The whole world is now aware of Myanmar’s overt ethnic cleansing operations against the Rohingya -- the ethnic Muslim minority that have inhabited the Rakhine state in Myanmar for centuries -- which began in earnest after August 25 this year.
But the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional political and economic organisation with 10 member states including Myanmar, is choosing to turn a blind eye.
As an organisation that has Myanmar as its member, ASEAN must also take some responsibility for it -- at the very least have a dialogue about it.
Yet, there was no mention of the Rohingya crisis and Myanmar’s role in it in a draft statement of this year’s ASEAN summit, which ends today, in Manila, Philippines.
As the maxim goes: “Silence gives consent.” And ASEAN’s silence is making them look quite suspect.
Malaysia was the only member country that voiced any concern, perhaps from some sort of Muslim solidarity, but this is a humanitarian crisis and all of humanity should be equally outraged, regardless of race or religion.
Moreover, the crisis can easily turn into a regional crisis unless corrective steps are taken, and ASEAN is in an ideal position to take the lead here.
Suu Kyi’s complicity in the cleansing operations has become clear over the months as she repeatedly lied, denied, and made excuses for the violence. But, according to a former foreign minister of the Philippines, she is still enjoying sycophantic treatment at the ASEAN summit.
As a regional organisation, ASEAN should be playing a much more active role to find a solution to this potential regional crisis.
