Ethnic cleansing, the deliberate and systematic removal or extermination of an ethnic group(s) from a specific geographic area, is a global concern. Many ethnic groups in different countries including the Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Darfuris in Sudan and the Rohingya in Myanmar were persecuted with the intention of cleansing them altogether in the past and are currently at risk of ethnic cleansing. Recently, the Azerbaijani military forces operation in Nagorno-Karabakh put ethnic Armenians at risk of ethnic cleansing. According to multiple newspapers including the BBC, tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians have already fled the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave driven by the operation of the Azerbaijani armed forces called the ”Anti-terrorist Operation”.
It is notable that ethnic cleansing — which often involves the systematic violence, forced displacement and persecution of people mainly due to their ethnic identity and brings devastating consequences including the loss of lives of many people and violations of many other human rights — is a complex problem in the world driven by power-struggle based, inadequate protection based and other factors. But deep-rooted animosity, hatred and prejudice between different ethnic groups, political power struggles and the desire for homogeneity within the country are some of the crucial factors of ethnic cleansing in many countries. Animosity and prejudice resulted in the Rwandan genocide, where the Hutu majority targeted and killed approximately 800,000 Tutsis in a span of 100 days.
Several other factors including economic disparities and competition for resources can also directly exacerbate tensions and fuel ethnic cleansing, a tragic reminder of the atrocities committed against humanity. In the former Yugoslavia, economic disparities between different ethnic groups, coupled with nationalist ideologies, played a significant role in the ethnic cleansing campaigns during the Balkan Wars of the 1990s. But weak governance systems that fail to protect minority/ethnic rights, the manipulation of identity politics by extremist groups and a lack of international intervention driven by geopolitical and other factors to prevent and/or mitigate ethnic conflicts are some causes that exacerbate these conflicts, though they directly do not cause ethnic cleansing in different countries.
The problem of ethnic cleansing definitely needs to be addressed. Promoting international cooperation and diplomacy to encourage countries to work together through diplomatic channels and address ethnic cleansing is crucial. This involves engaging with affected countries and their governments to find peaceful resolutions, promoting dialogue and cooperation between conflicting ethnic parties and facilitating mediation efforts by international organizations. Targeted sanctions — which do not affect the country and are desired to be withdrawn once ethnic cleansing is stopped — can sometimes be helpful in preventing and ending ethnic cleansing. The emphasis also needs to be given to fostering a culture of tolerance among diverse ethnic groups in different countries.
Among others, strengthening human rights protections by advocating stronger human rights frameworks at both national and international levels, including supporting initiatives that ensure accountability for the perpetrators of ethnic cleansing and providing assistance to affected communities is imperative in different countries including in those countries where ethnic conflicts and the risk of ethnic cleansing exist. Raising awareness and mobilizing public support can also play a crucial role in pressuring governments to take action against ethnic cleansing and promote human rights.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
