How Aung San Suu Kyi and her U.S. Allies Deny Burmese Anti-Muslim Atrocities

Burmese Nobel Laureate and democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi reportedly lost her composure when questioned about the dire conditions of Muslims in her country during a BBC interview two years ago. When pressed by BBC personality Mishal Hussain, a Muslim, Suu Kyi expressed her displeasure in an off-the-record remark, allegedly complaining, “No one told me I was going to be interviewed by a Muslim!”

The disclosure was made in a new book about Suu Kyi, leader of the current ruling party National League For Democracy (NLD), titled The Lady and the Generals: Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma’s Struggle for Freedom, by British author Peter Popham. In the same BBC interview with Hussain, Suu Kyi denied any evidence of genocide of the Burmese Muslim group Rohingya. She equated their suffering with Burmese Buddhist residents who are over 90% of the population, whereas Muslims only comprise 4%. (Courtesy of Alternet)

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)

Time for action not words

Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi  yesterday saw the fulfillment of the democratic dream for which she had labored so hard and at such personal cost. Her close political ally, Htin Kyaw, was sworn in to the presidential role from which Suu Kyi herself is barred under the constitution written by the outgoing military.

To judge by the international media coverage of the ceremony, there was hardly a dry eye in the house. “The Lady” as she is affectionately known had triumphed.  Burma is back on the path toward stability and justice.  Or is it?

It had been widely assumed that Suu Kyi’s failure to tackle the marginalization of Burmese Muslims, particularly the persecuted Rohingya minority, was due to her reluctance to provoke the military junta. Thus the Nobel Peace Laureate could make a few comforting noises about problems that would need to be addressed in due course and her fans around the world were satisfied.  To judge from yesterday’s wall-to-wall media coverage, they have not changed their minds. (Courtesy of Saudi Gazette)

Rohingya left behind in Myanmar's power transition

As Myanmar's NLD-led government assumes the mantle of power, there is little indication that things will get better for the ethnic Rohingya people, as Lucy Kafanov reports from Rakhine state.

Abdul Rashid, 47, watched helplessly as his wife Rukia's body stiffened and began to shake uncontrollably - her face contorted in pain as the convulsions raked her emaciated frame. His eldest daughter applied a wet compress to her mother's head, trying to hold her steady, while the younger siblings huddled together in a corner, whimpering silently.
Minutes later, the seizure was over. Rukia remained unconscious as the raspy sound of her labored breathing again filled the cramped thatched bamboo hut. (Courtesy of DW.COM)

Myanmar's shame: Living inside Rohingya ghettos

As the sun creeps closer towards its midday peak, the inhabitants of Dar Paing camp move out to the dusty streets to escape the oppressive heat of their single room dormitories.

This is home to thousands of Rohingya Muslims, a stateless people not recognized nor wanted by Myanmar's government.

Located near Sittwe, in the country's western Rakhine state, the camp is alive with sounds -- children recite verses at a makeshift school, while fruit sellers entice customers to their sparse but colorful stalls. But this buzz masks the harsh reality for many people here.
As Zoya prepares lunch for her family in their cramped living space, the loss of her son Mohammed is never far from her thoughts. "I begged Mohammed not to leave," she says, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Your father is sick and I am old, you must stay with us and protect the family," she remembers telling him. But despite her protestations and appeals, the 17-year old escaped the camp and fled to Malaysia by boat. (Courtesy of CNN.com)