Dating back to the time of the
Second World War in 1942, the
Rohingyas were known for their
allegiance towards the Allies rath-
er than the Axis particularly the
Japanese. The occupation of the
Japanese in Burma were support-
ed by the Myanmar Nationalists.
This already causes tension
between the Myanmar people and
the Rohingya community. Howev-
er, due to the successful occupation
in Burma by the Japanese, attacks
were made between the two par-
ties. The Myanmar or rather Bur-
man nationalist at the time attacked
the Karen and Indian communities
across Burma, while the Rohingyan
villagers too launched an offensive
attacking one another causing the
displace of the Buddhist to the south
and Muslims to the north of the Ra-
khine state. Many fled the war, espe-
26 . SASARAN JURNAL KRITIKAN MEDIA
cially the Rohingya villagers fleeing
into Bengal by crossing the border
with as many as 22,000 people.
After the end of the Sec-
ond World War and Independence
in 1950, the Rohingya community
requested for an autonomous state
from the Myanmar government
as promised by the British during
their occupation. They offered a
proposal to push for the integra-
tion of the Maungdaw and Buthid-
aung now known as East Pakistan.
However,
the
Myan-
mar government decided to re-
ject the proposal and escalate
the tension by labelling them as
illegal immigrants. This in the end
causes an uprising by the Rohingyans,
pushing their agenda and calling it a
Jihad making them as the Mujahids.