Aung San Suu Kyi and the military’s violent campaign against the Rohingya
On August 25, 2017, the persecution of Myanmar’s Muslim minority escalated to the level of ethnic cleansing. In a recent fact-finding mission, the United Nations (UN) reported over 10,000 dead and 723,000 Rohingya have fled the country. Nearly a decade into Myanmar’s transition to democratic rule, the international community is perplexed as to why Myanmar’s de-facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi,has remained complicit to the military’s violence.Once a human rights heroine who led the long-fought struggle for democracy in Myanmar, Ms. Suu Kyi is remaining silent on the mass killings, sexual violence, and mass displacement of Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine State.As a result, it is now “open season against ‘The Lady,” and the international community is not holding back.
On Wednesday, November 14, Vice President Mike Pence issued the strongest U.S. criticism to date against Ms.Suu Kyi in response to the crisis. Taking the place of President Trump at the Asia-Pacific summit in Singapore, Pence condemned the vast expulsion of the Muslim minority carried out by the Myanmar military. He publicly remarked to Ms. Suu Kyi: “The violence and persecution by military and vigilantes that resulted in driving 700,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh is without excuse.”In the same week, Amnesty International revoked Ms. Suu Kyi’s Ambassador of Conscience Award. As an institution that upholds international human rights, Ms. Suu Kyi’s denial of the allegations of human rights violations decidedly opposed Amnesty’s mission. In a letter to the Myanmar leader, Amnesty’s Secretary General Kumi Naidoo wrote: “We are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defense of human rights.”
Prior to these denunciations, Canada revoked Ms. Suu Kyi of her honorary Canadian citizenship in October because of her role in the Rohingya crisis. Senator Omidvar claimed that it was intended to send a message to Myanmar, and the world, that these human rights violations should not be tolerated. She stated that “we need to send a strong signal here in Canada and around the world that if you’re an accomplice of a genocide, you are not welcome here.”
While the international community is quick to blame Aung San Suu Kyi for this violent campaign, it is worth discussing what circumstances have precipitated her seeming indifference. One specific factor that is important to note is the military’s position of power over Myanmar and Ms. Suu Kyi. Not only has the military ruled the country for five decades, it also placed Ms. Suu Kyi under house arrest for 15 years. Furthermore, this imbalance of power has been institutionalized in the civil-military power-sharing agreement, as the military appoints 25 percent of parliamentary seats and controls the home, border affairs, and defense ministries.Given the military’s relative position of power, some have argued that the democratic leader has been forced to “walk the fine line” set by the military, and service the military’s needs if Suu Kyi wants to maintainany hope for the country’s democratic freedom in the future.
Conversely, others contend that Ms. Suu Kyi’s “callous indifference” fits with her authoritarian and unsympathetic leadership style that she has always espoused—just behind closed doors. Further, it has been proposed that her true motivations have always been tainted by the desire to be in power and carry on her father’s legacy, rather than to fight for democracy. Whether this is true or not, it can be surmised that Aung San Suu Kyi is not the Saint that the West expected her to be. In light of these debates, it remains unclear whether Aung San Suu Kyi will eventually work towards reconciliation for the Rohingya, or if international intervention will be needed.