Oxford University removes portrait of Myanmar's Suu Kyi

[Daneman]

The Oxford University where Aung San Suu Kyi studied said Saturday it had taken down a portrait of Myanmar's leader, a decision that follows widespread criticism of her over the Rohingya genocide.

The portrait, which was on display in the main entrance of St Hugh's College, has been placed in storage and was replaced on Thursday with a new painting gifted by Japanese artist Yoshihiro Takada.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi studied at St Hugh's, graduating in philosophy, politics and economics in 1967 before completing a masters in politics in 1968.

"We received a new painting earlier this month which will be exhibited at the main entrance for a period," the college said in a statement.

"The painting of Aung San Suu Kyi has meanwhile been moved to a secure location."

The university did not say whether the removal was linked to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar's western Rakhine State.

An estimated 436,000 Rohingyas have arrived in Bangladesh in the last month alone, fleeing violence that the U.N. has called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing."

According to Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali, around 3,000 Rohingyas have been killed in the bloodshed. In total, more than 800,000 Rohingya refugees are now believed to be in Bangladesh.

Turkey has been at the fore in providing aid to displaced Rohingyas and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has raised the issue with the U.N.

Rohingya Muslims, described by the U.N. as the most widely persecuted ethnic group in the world, have faced heightened fears of being targeted since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.

Myanmar has rejected accusations from the U.N. that its forces are engaged in ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims, claiming the clashes began in response to coordinated attacks on security forces by Rohingya insurgents on Aug. 25.

The removal of the 1997 portrait by the Chinese artist Chen Yanning comes a few days before new students arrive at the college to start their courses.

The portrait belonged to Suu Kyi's husband, the Oxford academic Michael Aris, and was bequeathed to the college after his death in 1999.

St Hugh's also counts British Prime Minister Theresa May among its alumni.

https://www.dailysabah.com/europe/20...anmars-suu-kyi

Is it right to remove the portrait over something she has no power to stop?

[Puupi]

She actually has power in this and has acted (against the Rohingyas) on it.

[Freighter]

She actually has power in this and has acted (against the Rohingyas) on it.

Hardly, the civilian government can't do anything to reduce the power the military holds and the military are calling the shots. It's outgunned and and they have no authority to control the military.

If she acts against the military then she would lose her position quickly, what little progress has been made towards becoming a democracy and not a military dictatorship will be for nothing. It could take decades before making it to this stage again in democratizing the country if she does that as the military would assume control in an instant. The people support this too, muslims are not liked. So, not only would she get problems with the military but she'd also lose the people.

So, what's your suggestion that would not result in Myanmar returning to a fully fledged military dictatorship again?

[Grimbold21]

I dont know but them, but in parlimentary regimes headed by a prime minister, it is not him(her) but the president that is the supreme commander of the armed forces

[Freighter]

I dont know but them, but in parlimentary regimes headed by a prime minister, it is not him(her) but the president that is the supreme commander of the armed forces

That's not the case in Myanmar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soe_Win_(general)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Min_Aung_Hlaing

Are the guys in control of the military.

Not only that but 25% of the parliamentary seats are constitutionally reserved for the military.