Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims have been described as the most persecuted minority on Earth. For years, Myanmar has not recognised them as citizens. Now the army is burning their villages, killing them and driving the survivors out of the country. Myanmar’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, ignores their plight. Does she deserve to keep her Nobel peace prize?
Since August 25th, 150,000 Rohingya refugees have fled their homes in Myanmar for the safety of Bangladesh, to avoid being slaughtered by their own country's soldiers. Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's leader, doesn't even acknowledge their existence.
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Does Aung San Suu Kyi still deserve her Nobel Peace Prize? Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. At the time, she was the world's best known political prisoner. spending 15 years under house arrest for standing against a military dictatorship.
It was hoped she could bring peace to Myanmar formerly known as Burma, a country raved bu civil war. After 25 years of repression, Ms Suu Kyi's party won an election by a landslide in 2015.
But Ms Suu Kyi failed to acknowledge the plight of the Rohingya Muslim minority who've been described as the most persecuted on earth.
The Burmese army have attached Rohingya villages; burning down buildings, killing and raping as they go. Wai Wai Nu is a Rohingya Muslim whose father, like Aung San Suu Kyi, was locked up for opposing the military dictatorship in the 1990s.
There are one million Rohingyas living in Myanmar, most of whom are in Rakhine State. Although Rohingyas have lived in the country since pre-colonial times they were stripped of their citizenshop in the 1980s. theyre the largest stateless group of people in the world.
Buddhist nationalists and the country army have targeted the Rohingyas for decades because of their religion. Thousands of Rohingyas have lost their lives. When Aung San Suu Kyi came into power the Rohingya minority was very hopeful.
Since Ms Suu Kyi came to power the persecution of the Rohingyas has increased. Strict laws govern their movement and where they can live. 120,000 live in squalid camps as a result of previous conflicts.
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