TEMPO.CO, London - The Oxford University college, where Aung San Suu Kyi studied, said Saturday (Sep. 30) it had taken down a portrait of the Myanmar leader, a decision that follows widespread criticism of her over the Rohingya crisis.
The portrait, which was on display in the main entrance of St Hugh's College, has been placed in storage and was replaced on Thursday with a new painting gifted by Japanese artist Yoshihiro Takada.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi studied at St Hugh's, graduating in philosophy, politics and economics in 1967 before completing a masters in politics in 1968.
"We received a new painting earlier this month which will be exhibited at the main entrance for a period," the college said in a statement.
"The painting of Aung San Suu Kyi has meanwhile been moved to a secure location."
The university did not say whether the removal was linked to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar's western Rakhine State.
Communal violence has torn through the state since Muslim minority Rohingya militants staged deadly attacks on police posts on Aug 25.
An army-led fightback has left scores dead and sent around half a million Rohingya fleeing the mainly Buddhist country into neighbouring Bangladesh.
The United Nations describes the situation as "ethnic cleansing".
CHANNEL NEWS ASIA | YON DEMA
