Rohingya crisis: Political solution, not aid, only way out

The current humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis is insufficient as political solutions are needed to ensure their safe and dignified return to Myanmar.

The Rohingya have called for active leadership by the UN, regional powers and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to pressure Myanmar's actors.

They also urged the UN, states and international courts to secure guarantees from Myanmar authorities for an agreement and to ensure accountability for past crimes.

The refugees further demanded direct engagement with educated Rohingya representatives in shaping any roadmap for repatriation.

The findings were revealed in a new study by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) based on testimonies of 125 Rohingya men and women in Cox's Bazar camps.

The report, "Rohingya Perspectives on Pathways to a Safe, Dignified, and Peaceful Future", comes ahead of the UN General Assembly High-Level Conference on the Rohingya crisis and other minorities in Myanmar.

The Rohingya categorically rejected any possibility of living under the Arakan Army (AA), branding the group "terrorists" and "bandits", said the report, which was released on Tuesday.

More than 70 percent of the respondents believed the AA is seeking to "erase" the Rohingya in Arakan.

The others fear they would face forced labour, religious repression or confinement in camps if returned under AA control.

They also described abuses including arbitrary arrests, abductions and violent restrictions on movement, with women and girls facing particular vulnerability.

Despite this bleak outlook, the refugees remain united in their aspiration to return to Myanmar.

Every participant emphasised that repatriation is their ultimate goal, provided that certain fundamental conditions are met.

These include full citizenship and recognition of their Rohingya identity alongside guarantees of equal rights, education, freedom of religion, livelihoods and unrestricted movement, according to the report.

However, with conflict intensifying between the AA and Myanmar's military and elections under the junta dismissed by 95 percent as meaningless, hopes for an immediate return are slim.

The AA's lack of international legitimacy makes it unfit to guarantee their rights, said 20 percent of the participants.

For survivors of the 2017 clearance operations, widows, persons with disabilities and hijra, the trauma of persecution has created personal reluctance to return, though they too wish for repatriation for the wider community.

Many emphasised a strong sense of belonging to Myanmar, particularly the youth, who said they would contribute to the country's development if treated as equals.

When tracing the root causes of the crisis, 65 percent of the participants pointed to entrenched racism and religious intolerance.

They said fear of Muslims was deliberately manufactured in Myanmar to deny them rights and citizenship.

The community also acknowledged that decades of lost education and disunity have left them politically powerless.

Yet, most said their preferred future lies in peaceful coexistence with Rakhine Buddhists, framing this not as submission but as resilience and a sense of belonging.

Looking forward, refugees called for a democratic Myanmar with an inclusive constitution and credible elections.

Some voiced the need for a disciplined, politically-led Rohingya defence force to balance power with the AA, although they rejected the proliferation of armed groups whose criminality and regressive views on women have eroded trust.

Participants also urged the international community to establish UN peacekeeping missions or internationally protected safe zones in Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung to ensure security during repatriation.

Justice must mean the restoration of citizenship, restitution of land, compensation and accountability for perpetrators, they said.

As many as 65 percent equated justice with rights, 60 percent demanded the return of land and property, and 58 percent sought punishment of perpetrators through imprisonment or death sentences.

Survivors also wanted recognition of their suffering, though many doubted that international courts would deliver timely justice.

The report further highlights a crisis of leadership.

Some 45 percent said they have no effective representation, while 60 percent of the women reported little or no awareness of current leadership.

Both camp majhis and diaspora leaders were widely distrusted for corruption and self-interest, with calls for leadership rooted in education, fairness and based in the camps.

 In Bangladesh, immediate needs dominate daily life.

Insecurity from armed and criminal groups, lack of education, and inadequate food, healthcare and shelter were repeatedly cited.

Half of those consulted stressed that education for youth is essential to regaining dignity and preparing for future leadership.

Livelihood opportunities were also viewed as critical to reducing dependence on aid.

The OHCHR report concludes with recommendations to monitor AA's abuses, mainstream recognition of Rohingya persecution in Myanmar's pro-democracy movement, invest in Rohingya youth and civil society, expand higher education pathways and ensure reparations, including land restitution, in any repatriation plan.