Why are Myanmar's Rohingya persecuted?

The Briefing Room

• Episode: Why are Myanmar's Rohingya persecuted?
• Website: The Briefing Room
• Feed URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07cblx9/episodes/downloads.rss
• Duration: 00:28:21
• Published: 2017-09-21 21:30

Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, says she wants to know why 400,000 Muslim Rohingyas have fled into Bangladesh. The UN says what's going on seems "a textbook case of ethnic cleansing". But why are the Rohingyas facing persecution in the first place and why aren't regional powers in Southeast Asia willing to do more to condemn it and stop it? And ultimately, could this violence develop into something bigger and more dangerous? To discuss these issues David Aaronovitch is joined by expert guests including: Professor Penny Green, Director of the International State Crime Initiative Richard Horsey, a Myanmar Analyst who advises the International Crisis Group Dr Champa Patel, Head of Asia Programme at Chatham House Dr Lee Jones from Queen Mary University.