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The recent wave of ethnic violence in Rakhine State in Burma, or Myanmar, must not be allowed to pass unnoticed.

The second wave of violence between the Muslim Rohingya and the Buddhist Rakhines began in the middle of October and has left over 90 dead, 32,000 displaced and over 5300 homes destroyed. Since the conflict began early this year, over 100,000 people have been displaced.

The discrimination and mistreatment of the Rohingya, even at camps, shows clearly the real nature of the military-backed, dictatorial regime of Thain Sein. The EU has decided to offer $100 million in development aid to the regime, but IUSY supports  the maintenaince of sanctions and real pressure on the regime until it allows for free and fair elections and democracy.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the nominal leader of the opposition, has recently refrained from commenting on the violence saying that it is not her place to choose sides. Furthermore, she stated that she has not seen any statistics to show that the 800,000 Rohingya in Burma were being denied citizenship when all evidence points to the contrary.

This sort of timidity will not put pressure on the Burmese government to cease its campaign of ethnic and religious persecution nor will it aid the cause of democracy in Burma. Since Aung San Suu Kyi is not willing to stand up in support of a persecuted minority, then progressive Burmese must take it upon themselves to lead the country towards democracy.

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Find out more:

» Official website of the Democratic Party for a New Society

» In Rakhine, mistrust deepens divide

» BBC article on aid to Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi

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