Aung San Suu Kyi says Burma does not fear scrutiny, but refuses to blame army for abuse of Rohingya
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s de-facto leader, sought to restore her tarnished reputation and defend her country on Tuesday by saying that most Rohingya Muslim villages have not been affected by spiraling violence which has forced more than 400,000 refugees to flood across the border.
But the Nobel Peace Prize laureate was condemned by Amnesty International for refusing to blame Burma’s army for carrying out abuses against the minority group.
Ms Suu Kyi, who was speaking for the first time on the escalating crisis, also said there had been “allegations and counter-allegations” that need to be investigated.
The world has watched with growing concern as Rohingya Muslims flee into neighbouring Bangladesh amid claims of rape, torture and murder at the hands of Myanmar’s powerful army in the troubled Rakhine State.
The ‘security offensive’, which was launched after a Rohingya militant group staged a series of attacks against police outposts, was branded a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" by the UN.
In a closely watched televised speech on Tuesday, Mr Suu Kyi said “more than half” of Rohingya villages were not affected by the military response, as she invited diplomats into the Rakhine State to observe the security operation.
"There are allegations and counter allegations and we have to listen to all of them. And we have to make sure these allegations are based on solid evidence before we take action," Ms Suu Kyi said.
Rohingya refugees flee Burma
But the Burmese leader also said the restive Rakhine State is just one of many complexities her nascent democracy faces.
"We are a young and fragile country facing many problems, but we have to cope with them all," she said. "We cannot just concentrate on the few."
Ms Suu Kyi also said her country did not fear international scrutiny over the crisis, and that anyone found to be responsible for abuses would be held to account.
“Human rights violations and all other acts that impair stability and harmony and undermine the rule of law will be addressed in accordance with strict laws and justice," she said.
"We feel deeply for the suffering of all the people caught up in the conflict."
James Gomez, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said it was “positive’ to hear Ms Suu Kyi condemn rights abuses.
But the campaigner criticised her for being “silent” on the role of security forces in carrying out ethnic cleansing.
“Aung San Suu Kyi today demonstrated that she and her government are still burying their heads in the sand over the horrors unfolding in Rakhine State,” he said.
“At times, her speech amounted to little more than a mix of untruths and victim blaming.”
Profile | Aung San Suu Kyi
