intensify pressure on the Myanmar
Rohingya Repatriation: Why Suu Kyi unlikely to change her position
Bangladesh and the international community must intensify pressure on the Myanmar government over Rohingya repatriation as its military is unlikely to allow Aung San Suu Kyi to shift her position, says a global affairs expert.
"It's (intensified pressure) imperative," Dr Ali Riaz, a distinguished professor at Illinois State University, told UNB sharing three reasons why Suu Kyi's position on Rohingya issue will remain unchanged.
Though Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, she has widely been criticised for doing nothing to stop rape, murder and genocide in Rakhine by refusing to condemn the powerful military or acknowledge accounts of atrocities.
On three reasons why Suu Kyi is unlikely to change her position, Prof Riaz said she personally adheres to a position which does not see Rohingyas as a part of the Myanmar nation.
Secondly, he said, anti-Rohingya which is also anti-Muslim sentiment acts as a mobilizing element for Suu Kyi's support base.
Thirdly, Prof Riaz said, Myanmar’s military may not allow her to shift her position.
"There should be no doubt that military holds the real key to power," said Prof Riaz, also President of the American Institute of Bangladesh Studies (AIBS).
He said Bangladesh has previously proposed establishing a safe zone inside Myanmar as the first step.
4 years ago