Myanmar’s Suu Kyi blames world conflicts partly on illegal immigration amid Rohingya crisis
She did not directly mention the refugee exodus, but her speech highlighted the views of many in the country who see the Muslim minority illegitimate residents
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the world is facing instability and conflict in part because illegal immigration spreads terrorism in a speech on Monday that comes as her country is accused of violently pushing out hundreds of thousands of unwanted Rohingya Muslims.
Suu Kyi did not directly mention the refugee exodus as she welcomed European and Asian foreign ministers to Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar. But her speech highlighted the views of many in Myanmar who see the Rohingya as illegal immigrants and blame the population for terrorist acts.
The ongoing Rohingya exodus is sure to be raised by the visitors at the meetings held on Monday and Tuesday.
The world is in a new period of instability as conflicts around the world give rise to new threats and emergencies, Suu Kyi said, citing “illegal immigration’s spread of terrorism and violent extremism, social disharmony and even the threat of nuclear war”.
“Conflicts take away peace from societies, leaving behind underdevelopment and poverty, pushing peoples and even countries away from one another.”