Blaming Suu Kyi will not end the Rohingya crisis
World leaders must push Myanmar to expedite the citizenship verification process for the community
The United Nations on September 8 said at least 270,000 Rohingyas have crossed the border since the Myanmar army launched clearance operations in the northern Rakhine State on August 25. The number roughly equals a third of the country’s Rohingya population, although Myanmar has not released an official figure.
While the international community’s criticism is targeted toward the Myanmar government in general, the de-facto leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been singled out. This is unjustified. The power-sharing nature in Myanmar is such that the military can choose to ignore or not cooperate with the NLD-led civilian government.
Moreover, many don’t seem to realise that Suu Kyi is no longer an activist or a human-rights advocate. Many also fail to understand that Suu Kyi, like many other politicians, wants to stay in power for now and in the foreseeable future, which necessitates her to take into account the sentiments of majority voters. One clear evidence was that the NLD did not field any Muslim candi- date during the 2015 general election.
Instead of directing anger toward Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD, the international community should put pressure on the Myanmar military leadership to end violence and work towards a solution.
Despite the apparent difficulties and challenges, Suu Kyi and her NLD government should work with the military, community leaders of both Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists, and the international community to end violence and resolve the conundrum. All political stakeholders should work toward ending the simmering tension and the cycle of violence, to prevent further loss of lives (especially the civilians) and properties, to restore law and order, as well as to prevent any communal tension or violence from spreading to other parts of the country.
A long-lasting solution should focus on the implementation of the Kofi Annan-led state advisory commission’s recommendations, including the removal of segregation or barriers between the Rohingya Muslims and the Rakhine Buddhists, and expedite the citizenship verification process for the Rohingyas.
Meanwhile, moderate leaders from both sides of the communities — Rohingya and Rakhine — should undertake all initiatives to build mutual trust and the spirit of peaceful co-existence.