'Only a democratic Myanmar can ensure Rohingya repatriation'

Bangladesh recently hosted an international conference in Cox's Bazar to spotlight the Rohingya crisis. Among the participants were two exiled Myanmar journalists — Su Chay, managing editor at Myanmar Now, and Mon Mon Myat, senior management consultant at the Democratic Voice of Burma.

Based in Thailand, they visited the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar for the first time.

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star, they shared their insights on Myanmar's conflicts, the Rohingya crisis, and prospects for democracy.

DS: How was your experience of the conference and the Rohingya camps?

Su Chay: Bangladesh has done a remarkable job by hosting the Rohingya generously for eight years. The conference, which included voices from the Rohingya diaspora, could help revive international attention, especially now that funding is shrinking. Visiting the camps was a rare opportunity for us. What I saw was bleak — overcrowded shelters, little hope of return, and villages in Rakhine still under violence. Yet, with Bangladesh and international support, they at least find some safety here. It was heartbreaking.

Mon Mon: For me, meeting Rohingya of all ages was eye-opening. Hearing them speak directly about their longing to return, their wish to study and work, and their demand for dignity gave me a deeper understanding of their suffering and aspirations.

DS: Why did so many Rohingya flee Myanmar?

Mon Mon: Whether in Bangladesh or Thailand, the reason is the same — conflict. Military operations and armed clashes forced them to leave. Nobody wants to abandon their home, but violence gave them no choice. Even now, millions of Myanmar's citizens are displaced worldwide.

For the Rohingya, more than a million live in Bangladesh, while Thailand hosts six to seven million refugees and migrants.

DS: What is the current situation inside Myanmar?

Su Chay: Since the 2021 coup, Rakhine and the rest of Myanmar have been engulfed in conflict between ethnic armed groups, People's Defence Forces (PDFs), and the military. Civilians are targeted, villages bombed, and cities are unsafe. Air strikes and artillery shelling kill indiscriminately. Recently, after declaring martial law in 63 townships, the military increased daily air strikes. In Rakhine, trade blockades worsen the suffering. Cross-border trade with Bangladesh is a rare lifeline.

DS: What about the National Unity Government (NUG)?

Su Chay: The NUG exists mostly symbolically, relying on international support. The PDFs, their armed wing, are more active on the ground. Some PDFs follow NUG directives, others operate independently. They fight bravely but face deadly airstrikes from the military, which has superior firepower. Still, PDFs collaborate with ethnic armed groups. Together they've captured territories, run schools with striking teachers, and provide health care through makeshift clinics. NUG channels funds to some of these efforts, but their reach is limited.

DS: What is the future of Myanmar? Is it heading towards fragmentation?

Mon Mon: I don't think so. Ethnic groups demand autonomy, not secession. The struggle is against dictatorship and for federal democracy.

DS: How do global powers shape this conflict?

Su Chay: Greatly. Myanmar's resources and location attract China, India, and the US. Competing interests prolong the crisis, while some armed groups exploit resources to court neighbours.

DS: What is the way forward for Rohingya repatriation?

Mon Mon: Repatriation is everyone's dream. But it requires systemic change, only a federal democratic Myanmar can ensure the Rohingya's safe and dignified return.

DS: What role should neighbours like Bangladesh, India, and China play?

Su Chay: Sadly, they've done little so far, and some even back the military. Unless they act proactively, the conflict will persist, and it will affect them too, through refugee flows and instability.

DS: How can relations improve at the people-to-people level?

Mon Mon: Mutual understanding is key between host communities and Rohingya, and between Rakhine and Rohingya in Myanmar. Education, media, and dialogue are tools for this.

Su Chay: The media can counter stereotypes. Bangladeshis see Burmese as persecutors; Burmese see Bangladeshis as extremists. These are misconceptions. Balanced media can help both sides become better neighbours.