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Many countries face troublesome issues that are hidden from the eyes of individuals because the media does not cover more about these issues where people are being mistreated in the name of religion.
Xinjiang Re-Education Camps
Xinjiang is an area situated in the northwest part of China. It shares its boundaries with many Central Asian countries such as India, Afghanistan, Mongolia, etc. and hence the state has declared its independence several times. But, in 1949 it came under the rule of the Chinese government.
The population of this state is around 20.6 Million and more than half of the population is Uighur Muslims and other minorities. The people of this region found themselves relating to the culture of other Asian countries rather than China. That's why they were pretty annoyed when Han Chinese started moving in Xinjiang.
The Chinese government is accused of capturing millions of Uyghur and other minority groups also illegally detaining them in buildings that are spread over 1000 kilometres with high security and brainwashing Muslims to leave their religion and accept Han-Chinese culture (ethnic culture of China) since 2017. The women are not allowed to wear Hijab.
However, the government denies the accusation by claiming that these are the centres made for “vocational training and skills” where people voluntarily undergo their training period to combat separatism and terrorism. When the BBC investigated further and asked the locals about it, they said that the people are kept over here have ‘some problem with their brains’.
Albeit, the document released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists(ICIJ), ‘China Cables’ on 24th November 2019, a nine-page memo which revealed that these are ‘concentration camps’ like a prison where day to day activities of people are monitored with the help of cameras.
The data which was leaked revealed several points about how people are brainwashed inside these centres. The memo included orders to -
1) Never allow escapes
2) Increase discipline and punishment, if anyone does not abide by orders
3) Make Mandarin studies a top priority
4) Encourage students to transform
5) Full video surveillance of classrooms and dormitories without a blind spot
If someone does not comply with the rules then that person has to undergo punishments. The people are also forced to make products which we use in daily life at cheaper costs.
‘Women are raped in front of prisoners and are forced for abortions, they even conduct medical experiments on prisoners and never tell anybody what it's about’ said a former detainee, Sayragul Sauytbay.
What about Uyghur Violence?
China also claims that the majority of the people have joined the Islamic State militants group and other separatist groups. Hence, it faces a threat from the people as people of Xinjiang feel oppressed by the native people of China.
In the 2009 riots, which took place at the capital Urumqi killed 200 people who were mostly Han-Chinese and 96 people were killed in 2011 in an attack on the police station and government office in 2014. In earlier days, several people were released but nowadays, no such cases are reported.
What Can You Do to Help?
Sign this petition and share it with others too.
Rohingya Crisis
Rohingya represents a minority ethnos group within the north-western a part of Myanmar called Rakhine. The Rohingya group includes the majority of Muslims with small fractions of Hindu too. As Myanmar is a Buddhist-dominated country, there has always been a conflict within Rohingya and Rakhine people.
In 2017, several thousands of many Rohingya flew right down to other neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Thailand, etc thanks to the intervention of Myanmar Army in burning down their homes and villages. In textbook language, it had been termed as ‘beautiful and ethnic cleansing of the country’.
History of Feuds
Myanmar was a part of India during British colonial rule from 1837 to 1937, a period in which people used to migrate from Bengal which was considered safe and legal. But, in 1937 Myanmar got separated from India and people who migrated were distributed into religious groups. Most of the Muslims were sent to the Indian Province Of Bengal.
In 1947, the Indian Province Of Bengal also divided into West Bengal and Bangladesh. Tons of considerable non-Buddhists Hindu and Muslim stayed back. This created a socio-political difference amongst communities in Myanmar.
Several Muslims met Muhammad Ali Jinnah and asked him for the annexation of Rakhine into two towns for the Muslim majority and Bangladesh. But Jinnah denied their request by saying that it is internal affairs of Myanmar and he does not wish to interfere in it.
Later, the Rohingya formed their mujahedeen to fight against Burma Government. Several separatist groups were formed like the Rohingya Liberation Party (RLP), Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RGO), and many more for the citizenship and an autonomous region.
Hence, this led to major feuds during which many people were killed from each side. In 2012, there was a stern riot that occurred in Rakhine between Rohingya and Buddhists during which quite 90,000 people and many other people were displaced and killed.
The feud started with news that a Rakhine woman was raped and murdered by Rohingya Muslims and this infuriated the Buddhists and that they began killing Rohingya people and burning their houses. The violence was par and state emergency was declared under the orders of ‘terrorist attack’ and ‘restoring the peace of nation’.
In 2014, the government released an official list that recognized various communities across the country, apart from the Rohingya. The Myanmar government doesn’t recognize Rohingya as citizens of their country, furthermore asking them to leave the country.
Hundreds of insurgents attacked three posts of Myanmar border in October 2016 and a new group claimed the responsibility for the attack called Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).
This group did several attacks on Burmese armies, later on, to guard the Rohingya from ‘intentional genocide’. Burma is accused of detaining several children and adults behind the covers of attackers.
In early August 2017, the Burmese army began with the cleansing operations and drawing people from their houses. Hence, in response thereto ARSA attacked 150 police posts and the Burmese army leaving 71 dead.
An estimated 650,000 to 700,000 Rohingya people must have moved to Bangladesh to seek asylum. When the refugees entered India and stayed in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and other north-western States, then the government did not allow them to enter and live here.
Supreme Court ordered to deport Rohingya people into another country despite the warnings of the UN, by stating that it can create conditions like Kashmir, where Pandits were thrown by local Muslims.
In March 2019, Bangladesh also declared that it won't be accepting Rohingya refugees anymore- which is home to more than 600,000 Rohingya. The UN also ordered Myanmar to protect Rohingya people from ‘intentional genocide’ in January 2020.
How to help?
Sign these petitions and help many people as you can!
Written By - Chavi Goel
Edited By - Ivanova
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