Who’s accountable

Myanmar forces ‘targeting’ Rohingya kids (Nov 18) was sickening.

While the media focus has been on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose performance has been a disappointment to say the least, the constitutional and actual power and responsibility lies with the ‘other’ government of Myanmar, the military and its Commander in Chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

All security (internal and border) is the constitutional responsibility of the military, and the CIC appoints the Ministers of Defence, and Home and Border Affairs. These ministries, and the police, are essentially branches of the military.

It is Min Aung Hlaing who should be held accountable for what appears to be ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Yet he has been feted in world capitals, and governments condone the supply of military hardware and co-operate with military training.

Consideration should be given by governments to bans on visas, supply of military equipment, training and co-operation programmes, and to a referral to the International Criminal Court.

But we must continue to support the elected NLD Government, despite its poor performance to date. Myanmar is a fragile democracy with a very inexperienced leadership. And the Constitution gives the CIF wide powers to invoke a return to military rule. ROSS WILSON Mt Victoria