Suu Kyi condemns abuses in Rakhine, stays

silent on army's role

Naypyitaw, Myanmar - Myanmar leader Aung San Suu
Kyi on Tuesday condemned human rights violations in
Rakhine state and said violators would be punished, but
she did not address UN accusations of a campaign of
ethnic cleansing by the military, drawing a cool
international response.

She made the remarks in her first address to the

nation since attacks by Rohingya Muslim insurgents on
August 25 led to a military response that has forced 421
000 Rohingya Muslims, more than half of them children,
into neighbouring Bangladesh.

Western diplomats and aid officials, hoping for an unequivocal condemnation of

violence and hate speech, welcomed the tone of the Nobel Peace laureate's message, but
some doubted if she had done enough to deflect global criticism.

At the annual United Nations General Assembly, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio

Guterres repeated a call for an end to military operations and restoration of humanitarian
access.

"I take note of State Councilor Aung San Suu Kyi's address today and their intention
to implement the recommendations of the advisory committee for Rakhine state, that was
chaired by Kofi Annan, within the shortest time possible," he said.

"But let me emphasize again, the authorities in Myanmar must end the military
operations, allow unhindered humanitarian access and recognize the right of refugees to
return in safety and dignity; and they must also address the grievances of the Rohingya,
whose status has been left unresolved for far too long."

Britain said on Tuesday it had suspended its military training programme in

Myanmar because of the violence in Rakhine state. French President Emmanuel Macron
termed what had occurred "ethnic cleaning" and told the U.N. General Assembly that France
would start a Security Council initiative in response, but gave no details.

A European Union spokeswoman said immediate priorities were a cessation of

violence and full access to all humanitarian aid workers.

She said Suu Kyi's invitation to the diplomatic corps to visit Rakhine was "a step
forward," but added: "Myanmar's leadership needs to show that the democracy they fought so
hard for can work for all the people of Myanmar, beyond ethnic, social and religious
boundaries."
 Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, in his speech to the General Assembly,
likened the violence in Myanmar to genocides in Bosnia and Rwanda and urged a halt to the
"ongoing ethnic cleansing" and the safe return of refugees.

Amnesty International described Suu Kyi's 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.

"We condemn all human rights violations and unlawful violence. We are committed
to the restoration of peace and stability and rule of law throughout the state," Suu Kyi said in
her address in the capital, Naypyitaw.

"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," she said.

Long feted in the West as a champion of democracy in the Buddhist-majority

country during years of military rule and house arrest, Suu Kyi has faced growing criticism
for saying little about abuses faced by the Rohingya.

The United States 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 or its actions, except to say there had been "no armed clashes and there have
been no clearance operations" since Sept. 5.

Rohingya refugees arriving in Bangladesh have told of soldiers and Buddhist

civilians attacking and burning villages as recently as last Friday. It was not possible to verify
their accounts.

SUMBER : https://www.iol.co.za/news/world/suu-kyi-condemns-abuses-in-rakhine-stays-
silent-on-armys-role-11280521