1. From Citizen to Stateless
Samuel Farris 1
Samuel Farris

2. Timeline 1785: Kingdom of Arakan falls to Burmese
: Anglo-Burmese War. Becomes a British colony
: Japanese invade Burma
1948: Burma gains independence
1960: Rohingya vote
1962: Military Coup. Increased ethnic discrimination
1982: Citizen law excludes Rohingya from countries 135 national races
1989: Burma renamed Myanmar
Arakan state renamed Rakhine State 1

3. - Sao Shwe Thaike, Burma’s first President
“Muslims of Arakan certainly belonged to the indigenous races of Burma”
- Sao Shwe Thaike, Burma’s first President
“The Rohingya has the equal status of nationality with Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Mon, Rakhine and Shan”
- U Ba Swe, Burma’s second prime minister 1

4. 1

5. Explanations Conflicting historical narratives
Changes in political language
Gaps between laws and implementation 1

6. Background Rakhine State Arakan State
(current name)
Arakan State
(former name)
Historically the location for the Kingdom of Arakan
Modern day inhabited by Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims 1

7. Kingdom of Arakan Maritime Empire
Islamic Influence from Bengali Traders
Use of Islamic Motifs in Royal Court
Muslims have resided within the region historically
Ethnicity not ridged
Conquered in 1784 by the Burmese 1

8. Are Rohingya an indigenous race?
Supporters
Rohingya is a relatively new term applied to Muslims within the region
Long historical Muslim evidence
Believe term “Rohingya” came from “Arakanese”
Opponents
Downplay or deny historical Muslim links in the area
Claim Rohingya come from Bangladesh during colonial rule
Believe “Arakanese” is synonymous with Buddhism 1

9. The evolution of tiangyinthu
Dr. Nick Cheesman argues that the current word tiangyinthu Which currently means “National Race” has evolved over time
Originally it was used to describe native handicrafts, medicines, and trades
Currently means “Myanmar's different linguistic and cultural groups joined together by shared ancestry and/or common homeland” 1

10. British Colonial Period 1823-1942
British had policies for ruling the ethnic majority (Burman People)
Allowed for ethnic minorities to have autonomy
During this time taingyintha was used to denote those who are not “Chinese, European, or Indian” 1

11. Japanese Occupation of Burma 1942-1945
Heightens tensions between Arakan Muslims and Buddhists
Arakan Muslims side with the British
Arakan Buddhists side with the Japanese
Massacres on both sides
British reward loyal Muslim population in Arakan 1

12. Independence 1948 taingyintha used as an inclusive term
Used to promote loyalty to the state during civil wars
Civil wars were a threat to state survival
Burma’s first president Sao Shwe Thaik 1

13. Union Citizen Act of 1948
“any of the indigenous races of Burma’ shall mean the Arkanese, Burmese, Chin, Kachin, Karen, Kayah, Mon, or Shan race and such racial group as has settled in any of the territories included in the Union as their permanent home from a period anterior to 1823 A.D”
-Union Citizen Act 1948
“Any person descended from ancestors who for two generations at least have all made any of the territories included within the Union their permanent home and whose parents and himself were born in any of such territories shall be deemed to be a citizen of the Union.”
-Union Citizen Act 1948 Article 4 1

14. General Ne Win’s Coup 1962 Disbands all parties except his own
Uses term tiangyinthu (National Race) like previous government
Wields more power and civil war no longer a threat to state survival
Begins the Institute of Development of National Races in 1964
Increased discrimination 1

15. Bangladesh Liberation War
War between Bengali nationalists and Pakistan
Large number of Bengali refugees in Rakhine (Arakan)
Rakhine Buddhists pressured government to crackdown on illegal immigration
Result: 200,000 Rohingya flee to Bangladesh
Ne Win under pressure accepted to take back the 200,000 refugees in 1978 1

16. Citizen Law of 1982
“Nationals such as Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Chin, Burman, Mon, Rakhine, and ethnic groups who have settled in any territories including within the State as their permanent home from a period anterior 1185 B.E., 1823 A.D are Burma citizens”
“Every national and every person born, both of whom are born nationals are citizens”
Rohingya dropped out of the 135 national recognized races 1

17. Citizen Law of 1982
“A person who is already a citizen on the date of this law comes into force as a citizen” Citizen Law of 1982 Article 6
Never enforced but law not specifically targeting Rohingya 1

18. Consequences of not being citizens
Lack of citizenship has left the Rohingya vulnerable, as they have no legal rights and are unable to participate politically
1991, Soldiers sent in Rakhine and confiscated Rohingya land
Government stopped issuing birth certificates 1

19. Consequences 2012 Violence
Mass atrocities in Rakhine state in 2012
Started from death of a Rakhine woman
All Muslims in the region targeted
Retaliations against Rakhine Buddhists
Outcome: 140,000 mostly Rohingya displaced
boat crisis 1

20. Classroom Ideas
Using this case study to talk about what defines a person as a citizen
Gaps between laws and implementation
How changes in language can shape politics
Dangers of lacking citizenship and bringing other examples of stateless people in history 1