Suu Kyi calls crisis talks

THAILAND IS to join other Asean countries at a surprise emergency meeting called by Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a bid to resolve the crisis in Rakhine State. 
Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has faced intense criticism for her silence and lack of action to stop the brutal military crackdown against the state’s Rohingya Muslim minority. 
The unprecedented meeting comes as a surprise as Asean countries usually strive to handle their problems internally.
Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai is scheduled to travel to Yangon on Sunday to attend Monday’s meeting in Yangon, a source said. 
The Yangon meeting was initiated at an 
informal gathering of senior Asean officials in Bali, Indonesia, last weekend, Nikkei news agency reported.
This is the first time the Myanmar government has responded to growing criticism of Suu Kyi for not making any moves to curb the violence. 
More than 20,000 Rohingya people have fled across the border to Bangladesh, bringing with them tales of gang rapes, murder and arson, although the Myanmar government has flatly denied these claims. 
The military’s brutal campaign was launched in response to the October 9 attacks by Muslim militants on police posts along the MyanmarBangladesh border.
Suu Kyi had earlier said that the situation was “under control” and asked the international community to stop stoking the “fires of resentment”.
Nikkei said the Bali meeting of Asean officials was originally called to discuss current global issues, including uncertainty brought about by the United States Presidentelect Donald Trump. However, the Rohingya issue also came up during the meeting. 
Concerns have been raised in Malaysia and Indonesia – both Muslim majority countries – about the ongoing crackdown in Rakhine. People have been holding street protests in the capitals of both countries over the past few weeks. 
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak joined a rally in Kuala Lumpur last week to voice his support for the Rohingya. He also lashed out at Suu Kyi, saying the crackdown had a direct impact on Malaysia, as tens of thousands of Rohingya people have over the years arrived in Malaysia to escape persecution.
He accused Suu Kyi of allowing “cleansing” on her watch, saying that Malaysia wanted to tell her that “enough is enough”.
Najib said he did not care about the Myanmar government’s statement citing the Asean principle of noninterference and said that Malaysia should not interfere in the country’s internal affairs.
Najib said that Suu Kyi also refused to meet Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Anifah Aman in Nay Pyi Taw and the minister was told that Suu Kyi was only willing to discuss mutual affairs, not the Rohingya. 
“What’s the point of a Nobel Peace Prize?” Najib asked a crowd.
Malaysia has more than 56,000 Rohingya and Myanmar refugees registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with thousands more undocumented.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi flew to Nay Pyi Taw last week at Suu Kyi’s invitation and conveyed strong concerns about the situation in Rakhine.
Last week, UN special adviser on Myanmar Vijay Nambiar issued a statement from New York urging Suu Kyi to visit the crisishit state. 
“The adoption of a generally defensive rather than proactive approach to providing security to the local population has caused frustration locally and disappointment internationally,” the statement read. 
Nambiar also appealed to Suu Kyi to visit Maungdaw and Buthidaung, and reassure the civilian population there that they will be protected.
AFP quoted a diplomatic source in the Philippines confirming that Myanmar had invited them for an emergency Asean meeting to discuss “the Rohingya issue”.
The bloodshed presents the biggest challenge to Suu Kyi since her party won the country’s first democratic elections in a generation last year.
According to state media reports, nearly 100 people have been killed – 17 soldiers and 76 suspects – in the army operation in Rakhine. 
That includes six suspects who died during interrogation, the Global New Light of Myanmar said on Saturday, out of some 575 people who have been detained.
Advocacy groups put the death toll in the hundreds. Foreign journalists and independent investigators have been barred from visiting the area to verify the figures. With the crisis showing no sign of abating, the government extended a 7pm to 6am curfew for another two months.