1 hr
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Daw Suu is
becoming the fall gal--in effect becoming crucified for anti-Rohingya campaign
which is led by the Burmese military junta, not her.
This plays
into the dissidents dislike of each other, especially of Daw Suu as the most
successful.
Like late
U Win Tin, I consider her decision to tango with the junta in 2011, wrong
headed, if not fatal, but she had few other options.
It is
ironic that a life lived so spotlessly is now tarnished by an error of omission
(not speaking up for the Rohingya or not speaking up loud enough) and not of
commission (this is surely what the Burmese junta is always guilty of).-
They are
the ones who led and are leading the anti-Rohingya campaign, not Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi--
It is too
bad that jealousy blinds so many people.
KMKaung
7-1-2016
7-1-2016
5 hrs
·
Aung San
Suu Kyi is leading her country's campaign to erase Rohingya identity.
Iranian
Nobel Peace Prize winner Sharin Ebadi
rom
Burmese Dissident to Mystifying Politician,Why won’t my fellow
Nobelist Aung San Suu Kyi help a Muslim minority?
Nobelist Aung San Suu Kyi help a Muslim minority?
By Shirin
Ebadi
(Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.)
(Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.)
June 30,
2016 7:05 p.m. ET
In advance
of a United Nations envoy’s visit to the country, Burmese
officials in June instructed U.N. officials to refer to Burma’s Muslim
minority as “people who believe in Islam in Rakhine state.” This is
the latest chapter in what has become a tragic campaign to reassure
Buddhist nationalists that the government will continue to oppress the
Rohingya—even to the point of denying them their name and citizenship
in Burma.
officials in June instructed U.N. officials to refer to Burma’s Muslim
minority as “people who believe in Islam in Rakhine state.” This is
the latest chapter in what has become a tragic campaign to reassure
Buddhist nationalists that the government will continue to oppress the
Rohingya—even to the point of denying them their name and citizenship
in Burma.
Sadly,
this campaign is being led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
After
decades of defiant activism, house arrest and unimaginable
personal sacrifice, Ms. Suu Kyi is finally in a position to bring
democracy to her country. Ms. Suu Kyi’s party won Burma’s national
elections in November 2015, and this spring, in addition to being
named foreign minister, she was appointed state counselor, the de
facto prime minister. The new title effectively gives her the power to
run Burma.
personal sacrifice, Ms. Suu Kyi is finally in a position to bring
democracy to her country. Ms. Suu Kyi’s party won Burma’s national
elections in November 2015, and this spring, in addition to being
named foreign minister, she was appointed state counselor, the de
facto prime minister. The new title effectively gives her the power to
run Burma.
I’m sure
it is a responsibility that my fellow Nobel peace laureate—a
woman who was under house arrest off and on for more than two
decades—takes very seriously. Yet those of us who spoke up for Aung
San Suu Kyi those many years when her human rights were being
violated—including His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond
Tutu—are deeply pained that she won’t extend the same respect for
human rights to Burma’s more than one million Rohingya.
woman who was under house arrest off and on for more than two
decades—takes very seriously. Yet those of us who spoke up for Aung
San Suu Kyi those many years when her human rights were being
violated—including His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond
Tutu—are deeply pained that she won’t extend the same respect for
human rights to Burma’s more than one million Rohingya.
Like
thousands of human-rights defenders around the world, we have
also called upon Burma to respect the rights of other political
prisoners and minorities in Burma—including the Karen, the Shan and
the Chin. Global human-rights organizations, along with courageous
grass roots organizations in Burma, have documented how the Burmese
military and state have suppressed these minorities through religious
persecution, killings, rape, disappearances, torture and other crimes
against humanity.
also called upon Burma to respect the rights of other political
prisoners and minorities in Burma—including the Karen, the Shan and
the Chin. Global human-rights organizations, along with courageous
grass roots organizations in Burma, have documented how the Burmese
military and state have suppressed these minorities through religious
persecution, killings, rape, disappearances, torture and other crimes
against humanity.
After at
least 100 Rohingya were killed during 2012 riots and clashes
with Buddhists in Rakhine state, we spoke out publicly to help Burma’s
Muslim minority.
with Buddhists in Rakhine state, we spoke out publicly to help Burma’s
Muslim minority.
