Britain’s Prince Charles will not visit Myanmar as part of his upcoming tour of Asia and India this month. The decision was made as Myanmar carries out military operations against Rohingya communities that the UN has labelled ethnic cleansing.
Aides to the crown prince said last month that Myanmar had been considered as part of the itinerary, but according to the final program released yesterday, he and his wife Camilla will only visit Singapore, Malaysia, and India, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the British government.
“We looked at a range of options in the region and, as we’re announcing today, we’re going ahead with the visit to Singapore and Malaysia,” Philip Malone, the deputy head of department at Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, told reporters without elaboration.
Last month, the UK suspended a training program it had previously provided to the Myanmar military over its alleged human rights abuses in Rakhine State. The Myanmar military lashed back with a declaration that it would “never again send trainees to Britain.”
Human rights advocates have also urged Prince Charles to avoid visiting Myanmar as the countries’ relationship deteriorates.
Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, told Reuters: “To have someone of Prince Charles’s stature go to visit the country would be seen as a reward, and giving legitimacy to the government and the military that are currently violating international law.”
The royal tour will begin in Singapore on October 31, then move onto Malaysia, then India for an 11-day visit.
