Rohingya activist accuses Myanmar media of decades of discrimination and silence on atrocities

Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) Co-Chair and Rohingya activist Ro San Lwin has sharply criticised Myanmar’s media, charging it with decades of biased and discriminatory reporting against the Rohingya people.

“Until 2021, no Rohingya leaders or activists were asked for comment. In Burmese-language media, we were called ‘Bangalees’,treated as invaders. However, the same media outlets used ‘Rohingya’ in English to secure foreign funding,” Ro San Lwin said in a statement.

He further alleged that the Arakan Army carried out a massacre on May 2, 2024, in Hoiya village, killing over 600 Rohingya civilians. Pregnant women, children, elderly were slaughtered. Survivors and evidence are in Bangladesh today, yet most media remain silent,” he added.

The ARNC Co-Chair stressed that independent and accountable media is vital to prevent ongoing denial and distortion of crimes committed against the Rohingya.