Driving Rohingya muslims out of the country is bringing more shame than kudos for Aung San Suu Kyi. Amnesty International took back its highest award, the Ambassador of Conscience Award, in light of her “shameful betrayal of the values she once stood for” and her failure to protect human rights in the Buddhist country and prevent the persecution of Rohingya Muslims.
The award, presented to Suu Kyi in 2009 in recognition of her “peaceful and non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights. The organization revoked it because they “cannot justify her continued status as a recipient because it was “profoundly dismayed that she [Suu Kyi] no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defence of human rights”.
A very strong message to the leader who is 1991 Nobel Prize for Peace winner. Suu Kyi was hailed as a freedom fighter for her efforts to stand up against Myanmar’s military rule. She was put under house arrest for more than 15 years. The award was revoked exactly eight years after Suu Kyi’s house arrest ended.
Rise and Fall of Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi was considered a freedom fighter against Military rule in Myanmar. Her popularity rose to that extent that military had to house arrest her in order to rule. Due to her struggle, she was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2009. Her determination was later supported by United States and at last military relinquished its power. She won the 2015 election and brought an end to 50 years of brutal military rule.
Her tenure has been marred by a failure to speak up for Rohingya Muslims. Her government is also fighting an uphill struggle against corruption and local conflicts.
Amnesty said it believes thousands of Rohingyas were killed in Myanmar’s western Rakhine province since the campaign began August 2017. Suu Kyi justified violence in order to combat terrorism. Due to this, she has been accused of detaining and intimidating human right activists and journalists who spoke against her.
Suu Kyi was stripped of her honourary Canadian citizenship over her failure to speak up for the Rohingyas last month. She has also lost numerous smaller awards from individual universities and local and regional governments.
