Rohingya refugees are too ‘political’ for Suu Kyi’s charity

Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung speaks to reporters at a press conference announcing an upcoming fundraiser for the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation on Sept. 11, 2018. Photo: Coconuts Yangon
Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung speaks to reporters at a press conference announcing an upcoming fundraiser for the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation on Sept. 11, 2018. Photo: Coconuts Yangon

The leader of a charity founded by Myanmar state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi refused to discuss the prospect of donating to the cause of Rohingya refugees at the launch of a major fundraiser on Tuesday.

The Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, named after Suu Kyi’s mother, organized the press conference to announce its upcoming Black-Tie Charity Gala Dinner, which will take place on Oct. 5 and aim to raise at least US$70,000 for “worthy causes”.

Officials representing donor organizations such as the Marga Group and CB Bank commended that foundation for its charitable work in Myanmar, but no details were given on how the raised funds would be spent.

When asked whether the foundation would consider donating to the cause of Rohingya refugees who have been displaced from Myanmar by military violence, Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung, a member of the foundation’s executive committee said: “That is a political issue. We are not political.”

State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was accused last month by UN investigators of having “contributed to the commission of atrocity crimes” by failing to use her position as head of government to protect civilians from military violence.

Suu Kyi has regularly attended foundation events since entering political office, and a bronze bust in her likeness was placed in front of the podium where speakers briefed reporters about the upcoming fundraiser.

Last week, an online public petition was launched last week calling on the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation to “stand up for Myanmar’s most abused population”. It posits that Aung San Suu Kyi’s support for Rohingya refugees “through the foundation named after her mother would be an easy yet meaningful gesture”.

Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung, however, disagreed. When asked about the petition, he said: “This has nothing to do with our foundation.”

The petition can be found here.

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  1. It’s too late for Jihadi Muslim to get help from anybody. They are riping what had sowed. The Muslim interlopers who came through the porous border into Yakhine. Then they declared Jihad to fight against Burma, They destroyed Buddhist Pagodas, burned down Buddhist Monasteries, demolished Buddha Statutes, killed Buddhist Monks and laypersons. Allah, Jesus nor Buddha could help them now!

    For those unwholesome acts, the Muslim in Yakhine and Afghanistan are in hell on earth and more punishment awaits for them after their death and in many consecutive lifetimes.

    The same fate of suffering in this life and consecutive life is waiting for those Muslim who created lies, Westerners who filed report lies, echo chamber westerners who copied the lies.

    I feel sorry for them because they (Muslim and Westerners) are my relatives and pray for them that they would learn the universal truth (Dhamma). Sending Brahma Vihara (Metta, Karuna, Mudeta, and Upekkha) to them all.

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