Unrealistic to think of resolving Rohingya crisis in 18 months: Suu Kyi

Myanmar state councillor says it goes back to pre-colonial times, will take time to resolved

Myanmar State councillor Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday said that Rohingya Muslims is one of the biggest challenges and goes back to pre-colonial times and it will take time to be resolved.

Rohingya Muslims is one of the biggest challenges Myanmar have to face because you know that the situation in Rakhine has been difficult for many decades and infact it goes right back to pre- colonial times.

"It is little unreasonable to expect that the issue will be resolved in 18 months as you know that our administration have been in power for the last 18 months," said Suu Kyi to ANI.

State councillor said that her government is trying to progress on the development front which is one of the 'biggest problem' as the matter is "we have very limited resources".

Suu Kyi said, "We are implementing recommendations given by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as quickly as possible to create harmony and peace in Rakhine state.Our recommendation is harmony and we shall be addressing them quickly."

Elaborating about the difficulties her government is facing, Suu Kyi said, "We have to think about how to differentiate between terrorists and innocent people, you in India are well versed with this because India has a large Muslim community and in places like Kashmir where you have terrorism trouble of sorting or differentiating between the terrorism and innocent people who are not involved in the terror activities."

"Thus we are facing the same problem and we have to take care of innocents citizens as our resources are not as adequate as required but we try our best and make ensure that every citizen is entitled to the protection of the law," State Councillor added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India shares Myanmar's concern on extremist violence in the Rakhine state and that he hopes that all stakeholders can find a solution, in which the unity and the territorial integrity of the country are maintained, together.

Myanmar's State Counsellor thanked Prime Minister Modi for taking a strong stand on the terror threat that Myanmar faced and assured India that 'terror would not be allowed to take roots in her country.'

"Together both countries will ensure that terror is not allowed to take roots in our country," de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi said.

"We would like to thank India for the strong stand that it has taken with regard to the terrorist threat that came to our country," says Aung San Suu Kyi, to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded that "India completely understands the challenges.