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ROHINGYA CRISIS AND ITS SECURITY IMPLICATION FOR INDIA

Sushil (MSc Homeland Security and Anti-Terrorism)

ssushil475@gmail.com

Introduction
Who is Rohingya what is Rohingya crisis?
The Rohingya are often described as the worlds most persecuted minority. They are not considered
one of the countrys 135 officials ethnic group and have been denied citizenship in Myanmar since 1983
which has effectively rendered them stateless. All the Rohingya in Myanmar live in the western coastal
state Rakhine and not allowed to leave without government permission. It is one of the poorest state in
the country with lacks of basic services and opportunity.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya are fled from Myanmar following a military crackdown as ethnic
cleaning. They are ethnic group, majority of whom are Muslim, who lived for centuries in the majority
Buddhist Myanmar. Currently there are 1.1 million Rohingya who live in Southeast Asian country.

Problem arises with recent violent act of the insurgent acting under the banner of Arakan Rohingya
Salvation Army (ARSA). As per Myanmar officials reports there are serious attacks on the 20 police station
and government properties by 100 of ARSA peoples resulted into 71 loss of life including 12 members of
security forces. Myanmar says the group is headed by Rohingya Jihadists who were trained abroad but it
is unclear how large the network is.

Security implication for INDIA

Current government of INDIA believes that the members of Rohingya sheltering in India is far higher
estimating a figure of about 40000 peoples and New Delhi decided it does not want the Rohingya declaring
its intention to deport them all because of various security threats .

Security threats

I) As per intelligence agency reports some of the Rohingya with militant background are also found to be
very active in Jammu ,Delhi, Hyderabad and Mewat and have been identified as having a very serious and
potential threat to the internal natural security of India.

ii) Center fears that North-Eastern corridor could be further exploited by Rohingya community. And
eastern corridor that has already seen many insurgencies including ULFA in Assam and NAGA uprising in
Nagaland as well as Manipur would be further exploited by elements from Rohingya community.

iii) Agencies also fears the growing presence of Rohingya community is impossible to monitor 24/7.

TOPIC 1 ssushil475@gmail.com 16/09/2017

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iv) Rohingya refugees could be easily radicalized and used against the nation by its enemies in neighboring
Pakistan.

v) Apart from security concern Providing facilities/privileges to illegal immigrants out of the existing
natural resources, apart from above referred direct threat to natural security would also have a direct
adverse impact upon Indian citizens.

Solution / Measures

INDIA never signed the UN refugee convention, which spell out the rights of refugees and responsibility
of countries. But we have signed 4 other international UN convention.

i) UN convention on human rights

ii) UN convention of civil and political rights
iii) UN convention against enforced disappearance.
iv) UN convention against torture

Thats mean INDIA cannot send back refugees to a place where their lives and liberty would be seriously
threatened.

But Government has relied on the foreigners Act 1946 thats gives the state wide power to detect and
deport illegal migrants.

Police and law Enforcement agencies should be instructed to step up surveillance of Rohingya or anyone
suspected of being from the minority as a preparatory step.

Other hand India can be support country like Bangladesh who giving shelters to Rohingya refugee to
providing food and resources.

TOPIC 1 ssushil475@gmail.com 16/09/2017