSpeechesVideo/Audio ChannelExternal Podcasts
  • Events
    • Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
      rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
      rsis.sg
      RSIS
      RSS
      Subscribe to RSIS Publications
      Subscribe to RSIS Events

      Getting to RSIS

      Nanyang Technological University
      Block S4, Level B3,
      50 Nanyang Avenue,
      Singapore 639798

      Click here for direction to RSIS

      Get in Touch

    Connect
    Search
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • CO12207 | Plight of the Rohingya: ASEAN Credibility Again at Stake
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • Commentaries
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • IDSS Paper
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers
    • RSIS Publications for the Year

    CO12207 | Plight of the Rohingya: ASEAN Credibility Again at Stake
    Yang Razali Kassim

    06 November 2012

    download pdf
    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due credit to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected].

    Synopsis

    The suffering of the Rohingya in Myanmar’s Rakhine state is putting pressure on ASEAN to intervene. Coming just before their 21st Summit, the wisdom and stewardship of ASEAN leaders will be tested once again.

    Commentary

    THE PLIGHT of the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar – whom some label as victims of “ethnic persecution” – is threatening to blow up in the face of ASEAN, just weeks before the regional grouping convenes its 21th summit this month in Cambodia. To help defuse the humanitarian fallout from the Rohingya crisis, ASEAN has offered to work closely with the Myanmar government and the United Nations in the same way this tripartite arrangement effectively provided relief to the victims of Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

    But Myanmar has rejected the offer on the ground that the conflict is an internal affair, according to Secretary- General Surin Pitsuwan. He cautioned that the atrocities, if not ended, could radicalise the Rohingya Muslims and destabilise Southeast Asia.

    ASEAN Reactions

    Dr Surin’s warning bell is timely. There are signs of growing agitation, especially within the Muslim communities of Southeast Asia, at the seeming lack of peace efforts on the part of the Myanmar government and the international community. There have been protests in Jakarta outside the Myanmar embassy and calls by NGOs in the region for ASEAN to address the violation of human rights of the stateless Rohingya. The Myanmar government does not recognise the Rohingya as citizens.

    While Myanmar’s rejection of external assistance is not surprising, ASEAN should sustain its persuasive approach to contain and defuse the crisis so that it does not spill beyond the shores of Myanmar. The Rohingya issue will complicate efforts by ASEAN to preserve peace and stability in the region. “If the international community, including ASEAN, is not able to relieve the pressure and pain, (the Rohingya) could become radicalised and the entire region could be destabilised,” said Dr Pitsuwan.

    ASEAN has been exercised by the violence since June between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state where many Rohingya have died and at least 100,000 of them displaced. There has been long-standing animosity between the Buddhists and Rohingya and thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar over the years, with many of them seeking shelter in neighbouring Bangladesh and Malaysia.

    In the face of the growing concern in the region ASEAN foreign ministers issued a four-point statement on 17 August 2012. They said they were following closely developments since the incidents on 28 May and 3 June and were ready to lend humanitarian assistance “upon the request of the Government of Myanmar”. A week earlier, Dr Surin disclosed he had proposed that ASEAN foreign ministers once again offer humanitarian assistance as had been done in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis which left 138,000 people dead or missing. Individual ASEAN states were also offering assistance separately to the Rohingya.

    Just before the ASEAN statement, Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa raised the issue at an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Mecca on 14-15 August which declared the violence on the Rohingya as “crimes against humanity”. “The Myanmar government’s treatment of Rohingya Muslims is not in line with its recent efforts towards democracy. Any act of discrimination on the basis of religion or ethnicity is unacceptable,” Dr Marty was quoted by Antara as saying.

    The OIC subsequently announced that it was given the greenlight by Myanmar to provide humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya. The Myanmar government, however, later reversed the decision following protests by Buddhist monks and laymen. Aung San Suu Kyi has taken a neutral stance despite pleas from the European Union.

    Implications for ASEAN

    The unexpected outbreak of the ethnic crisis in Rakhine state is an unwelcome strain on ASEAN which is still preoccupied with closing its ranks over internal divisions sparked by Cambodia’s controversial handling of the South China Sea disputes in July. How Myanmar addresses the Rohingya issue and the growing international concerns will impact on confidence in its chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014.

    “Myanmar becoming the chair of ASEAN will be the focus of attention (on) how it is handling such an issue,” Dr Surin said. “ASEAN cannot be perceived to be standing by without taking any action on such a big scale of humanitarian difficulty,” he added. However, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are likely to adopt a softer approach towards Myanmar on this issue as they are wary of international involvement in issues affecting their handling of their own Muslim minorities and are sympathetic to the concerns of their domestic Buddhist majorities.

    Should Myanmar clash with other ASEAN members on the Rohingya issue, the current cracks within ASEAN caused by the South China Sea issue could worsen and complicate internal fault lines, which ASEAN can ill afford. Likewise Myanmar cannot ignore the growing concerns of the regional and international community over the plight of the Rohingya.

    About the Author

    Yang Razali Kassim is Senior Fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University and the school’s Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies.

    Categories: Commentaries / Non-Traditional Security / Southeast Asia and ASEAN

    Last updated on 26/09/2014

    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due credit to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected].

