Burma: Suu Kyi-led government must end ethnic and religious persecution

Minority rights and freedom of religion must be placed at the heart of Burma’s first civilian-led government in over half a century, Minority Rights Group International (MRG) said today. Curbing ethnic violence in northern Burma and ending the persecution of the Rohingya minority should be at the top of the agenda.

Minority Rights Group International is an international human rights organization working to secure the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples.

According to the Minority Rights Group International, Military abuses against ethnic Ta’ang, Kachin and Shan communities in northern Burma have left a stain on the country’s much-lauded democratic transition and ending the escalating conflict should be a priority for the incoming government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Testimony collected from local human rights groups suggests that the Burmese army has targeted unarmed civilians, torched villages and committed other egregious human rights violations in the past few weeks alone. (Courtesy of Asian Tribune)