Senator Collins Sends Letter Urging Myanmar Leader to Address the Rohingya Crisis

Washington, D.C. – In a letter to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the State Counsellor of Myanmar, U.S. Senator Susan Collins urged her to address the atrocities committed against the Rohingya people and allow representatives from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) into the Rahkine State to complete their UN-sanctioned fact-finding mission.  She also encouraged Daw Suu to accept UN assistance from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and their partners to repatriate Rohingya refugees.

“The recent campaign of atrocities committed against the Rohingya people in Rakhine State represents a disappointing setback for Myanmar as a democratic nation,” Senator Collins wrote.  “Nearly 690,000 have reportedly fled to Bangladesh amidst violence and threats of violence, and these refugees carry with them unimaginable stories of cruelty and depravity at the hands of the Burmese military.”

“Your personal struggle and ultimate victory over the junta are testament to the potential of Myanmar to overcome violence and oppression,” Senator Collins continued.  “I encourage you to partner with the UN and its partners to complete an objective investigation and to begin the rebuilding process.” 

Senator Collins stressed the importance of allowing the UN’s fact-finding mission to proceed to ensure victims are assisted and those responsible for human rights abuses and violations are identified.  She also noted that UN assistance will be crucial to providing the necessary resources to avoid further instability and suffering as hundreds of thousands of refugees are resettled.  

Click HERE to read the full-text of the letter.