Understanding the Rohingya Crisis: Race, Religion, and Violence in Myanmar

Understanding the Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar: Documentary Screening + Q&A

Who are the Rohingya? In September 2017 alone, the Myanmar military burned hundreds of Rohingya villages and forced nearly half a million to flee to Bangladesh. Though this Muslim minority has been enduring a protracted and ongoing ethnic cleansing campaign for years, many have never heard their name.

Join Duke East Asia Nexus and Duke History Union for a screening of Sittwe, a short documentary about two teenagers separated by conflict and segregation in Myanmar's Rakhine state, home to the majority of the country's Rohingya population. Produced as a tool to facilitate discussions about peacebuilding in Myanmar, Sittwe gives voice to Phyu Phyu Than, a Rohingya girl and Aung San Myint, a Buddhist boy. Filmed over two years, the documentary explores ideas about mutual fear between their two communities and hope for reconciliation. After being banned from premiering in Myanmar, "Sittwe" went on to win Best Southeast Asia Short Documentary at the Malaysia Freedom Film Festival .

The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with producer, Myo Win. Myo Win is a Burmese peace activist working on Rohingya issues and director of Myanmar-based NGO Smile Education and Development Foundation, which was founded in response to rising intolerance and discrimination in the country.

Bubble Tea and Chick Fil_A will be served.