RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Cultural Diversity and Human Security

Submitted by Hla Myat Moore

I.

Introduction a. Background of the study b. Research questions c. Objectives d. Scope and Limitation of the Study e. Significance of the study

II.

Review of Literature a. literature review b. Theoretical Framework c. Operational Definition of Terms

III.

Methodology Locale of the Study Respondents of the Study Research Instrument Data Collection Data Analysis Research Question

IV. V.

Result and Discussion Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations

Introduction

Cultural diversity exists throughout the ASEAN countries. Some of the ASEAN countries face ethnical conflicts because of the cultural diversity but some countries do not. Myanmar is one of the most culturally diverse countries among the ASEAN countries. There are eight major ethnic groups composed of 135 national ethnic groups in Myanmar. In addition, there are some minority ethnics groups, who have been living in Myanmar for more than 100 years ago but they are not included in 135 national ethnic groups. Different forms of ethnical conflicts exist among the vast majority of ethnic groups due to the cultural diversity. The most vulnerable forms of ethnical conflicts exist between minority ethnic groups and majority ethnic groups. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all human beings must enjoy basic human rights regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or any other characteristics. Without the fundamental human rights, human security cannot be achieved. The most of the ethnic conflicts results in human insecurity. On the contrary, many ethnic minority groups suffer, continue to suffer, from human rights violations.

Rohingyas are the most down-trodden ethnic minorities of the world. They have been suffering from several forms of restrictions and human rights violations. They are also subjected to various forms of extortion and arbitrary taxation; land confiscation; forced eviction and house destruction; freedom of movement and restrictions on marriage. Majority of Them have been denied citizenship by the government of Myanmar since 1982. Myanmar government recognized them as Bengali ethnic minority and not the Rohingya. However, ASEAN community described Rohingya as illegal migrants from the Indian Ocean during the ASEAN summit in Hua Hin, 2009.

In 1978 over 200,000 Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh, following the Nagamin (Dragon King) operation of the Myanmar army, which resulted in widespread killings, rape and destruction of mosques and further religious persecution. During 1991-1992, 250,000 Rohingyas fled to

Bangladesh. They reported widespread forced labor, as well as summary executions, torture, and rape.

The Rohingyas live in the Rakhine State, western Myanmar, consisting of coastal plains; a network of streams and rivers; and a mountain range separating it from central Myanmar. The Naaf River marks part of the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar. The Rohingya population is mostly concentrated in the three northern townships: Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung. The Rohingyas speak a Bengali dialect, mixed primarily with words from the Urdu, Hindi and Arabic languages, but also from the Bama and English languages. The first Muslims who settled in this region were believed to be Arab mariners and traders that arrived on the Rakhine coast in the 8th and 9th centuries. Other Muslims arrived to the Rakhine included Persians, Moghuls, Turks, Pathans and Bengalis. During the British colonial period from 1824 to 1948, there was also massive migration from Chittagong to the Rakhine State.

Research questions:

1. Why do some cultural diverse ethnic groups experiences human insecurity while other do not? 2. What are the impacts of human insecurity?

Objective of the study Generally, the objective of the study is to analyze how the cultural diversity affects the human insecurity of Rohingyas. Therefore, the specific objectives of the study are to:

1. Describe the socio-economic status of the Rohingyas; 2. Find out the cultural diversity among the ethnic groups who live in Rakhine state; 3. Find out the violation of the universal delectation of human rights; 4. Find out the human insecurity of Rohingyas; 5. Find out the affects of human insecurity of Rohingyas;
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Scope and Limitation of the Study The study will focus on the cultural diversity among different ethnic groups who lives in Rakhine state on the aspect of religion, language, historical precedence, and human insecurity on the aspect of civil and political rights, minority and group rights, environmental rights, and social rights. There are many other variables, which cause human insecurity. Besides, there are limitation on research studies, printed materials, data and access to some vulnerable communities.

Significant of the Study

There are limited studies on the most vulnerable ethnic group, Rohingyas. Therefore, the findings and results would provide empirical studies on the cultural diversity and human insecurity of the minority ethnic groups. Besides, the study aimed to provide causes and effects of human right violation and human insecurity of the ethnic minority group, Rohingya.

I.

Review of Literature

a. Literature Review on i. Cultural Diversity ii. Race iii. Religion iv. Universal Declaration of Human Rights and human insecurity v. Vulnerable to violating of human rights and human insecurity

b. Theoretical Framework i. Cultural Diversity c. Operational Definition of Terms

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II.

Methodology

Locale of the Study

Rohingya, the most vulnerable ethnic communities live in Rakhine, Myanmar. The population is about 3.5 million. The Rohingyas have been living in Arakan region for more than a millennium ago. However, therefore, the study will be conducted in Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung, Myanmar. Respondents of the Study

The study respondents will be the Rohingyas from Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung, Myanmar. The key informants will be Rohingyas communities live in Rakhine state and Rohingyas professional who live around the world.

Sampling procedure

The research respondents will be selected randomly for in-depth interview and purposively for informant interview.

Research Design, Instrument and data analysis

The study will be conducted in the combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods. An interview schedule is designed for quantitative and qualitative data collection. The closed ended questionnaires are designed for quantitative data analysis and open-ended questionnaires are designed for qualitative data analysis.

Map of Myanmar

Study Location