By Bryan Yeoh Quan Jin, International News Writer

As the Rohingyan crisis in Myanmar drags on, the international community has seen increasing criticisms levied upon State Councilor Aung San Suu Kyi. World leaders who have previously been silent on the issue have started issuing public statements regarding the turmoil happening in Myanmar.

On Monday, November 13, CNN reported a statement by British Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesperson who said that that the Rohingyan crisis in Myanmar looks like ethnic cleansing. The spokesperson called the situation in the Rakhine State “a major humanitarian crisis” but stopped short of directly labelling the situation as ethnic cleansing.

The UN had issued a statement calling the Rohingyan crisis “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing”. However, most leaders have been wary of directly challenging Myanmar on the issue. At the ongoing ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, leaders in the region have mostly been silent on the issue. So far, only Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made any statements regarding the issue at the summit. In his statement, he said that he has appointed a special envoy to engage in diplomatic efforts and identify ways in which Canada can assist the affected people.

The US has recently called for an independent investigation into the crisis in Myanmar. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a joint press briefing with Ms Aung San Suu Kyi called for an independent investigation into the Rohingyan crisis. He stated that the crisis concerned the US. However, sanctions against Myanmar, which are being looked at by US lawmakers, would be counterproductive towards their current transition to a democracy.

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, November 21st print edition.

Contact Bryan at

bryan.yeohquanjin@student.shu.edu