As State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was in Stockholm claiming a proposed UN investigation of Myanmar’s human rights abuses “would have created greater hostility between the different communities”, three Swedish NGOs urged the public to take note of her new role as a whitewasher of the Myanmar military’s crimes.
In a polemic published by the Swedish public news service SVT, representatives from the Swedish Burma Committee, Civil Rights Defenders, and the Olof Palme International Center criticized the State Counsellor for her silence on the military’s human rights abuses against ethnic minorities and the ongoing suppression of expression in Myanmar.
“Many of us are surprised by her close cooperation with the military and her lack of criticism of the conduct of the war against the ethnic minorities,” the groups’ representatives write.
“It is becoming clear that Aung San Suu Kyi does not have a plan,” they deduce.
The activists conclude by leaving the Nobel Peace Prize winner with three key demands:
- An inclusive peace process in which all ethnic groups participate equally in genuine negotiations.
“Aung San Suu Kyi has said that peace is the most important issue in Burma, but the latest peace conference that just ended was attended only 40 percent of the ethnic groups, no representatives from civil society, and very few women. Meanwhile, the military attacks in Kachin and northern Shan states escalated. Over 100,000 people live as internal refugees. Neither Aung San Suu Kyi nor Myanmar [state] media criticize the military for its attacks on civilians.”
- The cooperation of the Myanmar government with the UN-appointed “fact-finding mission” to investigate violations of human rights committed against Rohinyas and other minorities.
“Aung San Suu Kyi’s inaction in the face of abuses against the Rohingya has shocked the world. Her and the government’s refusal to cooperate with the UN to investigate what has happened is unacceptable. Her reference to the internal Commission led by Kofi Annan is a diversion; the Commission does not have the task of investigating human rights violations. The UN mission is also crucial to the delivery of aid being discharged to the Rohingya and to the granting of citizenship to them.”
- That freedom of expression is guaranteed and censorship ceases.
“Several laws used to restrict freedom of expression, and journalists and human rights defenders live under greater risk of being prosecuted. Repressive laws must be immediately removed.”
