Angel of Peace, No More!
By Eric DeCruz
One of most dignified honours bestowed on individuals who
aspire to make a difference in the world is the coveted “Noble Prize.” Past
Nobel Prize winners have contributed significantly to world peace and have
stood up to pressures whenever they were challenged. However, under mounting
pressure and criticism, Aung San Suu Kyi, has failed to stand up to
international pressure.
She now joins the list of Nobel Laureates: the likes of
Henry Kissinger, the former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor of
the United States; Shimon Peres, the former Prime Minister of Israel; and
Woodrow Wilson, former President of the United States of America, who have a
dubious record of implementing peace programmes.
Aung San Suu Kyi, for most of her political life was
fighting for a Democratic Myanmar. She was become symbol of hope and her rise
to power was a dawn of a new democratic era for Myanmar.
Unfortunately for Rohingyans, the ethnic cleansing which
started under the Burmese Junta never stopped – the sun never quite rose on
them.
Despite living there for generations and their history could
be traced back to 8th century, the Rohingyans were never recognized as citizens
of Burma. In fact, under 1982 Burma Citizenship law, they are not regarded as
Citizens, their statehood was systematically revoked by the military junta.
As the Burmese military junta, unleashed heinous crimes such
as gang rape, genocide, burning down homes and looting properties, Suu Kyi
chose to remain silent. She was adamant that all is well, nothing was amiss.
The entire Maungdaw district where these atrocities took
place was in locked down state, Since Oct 9th 2016, preventing access to this
area to foreign journalist and Aid workers.
In an interview on Thursday with the BBC, however, McKissick
said keeping the border open “would further encourage the government of Myanmar
to continue the atrocities and push them out until they have achieved their
ultimate goal of ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority in Myanmar.
“That the government has simply flatly denied human rights
violations are taking place does not bode well for the NLD ,Burma (National
League of Democracy)” said Matthew Smith, founder of Bangkok-based Fortify
Rights.
“When these types of violations are being committed by the
government it is reason for concern for everyone in the country.”
“Aung San Suu Kyi is legitimizing genocide in Myanmar and
has entrenched the persecution of the Rohingya minority,” state crime
specialists at Queen Mary University of London said in a statement on
Wednesday.
“Despite the fact that this is the most significant test of
Suu Kyi’s leadership, she has remained remarkably indifferent,” the researchers
continued. “Her claim that ‘we have not tried to hide anything on Rakhine’ is
utterly disingenuous. Her statements can only be interpreted as denial – a
familiar and integral strategy deployed by criminal states to deflect blame.”
The Times reports that the campaign has uprooted tens of
thousands of already-impoverished civilians and razed villages, amounting to
what U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin — an early supporter of Suu Kyi — called
“gross violations of human rights.”
In a statement released in New York yesterday, UN special
adviser on Myanmar Vijay Nambiar appealed directly to the peace icon to
intervene.
“The adoption of a generally defensive rather than proactive
approach to providing security to the local population, have caused frustration
locally and disappointment internationally,” he said.
“I also appeal to Daw Suu to visit Maungdaw and Buthidaung
and reassure the civilian population there that they will be protected,” he
added, referring to the locked down area in Rakhine.
Aung Sang Suu Kyi is an angel no more. She has become an
angel of death instead.
Eric DeCruz is avid reader of TISG and his opinion does not
reflect the editorial position of TISG