Analysis
The interview, aired in June 2017 on Channel News Asia, contains the line: “I’m not saying that we should turn a blind eye to violations of human rights, but we should also bear in mind that there are different standards in different parts of the world.” Multiple reputable news outlets reported the quote verbatim, confirming that Suu Kyi said it. The statement was part of her broader defence against international criticism over the Rohingya crisis.
Background
The interview came at a time when Myanmar faced intense scrutiny for the military’s campaign against the Rohingya minority, which the United Nations described as ethnic cleansing. Suu Kyi, then de facto leader, faced criticism for defending the military and for suggesting that Western human‑rights expectations might not apply uniformly. Her comments were widely cited in discussions about Myanmar’s approach to international norms.
Verdict summary
Aung San Suu Kyi made a remark in a 2017 Channel News Asia interview that acknowledged human‑rights violations while noting that standards differ across regions.