Myanmar's Rohingya forced back to sea

Although Muslim settlements have existed in Arakan since the arrival of Arabs there in the 8th century AD, there is no clear connection between these early Arabs and the Rohingya, especially since the Rohingya are in many ways more Bengali. The direct descendants of Arab settlers live in central Arakan near Mrauk-U and Kyauktaw townships, not in the Mayu Frontier Area, the present day Rohingya populated area.^[7]
The British census of 1891 reported 58,255 Muslims in Arakan. By 1911, the Muslim population had increased to 178,647.^[8] The waves of immigration were primary due to the requirement of cheap labor from British India to work in the paddy fields.
In 1939, The British authorities, who were wary of the long term animosity between the Rakhine Buddhists and the Rohingya Muslims, formed a special Investigation Commission led by James Ester and U Tin Htut to study the issue of Muslim immigration into the Rakhine state. The commission recommended securing the border, however, with the onset of World War II, the British retreated from Arakan.^[9]

2012 Rohingya riots

Background

Sectarian clashes occur sporadically in Rakhine State, often between the majority Buddhist Rakhine people and sizable minority Rohingya Muslim.^[6] Officially, the Rohingya are classified as recent immigrants to Burma, and thus not eligible for citizenship. Some historians argue that the group dates back centuries while others say that it emerges as a campaigning force last century.^[6] According to the United Nations, the Rohingya are one of the world's most persecuted minorities.^[6] Elaine Pearson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division said "All those years of discrimination, abuses and neglect are bound to bubble up at some point, and that's what we are seeing now."^[7] According to groups, for a few months before riots, anti-Rohingya propaganda had been spread by "extremists and xenophobes". ^[8]

Murder of Ma Thida Htwe

On the evening of May 28, a group of three Muslims including two Rohingyas, robbed, raped and murdered an ethnic Rakhine woman, Ma Thida Htwe, near the Kyaut Ne Maw village. The police arrested three suspects and sent them to Yanbyal township jail.

Attack on Muslim bus

On June 4, a Buddhist mob attacked a bus in Taungup and killed 10 Muslims.^[8] According to eyewitness the mob was 100 strong, set the bus on fire, and beat the passengers to death. Some residents said the attack was in revenge for the earlier murder of Htwe.^[8] Later news reports indicated the mob mistakenly believed the murderers of Htwe were on board the bus.^[9]
On June 8, Burmese Muslims protested against the killings in Maung Daw. There were reports the police opened fire and several people were injured.^[10] The government responded by appointing a minister and a senior police chief to head an investigation committee. The committee was ordered to find out "cause and instigation of the incident" and to pursue legal action.^[11]