McConnell Speaks With Aung San Suu Kyi About Humanitarian Crisis
‘In recent weeks, the plight of the Rohingya has received great international attention. Even in the best of times, this beleaguered ethnic minority has eked out a marginal existence in Burma’s Rakhine state. The Rohingya are stateless and have faced discrimination and isolation. Media reports indicate that their existence has gotten much worse over the past several weeks. I am deeply troubled by the humanitarian situation along the Burmese-Bangladeshi border and the violence in Rakhine state mu
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the humanitarian crisis that is currently taking place along the Burma-Bangladesh border:
“In recent weeks, the plight of the Rohingya has received great international attention. Even in the best of times, this beleaguered ethnic minority has eked out a marginal existence in Burma’s Rakhine state. The Rohingya are stateless and have faced discrimination and isolation. Media reports indicate that their existence has gotten much worse over the past several weeks.
“I am deeply troubled by the humanitarian situation along the Burmese-Bangladeshi border and the violence in Rakhine state must stop. But, as I stated earlier this week, in my view, publicly condemning Aung San Suu Kyi — the best hope for democratic reform in Burma — is not constructive.
“Yesterday, I had a chance to speak with Aung San Suu Kyi over the phone. I would emphasize that she is the same person she was before. Her position in the Burmese government is an exceedingly difficult one; she is State Counselor. But, by law, her civilian government has virtually no authority over the Burmese military. According to the Burmese constitution, the Army is essentially autonomous and it has control on the ground of the Rohingya situation.
“Unfounded criticism of Suu Kyi exaggerates her ability to command the military — which the Burmese constitution does not actually allow her to do — and the political evolution of representative government is not over. She must and is working to promote peace and reconciliation within her national context, but Burma’s path to a more democratic government is not yet complete, and will not miraculously occur overnight.
“I would like to report to the Senate that, during our call, Daw Suu agreed with the need for immediate and improved access of humanitarian assistance to the region, particularly by the International Red Cross. And she conveyed that she is working toward that end. She reiterated her view of the universality of human dignity and of the pressing need to pursue peace and reconciliation among the communities in Rakhine state. Daw Suu emphasized to me that violations of human rights will need to be addressed. Moreover, she stressed that the situation in Rakhine state is a protracted, long-standing problem, and that she is trying to improve conditions. We will soon receive a follow-on briefing from her office.
“Right now, the most important thing is for the violence in Rakhine state to stop and to try to ensure the rapid flow of humanitarian aid through both Burma and Bangladesh to the affected areas to help the Rohingya refugees and internally displaced persons. That is where our focus should be. Burma’s path to representative government is not certain, and it is not over, and attacking the single political leader who has worked to further democracy within Burma is likely to hinder that objective in the long run.”
Related Issues: Burma
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