US ambassador Scot Marciel avoided using the term “Rohingya” in his first public speech as ambassador to Myanmar, but stressed that Muslims in Rakhine State have the right to self-identify.
“They get to choose what they want to be called,” Mr Marciel said in reply to a question over the usage of the controversial word. “That’s fundamental international practice and we respect that,” he said.
The ambassador made his address shortly after the foreign affairs ministry – on instruction from Minister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi – told journalists that embassies, including the US, were asked to refrain from using the term “Rohingya”.
Mr Marciel refused to comment on whether his embassy had received such a request, saying he “would prefer not to publicly talk about private diplomatic conversations”. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
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