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'Ready to verify Rohingya refugees status to aid return': Suu Kyi expresses sadness for suffering of all group

Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday broke her silence over the ongoing humanitarian crisis posed by the coercive evacuation of over half-a-million minority Rohingya Muslims from northern Rakhine state.

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Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a national address in Naypyidaw on September 19, 2017
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Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday broke her silence over the ongoing humanitarian crisis posed by the coercive evacuation of over half-a-million minority Rohingya Muslims from northern Rakhine state.

Delivering a State of the Union Address to the citizens, Suu Kyi said that Myanmar is ready to verify refugees status to aid return of those who wish to, and doesn't fear 'international scrutiny'.

She also said that she 'feels deeply' for the suffering of 'all people' caught up in conflict scorching through Rakhine state.

"We are concerned to hear the number of Muslims fleeing areas to Bangladesh," she said in the live TV address, condemning any 'human rights violations' that may have exacerbated the crisis.

"Myanmar citizenship verification process needs cooperation from all communities. Prepared to start refugee verification process for those who wish to return." she added.

Stating that she doesn't want Myanmar to be a nation divided by religious beliefs or ethnicity, Aung San Suu Kyi said, "Hate and fear are main scourges."

She also said that anyone responsible for abuses in troubled Rakhine State would face the law.

The United Nations have appealed to the entire international community to keep the political differences aside and support the ongoing humanitarian efforts to help Rohingya Muslim refugees.

The Indian government on Monday filed its response in Supreme Court to a PIL challenging deportation of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar and said that some of the illegal immigrants pose a serious security threat.

Some 40,000 Rohingyas have settled in India, and 16,000 of them have received refugee documentation, the UN estimates. India strongly rejected the criticism by the UN human rights chief over its handling of Rohingya Muslim refugees.

Britain, France and Australia had urged Aung San Suu Kyi to push for an end to military violence against Rohingya Muslims.

The military response to insurgent attacks last month in the western region of Myanmar sent more than 410,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to neighbouring Bangladesh, escaping what the United Nations has branded as ethnic cleansing. 

Here is what Aung San Suu Kyi said

►  Myanmar feels deeply for suffering of all caught up in the conflict, condemns all human rights violations

► Myanmar does not fear international scrutiny committed to sustainable solution in Rakhine state

► We would like to find out why this exodus is happening, would like to talk to the people who have fled

► We had invited Dr Kofi Annan to lead a commission that would help us resolve long-standing problems, determined to implement recommendations of Annan commission.

► Government has been making every effort to restore peace and stability and to bring harmony

► Many Muslim villagers have remained, not all have fled. Invite members of the international community to visit.

► There have been allegations and counter allegations, will listen to all, culprits will be punished irrespective of race or religion.

► Myanmar citizenship verification process needs cooperation from all communities. Prepared to start refugee verification process for those who wish to return 

► Action to be taken against all who break laws of the land and violate human rights 

 

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