"Our hearts are with the people of Myanmar"

Monday, 1 February

Myanmar’s military has taken power in a coup and declared a state of emergency, and detained Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior figures from the ruling party. Suu Kyi's response is to urge people to not accept this, and to protest against the coup.

"Our hearts are with the people of Myanmar. Despite Suu Kyi's failure to stand up for human rights, today's coup is a major setback for democracy. All civilian leaders must be released, says Jostein Hole Kobbeltvedt, Executive Director at the Rafto Foundation.

The Rafto Foundation has followed the developent in Myanmar since Suu Kyi received the Rafto Prize in 1990. Aung San Suu Kyi has met strong criticism from the international community because she, as a political leader, has not condemned or intervened to stop the Burmese miltary-led assaults against the Rohingyas.

The Norwegian Burma Committee and Rafto Foundation met with Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar on December 6th 2017 and called on her to acknowledge the human rights violations against the Rohingya population. "Aung San Suu Kyi must be clearer in recognizing the attacks against the Rohingyas", said Jostein Hole Kobbeltvedt, Executive Director of the Rafto Foundation.