Since 25 August 2017 international media have been overwhelmed by dramatic, visually graphic footage of Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar for their lives. This is not the first time a mass exodus of Rohingya into Bangladesh had occurred. Some Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for more than 200 years, as migrant workers, becoming one of the largest stateless peoples in the world. Their situation is highly complex exacerbated by religious, cultural and racial differences. This forum presents some of the underlying facts and influences.