Myanmar’s Suu Kyi says Rohingya mass grave investigation ‘positive’

BANGKOK — Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi has called the military’s investigation into the deaths of Rohingya Muslims found in a mass grave a “positive indication,” state media reported on Saturday.

“It is a positive indication that we are taking the steps to be responsible,” Suu Kyi said, according to the report in the Global New Light of Myanmar. “However, some may worry. But I believe that our investigation will prevent such things from happening again.”

Suu Kyi made the comments on Friday during a joint news conference with Japan’s foreign minister. Suu Kyi is Buddhist-majority Myanmar’s foreign minister as well as the government’s democratically elected leader.

The military launched “clearance operations” against ethnic Rohingya in August, prompting more than 650,000 to flee into neighbouring Bangladesh in what the United Nations has called “ethnic cleansing,” involving killings, rapes and the burning of homes. The military has insisted there has been no wrongdoing.

Last week, the military acknowledged that security forces and villagers were responsible for the deaths of 10 people found in a mass grave in December. It said that the military would “take action” against those who “broke the rules of engagement.”

Neither the military — still a powerful force in Myanmar politics — nor Suu Kyi has said what action would be taken.