February 06, 2018
The name Rohingya was
never mentioned in any of the census lists, and it is not included among the
list of 135 ethnic nationals, said Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and
Population U Thein Swe during the Pyithu Hluttaw meeting yesterday.
During the 12th-day
meeting of the seventh regular session of the second Pyithu Hluttaw yesterday,
U Tin Aye of Metmung constituency raised a question on the plan to inform the
people of Myanmar, as well as those across the world, of there being no ethnic
nationals under the name Rohingya. The Union Minister was responding to his
question.
Union Minister U Thein
Swe added that according to records, a race census was made by the British
government in 1911, 1921 and 1931, prior to independence, and censuses were
collected after independence in 1953-1954, 1973 and 1983. According to Part I –
Provincial Totals of Races by Religion census report for 1921 and 1931, the
name Rohingya was never mentioned.
When the ethnic race
list was prepared for census collection after independence in 1973, it was
based on the ethnic race list included in the 1931 census, 1953-1954
nationality lists, 1961 suggestions by the historical literature and culture
office, operating under the ministry of culture, and suggestions by the Myanmar
History Commission and coordination of ethnic national affairs committee of
Burma (Myanmar) Socialist Programme Party. The 135 ethnic nationals in that
census do not include the name Rohingya, explained the Union Minister.
The word Rohingya was
not used in state-owned and private media, and Rohingya not being included in
the ethnic national list has been mentioned repeatedly. Myanmar diplomats in
the world and United Nations organisations do not recognise the usage of that
word, and if others were using it, official objections, protests and
indications were made consistently, said the Union Minister.
The government is
conducting work for the long-term benefit of the people and towards national
interest. In conducting these works, it is not responding to sentimental words
but to legal and formal processes in calm, dignified and effective ways.
The race list obtained
from the 2014 census will be published only after consultation with ethnic
affairs committee members; ethnic national leaders; ethnic national
representatives; history, culture and social science experts; relevant
departments and organisations, as there are contentious matters in the
inclusion of ethnic nationals, sub-tribes of ethnic nationals, spellings, new
names and classification of ethnic nationals, said the Union Minister.
Questions raised by U
Sai Aung Kyaw of Kehsi constituency, U Naing Naing Win of Tamu constituency and
Dr. U San Shwe Win of Yekyi constituency were also answered by U Thein Swe.
A motion urging the
government to set up appropriate policies to assist Myanmar nationals who
return to Myanmar after facing difficulties abroad for various reasons due to
migrant labour laws of the host countries, tabled by U Sai Thiha Kyaw of Mairel
constituency, was then discussed by Daw Khin Hnin Thit of Padaung constituency,
U Sai Tun Aye of Mongshu constituency, U Sai Thant Zin of Hsipaw constituency,
U Win Thein Zaw of Salingyi constituency, Daw Cho Cho of Oattwin constituency,
Daw Nan Than Than Lwin of Hpa-an constituency and Dr. Daw Khin Sithu of Loikaw
constituency.
In his discussion on
the motion, U Thein Swe said the socio-economic development of workers and the
employment of nationals are priorities for the ministry. The ministry has drawn
up and is implementing policies on migrant workers and employment matters,
added the Union Minister.
When our migrant
workers return from abroad, whether they go there officially or not, or they
have official documents or not, the ministry does its best to assist them. The
union minister suggested the motion be put on record, as it is an important
matter that the government is conducting consistently with all the ministries.
The Hluttaw decided to
put the motion on record. In addition to this, the bill to repeal the Dock
Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act 1948, returned without amendment by
Amyotha Hluttaw, was also approved by the Hluttaw after the Hluttaw’s decision
was obtained.
Ref; The Global New
Light of Myanmar
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