TEMPO.CO, Yangon - Aung San Suu Kyi made her first visit as leader of Myanmar on Thursday, Nov. 2, to the region torn by Rohingya conflict. More than half a million Rohingya Muslims have fled state-led violence that has spiraled into Asia's worst refugee crisis in decades.
Her visit to Rakhine state comes as Suu Kyi is under intense international scrutiny for her response to the exodus, which the U.N. has called ethnic cleansing, and as her government said it is working on a plan to repatriate those who fled to Bangladesh.
Suu Kyi arrived in the state capital, Sittwe, in the morning and headed to restive northern Rakhine where many Rohingya villages were located. During a 2015 election campaign, she visited southern Rakhine, where there hasn't been much conflict.
"The state counselor just arrived but she is heading to Maungdaw, northern Rakhine, with the state officials," said Tin Maung Swe, a deputy director of the Rakhine government, using Suu Kyi's official title.
Government spokesman Zaw Htay would not release Suu Kyi's plans for the trip until later because of security concerns.
Read: Myanmar's Suu Kyi Urges Unity in Helping Rakhine
Fleeing Rohingya have described arson,rapeandshootingsby Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist mobs that left them no option but to make the dangerous and sometimes deadly journey through jungles and by sea to Bangladesh.
The exodus has slowed at some points but has not stopped.
On Thursday morning, at least 2,000 terrified and starving Rohingya huddled in rice paddy fields near one border crossing on the Naf river. They had waited for more than 24 hours for permission to enter Bangladesh and spent the night in the muddy fields.
Read: Myanmar Suu Kyi Under Pressure as 125,000 Rohingya Flee Violence
The global image of Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate, has been damaged by the crisis and she has come under intense criticism to do more to end the violence and condemn those responsible. Several fellow peace prize winners have publicly condemned Suu Kyi for what they see as her apparent indifference to the plight of the Rohingya.
Though Suu Kyi has been the de facto head of Myanmar's civilian government since her party swept elections in 2015, the former political prisoner is limited in her control of the country by a constitution written by the military junta that ruled Myanmar for decades. The military has effective veto power over all legislation and controls key ministries including those overseeing security and defense.
The military is in charge of operations in northern Rakhine, and ending them is not up to Suu Kyi.
AP
