Persecution of Rohingya is ‘without excuse,’ says Pence

By Iqbal Musyaffa

SINGAPORE (AA) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday openly criticized Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi over violence against Rohingya Muslims.

Pence and Suu Kyi met on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN Summit in Singapore on Wednesday.

"The violence and persecution by military and vigilantes that resulted in driving 700,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh is without excuse," Pence said in remarks open to media before they went into private talks.

The U.S. vice president said he is “anxious” to hear about the progress in holding perpetrators accountable for violence that led to displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and loss of lives.

However, Suu Kyi defended the military operations against Rohingya and said she understands the problems in her country better than any other country.

"I bet you will also say the same thing that you understand your country better than anyone else," Suu Kyi added.

- Persecution of Rohingya

The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.

Since Aug. 25, 2017, nearly 24,000 Rohingya Muslims have been killed by Myanmar’s state forces, according to a report by the Ontario International Development Agency (OIDA).

More than 34,000 Rohingya were also thrown into fires, while over 114,000 others were beaten, said the OIDA report, titled "Forced Migration of Rohingya: The Untold Experience."

Some 18,000 Rohingya women and girls were raped by Myanmar’s army and police and over 115,000 Rohingya homes were burned down and 113,000 others vandalized, it added.

According to Amnesty International, more than 750,000 Rohingya refugees, mostly children, and women, fled Myanmar and crossed into neighboring Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community in August 2017.

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