Stavanger (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Aung San Su Kyi in 1991 "will not be withdrawn" says Olav Njoelstad, secretary of the Committee for the Prize, despite the charges against the democratic leader by the United Nations (UN) investigation mission on the violence against the Rohingya in the State of Rakhine.
Published three days ago, the final report of the UN experts denounces the responsibilities of the military leaders, who acted with "intent of genocide". However, the document also criticizes the work of the civil government, led by the Lady.
While acknowledging the "limited control" that the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) can exercise on the armed forces, experts accuse the executive of "allowing hate speech to flourish"; of "having destroyed evidence and documents"; of "not having protected minorities from war crimes and those against humanity", committed by the Tatmadaw (the Burmese army) in Rakhine, but also in the states of Kachin and Shan.
Since the outbreak of the latest sectarian violence in Rakhine, the international community has put strong pressure on Aung San Suu Kyi to condemn the army's military campaign, even coming to demand the revocation of the Nobel Prize.
Islamic countries and different Western powers have criticized the democratic leader for her "silence", lack of moral leadership and compassion. The Lady rejected the accusations and reiterated her commitment to national reconciliation.
"It is important to remember - said Njoelstad yesterday - that a Nobel Prize, be it in Physics, Literature or Peace, is assigned for meritorious efforts or achievements in the past. Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize by virtue of her struggle for democracy and freedom until 1991, when she was awarded the recognition ".
Between 1989 and 2010, the Burmese leader, now 73, spent about 16 years under house arrest under the military regime. In 2015, her party achieved an overwhelming electoral victory and took the lead in the country, despite the Constitution preventing it from assuming full powers in matters of security.
