‘Process to take back some Rohingya refugees to start anytime’

Facing worldwide outrage over ethnic violence that forced over four lakhs of Rohingyas to flee to Bangladesh, Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi said her country is willing to start the verification process "any time" to take back some of the Rohingya refugees.

In an interview with the Japan-based Nikkei Asian Review on Wednesday, she said she would "find out more" about forces that triggered the exodus mainly stateless Muslim Rohingyas into neighboring Bangladesh, and reiterated her readiness to start the verification process for the return of some refugees at "any time."

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Myanmar found guilty of genocide

Till date, more than 429,000 Rohingya refugees have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar since August 25. The influx was triggered by Myanmar army's response to alleged insurgent attacks on 30 police posts and an army base in Rakhine State.

"Actually, nothing is surprising, because opinions change and world opinions change like any other opinion," she said. "Countries that have been through a transition themselves are much more understanding than those which have never gone through such a process," she added, referring to the range of reactions from Asian and Western countries, Nikkei reports on Thursday. 

"Domestically, yes, we do have an opposition force, which is how it should be in any democratic country ... it means we are open to criticism and debate."