Let's talk about mediation efforts in the Rohingya crisis. Most of you would probably point to China, and you'd be right. China has been actively involved, working with Myanmar and Bangladesh to create a plan for repatriating Rohingya refugees. Despite these negotiations, you will also tell me, not a single Rohingya has agreed to return to Rakhine State - understandably of course due to concerns about their safety and the uncertain situation there.
But there's another player in this complex situation that might not have come up in your news feed - Humanitarian Dialogue (HD). This Swiss-based organization is not as prominent in the media as China, but it has also been working behind the scenes…
HD claims to foster peace through "discreet diplomacy." But scratch the surface, and you'll find a web of secrecy, questionable alliances, and the Rohingya treated like footnotes. Biased-mediation is not however the main issue with this organisation.
Read the first of my part OpED here and stay tuned for parts two and three, where I try to dissect HD's "discreet diplomacy," its extensive influence, its stance on peace versus justice in conflict resolution, and discuss the impact of its actions inside and outside the Rohingya refugee camps of Bangladesh.
Has Another Rohingya Boat Sunk?
Did you miss the update on the missing Rohingya boat? Read my piece in the Dhaka Tribune.
Mosque Apartheid in Bhasan Char
Did you miss this piece from Bhasan Char Diary? Rohingya are not permitted to pray in the only purpose-built mosque on the island. Read it here.