Page 14 - Beautiful Rohingyas

12 Beautiful Rohingyas

There was nothing to worry about for France, Germany, England

and other Northern European countries. However, calculations
changed when the migration wave started to hit the Balkans and then
Central Europe through Greece.

The EU countries were suddenly on full alert. German Chancel-
lor Merkel did not hesitate to visit Turkey which she saw as a key
state to stop the migration. The promises that Turkey would be sub-
sidized and the EU negotiation process would be revived were

brought to the agenda in return for the measures that Turkey would
take to stop the migration towards Europe.

Today there is a similar refugee influx that unsettles Europe in
another part of the world. However, there is no such country there as
Turkey that receives refugees with open arms and spends billions of
dollars from its own budget. Their lives are under threat at least on
the same level as that of those who migrated from the Middle East

and Africa.

This deadly migration movement is witnessed far away from
Europe, on the other corner of the world, in the Eastern Indian Ocean.
The epicenter of the migration wave is Myanmar, formerly known as
'Burma'. Those who migrate are Muslims living in the region of
Rakhine [formerly Arakan] in Myanmar. Crimes against humanity

have been committed against Muslims in Arakan, Myanmar since
1978. They are heavily tortured and raped; they are not allowed to
pray and marry; even an identity certificate is not given to the major-
ity. Therefore, the Rohingya Muslims have no option but to leave
their country.

It is hard to find even a piece of land where these people can
stand on, not to mention means like security, food and shelter. That is

because Arakanese Muslims are forcibly embarked on boats and are