In one recent speech in Burmese at Queens College, USA, she says that the silence was justified so as “not to add fire to any side of the conflict.” What does it mean? Does she really see this as if it were two equal sides fighting each-other, when in fact it is Kachin people who have been attacked by the Burmese Army? She said, “What is it that I have to strongly condemn? If it is a human rights violation then I will strongly condemn.” And yet, she remained silent over serious human rights violations committed by government army soldiers, including attacks against civilian populations, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, internal displacement, the use of human shields, the recruitment of child soldiers, as well as forced labour. Elderly women, children, and a disabled woman were all raped and many killed afterwards. Doesn’t she see that many women and girls are being raped by the Burmese Army soldiers she said she has a ‘soft spot’ for? Is her understanding of what is going on in Kachin State so bad that she doesn’t understand how insensitive it was to use language like that? (Nang Seng)
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