Various humanitarian groups have called for recalling the Peace Nobel to Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi – for not condemning the violence.
But this is naive as Ms.Suu Kyi is politically constrained by the powerful military junta.
What is running the current crisis?
An army offensive triggered a mass exodus of half a million Rohingya to Bangladesh already.
While this is a textbook case of ethnic cleansing, the Brumese Military claims that it was in response to the activities of the ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army).
Internationally, the civilian government has been heavily criticized for these offensives.
But this ignores the present internal power equations within Myanmar.
The military is in effect unrestricted in its operations – thereby, solely guilty of having triggered the current crisis.
How powerful is the military?
The military ruled Myanmar directly for more than 4 decades.
While a civilian government became operational in 2009, military still holds unbridled power.
Its legal status was also enshrined in the Constitution of 2008.
Hence, army functions with unquestioned control over the defence, internal affairs and border security.
Notably, the parliament/government isn’t even entitled to debate on defence or strategic matters.
Even the annual defence budget is merely a matter of parliamentary record and not scrutiny.
How does the future look?
Myanmar’s democratic consolidation is vital to secure the safety of minorities such as the Rohingya.
The 2008 constitution needs to be amended as it concentrates power in the military junta.
Ms. Suu Ky will have to toe a tight rope with the junta till a complete democratic transition is overseen.
Her responses are therefore calculated with the consciousness to not jeopardise the hopes of 53 million Myanmarese.
Hence, handling the Rohingya crisis is currently solely in the domain of international organisations & other external players.
