Rohingya rapes and resultant births

Flabbergasting numbers have been reported for how many childbirths are expected over the next month or so by raped Rohingya women. Sexual violence by Myanmar armed forces peaked in August and September 2017, provoking 700,000 Rohingyas to flee to Bangladesh. More than half of the Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh have been women and girls. An approximate 48,000 women, including adolescent girls, are expected to give birth after Myanmar military men impregnated them by force. We scornfully take notice that the UN placed the Myanmar military on a blacklist alongside some of the largest-known terror groups as the ISIS and Boko Haram for their use of rape in war. World leaders must take a stronger stance against Aung San Suu Kyi’s government and her listless position on the actions of the Myanmar military.

As for the estimated 48,000 births, history should make it known that these innocent children’s fathers were part of the Myanmar military and their actions towards their mothers were criminal. This is especially crucial as their army chief has denied any such allegations. However, from experience in the last few years, the world knows not to trust any words coming out of office from Myanmar. The timeline strongly suggests that rape was unleashed on the Rohingyas as a weapon of war. There is an active genocide taking place and the Myanmar leadership knowingly refuses to bat an eyelid in its goals of ethnic cleansing. They are responsible for placing the health of these women and babies at risk, and for defying a culture and religion as members of which these women will be shunned.

Aid workers continue their search for pregnant soon-to-be mothers as the women remain in hiding from fear of causing familial shame. Those who are opting for abortion by untrained personnel are further endangering their lives. The Myanmar government and military continues to sit back and watch, devoid of any humanity.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2018.

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