She further mentioned that it was particularly alarming to learn that the security forces’ counter operations in the villages of Maungdaw north in Rakhine State has reportedly been resumed following a brief lull, with raids conducted in several villages including nearby the villages she had visited, as per the report. Even in Myitkyina, the capital of the state and home to over 300,000 people, residents are afraid – and now stay home after dark, as per her statements.
There are further allegations of arbitrary arrests and detention in relation to the latest reported raids, she added. She was especially dismayed to note the feelings of optimism and hope appearing to slowly fade among the ordinary people just after one year when the whole country was elated with the outcome of the last general elections, according to a UN press release issued in Geneva.
She also noted the video clip that went viral of the Myanmar police personnel beating up men and children who were rounded up during the security operations, and highlighted the possibility that such treatment of local population might not be an isolated incident but rather a more common practice. She emphasised the importance for the security forces to always act within the parameters of the rule of law and in compliance with human rights and that it would be crucial for the government to combat the apparent climate of impunity.
All of her statements have been known as facts to the world for quite sometime. Decades of systematic and institutionalized discrimination against the Rohingya remain responsible for some of them carrying out attacks of terror against the visible targets of their oppressors – the police and armed forces. Violence can only breed violence, and terror will spread further terror.
Therefore the root cause of the attacks of terror against the Myanmar government apparatus must be checked – and that remains the deep seated discrimination present against the Rohingya today. Will it be possible for Suu Kyi to stand up and end this – or will she remain a pawn beholden to the army and public opinion – only time will tell. But it should be understood by the Myanmar government that the time to end all this is now – if they cant act to stop the discrimination and hope for some miracle to stop the violence all of this will continue in a cycle of vicious perpetuity.
