Handling of Rohingya could have been better, Suu Kyi says
HANOI, VIETNAM— In the face of global condemnation, Burma’s leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday said the handling of Rohingya Muslims, 700,000 of whom have fled to Bangladesh amid a brutal military campaign, could have been better, but still defended security forces from charges of civilian atrocities.
Burma’s army is accused of mass rape, killings and setting fire to thousands of homes in the aftermath of an August 2017 attack by Rohingya militants on security outposts.
A report issued two weeks ago by a specially appointed UN human rights team recommended prosecuting senior Burma commanders for genocide and other crimes.
“There are of course ways in which with hindsight I think the situation could have been handled better,” Suu Kyi said, responding to questions during a one-on-one discussion at the World Economic Forum’s regional meeting in Hanoi.
She still defended Burma security forces, saying that all groups in western Rakhine state had to be protected.
“We have to be fair to all sides,” Suu Kyi said. “The rule of law must apply to everyone. We cannot choose and pick.”
Suu Kyi also rejected criticism over the show-trial conviction last week of two Reuters news agency reporters who helped expose extrajudicial killings of 10 Rohingya men and boys.
“The case has been held in open court,” Suu Kyi said. “If anyone feels there has been a miscarriage of justice I would like them to point it out.”
The reporters were both sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on charges of posses- sing state secrets.
Although the violence in Rakhine state has eased, Burma has to deal with its aftermath, especially the repatriation of the Muslim Rohingya who fled and the underlying causes of tension that makes them targets of discrimination and repression in overwhelmingly Buddhist Burma.
Suu Kyi said Burma is prepared to take those who fled back, but their return has been complicated by the fact that two governments are involved.