Myanmar

Photo Source: www.rfa.org
   NIAS Course on Global Politics
National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
For any further information or to subscribe to GP alerts send an email to subachandran@nias.res.in

CWA # 171, 12 October 2019
Myanmar
Will prosecuting Suu Kyi resolve the Rohingya problem?

  Aparupa Bhattacherjee

Prosecuting Suu Kyi cannot be a solution. She may be just an easy target. Also, punishing Suu Kyi will not pull down Myanmar: rather, it would consider as an unjust step taken for people who do not belong to their country. It will deteriorate the situation rather than helping the Rohingyas. 

The military and civil society in Myanmar are also equally responsible for the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.

Aparupa Bhattacherjee is a PhD scholar at the International Strategic and Security Studies Programme at NIAS.

In September 2019, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar called for the prosecution of Aung San Suu Kyi. The panel's report 'Detailed findings of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar', was submitted to the Human Rights Council. This report elaborates on the atrocities of the army on Rohingya and other minorities. 

The Chairman of the fact-finding mission stated that the Myanmar army has been continuing its "policies and practices" against the Rohingya community since 2017. He mentioned "Impunity continues. Discrimination continues. Hate speech continues. Persecution continues." Hence the panel recommended the prosecution of Suu Kyi for her in-action. 

Should Aung San Suu Kyi be prosecuted? Will her prosecution resolve the problem?

Should Suu Kyi be prosecuted?

Though the Arakan army and Tatmadaw are the perpetrators of the crime, the report states, Suu Kyi could have controlled the army. She is the leader of the National League of Democracy (NLD) which has 60 per cent seats in the Parliament, could have introduced a law to take action against the military atrocities. As an elected leader, she should have taken the responsibility to address the condition in the Rakhine State and stop violence against other minorities. 

According to Yanghee Lee, a United Nations expert monitoring development in Myanmar, Suu Kyi's government has fared worse than previous Thein Sein government. There is an increased number of arrests of reporters and others who have expressed their views against the government, under her reign.

The above argument is correct to an extent, but the ground reality is different. The army still retains a substantial role in Myanmarese politics. They have a two-third reservation in the Parliament; the Ministers of Home Affairs, Border Affairs, and Defense are also appointed by them. Even though the 2015 election has established a government elected by people, the power is shared with the army. Hence, expecting Suu Kyi to resolve the issue by introducing a bill in the Parliament and making a change is far-fetched. 

Unfortunately, the entire country is unanimous on the Rohingya; the latter is considered as Bengali and not Myanmarese. Such a national sentiment makes speaking on behalf of the Rohingya or refuting the prevalent notion detrimental for her political career. Suu Kyi is a politician, and she needs to appease her vote bank to work towards her upcoming elections. Additionally, she is part of the same societal construct; to expect her to have a different belief is not a practical one.

Moreover, the Rohingya crisis is not the only issue in Myanmar, which is marred with ethnic armed conflicts. Since coming to power, Suu Kyi's primary goal has been signing the National Ceasefire Agreement with all ethnic armed groups and the army. After five years in power, she may not succeed in her goal but have made an effort to work with the army for the same. This is remarkable given their history. Therefore, her silence on the Rohingya crisis could be a small sacrifice for the larger objective. 

Blaming Suu Kyi: What about the others? 

There are other perpetrators, Suu Kyi is not the only one to be blamed. First, the military. If Sui Kyi prosecuted, it might pave the way for the military to return to power. Recently, the US imposed a travel ban on four topmost military officials including the current Commander-in-Chief. But such bans remain ineffective.

Second, the larger problem is society. It should share the blame equally. The Burmese (the biggest ethnic group) and other ethnic groups who are fighting against the Burmese are united in their strong stand against the Rohingya. The term 'Rohingya' is not used by anyone apart from the Rohingyas within Myanmar. It is believed that they migrated to Myanmar from erstwhile colonial India's Bengal Province. The difference in complexion, language, and culture are cited as evidence of the Rohingyas not being from Myanmar. Rohingyas might be a crisis for the rest of the world; but for Myanmar, they are receiving undeserved attention. 

Finally, the regional actors. Should they not share the blame for doing nothing? The ASEAN members have been discussing this issue in their summits; but they have taken no steps to resolve it. Indonesia and Malaysia have been vocal for the Rohingyas, but no other steps were taken. 

Hence, prosecuting Suu Kyi cannot be a solution. She may be just an easy target. Also, punishing Suu Kyi will not pull down Myanmar: rather, it would consider as an unjust step taken for people who do not belong to their country. It will deteriorate the situation rather than helping the Rohingyas. 

Print Bookmark

PREVIOUS COMMENTS

NIAS Global Politics Database
March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
NIAS Global Politics Database
February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1189

Hoimi Mukherjee | Hoimi Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science in Bankura Zilla Saradamani Mahila Mahavidyapith.

Chile in 2023: Crises of Constitutionality
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1187

Aprajita Kashyap | Aprajita Kashyap is a faculty of Latin American Studies, School of International Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi.

Haiti in 2023: The Humanitarian Crisis
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1185

Binod Khanal | Binod Khanal is a Doctoral candidate at the Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi.

The Baltic: Energy, Russia, NATO and China
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1183

Padmashree Anandhan | Padmashree Anandhan is a Research Associate at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangaluru.

Germany in 2023: Defence, Economy and Energy Triangle
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1178

​​​​​​​Ashok Alex Luke | Ashok Alex Luke is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science at CMS College, Kottayam.

China and South Asia in 2023: Advantage Beijing?
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1177

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri | Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri is a postgraduate student at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras, Chennai.

China and East Asia
The War in Ukraine
October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
IPRI Quarterly Forecasts I Triggers, Trends, and Trajectories
July 2023 | CWA # 1012

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar continues to burn
2022: The World This Year
December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
Europe: Heatwaves, Wildfires, Droughts, and Ice Melt in Alps
November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
NIAS Africa Weekly
March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
The World This Week: 150th Issue
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
Pakistan Reader
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
NIAS Fortnightly on Science, Technology & International Relations
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
Science, Technology and International Relations
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta | Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu

Nepal
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

The Maldives
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

India
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Bangladesh
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Afghanistan