- UN warned attacks on Rohingya Muslims are a ‘textbook example of genocide’
- Aung San Suu Kyi has stayed almost silent amid calls for her to step in and act
- Ocford City Council last night passed an unprecedented motion strip the award
Burma’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi was last night stripped of her Freedom of Oxford award amid allegations pf genocide.
Councillors on the city council took the ‘unprecedented’ step amid widespread concern about her lack of action in dealing with the suffering of the Muslim Rohingya population in Burma.
Despite global calls for action, Ms Suu Kyi has denied ethnic cleansing and dismissed claims of brutal treatment by the Burmese armed forces.
Pressure was growing on Ms Suu Kyi as she met Pope Francis today in her most high profile appearance since the crisis began.
Burma’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi (pictured today with the Pope in Naypyitaw) was last night stripped of her Freedom of Oxford award amid allegations of genocide
The council vote is the latest snub from Oxford for Ms Suu Kyi after her portrait was removed from her alma mater of St Hugh’s College.
She studied in the city for a degree in philosophy, politics and economics between 1964 and 1967.
In a statement following a special council meeting on Monday, councillor Mary Clarkson said: ‘When Aung San Suu Kyi was given the Freedom of the City in 1997 it was because she reflected Oxford’s values of tolerance and internationalism.
‘We celebrated her for her opposition to oppression and military rule in Burma.
‘Today we have taken the unprecedented step of stripping her of her city’s highest honour because of her inaction in the face of oppression of the minority Rohingya population.
‘The burning of their villages has been independently confirmed by satellite images, and the UN has called the situation ‘a textbook example of genocide’.
‘Yet Aung San Suu Kyi has denied any ethnic cleansing and dismissed numerous claims of sexual violence against Rohingya women as ”fake rape”.
‘Oxford has a long tradition of being a diverse and humane city, and our reputation is tarnished by honouring those who turn a blind eye to violence.
‘We hope that today we have added our small voice to others calling for human rights and justice for the Rohingya people.’
Oxford’s decision comes after Live Aid founder Bob Geldof handed back his freedom of the city of Dublin in protest at the same honour being held by the Burmese leader
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people have fled to Bangladesh amid reports of atrocities in Rakhine at the hands of the Burmese military.
Earlier this month Prime Minister Theresa May said Burma’s treatment of its Rohingya Muslim minority ‘looks like ethnic cleansing’ and the country’s military and governing authorities ‘must take full responsibility’.
Her comments came after Live Aid founder Bob Geldof handed back his freedom of the city of Dublin in protest at the same honour being held by the Burmese leader.