Naypyitaw: Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi today said that her country does not fear the scrutiny of the global community and that the government is committed to "stability and rule of law".
Ms. Suu Kyi, who cancelled the trip to the UN General Assembly - which is debating the Rohingya refugee crisis, said in a nationally televised address that: "It is not the intention of the Myanmar government to apportion blame or to abdicate responsibility.
We condemn all human rights violation and unlawful violence". "We are committed to the restoration of peace, stability and rule of law throughout the state". The remarks came from the Nobel laureate and the noted pro-democracy leader - who fought the military regime in her country - as over an estimated 400,000 Rohingya Muslims have crossed into Bangladesh after fleeing the ongoing violence in Rakhine state. A large number of them also came over to India.
This is for the first time Ms Suu Kyi has specifically spoken about the situation in Rakhine state since the violence broke out on August 25 when Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) rebels attacked police checkposts. Media reports and TV telecast showed crowds gathered in large numbers today morning outside a large screen in Yangon as Suu Kyi made her speech.
Human rights activists and several countries have condemned Ms Suu Kyi for failing to use her position as to speak out on behalf of the Rohingya. A massive crackdown on Rohingyas have led the UN to brand it "ethnic cleansing". India last week asked Myanmar to handle the situation in the Rakhine state with “maturity and restraint” while focusing on the welfare of the civilian population along with that of the security forces.
On September 9, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali met Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and explained his country's position on the Rohingya refugee issue that he said was "creating problems for Bangladesh". "We are giving them shelter on humanitarian ground," a source said, adding that Bangladesh wants international community to come forward and "put pressure" on Myanmar. (UNI)
