Politics/News: 20 Sep 2017
The Hot Press Newsdesk

Actions Of Aung San Suu Kyi "Deplorable"

The politician who was the Lord Mayor of Dublin when Suu Kyi was first awarded the Freedom of Dublin in 2000 has slammed the iconic figure's handling of the Rohinga crisis as "deplorable" and called on her to allow UN investigators into Rakhine State.

Ms Suu Kyi was first awarded the Freedom of Dublin in 2000 when Cllr Freehill was Lord Mayor of Dublin. Ms Suu Kyi was not in a position to receive the award until 2012.

"The inaction of Aung San Suu Kyi in relation to the Rohingya crisis is deplorable and not in keeping with the ideals we would expect from a Nobel Peace Prize winner," Cllr Mary Freehill tells Hot Press.

"Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Freedom of Dublin City because she was an icon of human rights, peace and freedom. It is now time for her to live up to those principles."

The Labour Cllr added: "While she has said that Myanmar does not fear international scrutiny, it is now time that she put action on her words and invite UN investigators into the country, including Rakhine state. They should be allowed full a nd unshackled access to all areas, and people in need in the region."

In her Nobel Lecture in 2012, Ms. Suu Kyi said, "Ultimately our aim should be to create a world free from the displaced, the homeless and the hopeless, a world of which each and every corner is a true sanctuary where the inhabitants will have the freedom and the capacity to live in peace.

"Every thought, every word, and every action that adds to the positive and the wholesome is a contribution to peace. Each and every one of us is capable of making such a contribution. Let us join hands to try to create a peaceful world where we can sleep in security and wake in happiness.”

And "such sentiments and values", adds Cllr Freehill, "are a far cry from her current position on the 421,000 Rohingan who had to flee to Bangladesh.

She concludes: "I want to add my voice to those calling on her now to take action on the Rohingya crisis."