The past few days have seen a debate surface among western commentators about use of the R-word in Myanmar politics – R for Rohingya, that is. The orthodox position was spelt out by UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee on July 26 at the end of her first visit to the country, and reproduced by Derek Tonkin in a lengthy DVB article. This is what Lee said in defending her practice of employing the contested term:

“I am guided by international human rights law. In this regard, the rights of minorities to self-identify on the basis of their national, ethnic, religious and linguistic characteristics is related to the obligations of States to ensure non-discrimination against individuals and groups, which is a central principle of international human rights law. I also note that various human rights treaty bodies and intergovernmental bodies, including the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which I chaired for four years and of which I was a member for ten years, the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly use the term ‘Rohingya’.”

Against this backdrop, Derek himself raises two main issues. First, he senses that the R-word may not reflect the will of the relevant community. “But what if the chosen identity is imposed from above? What if it is artificially contrived for political reasons, however seemingly justifiable? What if the individuals concerned, marginalised, poorly educated, desperate for citizenship, really have no choice in the matter?” Second, he notes that it is hard to find much historical precedent: “there is no textual evidence for ‘Rohingya’ prior to independence in 1948.” I tend to think Derek’s political assessment has some validity, and I’m persuaded by the detailed historical investigation he’s carried out in recent months. But it’s a big leap from there to his main conclusion that western politicians should “reflect” about using the R-word. “Its use is not helpful … [and] does not create a climate of reconciliation.”

That may be true – but it’s not the point. Rather, at a time when the Irrawaddy reports that the Myanmar government is quite successfully putting pressure on foreign states and aid agencies not to speak of the Rohingya, the task is to reassert basic international human rights principles. As Special Rapporteur Lee argued, those hold that respect must be paid to the name currently claimed by a political community, no matter why that is or what is found in the historical record.