I think the key thing we should do is, in a sense, something we should continue to do, as many members will know. Many members will be familiar with a number of NGOs that are working hard in different parts of the country and doing good work, encouraging dialogue, encouraging understanding, and encouraging deeper conversations with people.
I, myself, had an opportunity in Yangon a few months ago to spend the morning with 10 people from the Rakhine Buddhist population and 10 people from the Rohingya community. They were flown in from Rakhine State to participate in a seminar that the Government of Canada supported through its aid program. We were allowed to stay and listen to the dialogue and the conversation that went on.
There were no media and no public. Nobody wanted to have their pictures taken. They didn't want to be on Myanmar television because they would be attacked by other people if they were seen doing it. They probably would not have been able to have that conversation in Rakhine itself, although there are a number of efforts being made now to broaden that conversation in Rakhine.
There are lots of examples around the world where people have lived together for hundreds of years, and then suddenly things have fallen apart, and there's huge conflict. Then the conflict is over, and people get back and slowly but surely begin the dialogue.
It's not what we do; it's what we support. We're not coming in and saying, “Get together and do this.” That doesn't work. What we're doing is working with groups that understand that this kind of dialogue is essential because of the plural nature of Myanmar society.
Myanmar is not a monolithic society. It is a complex, diverse country with a majority community, yes, but with many minorities. There are 135 minorities that are explicitly recognized in the Myanmar constitution. Unfortunately, the Rohingya are not one of them. There's a particular issue around the status that has been taken away from the Rohingya population. It is a very tough issue.
Do I say it's possible? Of course it's possible. Let no one have any doubt at all; the areas in Rakhine State where the Rohingya have lived for hundreds of years are the areas they consider to be their home. They don't consider Bangladesh to be their home. They don't consider themselves to be Bengalis, as they're often described by other Myanmar citizens. They're not Bengalis. They're people from Rakhine State. That has been their home.
I think that has to be more clearly understood. Our government has been very clear about the nature of the Rohingya community and why it needs to be supported and sustained by others.