Oxford removes Suu Kyi portrait

The Oxford University college where Aung San Suu Kyi studied said yesterday it had taken down a portrait of the Myanmar leader, a decision that follows widespread criticism of her over the Rohingya crisis, reports AFP from London.

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. Communal violence has torn through the state since Muslim minority Rohingya militants staged deadly attacks on police posts on August 25. An army-led fightback has left scores dead and sent around half a million Rohingya fleeing the mainly Buddhist country into neighbouring Bangladesh.

The United Nations describes the situation as “ethnic cleansing”. 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 Guardian adds: The portrait, painted by the artist Chen Yanning in 1997, belonged to Aung San Suu Kyi’s husband, the Oxford academic Michael Aris. After Aris’s death in 1999 the portrait was bequeathed to St Hugh’s, and hung near the college’s main entrance on St Margaret’s Road in north Oxford.

The college’s other notable alumni include Theresa May, Nicky Morgan, the former education secretary, and Barbara Castle, a cabinet minister in Harold Wilson’s Labour governments.

As a leader of Myanmar’s opposition, Aung San Suu Kyi won a Nobel peace prize in 1991. Despite being barred from running for president, she won a decisive victory in the country’s 2015 election, and was eventually given a title of state counsellor.

As prime minister, May has been under pressure to take action after evidence emerged that Myanmar’s military forces were driving hundreds of thousands of Rohingya out of the country.

Earlier this month May said: “Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese government need to make it very clear that the military action should stop.” Oxford council is to vote next week on stripping Aung San Suu Kyi of the freedom of the city it bestowed on her in 1997, when she was being held as a political prisoner by Myanmar’s military junta.

Oxford removes Suu Kyi portrait

The Oxford University college where Aung San Suu Kyi studied said yesterday it had taken down a portrait of the Myanmar leader, a decision that follows widespread criticism of her over the Rohingya crisis, reports AFP from London. The portrait, which was on display in the main entrance of St Hughs 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 Hughs, 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 Myanmars western Rakhine State. Communal violence has torn through the state since Muslim minority Rohingya militants staged deadly attacks on police posts on August 25. An army-led fightback has left scores dead and sent around half a million Rohingya fleeing the mainly Buddhist country into neighbouring Bangladesh. The United Nations describes the situation as ethnic cleansing. 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 Guardian adds: The portrait, painted by the artist Chen Yanning in 1997, belonged to Aung San Suu Kyis husband, the Oxford academic Michael Aris. After Ariss death in 1999 the portrait was bequeathed to St Hughs, and hung near the colleges main entrance on St Margarets Road in north Oxford. The colleges other notable alumni include Theresa May, Nicky Morgan, the former education secretary, and Barbara Castle, a cabinet minister in Harold Wilsons Labour governments. As a leader of Myanmars opposition, Aung San Suu Kyi won a Nobel peace prize in 1991. Despite being barred from running for president, she won a decisive victory in the countrys 2015 election, and was eventually given a title of state counsellor. As prime minister, May has been under pressure to take action after evidence emerged that Myanmars military forces were driving hundreds of thousands of Rohingya out of the country. Earlier this month May said: Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese government need to make it very clear that the military action should stop. Oxford council is to vote next week on stripping Aung San Suu Kyi of the freedom of the city it bestowed on her in 1997, when she was being held as a political prisoner by Myanmars military junta.