By Khairul Amin
1. Introduction
The Rohingya are not strangers in Arakan but we are its first children, in its living memory. Yet, for decades, we have been hunted in our own homeland, stripped of our citizenship, driven from our villages, slaughtered in the name of an ideology that seeks to erase us and faced genocide. Today, our presence in Arakan has been reduced to a shadow less than 15% of the population remains, not only because of the bullets and fire of the Myanmar military, the Arakan Army and their accomplices, but also because we, the Rohingya, have too often allowed division among our leaders to weakened the strength of our struggles.
The concept of unity in diversity offers a constructive framework to overcome such division and fragmentation. This principle, widely recognized in political science and organizational theory, which believes that diverse perspectives can coexist productively within a shared vision, provided there is agreement on fundamental goals. This stands in contrast to uniformity, which demands complete conformity in thought and action, often suppressing innovation and dissent. In reality, true uniformity is only achievable in highly regimented environments such as military camps or battlefields, where orders are expected to be followed without question, conditions entirely unfattenable in a democratic and pluralistic movement.
In a healthy movement, diversity should not lead to rivalry but to synergy the combining of different strengths, resources, and skills to produce outcomes greater than what any group could achieve alone. Instead of competing for space and recognition that may give some personal financial benefits, Rohingya organizations should align their efforts so that diplomatic work, legal action, humanitarian aid, and grassroots mobilization reinforce one another. Synergy always transforms diversity from a source of division into a source of power.
2. Unity in Diversity vs Uniformity
2.1 Uniformity
Uniformity demands homogeneity in thought, strategy, and action. In political movements, this often results in centralized control and the marginalization of alternative voices. While uniformity may create short-term cohesion, it risks alienating stakeholders who could otherwise contribute meaningfully to the cause and struggles.
2.2 Unity in Diversity
Unity in diversity, by contrast, accepts and even encourages variation in approaches, while ensuring that all actors remain committed to a set of core, non-negotiable principles. This model allows for diplomatic, legal, grassroots, and humanitarian efforts to operate in parallel, reinforcing one another rather than undermining one another.
In the Rohingya context, unity in diversity means that organizations may differ in methods, whether prioritizing international litigation, regional diplomacy, or community mobilization but remain united in their ultimate objective. A safe and dignified return to Arakan with full rights restored.
3. The Problem of Political Fragmentation
Fragmentation among Rohingya leadership has manifested in competing advocacy messages, public disputes, and the absence of a coordinated strategic agenda. This has had several detrimental effects on the struggles:
• Loss of Credibility: International actors perceive internal divisions as a lack of legitimacy or consensus, reducing the weight of Rohingya demands.
• Reduced Negotiating Power: Divided leadership is more easily ignored or bypassed in political processes.
• Community Disillusionment: Grassroots supporters may lose faith in the political process when leaders appear more focused on rivalry than on collective goals.
The persistence of these divisions has allowed adversaries to exploit differences, weakening the broader movement’s effectiveness.
4. Building Unity in Diversity: A Framework for the Rohingya Movement
To address division and fragmentation without imposing rigid uniformity, the Rohingya movement can adopt the following framework:
4.1 Agreement on Core Principles
Unity cannot be built on competition to gain financial benefits or position of power. As activists, our primary allegiance must be to the cause, not to personal gain or status. History shows that activity and politics driven by greed or the pursuit of absolute authority breeds corruption and betrayal of the very people we claim to serve. The Rohingya struggle must be anchored in sincerity, sacrifice, and the collective good, not in self-interest. Only then can we agree on and uphold the fundamental objectives of our movement.
4.2 Functional Role Differentiation
Acknowledge that different organizations may have different strengths and target audiences. Diplomatic advocacy, legal action, media outreach, and grassroots mobilization can all complement each other when coordinated.
4.3 Conflict Management Protocols
Develop agreed procedures for addressing disagreements privately through mediation or structured dialogue, rather than through public confrontation making yourselves to be a source of laughter for international audience.
4.4 Inclusive Leadership
Ensure that unity efforts include diverse representation, including women, youth, religious leaders, and professionals from various sectors of the Rohingya community.
5. Conclusion
Unity in diversity offers a path forward for the Rohingya political movement that avoids the division, fragmentation and rigid uniformity. By anchoring diverse strategies to a common set of core principles, the Rohingya can present a coherent, credible, and powerful voice to the international community while benefiting from the creativity and adaptability that diversity brings.
In the struggle for rights, the choice is clear. “Remain divided, risk perpetual marginalization, or unite in diversity and strengthen the collective capacity to achieve shared goal.” The latter requires discipline, humility, and a willingness to see the larger picture beyond individual or organizational interests.
At the ARNC, we strongly believe that our strategic goal is the Road to Arakan, our rightful ancestral homeland. All Rohingya, wherever they may be, but love their motherland should accept this as their shared objective, because as children of Arakan, we carry both the responsibility and the right to pursue it. As Muslims, the love of our motherland (hubb al-watan) should be part of our faith (iman). We call upon all Rohingya leaders, activists, and organizations to embrace unity in diversity not as a slogan, but as a strategic necessity.
