Myanmar Spokesman Distinguishes Between Rohingya and Officially Recognised Minorities

Myanmar Information Minister Ye Htut attended the Asia Media Summit in Kuala Lumpur on May 26, where he was asked about the continuing migrant crisis. Htut said Myanmar would verify the citizenship of those arriving in Malaysia and Indonesia. He said those from Myanmar would then be brought back “to their original place”.

But, he drew a distinction constitutionally recognised ethnic minorities in Myanmar and those like the Rohingya, who Htut and Myanmar officials refer to simply as Bengalis. “The problem,” Htut said, “is that some of the people – what we Bengalis and what you call Rohingya – are demanding the ethnic minority status.” He said if the Rohingya were granted this, the same would have to apply to Myanmar’s populations of “Chinese, Nepalese, Tamil and others of Indian origin who moved under the British government.” Credit: YouTube/Iain Martin (Storyful)