Myanmar, Bangladesh negotiating on Rohingya's return

By Kyaw Ye Lynn

YANGON, Myanmar (AA) - Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said her government is negotiating with Bangladesh on the return of Rohingya Muslims who are already there.

Despite facing harsh criticism from rights organizations and leaders from around the world for her refusal to condemn the ongoing persecution of Rohingya Muslims, the Nobel laureate in her latest televised speech Thursday, again, did not speak against the military's atrocities on the minority community.

Instead she urged the international community and her fellow citizens to help her government in the implementation of developmental works in western Rakhine -- the part of the country that suffered the brunt of the military operation.

Since Aug. 25, some 519,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine into Bangladesh, according to the UN. The refugees are fleeing a military operation in which security forces and Buddhist mobs have killed men, women and children, looted homes and torched Rohingya villages. According to Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali, around 3,000 Rohingya have been killed in the crackdown.

The UN documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by security personnel. In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.

In her televised speech, Suu Kyi said: "We need to understand international opinion. However, just as no one can fully understand the situation of our country the way we do, no one can desire peace and development for our country more than us.

"That is why we need to tackle these problems based on the strength of our unity.

"Rather than rebutting criticisms and allegations with words, we will show the world by our actions and our deeds."

- Talks with Bangladesh

Suu Kyi said she now chairs the newly-formed Union Enterprise of Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine -- a government-led mechanism that allows the Union Government, non-governmental organizations, "friendly countries" and the UN agencies to work together in cooperation.

"We will use this program to show practical and progressive results as we work towards the emergence of a peaceful and developed Rakhine state," she said, adding it will be begun this coming week.

She invited UN agencies and international financial bodies to join the efforts.

She added the government had three main priorities: giving humanitarian assistance effectively and acceptance of refugees back, resettlement and rehabilitation of refugees, and bringing development to the region and establishing durable peace.

"We will enhance our ability to provide humanitarian assistance effectively. We are negotiating with the government of Bangladesh on the matter of accepting those who are now in Bangladesh.

"Since our independence, we have twice, successfully negotiated with Bangladesh on the issue. Based on these successful traditions, we are now negotiating for the third time," she said.

"As we work on the resettlement and rehabilitation efforts, we need to work not only for those who will be returning from Bangladesh but also for the very small national races such as Daing-net and Myo as well as Rakhine nationals and Hindus.

"We will work to ensure that they will regain their normalcy. We will seek durable, sustainable programs to improve their lives. We have to formulate long-term programs for the development of the region and continue working for durable peace to relieve this region of conflicts in the years to come."