Suu Kyi pulls punches on ‘ethnic cleansing’
MYANMAR leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday condemned human rights violations in Rakhine state and said violators would be brought to book, but did not address UN accusations of a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims.
The Nobel Peace laureate’s remarks came in her first address to the nation since attacks by Rohingya Muslim insurgents on August 25 sparked a military response that has forced more than 410 000 Rohingya into neighbouring Bangladesh.
Western diplomats and aid officials, hoping for an unequivocal condemnation of violence and hate speech, welcomed the tone of Suu Kyi’s message, but some doubted if she had done enough to deflect global criticism for Myanmar.
Human rights group Amnesty International described her speech as “little more than a mix of untruths and victim-blaming”, saying she and her government were “burying their heads in the sand” for ignoring the army’s role in the violence.
“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,” Suu Kyi said.
The US urged Myanmar on Monday to end military operations, grant humanitarian access, and commit to aiding the safe return of civilians to their homes.
Myanmar’s generals remain in full charge of security and Suu Kyi did not comment on the military operation, except to say there had been “no armed clashes and there have been no clearance operations” since September 5.
Rohingya refugees arriving in Bangladesh have told of soldiers and Buddhist civilians attacking and burning villages as recently as last Friday.
Rights monitors and fleeing Rohingya say the army and Rakhine Buddhist vigilantes have mounted a campaign of arson aimed at driving out the Muslim population.
The UN described it as “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.
Myanmar rejects that, saying its forces are carrying out operations to defend against the insurgents of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa), which has claimed responsibility for attacks since October. The government has declared Arsa a terrorist body.
Western governments that backed Suu Kyi’s campaign against military rule still see her as the best hope for Myanmar’s political and economic transition.
But she has to avoid angering the powerful army, as well as avoid alienating her supporters by being seen to take the side of a Muslim minority that enjoys little sympathy, and has been blamed for initiating violence in a country that has seen a surge of Buddhist nationalism.