Mockery of a speech
Say diplomatic analysts of Suu Kyi's speech as it lacks sincerity in resolving the Rohingya crisis
Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi's speech addressing the situation in Rakhine state lacks sincerity in putting a stop to the ongoing ethnic cleansing in the state, said former diplomats as well as foreign affairs, strategic and security analysts in Bangladesh.
The Myanmar state counselor, Suu Kyi, also ignored the expectation of bringing forth any proposition for a lasting solution to the decades old crisis, they observed.
Terming her speech “utterly disappointing” and a notion of denial, they said she made such an inadequate statement before the international audience despite attention drawn by the UN General Assembly and amid global concerns and condemnations over the atrocities against the Rohingya.
They criticised Suu Kyi for refraining from criticising the military -- that is being accused of arson and indiscriminate killing of the Rohingya -- and assuring the military of her support by stating that she does not “fear international scrutiny”.
Commenting on the Myanmar leader's speech, international affairs expert Prof Imtiaz Ahmad told The Daily Star that her speech did not deliver any aspect that could be considered “delightful or exciting”.
In the first-ever public speech she made since the crisis broke out in late August, Suu Kyi made a fastidious effort in not blaming any group, especially the military, for the crisis, he observed.
By saying that she does not “fear international scrutiny”, Suu Kyi in fact wanted to send a clear message to the military that she would be on their side, Prof Imtiaz, a teacher of International Relations Department at Dhaka University, explained.
Suu Kyi's comments lie in stark contrast to the testimony of refugees fleeing in Bangladesh, he added.
Noted strategic and security analyst Maj Gen (Retd) Md Abdur Rashid said Suu Kyi, while trying not to antagonise the military, wanted to pacify the international community by finally recognising the plight of the Rohingiya.
“Her stance did not show any spectacular change, but it has shown a slight sign of accommodation of international views on the Rohingiya plight,” added Gen Rashid, executive director of Institute of Conflict, Law and Development Studies.
Former ambassador FA Shamim Ahmed said, “Aung San Su Kyi's speech was utterly disappointing, to say the least. She made a mockery of a speech in which she claimed that she didn't know why more than 4,00,000 refugees had fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh.”