Military Regime Refuses To Provide COVID-19 Vaccine For Ethnic Rohingya Muslims Without Myanmar Identity

JAKARTA - The Myanmar military regime has decided that it will only give the COVID-19 vaccine to people with a Burmese identity, regardless of race and religion. However, this threatens the Rohingya Muslim ethnicity

The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim community in Rakhine State, are not yet included in the regime's national vaccination program, according to military authorities.

"They are not on the vaccination list for now. Priority is given to citizens based on state policy," said U Hla Thein, spokesman for the state's military governing body, citing The Irrawaddy, Friday, August 13.

"We will vaccinate all citizens regardless of their religion and race. Since vaccines are purchased with public funds, citizens should be given priority," U Hla Thein said.

U Hla Thei, who is also the country's advocate general, said non-citizens were not on the list, because people are registered for vaccinations based on their citizenship identity. The policy of the Myanmar military regime is to prioritize citizens.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees have taken refuge in camps along the Sittwe coast since sectarian strife targeted the Muslim community in 2012. Some make a living by fishing, farming, and doing odd jobs while the majority depend on international aid.

"We haven't received a COVID-19 vaccine. We want it. The city's general administration department, has asked us to register those over 65 and we have provided a list. However, we haven't heard anything about when we can receive the vaccine, said a Muslim leader.

Meanwhile, the Chair of the Rakhine Women's Network Daw Nyo Aye said everyone should have access to a COVID-19 vaccine on a humanitarian basis.

"COVID-19 is a pandemic and everyone should be vaccinated, regardless of their skin color, race, and faith. This disease is highly contagious. They (Rohingya) should also receive vaccinations," he said.

Myanmar has so far received 4.5 million doses of COVID-19 from China, with the military regime vaccinating people over 65 across the country.

Rakhine State has so far received 90,000 doses and supplies for Maungdaw were shared between the two communities, said Maungdaw district superintendent Dr. Nu Cathy San.

"In Maungdaw, we inoculate priority population groups, including Muslims, aged over 65. We vaccinate anyone over the age of 65. Some Muslims have citizenship identity cards and some have national verification cards. We register them based on their IDs," he explained.

To note, more than 3,400 cases of COVID-19 have been reported with 290 deaths in Rakhine since late May when the current outbreak began, according to state military authorities.

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