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Rohingya Muslims
Opinion

Criticism of Myanmar over the Rohingya Muslims tragedy may set back its progress on human rights

Emily Chan says human rights must be evaluated based on the standards of individual countries, and that in economic development – the foundation of human rights – Myanmar’s progress is undeniable

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Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi arrives to deliver a national address in Naypyidaw on September 19. Why do we not give sufficient weight to Suu Kyi’s account that her government has started “defending all the people in Rakhine in the best way possible”? Photo: AFP

The recent unrest in Rakhine, Myanmar has attracted the international spotlight, with some commentators describing the attacks as “mass atrocities”. But we should be mindful of the unintended consequence of limiting human rights when we intend the exact opposite.

Human rights have routinely been interpreted in an absolute sense, with a homogeneous benchmark for every country. However, there should be room for individual characteristics. In an emerging economy, human rights may largely mean economic development and international acceptance.

When Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi faced denunciation over Rakhine, she emphasised government efforts to improve living conditions. Indeed, this is akin to how China views human rights. It means, in large part, the right to be free of poverty.
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In this respect, I see huge development in recent years. I first set foot in Myanmar in 2015 in Yangon. People sold live chickens on trains. One had to literally watch their step to avoid potholes on streets. Today, I see shopping malls and multi-lane highways. The gross domestic product of Myanmar has grown more than six-fold in the past 20 years. It is today a major exporter of oil and gas to South Asian countries and China. Myanmar can be an integral part of the economic corridor linking Yunnan to Calcutta in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Myanmar’s development is still a work in progress

Visiting Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam (left) gives a portrait to Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, after a meeting at the presidential palace in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, on September 15. Photo: AP
Visiting Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam (left) gives a portrait to Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, after a meeting at the presidential palace in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, on September 15. Photo: AP
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Politically, the government has gained international acceptance. It has navigated through its military legacy and governed within the constitutional constraints that allow the military a greater say in state affairs than civilians. Myanmar’s success is evident in its membership in regional associations like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Greater Mekong Subregion.
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