This image provided by Myanmar\'s Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows Myanmar Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi (right) meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (left) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, Sept. 4, 2017, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.
YANGON, RABU — After staying silent for a long time, Myanmarese Foreign Minister and State Counselor Aung San SuuKyi issued a statement on Wednesday (6/9) regarding the condition of the Rohingya people in Rakhine. Suu Kyi condemned the spread of disinformation and underlined that the Myanmarese government protected all Rakhine people.
A statement from the Myanmarese authority, including from Suu Kyi as an influential figure in the country, had long been awaited by the international community since armed violence broke out at the end of August and the Rohingya people fled to Bangladesh.
However, Suu Kyi did not mention the Rohingya refugees who had fled to Bangladesh, which numbers 146,000 people according to the United Nations.
In Dhaka, the Bangladeshi government summoned the Myanmarese ambassador to protest reports that Myanmar’s military had planted landmines near the border.
Bangladesh’s border patrol had reported hearing explosions this week and seeing refugees wounded by landmines. Myanmar did not comment on this report.
Harming relations
Suu Kyi’s written statement was posted through the official Facebook account, saying that the Myanmarese government has tried to protect all Rakhine people. In other words, it had tried to prevent people becoming refugees or fleeing the country.
She also condemned the rampant disinformation, which could harm relations between countries, referring to photos posted on Twitter by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek on Aug. 29. Simsek urged the international community to take action in the issue of the Rohingya people.
However, according to the BBC, the photos were not of the Rohingya. One was a photograph showing the Myanmarese victims of Hurricane Nargis in 2008. Another photo is of a boat accident in Myanmar, but unconnected to those fleeing to Bangladesh. Simsek’s post was deleted after it was reposted 1,600 times and liked by 1,200 users.
“The fake information, as posted by the deputy PM, was a tip of the disinformation iceberg that could ruin relations between countries, which was the target of terrorists,” said Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry.
It did not elaborate on what was meant by“terrorist”. Yet, the Myanmarese authority stated that its military was attempting to crush the terrorist group that was responsible for a series of attacks on several police and military posts since October 2016. The attacks were carried out by the Rohingya militant group, Arakan Rohingya Savior Army (ARSA).
The latest attack occurred at the end of August, which the Myanmarese military retaliated, leaving 400 dead. The incident triggered waves of Rohingya refugees fleeing to Bangladesh.
Yesterday, Suu Kyi met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Myanmar for the first time. Modi expressed India’s concern over what was happening in Rakhine. India had taken action against the 40,000 Rohingya trying to enter India in the past few years. Last month, New Delhi stated it would deport them back to Myanmar.
More refugees
The number of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, according to UN, has reached 146,000, or 233,000 people if the exodus in October 2016 is included. Their number could continue to increase as a result of the uncertain conditions in Rakhine.
Before the August incident, Bangladesh had accommodated around 400,000 Rohingya refugees. Social agencies and officers were unable to welcome the latest waves of refugees, because they had no more space.
Some officials in Bangladesh said the government would soon designate an island in Bengal Bay to be turned into temporary living space to accommodate Rohingya refugees. The plan has existed since last October.
However, the plan met with opposition from human rights activists that cited sanitation and security issues. The island was prone to natural disasters such as floods.
A UN source said the Bangladeshi government might revive the plan in response to international pressure. Earlier, Bangladesh had stated that the thousands of Rohingya refugees were overwhelming. “Bangladesh has lost hope over Rohingya issue. Bangladesh feels isolated,” the source said.
Protest
In Indonesia, rallies protesting the violence against the Rohingya were held. In Jakarta, around 3,000 Muslims staged a rally outside the Myanmarese Embassy on Tuesday, urging Myanmar to stop the violence against the Rohingya in Rakhine.
Rallies were also held in several other cities. In Magelang, Central Java, people raised funds for the Rohingya. In Serang, Banten, support was shown through communal prayers and in voicing praise for Indonesia’s diplomatic mission. In Palu, Central Sulawesi, people called for the Rohingya issue to be taken to the international human rights tribunal. Peaceful rallies also took place in Medan, Jambi and Bandung.
