For close to a decade now, Myanmar has consistently proven itself incapable of cooperating with its regional neighbours, with Bangladesh perhaps drawing the shortest straw in that regard.
It’s not enough that Myanmar’s ceaseless persecution of their own minority groups has resulted in one of the largest humanitarian disasters in recent history, it has also become abundantly clear that the country has next to no intentions of repatriating the million-plus Rohingya refugees to whom Bangladesh graciously opened its door for.
But with the country’s recent act of violence against Bangladeshi nationals, Myanmar’s actions can no longer be equated to anything less than that of a rogue nation.
According to reports, the Myanmar Navy opened fire on six Bangladeshi fishing trawlers off the coast of Saint Martin’s Island in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, around 3pm on Thursday, claiming the life of one Osman Gani, one of the fishermen, and the abduction of approximately 58 Bangladeshi fishermen and six fishing boats.
To call this a condemnable act would be an understatement, especially given how Bangladesh has been on the receiving end of Myanmar’s own recent internal instability which has seen violence spill over onto our side of the border for several months now.
While it is good to know that a formal statement of protest has been lodged by Bangladesh regarding this incident, Myanmar’s actions throughout the past year has meant that their government has next to no regard for the well-being of their neighbours. To this end, nothing short of strict sanctions from their trade and defense partners are likely to get Myanmar to hopefully behave with more restraint along its borders.
Given just how miserably the international community has failed the Rohingya through their inaction over the years, we can hope that active violence against citizens of another country will finally spur them into sending a tougher message to the Myanmar government.
