December 12, 2016

Myanmar to brief ASEAN amid alarm over Rakhine

Myanmar's de facto leader, State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, has called for a special informal meeting with foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Dec. 19 in Yangon to discuss international concerns over the situation in Rakhine state.

It is the first time that Myanmar has initiated a meeting with other countries to discuss the sensitive issue of its treatment of the Muslim population. ASEAN officials saw the move as a sign of concern within Suu Kyi's fledgling administration of mounting international criticism over the recent crackdown on the country's Rohingya Muslim minority.

Many governments and humanitarian organizations have expressed alarm at the harsh military response following attacks on Oct. 9 by Muslim militants on police posts along the country's western border between Rakhine State and Bangladesh. (Courtesy of asia.nikkei.com)

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