political regime evolution of Myanmar Assignment pdf

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MYANMAR AND THE ROHINGYA HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction..............................................................................................................................3
2.0 PART A.....................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Culture and religion of Myanmar..........................................................................................3
2.2 History and political regime evolution of Myanmar.............................................................4
3.0 PART B.....................................................................................................................................4
3.1 The reason why Burma changed its name to Myanmar........................................................4
3.2 How the Rohingya crisis happened.......................................................................................5
3.3 Possible warning signs...........................................................................................................6
3.4 Nations affected.....................................................................................................................6
4.0 PART C.....................................................................................................................................7
4.1 Reactions by the international community............................................................................7
4.2 Use of diplomacy and the nations/international organizations actively involved.................7
4.3 Steps in mitigation of the Rohingya crisis.............................................................................8
5.0 Conclusion................................................................................................................................9
6.0 References...............................................................................................................................10

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1.0 Introduction
The Rohingya humanitarian crisis was due to violence that escalated in the state of Myanmar
Rakhine that caused a lot of suffering which could be categorized on a catastrophic scale.
Rohingya is one of the ethnic minority found in the state of Myanmar. At the start of 2017, the
number totaled to about one million in the country. Most of the Rohingya people live in Rakhine
state, and they make up the highest proportion of Muslims in the whole region of Myanmar. The
Rohingya crisis is one of the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world (Zarni et al. 685). Since
August 2017, more than half a million Rohingya residents have fled their country to the
neighboring Bangladesh nation. They claim their homes are being destroyed and are facing
significant persecution from the Myanmar military. However, Myanmar military claims they do
not target the Rohingya civilians but the militants. Therefore, risking all, they walk on foot or by
sea for many days for fear of losing their lives. This paper, thus, discusses the history, culture,
religion, and political regime evolution of Myanmar. The reason why Burma changed its name to
Myanmar, how the Rohingya crisis happened, possible warnings signs, nations affected,
reactions by the international community, use of diplomacy, and the countries/international
organizations actively involved.
2.0 PART A
2.1 Culture and religion of Myanmar
Myanmar culture has received substantial influence from the Mon people and Buddhism. Also,
Westernization and the British colonial influenced significantly various aspects of the Burmese
culture, specifically on education and language. The Burmese culture as well has been influenced
heavily by their neighbors, specifically China and India (Kaung 45).

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Myanmar is primarily a Theravada Buddhist country. It was adopted from India together with
Hinduism and when the Christian era was being introduced in the region. All these religions, as
well as the indigenous animism, interacted but Buddhist emerged to be the most predominant.
Christianity came into existence in the 1800s brought by the European missionaries. It is
estimated about 85% population of Myanmar practice Buddhism although a substantial number
of animists, Hindus, Christians, and Muslims still exist (Smith 43). Therefore, in a single
neighborhood its common to see churches, temples, mosques, and pagodas nearby.
2.2 History and political regime evolution of Myanmar
Myanmar consists of over 100 ethnic groups with their different languages and dialects. The
majority of the groups speak Burmese. However, English is also extensively spoken in some
regions like in urban centers and tourist hubs. The Myanmar nation fell into colonialism in the
19th century under the British colonial rule. It eventually became independent in 1948 as the
Union of Burma. However, it entered a period of civil war immediately as the central
government was dominated majorly by the Burmese group and, therefore, the ethnic minorities
fought against its dominance. In 1962, the then new leader, Ne Win, constitutionalized new
policies which feel under the umbrella of the slogan; ‘the Burmese Road to Socialism.’ Come
1972; the name was converted to the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. Eventually, in
1988, after the civil unrest, the name was changed again by the Myanmar government to the
Union of Myanmar (Aung-Thwin 78).
3.0 PART B
3.1 The reason why Burma changed its name to Myanmar
Myanmar changed its name officially to Burma in 1989 by the State Law and Order Restoration
Council through the Adaptation of Expression Law. Initially, it was referred to as Union of