位於緬甸的洛興雅族穆斯林社群，長期以來被緬甸政府視為非法移民。自1982年緬甸頒布憲法及國籍法以來，洛興雅人的國籍始終不被承認。在緬甸國籍法的法律架構下，只要是在1825年以前於Arakan地區及緬甸聯邦內有永久居留事實的人民，就能夠被認定是為緬甸的原住民(indigenous status)並取得國籍。然而洛興雅族穆斯林社群缺乏正式文件證明自身為原住民身分，因此國籍不被緬甸政府所認定。
洛興雅人無法取得緬甸國籍的事實使他們成為無國籍人，同時緬甸政府及緬甸人民皆認為洛興雅人是來自孟加拉的非法居民。自從洛興雅人失去國籍以來，即受到來自緬甸政府、武裝部隊、緬甸人民以及周邊收容難民國家的壓迫及迫害。
本研究試圖分析洛興雅人所處現況所面對的複雜問題，包括遭受迫害、無國籍狀態、受緬甸人民排擠、尋求庇護、及區域和國際層次上的人口販運問題。經由人道主義及法律的觀點加以論述，本研究主張自從洛興雅人失去國籍以來即無法享有基本人權，甚至連生存權亦被剝奪。

The Rohingya are a Muslim community in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) who are now considered by the Burmese government to be illegal immigrants. They have been denied citizenship since the publication of the 1982 Citizenship Act. Burma's current Constitution and Citizenship Act provide indigenous status to all people who were permanently residing in Arakan or in the Union of Burma before 1825. However, since most Rohingya lack formal documents to prove so, they are denied the right to be citizens of Burma.
The fact that the Rohingya can no longer obtain Burmese citizenship makes them stateless. The Burmese government and people consider them as illegitimate settlers from Bangladesh. Since the loss of their citizenship, the Rohingya have been oppressed and persecuted by the Burmese government, its security forces and its people, along with neighbouring countries who receive refugees. This thesis analyzes the complex situation that the Rohingya people are facing: persecution, statelessness, internal displacement, asylum seeking and human smuggling on different levels: governmental, regional and international. Through a humanitarian and legal perspective, this thesis argues that since the loss of their citizenship, the Rohingya have not been able to enjoy basic human rights, not even the right to life.

List of Abbreviations VI
Map of Arakan VII
Chapter One: Introduction 1
1. Research Motives 1
2. Research Purpose 1
3. Literature Review 2
4. Research Method 4
5. Research Approach 5
6. Note from the Author 5
Chapter Two: History and Background 6
1. Ethnic minorities in Myanmar 6
1.1 The Situation of Minorities in Burma Presently 10
2. The Origins of the Rohingya 12
2.1 Defining the Rohingya 12
2.2 Rohingya Citizenship 15
3. History of Tensions between Muslims and Buddhists in Arakan State 16
3.1 Violence between Buddhists and Muslims during the British Rule 16
3.2 The Situation of Muslims after Independence and during the Military Rule 16
4. The spread of ‘Islamophobia’ the Fear of Islam 20
4.1 Defining Islamophobia 20
4.2 Islamophobia in the West post 9/11 20
4.3 Islamophobia in Myanmar 22
4.4 The Role of Monks 24
4.5 The 969 Origins 24
4.6 Attacks on Muslims by Buddhists 26
5. Role and Support of the Burmese Government and Security Forces 27
5.1 Political Changes in Burma 27
5.2 The Role of the Government in the Persecution of the Rohingya 28
5.3 Role and Involvement of Security Forces 29
5.4 The Government’s Restrictions on Rohingya 29
5.5 Leaked documents: Restrictions on Rohingya as State Policy 32
5.6 Aung San Suu Kyi, the Lady in Denial 35
Chapter Three: Responses to the Rohingya issue 37
1. Response from the U.S Government 37
1.1 Sanctions on Burma 37
1.2 The US Government Responses to the Violence in Rakhine state 38
2. Responses from the European Union 39
3. Responses from ASEAN and Consequences of the Issue in the Region 41
3.1 Responsibility of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) 41
3.2 Consequences of the Rohingya Issue in the ASEAN region 42
4. Responses from Neighboring Countries 45
4.1 Bangladesh: Refugee Crisis 46
4.2 Thailand: Slavery and Human Smuggling 47
4.3 Rohingya Refugees in Malaysia 48
5. Responses from Buddhists 49
5.1 Reactions from Buddhists in Myanmar 50
5.2 Reactions from Buddhists Abroad 52
Chapter four: Human Rights and International Law 54
1. Human Rights for stateless persons 54
1.1 Human Rights 54
1.2 Statelessness 55
1.3 The stateless Rohingya 56
1.4 Myanmar and International Law 58
2. Asylum Seekers and International Law 59
2.1 The Right of Asylum in International Law 59
2.2 Asylum Seekers in Southeast Asia 63
2.3 Rohingya Asylum Seekers 63
3. Provisions for Internally Displaced Persons 66
3.1 Defining the Status of Internally Displaced Persons 66
3.2 Laws Applicable to Internally Displaced Persons 67
3.3 Internally Displaced Rohingya in Myanmar 68
4. The Function of Non-Governmental Organizations 70
4.1 Defining Non-Governmental Organizations 70
4.2 NGOs in the Rakhine State 72
Chapter five: Conclusion and Recommendations 75
1. Defining the situation of the Rohingya 76
2. Recommendations 78
2.1 Recommendations to the Burmese Government 78
2.3 Recommendations to the International community 80
Bibliography 83
Appendix B: Henry G. Bell, “An Account of the Burman Empire”. 97
Appendix C: Report of the Census of British Burma, 1872. 103
Appendix D: Census of India, 1911. Volume IX, Burma Part I. Report. 105
Appendix E: James Baxter, “Report of Indian Immigration”, 1941. 109

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