The Rohingyas are the most persecuted minority group in the world. Such persecution has forced Rohingyas into Bangladesh for many years, with significant spikes following violent attacks in 1978, 1992, and again in 2016. More than 700,000 Rohingyas were forced to flee from the northern Rakhine state in western Myanmar following a brutal military crackdown in 2017. Around 1.2 million Rohingyas are living in camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bashan Char in Bangladesh. At this point, there are more Rohingyas in Bangladesh than in Myanmar.
Owing to the advent of other crises around the world, the Rohingya issue lost global attention for a while. In February 2021, the Myanmar military staged a coup and the Rohingya repatriation talks have been halted since then. Moreover, there is a history of strained relationship between the Myanmar Military and the Rohingyas, most of whom think that their lives are more threatened than before. Due to this crisis, the socio-economic and security situation of Bangladesh is worsening and there seems to be no other way except repatriation, which has been a hanging case for the last five years.
Rohingya crisis is currently at a deadlock and to bring momentum, Bangladesh needs a supporting mediator to repatriate such a huge number of people. A strong, credible, and neutral third party’s presence is necessary to resolve the differences and disagreements between the parties. Without resorting to violence, both Bangladesh and Myanmar can resolve their disagreements over Rohingya refugees’ repatriation by involving a mediator, namely, the United States, as it is evident that both countries can’t solve this without the help of a third party.
Why Should the US Help Bangladesh?
Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an agreement to repatriate this huge number of Rohingyas to Myanmar in 2017 and 2019. Two earlier attempts failed to repatriate the Rohingyas because Myanmar couldn’t ensure their safety if they returned home. Bangladesh has raised the issue at every international forum, with the support of many countries. But Myanmar has been indifferent to international laws and norms. Some powers and vested interests may have been behind the scene. It is clear that given the progress so far, the bilateral process is not working.
There is a saying that with great power, comes great responsibility. The US has good bilateral, strategic, military, economic, and diplomatic relations with both Bangladesh and Myanmar. The country can also be a trusted, legal and functional mediator to resolve the repatriation of the Rohingya. Sometimes powerful states need to get involved in mediating disputes with their allies. If the US wants to be a benevolent hegemon in global refugee governance, it must prioritize principles like refugee protection. This is a global responsibility for a powerful country like the US.
The US, as a heavyweight in international politics, requires not only military or financial assistance but also soft power in situations like these. With comparative power rivalry with Russia and China, the US can play a constructive role in this situation. Besides, Washington has geopolitical and geo-strategic interests in both countries. Therefore, it would give its full commitment to resolving issues between both parties.
United States Helping So Far
The United States has contributed the most to the Rohingya crisis so far. At this year’s UN General Assembly, the US Secretary of State announced $170 million in additional humanitarian aid. Since 2017, the country has contributed more than $190 million to the Rohingya crisis which makes it the leading global donor. This aid from the United States is muchly appreciable as this makes the bilateral bond between the two countries stronger.
Since 2017, the US has been playing two cards at once to maintain its influence over the region. It has supported Myanmar in the global community also, including in the UN and in working with Bangladesh in the repatriation of Rohingya people.
In the mediation process, the US might offer financial aid to people in the area to help improve their lives, while at the same time, using diplomacy to try to persuade Myanmar’s government to acknowledge the identity of the Rohingya people as its citizens. As a well-wisher, friend, and partner in the development process and trade, Bangladesh can expect the cooperation and support of the US regarding the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.
It is worth mentioning that the US State Department Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Immigration Julieta Valls Noyes arrived in Bangladesh on a four-day visit on Dec. 03. She already visited the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar to discuss refugee protection and humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations in Bangladesh and continued support for humanitarian partners. Considering the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, it is hoped that Valls Noyce will meet with government officials during her visit to Bangladesh for showing generosity by sheltering Rohingya and other refugees.
Needless to say, that both the US and Bangladesh are deeply involved in a crisis that is completely Myanmar’s domestic problem. The US wanted Myanmar and Bangladesh to deal with the situation bilaterally instead of having multilateral intervening forums but that did not work. So now it has to negotiate with Myanmar diplomatically and bilaterally. The US should take concrete steps in favor of Bangladesh regarding the Rohingya refugees’ repatriation to Myanmar. A favorable situation should be created for the Rohingya refugees in Myanmar, where they can live without the fear of persecution.
[Photo by John Owens (VOA), via Wikimedia Commons]
*Dr. Arpita Hazarika is a Gauhati University, Assam, India-based researcher. She is very interested in refugee affairs, political economy, security and strategic affairs, and foreign policies of the Asia-Pacific region. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
