MYANMAR leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s address to her nation on Sept 19 on the Rohingya problem seems very positive and optimistic, and represents an attempt to salvage her image as a Nobel laureate.

In her address she has condemned human rights violations and vowed to bring the violators to book, invited diplomats in her country to visit the troubled areas, in order to implement the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission and, most unexpectedly, she also declared that she would take back the Rohingyas who have fled from the country.

Although such promises were also made in the past, they were not fulfilled; the promises being made now by Aung Saan Suu Kyi seem to be just an afterthought.

The majority of Rohingyas has already fled the country. Those still remaining behind are being threatened to leave or get killed. A senior government official recently said that the situation might worsen at any moment.

The remaining Rohingyas are themselves desperate to leave the country and are pleading for safe passage. For the present, Bangladesh seems to be their only refuge. Myanmar should be prevailed upon to provide safe and secure passage for the Rohingyas still trapped in hellish camps.

In this context, one might not fail to appreciate the bold declaration of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed that where the country is feeding 160m people, it can also feed some 500,000 to 700,00 more. At the same time, it is the obligation of the world at large, particularly the Muslim countries, to share this burden with Bangladesh.

Saghir Khan

Karacahi

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2017