As a
Muslim woman, I feel it is my particular responsibility to ring
the alarm bells about the Burmese government’s campaign against the
Rohingya. Burma has long denied the Rohingya the recognition and basic
rights, like access to education and freedom of movement, that
citizenship would afford. Since the riots, more than 140,000 Rohingya
have been forced into refugee camps, and many of them now live in
conditions much resembling concentration camps. Tens of thousands have
risked losing their lives to make the dangerous journey by sea in
overcrowded boats to leave Rakhine state.
the alarm bells about the Burmese government’s campaign against the
Rohingya. Burma has long denied the Rohingya the recognition and basic
rights, like access to education and freedom of movement, that
citizenship would afford. Since the riots, more than 140,000 Rohingya
have been forced into refugee camps, and many of them now live in
conditions much resembling concentration camps. Tens of thousands have
risked losing their lives to make the dangerous journey by sea in
overcrowded boats to leave Rakhine state.
The
Buddhist majority in Burma—even many seasoned democracy
activists—seem to see no contradiction in their call for democracy and
the cruel and inhumane treatment of the Rohingya. This includes Aung
San Suu Kyi.
activists—seem to see no contradiction in their call for democracy and
the cruel and inhumane treatment of the Rohingya. This includes Aung
San Suu Kyi.
This is
grimly ironic, given that her supporters—including me—have for
many years defiantly rejected the word Myanmar, the name assigned to
the country by the autocratic military that ran the country since
1962. We respected the fact that Ms. Suu Kyi and her followers called
themselves Burmese, and the country Burma.
many years defiantly rejected the word Myanmar, the name assigned to
the country by the autocratic military that ran the country since
1962. We respected the fact that Ms. Suu Kyi and her followers called
themselves Burmese, and the country Burma.
So how can
Ms. Suu Kyi now turn her back on the Rohingya?
I have
paid a high price in my life advocating for freedom, including
defending the rights of the Bah’ai, a religious minority, in Iran.
Since 2009, I have been forced to live outside of Iran—and have lost
not only my home but also my marriage and many friends. But I strongly
believe there is no other way to live. Up until recently, I thought
that Ms. Suu Kyi and I shared this conviction.
defending the rights of the Bah’ai, a religious minority, in Iran.
Since 2009, I have been forced to live outside of Iran—and have lost
not only my home but also my marriage and many friends. But I strongly
believe there is no other way to live. Up until recently, I thought
that Ms. Suu Kyi and I shared this conviction.
In May,
Ms. Suu Kyi’s party announced that she will head up a
committee dedicated to promoting peace and development in Rakhine
state. The announcement said the committee—which reportedly will
include 27 members of the new cabinet—will “coordinate” the activities
of U.N. agencies and international nongovernmental organizations in
that state.
committee dedicated to promoting peace and development in Rakhine
state. The announcement said the committee—which reportedly will
include 27 members of the new cabinet—will “coordinate” the activities
of U.N. agencies and international nongovernmental organizations in
that state.
This looks
suspiciously more like an effort to further tighten her
government’s authoritarian control over the region than a response to
a human-rights crisis. Let’s hope not. I’ll be the first to applaud if
my sister Nobel peace laureate bravely ignores the internal pressure
to dehumanize the Rohingya and instead stands up for their rights.
government’s authoritarian control over the region than a response to
a human-rights crisis. Let’s hope not. I’ll be the first to applaud if
my sister Nobel peace laureate bravely ignores the internal pressure
to dehumanize the Rohingya and instead stands up for their rights.
================
Ms. Ebadi,
the author of “Until We Are Free: My Fight for Human Rights
in Iran” (Random House, 2016) and a co-founder of the Nobel Women’s
Initiative, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.
in Iran” (Random House, 2016) and a co-founder of the Nobel Women’s
Initiative, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin
Ebadi writes about Aung San Suu Kyi’s neglect of the Rohingya Muslim minority
group in Burma.
wsj.com|By Shirin Ebadi
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more reactions
Kyi May Kaung
WSJ is in effect siding with the military government of Burma--
Thynn Thynn
Well sad to say my friend she had be scape goated by the military, made use of
and left out on a limb to take all the blame. I do feel for her valiant work
whether right or wrong ...she is the sole laser who has the herewithal to
shoulder the burden of raising the Titanic.
I am not shy of critiquing her but we should not forget the risk and dangers she is facing now. At least have a heart.
I am not shy of critiquing her but we should not forget the risk and dangers she is facing now. At least have a heart.
7-1-2016
