The Politics of Rohingya Ethnicity: Understanding the Debates on Rohingya in Myanmar

The Myanmar (Burmese) government has imposed denationalising policies on the Rohingya Muslim population. This paper argues that the Rohingya are an ethnic group of Burma who have been living in Burma since the eighth century AD. The article confirms an understanding of Rohingya ethnicity. This study is based on primary data from expert in-depth interview and available literature. The paper examines the government's stand about ethnic cleansing and analyses the contested arguments of Rohingya existence in the Rakhine state of Myanmar. The evidence points to the Rohingya being an ethnic group with an established culture, distinct language, traditions and history, settled in Arakan.