Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi asked to be given “enough space” to address the plight of her country’s Rohingya Muslim population, as visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pressed the Nobel peace laureate to promote respect for human rights.
Some 125,000 Rohingya in Myanmar are displaced and face severe travel restrictions in camps since fighting erupted in Rakhine State between the country’s Buddhists and Muslims in 2012. Thousands have fled persecution and poverty in an exodus by boat.
The United States has long supported Ms. Suu Kyi’s role in championing democratic change in Myanmar, but was surprised this month when she suggested to the new U.S. ambassador Scot Marciel to refrain from using the term ‘Rohingya’ for the persecuted Muslim minority.
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The Rohingya are seen by many Myanmar Buddhists as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and referred to by many as Bengalis. “Emotive terms make it very difficult for us to find a peaceful and sensible resolution to our problems,” Ms. Suu Kyi told reporters at a joint news conference with Kerry in Naypyitaw. “All that we are asking is that people should be aware of the difficulties we are facing and to give us enough space to solve all our problems.”
Mr. Kerry said he had discussed the Rohingya issue with Ms. Suu Kyi during their meeting, describing the issue as “very sensitive” and “divisive” in Myanmar. — Reuters