What does the Rohingya crisis look like in Myanmar newspapers?

The Rohingya crisis in the Rakhine state in Myanmar has been a turbulent concern for the world over the past few weeks since the latest spark of conflict. Whereas every major news outlet in the world is scrutinising the state of Rakhine, how is the Myanmar media looking at things? Between August 30 and September 5, The Myanmar Times has four articles on its website on the Rakhine state. However, none of these address the issue of displaced Rohingya seeking refuge in Bangladesh. Instead, three of the articles make reference to “terrorist attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA),” while the other states the Kofi Annan Commission’s finding that “local communities” in Rakhine state resented the Myanmar government as they were being excluded from the planning of large-scale development projects. The latest of the four articles, published on Tuesday, September 5, reports of a visit from Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Matsudi and her separate meetings with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

Govt is urged to implement a strategic environmental assessment on Kyaukphyu SEZ in #Rakhine #Annan @TheMyanmarTimes https://t.co/psg2C31M69

— Thompson Chau (@ThompsonChau94) September 4, 2017

The Myanmar Times writes that “Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has expressed her government’s support for Myanmar’s actions for the stability, peace and development in Rakhine State” as well as stating that “the Senior General explained the real situation of ARSA extremist terrorist attacks in Buthitaung and Maungdaw in Rakhine State that started on August 25.” The website does not make any further mention of neither the Rohingya nor the Rakhine state. The forced displacement and Rohingya casualties are nowhere mentioned in any of the articles in their homepage. Meanwhile, The Irrawaddy posts numerous articles on the Rakhine conflict, but maintains the focus on the army fighting ARSA. One Irrawaddy report, written by Nyein Nyein and published on September 5, speaks of how eight members of an 8-year-old Hindu girl’s family were killed in Kha Mauk Seik village, some 40 miles from downtown Maungdaw, allegedly by Muslim militants. The report also claims that the child’s elder sister, sheltering with her at a relief camp in Bangladesh’s Kutupalong, said that she was “initially abducted by militants from ARSA.”

#Rakhine’s Maungdaw declared a military ‘operational area’#Myanmar #Burmahttps://t.co/FkBS6qNWGw pic.twitter.com/H3nNaLALjB— The Irrawaddy (Eng) (@IrrawaddyNews) September 4, 2017

“According to aid workers, Bangladesh is also now hosting some 87,000 self-identifying Rohingya Muslim refugees who have fled northern Rakhine State since the Myanmar Army began renewed clearance operations in Maungdaw following the ARSA attacks,” The report added. Eleven Myanmar refers to the conflict as “Bengali issues in Rakhine.” Eleven Myanmar also emphasises ARSA activities and the global repercussions on Myanmar. The Irrawaddy and other Myanmar newspapers, such as Frontier Myanmar and Mizzima, have only sporadically referred to the forced displacement of the Rohingya. On the occasions they do, they are usually from international news agencies like Reuters or AFP. One article, published on Mizzima on September 3, is solely the text from a joint statement by International Non-Government Organisations (INGOs) in Myanmar. The statement said: “Recently, there have been public accusations of INGO involvement in the recent attacks and that humanitarian assistance is being provided as support to parties which have perpetrated violence. These allegations convey an untrue representation of INGOs and go against our common values and principles anchored in impartiality and humanity. “The INGO community recognizes the Government of Myanmar as the primary duty bearer to respect and protect the rights of all people in Myanmar. In this moment of crisis, we call on the Government to re-establish access to conflict-affected areas to ensure the delivery of life-saving services, and to safeguard the health and security of humanitarian workers providing assistance to affected communities. The Mizzima also published an article on September 5 where it said, quoting unnamed Indian and Bangladesh intelligence officials, that ARSA Chief Hafiz Tohar allegedly had communication with Pakistan and militant group Islamic State. According to the Mizzima, the intelligence officials discovered the contact number of Islamic State affiliated Brigadier Ashfaq in Tohar’s communications. Ashfaq had reportedly recently met BNP leader Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique in London.