Burmese Government continues to persecute Rohingya

Mediation with Khilafa breaks down

Talks between the Khilafa and the Burmese government have officially broken down after footage from a state built reconnaissance satellite showed widespread destruction of Rohingya villages. Despite ongoing attempts by the Khilafa to reach a political agreement with the Burmese government to protect the Rohingya, this latest discovery indicates the Burmese government has no real interest in coming to an amicable agreement.

In response, the Khalifa has ordered the military to begin preparations for a full scale Embargo of Burma. Effective immediately, all trade with Burma has been halted. Burmese vessels are no longer permitted to travel through the Suez Canal or the Straight of Malacca. No flights carrying Burmese passport holders will be allowed over Khilafa air space. The Khilafa Space Program has been ordered to restrict satellite internet access to the region. No electricity from the Bengal Bay Wind Power station will be forwarded to Burma either. Rohingya refugees that are able to flee are advised to make way to Bangladesh where they will be received and cared for by the Department of Extraordinary Hijrah, or to Thailand where facilities are in place for their transport to the Khilafa.

These extreme measures, while aimed at punishing the Burmese authority for a lack of political good will, are expected to be more problematic for Burmese civilians than the ruling elite. In response the Khilafa, in negotiation with Thai, Chinese and European counterparts, has also implemented the freezing of all foreign assets for high ranking Burmese officials. Burmese individuals of economic interest within the Khilafa territory will be barred from leaving indefinitely until the situation is resolved. T hat includes people like Khin Maung, a General in the Burmese Army now stuck in Dubai airport after attempting to return from a holiday in Europe. A senior military official used to commanding respect and dignity, Khin Maung now finds himself sleeping in the departure lounge with no clear idea of when he may be leaving.

The Rohingya people have endured state based persecution and oppression since as far back as the 18th century and despite constant attention to their plight, little has been done to help them. The greatest shame they have potentially endured was early in the 21st century when they suffered humiliation and rejection by countries populated by Muslims but unwilling to help. Bangladesh is one particular example, notorious for refusing to accept Rohingya refugees and going so far as to try and intercept their boats and tow them back to Burma. Despite the challenges they have faced, the state of the Rohingya people remains dire which is why the Khilafa has refused to engage in political deliberations anymore.

Heading the Embargo is General Faraz alSamarqandi from the Khilafa Security Council. A relatively quiet public official, General AlSamarqandi believes the policies in place will force the Burmese government to undergo major reform.

An Embargo is a relatively old tactic and has a history of mix results, as can be seen in Cuba, Iran and North Korea. Never before though has a country faced such extreme restrictions as what we are about to put Burma under.

There treatment of the Rohingya is criminal and we had two choices, Jihad or one more attempt at internal reformation. Many of my peers called for the first option but I think the Khalifa was right in giving them one more chance. If the Burmese government refuses to change then the only step is to put our troops on the ground to protect the Muslims. If the Burmese don’t want the Rohingya then we will create a state for them and they will join the Khilafa.

In a rare candid moment, the Khalifa also touched upon the Rohingya and the shame he feels for not doing enough to help them when he was younger. Speaking during the Jumuah Khutbah last week, the Emir al Mu’mineen said:

When I was young none of the Muslim leaders cared about the Rohingya. The United States government was doing more at the time to help them than any Muslim organisation. I never felt so powerless and so worthless as when I realised that the Ummah didn’t care. Now though, I can hear the Ummah crying in pain over what our families in Burma have to endure. Now though we have a chance to write the wrongs. Now though we can do what is right and give the Rohingya the dignity they deserve. I wont be accountable on Yom al Qiyama for failing them, I’m putting all the resources the Khilafa possess towards fixing this situation once and for all.

The embargo is expected to shut down the Burmese economy overnight. Already, burmese officials are ordering electricity rationing as blackouts are predicted all over the country. Police have been ordered to work over time to

deal with what is expected to be unmitigated chaos. Speaking with officials while stationed in an undisclosed location, Minister for Defence Heba Qureshi has also warned the Burmese officials in a public statement that the 2nd and 4th Mechanised Brigade are mobilising and any loss of Rohingya life or property will be justification for the initiation of a defensive Jihad.

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