Canadian MPs vote to strip Aung San Suu Kyi of honorary Canadian citizenship over Rohingya Genocide
For Immediate Release - September 27th, 2018
We welcome the symbolic yet historic move of Canadian MPs who unanimously endorsed a motion to revoke the honorary Canadian citizenship of Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The once-celebrated Burmese reformer has been widely criticized for actively denying the Genocide being committed against her country’s Rohingya. We are pleased with the statement of Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland’s spokesman, who said the government supports the idea in response to Suu Kyi’s silence on the crimes in Myanmar. We are proud that Canada has determined Aung San Suu Kyi unworthy of Honorary Canadian citizenship.
Ahmed Ramadan, Executive Director of Burma Task Force Canada stated “While this is a symbolic gesture, it is a powerful one nonetheless. It continues to display Canada’s dedication to stand with the persecuted Rohingya and sends out a strong and clear message that Suu Kyi cannot longer deceive the global community as she facilitates a genocide unfolding under her rule.”
We are proud that Canada is not only the largest donor to the Rohingya cause but also the only country to unanimously recognize the atrocities as a Genocide. Revoking her Honorary Citizenship is another step in the right direction. Now, moving forward, it is absolutely critical that the UN resolution endorses the full findings of the UN Fact-Finding Mission, determine that the crisis is a genocide, refer Burma to the International Criminal Court, and put sanctions on Burma. The UN should respect its own findings follow its own recommendations in this matter.
We welcome the symbolic yet historic move of Canadian MPs who unanimously endorsed a motion to revoke the honorary Canadian citizenship of Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The once-celebrated Burmese reformer has been widely criticized for actively denying the Genocide being committed against her country’s Rohingya. We are pleased with the statement of Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland’s spokesman, who said the government supports the idea in response to Suu Kyi’s silence on the crimes in Myanmar. We are proud that Canada has determined Aung San Suu Kyi unworthy of Honorary Canadian citizenship.
Ahmed Ramadan, Executive Director of Burma Task Force Canada stated “While this is a symbolic gesture, it is a powerful one nonetheless. It continues to display Canada’s dedication to stand with the persecuted Rohingya and sends out a strong and clear message that Suu Kyi cannot longer deceive the global community as she facilitates a genocide unfolding under her rule.”
We are proud that Canada is not only the largest donor to the Rohingya cause but also the only country to unanimously recognize the atrocities as a Genocide. Revoking her Honorary Citizenship is another step in the right direction. Now, moving forward, it is absolutely critical that the UN resolution endorses the full findings of the UN Fact-Finding Mission, determine that the crisis is a genocide, refer Burma to the International Criminal Court, and put sanctions on Burma. The UN should respect its own findings follow its own recommendations in this matter.