Conclusion
Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR 1948), Article 6 recognizes the individual’s right “…to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.” This is not the case in Myanmar, where nearly one million Rohingya, barred from citizenship, are treated by a different set of laws than their non-Muslim counterparts. This is largely due to the state’s refusal to recognize the Rohingya as rightful “citizens” of the state, accorded the necessary freedoms and rights as the rest of the country’s inhabitants. Instead of being based on legitimate concerns, its policies – consisting of its citizenship laws and reluctant repatriation policies – have thus far only reflected baseless discrimination rooted in historical, largely-militaristic and anti-Muslim intentions. Such policies and a general sentiment favoring discrimination against the Rohingya population will take a long time to surmount, but with the growing NLD elements as an influential force in Parliament, certain gains can and should nonetheless be pursued. Among many aspirations exists the need for Myanmar to accord the Rohingya citizenship status, while proactively acting on its supposed democratic, liberal policies touted by rhetoric to slowly dispel unfounded bigotry and needless religious strife in a country that has been plagued far too long by violence and repression.