Aung San Suu Kyi Denies 'Ethnic Cleansing' of Muslim Minority in Myanmar

In a delayed response that has drawn criticism from human rights organizations, Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar, rejected the notion of 'ethnic cleansing' of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. Following the UN Human Rights Council's agreement to investigate allegations of sexual assault, murder, and torture by the Myanmar military, Suu Kyi stated in an interview with the BBC that 'ethnic cleansing' is an 'excessively strong' term for the situation in Myanmar. According to Suu Kyi, there are 'many hostilities' occurring in Rakhine, which borders Bangladesh. She remarked, 'There, Muslims kill other Muslims if they believe they have collaborated with the authorities.' In December of last year, as violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority continued, a UN official accused the Myanmar government of attempting 'ethnic cleansing.' John McKissick, a representative of the UN Refugee Agency in Bangladesh, reported that approximately 300,000 members of the Rohingya ethnic group fled to Bangladesh following a military offensive in November. In response, Suu Kyi, who has faced significant criticism for her prolonged silence on the issue, told the BBC that her country would welcome back any refugees wishing to return. The UN's allegations against the Myanmar government date back to the administration of Thein Sein, the former president of Myanmar. Last week, Tin Chaw was sworn in as the first president of Myanmar in 50 years who is not affiliated with the military. The new president is considered a close friend and ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, a political activist and former Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He expressed hope that his government would pave the way for peace and stability in Myanmar through reforms. Following Tin Chaw's rise to power, the Speaker of the Myanmar Parliament announced that Aung San Suu Kyi would be appointed to a ministerial position in the new government. Reuters reported that it obtained a document from sources in the Myanmar Parliament indicating that Aung San Suu Kyi would oversee four ministries: 'Foreign Affairs,' 'Energy,' 'Education,' and a ministry titled 'Office of the Presidency.' Myanmar was under military rule for nearly half a century from 1962 to 2011, during which Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest. Finally, last year, the first free elections in Myanmar were held after 15 years, and the National League for Democracy, led by Suu Kyi, gained a majority in the country's parliament.