Tension on Myanmar-Bangladesh border

Tension is brewing over past few months between Bangladesh and Myanmar over border issues. The spark is provided by Mynmar’s decision to build an earthen embankment and fence its border with Bangladesh. The embankment is to be built within 80 yards from the border pillar no. 20 in Chakmakata area of Cox Bozaar district . Yangon planned to begin the work on April 20, 2009. A flag meeting was held to resolve the issue as Bangladesh objected to construction activity within 150 yards from Zero-point. Eleven battalions of Myanmar Army, reinforced by paramilitary forces, have been deployed along Bangladesh border to facilitate the embankment over which a barbed wire fence is proposed to be built. Earlier in March, a similar confrontation was witnessed over erection of fence across the Teknaf border and construction of dams over Teknaf River on the Myanmar side.

The main objective of the fencing is to prevent human trafficking, particularly the movement of Rohingya refugees, and other trans-national criminals. In a recent meeting in Bali on April 16, Dr Dipu Moni, Bangladesh Foreign Minister urged the Myanmar officials to take back the remaining 28,000 Rohingyas in Bangladesh. Myanmar is taking the stand that Rohingyas are not one of the ethnic races of Myanmar and so cannot be their citizens. Thailand is also concerned about illegal migration of Rohingyas from Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Myanmar soldiers and the Rohingya people clashed on April 22 at the border with Bangladesh resulting in injuries to three security personnel. The clashes occurred when the Rohingya people attacked them for forcing to work on the border fencing along with the Myanmar -Bangladesh border.

Myanmar Army is also constructing a road connecting Kyauktaw and Pehawaing through Paletwa in the Chin state. It is forcibly drafting villagers from Paletwa district and adjoining areas to work on this project. The road would facilitate the movement of troops and armaments in view of its increased deployment along the international border with Bangladesh.

Richard Boucher, United States Assistant Secretary of State, had stated at a news conference in Dhaka (8th Feb) that Rohingyas were fleeing Myanmar because of persecution and economic reasons. ‘It is a matter of concern. US wanted Myanmar to stop harassing the Rohingyas’, he said.

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