Conflict
Crisis/Conflict/Terrorism
Don't want Myanmar to be divided by religious beliefs: Suu Kyi

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 19 Sep 2017, 05:35 am Print

Don't want Myanmar to be divided by religious beliefs: Suu Kyi
Naypyidaw, Sep 19 (JEN): Addressing the nation, Myanmar's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday said that she does not wish her country to be divided based on religious beliefs or ethnicity, reports said.

"We don't want Myanmar to be a nation divided by religious beliefs or ethnicity... we all have the right to our diverse identities," Suu Kyi said.

"Hate and fear are the main scourges of our world," the Nobel Prize recipient added.

Amid the Rohingya crisis that has tarnished Myanmar's reputation before the global community, in a 3-minute televised speech, Suu Kyi has appealed outsiders to help her unite the nation.

In the last 30 days, more than 400,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar due to ongoing violence.

Rohingyas are stateless Muslims minorities, who primarily reside in Myamnar's Rakhine state.

Even though they have the maximum stronghold in Myanmar, Rohingyas are also found living in certain parts of Asia.

Suu Kyi's appeal comes at a time when global human rights watch dog, the United Nations, has blamed the Burmese army of indulging in ethnic cleansing.

However, according to the Burmese government, atrocities have been carried out by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army or ARSA, a Rohingya militant group, who promises to continued resistance until Rohingya demands for the restoration of citizenship rights within Myanmar are met.

On August 25, earlier this year, scores of ARSA militants struck at least 25 police posts across the two northern townships of Maungdaw and Buthidaung in Myanmar, resulting in the death of at least 100 people.

According to experts, radicalisation is slowly gripping the Rohingyas, who, historically have displayed a more timid attitude.

Experts also feel that the new age gun wielding Rohingyas are more prone to be sucked into terrorism and are likely to pledge alliance with global terror networks, thus exacerbating their already vulnerable state of affairs.

Even though the so called 'resistance' has proved to be disastrous, the young brigade is unwilling to budge from their stand.

"It’s a matter of the existence of all Rohingya. If we have to sacrifice ourselves for our children to live peacefully, then it is worth it," says a militant.

However, it is an open secret now that Pakistan-based jihadists are contributing to the situation.

Evidences showed that Aqa Mul Mujahideen (AMM), responsible for the attacks in Myanmar, is an offshoot of Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami Arakan (HUJI-A), a Pakistan-based terror outfit which is involved with the Rohingya Muslim issue in Myanmar.

According to media reports, HUJI-A is headed by Abdus Qadoos Burmi, a Pakistani national of Rohingya origin, closely associated with LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, for training and radicalising Rohingyas.

 

Suu Kyi Image: Wallpaper

Body Image: UN Photo