She was a heroine of mine too until last time this issue came up. She was only just in the government then, but still wouldn’t say anything against the mistreatment of the Rohingya.

I see she’s no longer coming to the UN next week. Clearly doesn’t want to get called out in that forum – a forum that backed her strongly when she was the victim.

I really do not know what to think, Aung is one of my heroines, and I despise Islam and Islamic militant groups.
On the other hand, ‘ethnic cleansing’ is a horrible, absolute and utter nono.

And yes, I think the Wahabbists are -at least partially- to blame, they incited it or aggravated it, but the Burmese military reaction is totally out of proportion. And Aung’s half endorsement/excusing is still unconscionable (it hurts me saying that).
I suspect ‘Saud’ knew what would happen, the Burmese military are known for their ‘tactful soft-handed’ approach (/s), and ‘Saud’ has shown to be a very clever, calculating player over the last decades.

I’m referring to the international community in general – NGOs etc. The Burmese have no problem with what is happening, and most support it. They believe that all the Rohingya are terrorists, and there are some who are – funded, surprise, surprise, by Saudis.

Quite honestly, I think Saudi Arabia should offer to take those Rohingya who would like to go there. They have the money and the space and don’t do nearly enough for refugees, especially considering that many are the result of the extremist madrassas that they funded throughout the region.

When you say ‘most of the people’, I’m not very clear on which people you are referring to. Burmese, West, World or what? Could you be a bit more specific? This is not meant as a ‘polemical’ or rethorical question, I’m just not sure whom you are referring to.

The pics of Mexican pyramids etc. I’ve been posting come from a guy whose written a book about their history. It might be the same one?

How cool that you have such a connection to a pic!

It’s actually not that long ago since being gay was illegal in NZ either. I remember the law change – I was a teenager. Now we’re considered the most gay-friendly tourist destination in the world. You’re right – change can happen very quickly.

There have been calls for her to condemn what’s done to the Rohingya for years, and she’s always had some excuse why she can’t do, or simply ignores the calls. She got enormous international support for years herself, which kept her alive and on house arrest rather than dead or imprisoned. The truth is that most of the people support what’s being done to the Rohingya. As far as they’re concerned, all Muslims are terrorists and they want them gone by whatever means. To speak out against their treatment would be politically damaging.

There are plenty of Western countries where a lot of people would treat some minorities the same if they could get away with it, and they have done so in the past.