Suu Kyi Tells Reporters Not to 'Exaggerate' Persecution of Rohingya

Myanmar's National League for Democracy Party leader Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to media today about the upcoming general elections at her home in Yangon. Photo: Reuters / Soe Zeya Tun

By Timothy McLaughlin
Reuters

YANGON — Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi told reporters not to "exaggerate" the problems of the country, in response to a question about Rohingya, the country's persecuted Muslim minority living in western Rakhine State.

Speaking at a news conference in Yangon ahead of the Nov. 8 election, Suu Kyi said that the whole of Myanmar was experiencing a "dramatic situation," not just Rakhine State.

The political activity of the radical Buddhist group Ma Ba Tha, which has sharply criticized her National League for Democracy for not supporting a raft of legislation seen as anti-Muslim drafted by the group, was unconstitutional, she said.

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