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Myanmar’s Suu Kyi Breaks Silence Over Rohingya Crisis

Myanmar’s defacto leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday condemned human rights violations in Rakhine state and said violators would be brought to justice.

In an address to parliament, Suu Kyi did not however address UN accusations of an ethnic cleansing campaign against Rohingya Muslims.

Reacting to Suu Kyi’s speech, James Gomez, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said she demonstrated that she and her government are still burying their heads in the sand over the horrors unfolding in Rakhine State. 

“At times, her speech amounted to little more than a mix of untruths and victim blaming,” he said.

“There is overwhelming evidence that security forces are engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleansing through murder and forced displacement. While it was positive to hear Aung San Suu Kyi condemn human rights violations in Rakhine state, she is still silent about the role of the security forces in this.

“Aung San Suu Kyi’s claims that her government ‘does not fear international scrutiny’ ring hollow. Myanmar has repeatedly said it will not co-operate with the UN-mandated Fact Finding Mission established earlier this year. 

“If Myanmar has nothing to hide, it should allow UN investigators into the country, including Rakhine State. The government must also urgently allow humanitarian actors full and unfettered access to all areas and people in need in the region,” Gomez said.

“The military’s campaign of violence and human rights violations in Rakhine State must end immediately. But the government should also address the entrenched discrimination that has left Rohingya trapped in a cycle of abuse and deprivation for decades.

“Contrary to Aung San Suu Kyi’s claims, Rohingya are essentially segregated in Rakhine State, effectively denied citizenship and face severe barriers in accessing health care and other basic services. Refugees who have fled to Bangladesh cannot return to this appalling status quo.

“Aung San Suu Kyi rightly pointed to challenges around conflicts in other parts of the country. But the fact remains that ethnic minorities are also suffering severe human rights violations by the military, notably in Kachin and northern Shan States. These patterns will continue as long as the security forces enjoy near total impunity,” Gomez stated. 

But in her speech to parliament, in the capital, Naypyitaw, Suu Kyi said: “We condemn all human rights violations and unlawful violence. We are committed to the restoration of peace and stability and rule of law throughout the state.”

“Action will be taken against all people, regardless of their religion, race and political position, who go against the law of the land and violate human rights,” she said.

Suu Kyi has come under mounting pressure in the past few weeks after a military operation, sparked by a Rohingya insurgent attack, forced over 400,000 Muslim Rohigya’s to flee Myanmar for the safety of Bangladesh. 

Suu Kyi did not comment on the military operation, during her speech, except to say there had been “no armed clashes and there have been no clearance operations” since September 5.

But Rohingya refugees arriving in Bangladesh on Friday recounted stories of soldiers and civilians still attacking Rohingyas and burning their villages. 

On the return of refugees, Suu Kyi said Myanmar was ready to start a verification process and “refugees from this country will be accepted without any problem”.

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi Breaks Silence Over Rohingya Crisis

The defacto leader said violators of human rights laws would be brought to justice but she failed to address accusations of “ethnic cleansing”.

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Myanmar’s defacto leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday condemned human rights violations in Rakhine state and said violators would be brought to justice.

In an address to parliament, Suu Kyi did not however address UN accusations of an ethnic cleansing campaign against Rohingya Muslims.

Reacting to Suu Kyi’s speech, James Gomez, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said she demonstrated that she and her government are still burying their heads in the sand over the horrors unfolding in Rakhine State. 

“At times, her speech amounted to little more than a mix of untruths and victim blaming,” he said.

“There is overwhelming evidence that security forces are engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleansing through murder and forced displacement. While it was positive to hear Aung San Suu Kyi condemn human rights violations in Rakhine state, she is still silent about the role of the security forces in this.

“Aung San Suu Kyi’s claims that her government ‘does not fear international scrutiny’ ring hollow. Myanmar has repeatedly said it will not co-operate with the UN-mandated Fact Finding Mission established earlier this year. 

“If Myanmar has nothing to hide, it should allow UN investigators into the country, including Rakhine State. The government must also urgently allow humanitarian actors full and unfettered access to all areas and people in need in the region,” Gomez said.

“The military’s campaign of violence and human rights violations in Rakhine State must end immediately. But the government should also address the entrenched discrimination that has left Rohingya trapped in a cycle of abuse and deprivation for decades.

“Contrary to Aung San Suu Kyi’s claims, Rohingya are essentially segregated in Rakhine State, effectively denied citizenship and face severe barriers in accessing health care and other basic services. Refugees who have fled to Bangladesh cannot return to this appalling status quo.

“Aung San Suu Kyi rightly pointed to challenges around conflicts in other parts of the country. But the fact remains that ethnic minorities are also suffering severe human rights violations by the military, notably in Kachin and northern Shan States. These patterns will continue as long as the security forces enjoy near total impunity,” Gomez stated. 

But in her speech to parliament, in the capital, Naypyitaw, Suu Kyi said: “We condemn all human rights violations and unlawful violence. We are committed to the restoration of peace and stability and rule of law throughout the state.”

“Action will be taken against all people, regardless of their religion, race and political position, who go against the law of the land and violate human rights,” she said.

Suu Kyi has come under mounting pressure in the past few weeks after a military operation, sparked by a Rohingya insurgent attack, forced over 400,000 Muslim Rohigya’s to flee Myanmar for the safety of Bangladesh. 

Suu Kyi did not comment on the military operation, during her speech, except to say there had been “no armed clashes and there have been no clearance operations” since September 5.

But Rohingya refugees arriving in Bangladesh on Friday recounted stories of soldiers and civilians still attacking Rohingyas and burning their villages. 

On the return of refugees, Suu Kyi said Myanmar was ready to start a verification process and “refugees from this country will be accepted without any problem”.

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