Tragedy Unfolding as Rohingya Face 'Horrific Ethnic Cleansing'

July 14, 2012 from Press TV

Against the backdrop of a new, pro-democracy Myanmar, the Burmese government has implemented a program against the minority Rohingya population that scholars and analysts are calling a "horrific ethnic cleansing". Since June, violence and tension have erupted in Myanmar regarding the fate of the Rohingya, who are ethnically and religiously different from the majority Buddhist population.

(more) (less)

In This Video

Myanmar

Burma, also known as Myanmar, is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia bordered by China, Thailand, India, Laos and Bangladesh. One-third of Burma's total perimeter of 1,930 kilometres forms an uninterrupted coastline along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Its population o... Explore this topic

Rohingya

The Rohingya people are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group who speak a language very similar to Bengali and practise Islam. The origin of this group of people is disputed with some saying they are indigenous to the state of Rakhine in Burma and others contending that they are Muslim m... Explore this topic

Ethnic cleansing

Ethnic cleansing is the process or policy of eliminating unwanted ethnic or religious groups by deportation, forcible displacement, mass murder, or by threats of such acts, with the intent of creating a territory inhabited by people of a homogeneous or pure ethnicity, religion... Explore this topic

Politics of Myanmar

Burma is a unitary presidential constitutional republic under its 2008 constitution. Explore this topic

Ethnic violence

Ethnic violence refers to violence expressly motivated by ethnic hatred and ethnic conflict . It is commonly related to political violence, and often the terms are interchangeable, or one is used as a pretext for the other when politically expedient. Ethnic violence is a catch... Explore this topic

Muslim

A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the Qur'an—which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad—and, with lesser authority than the Qur'an, the teachings and practices of Muhammad as ... Explore this topic

Ethnic group

Ethnicity or ethnic group is a socially defined category based on common culture or nationality. Ethnicity can, but does not have to, include common ancestry, appearance, cuisine, dressing style, heritage, history, language or dialect, religion, symbols, traditions, or other c... Explore this topic

Rakhine State

Rakhine State is a state in Burma. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located a... Explore this topic

Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi MP AC is a Burmese opposition politician and chairperson of the National League for Democracy in Burma. In the 1990 general election, the NLD won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained under house ... Explore this topic

Refugee

A refugee is a person who is outside their country of origin or habitual residence because they have suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because they are a member of a persecuted 'social group' or because they are fleeing natur... Explore this topic

Also See

Myanmar

Ethnic cleansing

Rohingya

Watch Next

3:06

Will Myanmar Prosecute Perpetrators of Shocking Sectarian Violence?

Voice of America | Apr 1

Burma is being urged to hold accountable those responsible for sectarian violence in March, mainly targeted at Muslims, that left at least 43 peopl...