Can Myanmar Solve its Ethnic Diversity Problem?

I was in Yangon early last October when reports first emerged of a crackdown on suspected 'terrorists' in Myanmar's Rakhine state. The military operation had displaced a number of local residents, creating tensions that would eventually lead to a serious armed confrontation between Rohingya militants and Myanmar's security forces. Nine policemen were killed, triggering a violent recourse of more killings and burning of villages. The situation seems to have gone out of control, with thousands of displaced Rohingyas crossing the border into neighboring Bangladesh or setting out to sea to seek refuge elsewhere.

For someone who has been a longtime observer of Myanmar, the latest development at Rakhine was eerily and tragically, a case of dj vu. This is exactly what happened back in February 1992, when I was assigned to cover the flight of tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, following operations by the Myanmar Army.

November 29, 2016