‘Abuses’ against Rohingya Muslims must end, Boris Johnson tells Burma

Boris Johnson has sought to step up pressure on Burma’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi to end the violence against the country’s Muslim Rohingya minority.

The Foreign Secretary joined representatives of the United States, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Turkey, Australia, Canada, Sweden and Denmark to raise the issue with Burma’s national security adviser on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize winner, has chosen to stay away from the gathering amid international anger over the Burmese military’s campaign against the Rohingyas, which has seen thousands flee from Rakine province to neighbouring Bangladesh.

Mr Johnson said: “While Burma has undoubtedly made encouraging progress towards democracy in the last few years, the situation in Rakhine, the terrible human rights abuses and violence are a stain on the country’s reputation.

“As I have repeatedly said, no one wants to see a return to military rule, so it is vital that Aung San Suu Kyi and the civilian government make clear these abuses must stop.”