By Mizan Rehman
Once a thriving land of natural beauty, Arakan (Rakhine State) was known for its resources, trade, and multicultural past. Rohingya elders often spoke of a time when Arakan was prosperous and welcoming. But today, that memory is shattered. For the Rohingya—the native people of Arakan—life has become one of exile, statelessness, and unending suffering.
From Isolation to Erasure: Life in Myanmar for the Rohingya
In today’s Myanmar, Rohingya are denied the most basic human rights. Freedom of movement is almost nonexistent. Rohingya cannot travel from one village to another without a “travel pass”—a document nearly impossible to obtain. Even in medical emergencies, traveling to the capital Yangon is prohibited.
Since the 1962 military coup, the situation has worsened. When citizenship scrutiny cards were reissued in 1989, the Rohingya applied like all others, but no cards were granted to them. Since then, they have been denied recognition, stripped of their legal identity, and confined to conditions that resemble apartheid.
“A new kind of Berlin Wall has been erected in Arakan,” as one Rohingya refugee aptly described.
The so-called “IDP camps” in Myanmar lack access to food, healthcare, education, or safety. These are not safe zones—they are prisons without walls.
The Repatriation Illusion: A Dangerous Deal
Recently, Bangladesh announced that 180,000 Rohingya refugees were verified and “eligible” for repatriation to Myanmar, under a deal struck with the military junta. But the announcement raises critical questions:
🔹 Who controls Rakhine now?
The junta has lost effective control over most of the region. The Arakan Army (AA)—an armed group formed by ethnic Rakhine Buddhists—now controls large swaths of the territory.
🔹 What guarantee of safety exists?
Neither the military nor the Arakan Army has guaranteed protection for returnees. Rohingya continue to be denied citizenship, face discrimination, and are subjected to arbitrary arrests, killings, and land seizures.
Arakan Army vs. ARSA: A Complex Divide
While some in the international community consider the AA a resistance force against the junta, for most Rohingya, the AA is an aggressor. In 2024, the AA reportedly carried out attacks on Rohingya villages in Maungdaw, burning homes and displacing thousands, many of whom fled again to Bangladesh.
In contrast, many Rohingya express support for ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army), not because of its tactics, but because it at least recognizes Rohingya identity and claims to defend their rights.
“From my perspective as a member of the Rohingya community,” says Ajas Khan, a youth organizer,
“ARSA—despite its flaws—maintains a deeper connection with our people than the AA ever could.
ARSA emerged from within our pain. The AA continues to deny our very existence.”
The vast majority of Rohingya people, however, do not support violence or militancy. They seek peace, justice, and the right to live in their ancestral homeland with dignity and legal recognition.
International Silence, Theoretical Failures
Over the years, many frameworks have been proposed: from safe zone repatriation, bilateral return deals, and international monitoring. Yet, none have succeeded—because they are not grounded in the reality Rohingya people face.
Repatriation without citizenship, safety, or political inclusion is not repatriation. It is forced return to persecution.
Conclusion: What a “Safe Return” Must Truly Mean
A safe return for the Rohingya requires more than political agreements. It requires:
✅ Full citizenship rights
✅ Internationally guaranteed protection mechanisms
✅ Justice and accountability for past atrocities
✅ A voice for Rohingya in Arakan’s future
Until these are ensured, any talk of “voluntary repatriation” remains a myth—a repackaged return to repression.
The world must stop viewing repatriation as a checkbox for refugee burden-sharing and start recognizing it as a question of justice, recognition, and human dignity.
Mizan Rehman is a Researcher–South Asian History and Politics
