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‘Persecuted Rohingyas have genuine claims to asylum’

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By Sahana Ghosh
Kolkata, Oct 13 (IANS) Securitisation of the Rohingyas fleeing Myanmar is “wrong” and “unfortunate”, according to noted Bangladeshi political science and migration studies expert Tasneem Siddiqui, who says the international community should instead embrace them.

Siddiqui, the founding chair of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), University of Dhaka, believes the Rohingyas have genuine claims to asylum.

“The Burmese (Myanmarese) state is pursuing a genocidal policy against the Rohingyas and as such Rohingyas have genuine claims to asylum. It’s the responsibility of the international community to provide shelter to those fleeing persecution at home,” Siddiqui told IANS in an email interview.

“In that context, I believe both Bangladesh and India, as civilised members of the world community, should embrace the Rohingyas and give them shelter,” she observed.

“Pressure has to be exerted on Burma so that it ceases the genocidal activities and creates conditions at home for the Rohihingyas to return in dignity. Instead of seeing them from a humanitarian lens, securitising the refugees is wrong and unfortunate.”

The Bangladesh government recently announced that it will identify Rohingya refugees as “forcefully displaced Myanmar citizens”. The number of unregistered refugees who began coming into Bangladesh from Myanmar from August 25 has already exceeded 500,000. The governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar have announced establishment of a working group to discuss the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.

Meanwhile, India has described the Rohingyas as illegal immigrants and refuses to treat them as refugees. The government has said it intends to deport 40,000 Rohingyas who have been living in the country for the past few years after fleeing religious persecution in Myanmar.

Siddiqui said while the movement of Rohingyas to other countries has varying degrees of impact, they can be an asset for a country if their skills are harnessed properly through appropriate policies.

“Failure to address root causes of their displacement has resulted in Rohingyas fleeing their homes and securing shelter in other countries. Their movement to other countries has varying degrees of impact. If their skills are harnessed properly through appropriate policies then they can be an asset for a country,” she opined.

If the refugees are not allowed to fend for themselves through income-generating activities or are not provided with basic necessities, then they are likely to have a disruptive impact on the host society, including the environment, the expert said.

“Hence, the onus lies on the host country to develop appropriate strategy for refugees,” Siddiqui said.

The UN Security Council has widely condemned Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority, and also raised issues of terrorism and the attack on Hindus. Rights NGO Amnesty International has said the international community must help ensure that Rohingya refugees should not be forced back to Myanmar as long as they remain at risk of serious rights violations following an agreement between Dhaka and Nay Pyi Taw to form a working group to discuss the repatriation of the Rohingyas.

Siddiqui flagged concerns over stability of the South Asian region if the prolonged refugee crisis is not resolved quickly.

“This is going to adversely impact on the region. No group of people deserve to be banished from their homes on flimsy pretexts. Lack of basic rights, including that of liberty and livelihood, are preconditions for people to become vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation.

“If the crisis is not resolved quickly then a section of them may be radicalised and surely that will have major implications for the region,” Siddiqui said, adding she believed India can play a major role in influencing Myanmar to make the atmosphere conducive for the dignified return of the refugees.

“The Rohingya’s rightful claims to Burmese citizenship should be immediately restored. All discriminatory laws and orders should be rescinded. Through ensuring presence of international monitors, if not peace keepers, conditions should be created for their return to Burma with dignity. India can play a major role to influence Burma,” she concluded.

(Sahana Ghosh can be contacted at [email protected])

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.

The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.

Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.

Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.

For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.

During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.

Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.

Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .

Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.

In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.

In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.

He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.

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