In an attempt to reassure the rest of the nation and the international community that nothing is wrong in northern Rakhine State, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper has published a two-part, first-hand account of a trip to the region. After all, what good is a democracy without free, unbiased media reports?
The narrative opens in the heart of the conflict – Maungdaw.
“Being the winter season, the atmosphere of the surrounding area was very cool,” the report begins. “The grass was wet with dew sprayed for the whole night. Reflected gentle rays of the morning sun were casting pleasant sunshine over the whole environment.”
Ah, a scene worthy of a children’s book.
“In these villages, houses with betel palm trees planted in all surroundings are pleasant dwelling places to live. And the villages seem to be a scenic picture against the background of the range of Mount May Yu.”
So far, so good. There’s nothing to worry about in Maungdaw. In fact, there’s even a photo captioned “Children are playing happily”, in which several youngsters are merrily romping about in a field.
But things get more serious in the second part of the report.
“We left Kyeinchaung for Khamaungseik in the far north, so as to be able to present our readers — the public — with actual situations on the ground.”
Thank you, Global New Light. Thank you for your service to the public. After all, this is access to Rakhine that no other media outlet has been able to secure since last month. Naturally, we have a lot of questions.
Will reports of violent persecutions of ethnic minorities be verified? Will the staff of the state-run daily encounter emaciated Rohingya babies clinging on for dear life, as various international news outlets have reported on? Will the satellite images obtained by Human Rights Watch showing dozens of homes in Rohingya villages that have been burned to the ground finally be corroborated by witnesses on the ground?
It appears not. From the perspective of the Global New Light, nothing is amiss.
Actually, “along the road, golden paddy fields and the beauty of the May Yu mountain range mesmerized us.”
Ah, the fields, the mountains. The story almost makes us want to take a trip over there and see it with our own eyes. (Shame we can’t.)
People are getting on with their day-to-day lives. Farmers are harvesting their crops, cows are grazing on paddy fields, and displaced citizens are moving back into their homes. All in all, the region is more picturesque than your highest-rated Disney movie.
The account continues: “Provided that local ethnics and other believers peacefully co-exist and share their woes and happiness, peace and stability will last a long time, perhaps forever, and mutual trust will be able to be built among them.”
If you’re wondering what they mean by “local ethnics” or “other believers” then you’re missing the point here, which is that this region will have peace and stability forever. Not for a few months or years, but forever.
Satisfied in the knowledge that they had collected enough photos and information to write a well-rounded and comprehensive report, the team heads home, but not without another Dear Diary-worthy account of the journey back.
“The convoy is moving rapidly along golden paddy fields with great momentum. Meanwhile a flock of egrets has flown into the range of Mount May Yu to roost. We saw farmers returning from fields, hearing sweet sounds of small bells from the pagoda from afar. I firmly believe that Maungdaw area will soon be peaceful, stable and developed for its abundant fertile land and nice season, if and when the local ethnics and other believers will peacefully co-exist.”
The golden fields, the bells, the fields, the egrets, the mountain range, the fields!
Sure, you could say there are a few mix-ups right now between the “local ethnics” and “other believers,” but as soon as they decide to come together and co-exist, then the region will return to being peaceful and stable, gosh darn it.
So there you have it — there is no rape, no torture, and certainly no “ethnic cleansing”.
Shame on the UNHCR, Human Rights Watch and all the non-government-employed reporters for suggesting otherwise.
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