    Synopsis

    The suffering of the Rohingya in Myanmar’s Rakhine state is putting pressure on ASEAN to intervene. Coming just before their 21st Summit, the wisdom and stewardship of ASEAN leaders will be tested once again.

    Commentary

    THE PLIGHT of the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar – whom some label as victims of “ethnic persecution” – is threatening to blow up in the face of ASEAN, just weeks before the regional grouping convenes its 21th summit this month in Cambodia. To help defuse the humanitarian fallout from the Rohingya crisis, ASEAN has offered to work closely with the Myanmar government and the United Nations in the same way this tripartite arrangement effectively provided relief to the victims of Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

    But Myanmar has rejected the offer on the ground that the conflict is an internal affair, according to Secretary- General Surin Pitsuwan. He cautioned that the atrocities, if not ended, could radicalise the Rohingya Muslims and destabilise Southeast Asia.

    ASEAN Reactions

    Dr Surin’s warning bell is timely. There are signs of growing agitation, especially within the Muslim communities of Southeast Asia, at the seeming lack of peace efforts on the part of the Myanmar government and the international community. There have been protests in Jakarta outside the Myanmar embassy and calls by NGOs in the region for ASEAN to address the violation of human rights of the stateless Rohingya. The Myanmar government does not recognise the Rohingya as citizens.

    While Myanmar’s rejection of external assistance is not surprising, ASEAN should sustain its persuasive approach to contain and defuse the crisis so that it does not spill beyond the shores of Myanmar. The Rohingya issue will complicate efforts by ASEAN to preserve peace and stability in the region. “If the international community, including ASEAN, is not able to relieve the pressure and pain, (the Rohingya) could become radicalised and the entire region could be destabilised,” said Dr Pitsuwan.

    ASEAN has been exercised by the violence since June between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state where many Rohingya have died and at least 100,000 of them displaced. There has been long-standing animosity between the Buddhists and Rohingya and thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar over the years, with many of them seeking shelter in neighbouring Bangladesh and Malaysia.

    In the face of the growing concern in the region ASEAN foreign ministers issued a four-point statement on 17 August 2012. They said they were following closely developments since the incidents on 28 May and 3 June and were ready to lend humanitarian assistance “upon the request of the Government of Myanmar”. A week earlier, Dr Surin disclosed he had proposed that ASEAN foreign ministers once again offer humanitarian assistance as had been done in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis which left 138,000 people dead or missing. Individual ASEAN states were also offering assistance separately to the Rohingya.

    Just before the ASEAN statement, Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa raised the issue at an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Mecca on 14-15 August which declared the violence on the Rohingya as “crimes against humanity”. “The Myanmar government’s treatment of Rohingya Muslims is not in line with its recent efforts towards democracy. Any act of discrimination on the basis of religion or ethnicity is unacceptable,” Dr Marty was quoted by Antara as saying.

    The OIC subsequently announced that it was given the greenlight by Myanmar to provide humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya. The Myanmar government, however, later reversed the decision following protests by Buddhist monks and laymen. Aung San Suu Kyi has taken a neutral stance despite pleas from the European Union.

    Implications for ASEAN

    The unexpected outbreak of the ethnic crisis in Rakhine state is an unwelcome strain on ASEAN which is still preoccupied with closing its ranks over internal divisions sparked by Cambodia’s controversial handling of the South China Sea disputes in July. How Myanmar addresses the Rohingya issue and the growing international concerns will impact on confidence in its chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014.

    “Myanmar becoming the chair of ASEAN will be the focus of attention (on) how it is handling such an issue,” Dr Surin said. “ASEAN cannot be perceived to be standing by without taking any action on such a big scale of humanitarian difficulty,” he added. However, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are likely to adopt a softer approach towards Myanmar on this issue as they are wary of international involvement in issues affecting their handling of their own Muslim minorities and are sympathetic to the concerns of their domestic Buddhist majorities.

    Should Myanmar clash with other ASEAN members on the Rohingya issue, the current cracks within ASEAN caused by the South China Sea issue could worsen and complicate internal fault lines, which ASEAN can ill afford. Likewise Myanmar cannot ignore the growing concerns of the regional and international community over the plight of the Rohingya.

    About the Author

    Yang Razali Kassim is Senior Fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University and the school’s Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies.

    Categories: Commentaries / Non-Traditional Security

    Last updated on 26/09/2014

    Popular Links

    About RSISResearch ProgrammesGraduate EducationPublicationsEventsAdmissionsCareersVideo/Audio ChannelRSIS Intranet

    Connect with Us

    rsis.ntu
    rsis_ntu
    rsisntu
    rsisvideocast
    school/rsis-ntu
    rsis.sg
    RSIS
    RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    Getting to RSIS

    Nanyang Technological University
    Block S4, Level B3,
    50 Nanyang Avenue,
    Singapore 639798

    Click here for direction to RSIS

    Get in Touch

      Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
      Privacy Statement / Terms of Use
      Help us improve

        Rate your experience with this website
        123456
        Not satisfiedVery satisfied
        What did you like?
        0/255 characters
        What can be improved?
        0/255 characters
        Your email
        Please enter a valid email.
        Thank you for your feedback.
        This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
        OK
        Latest Book
        more info