But a major international human rights watchdog and groups representing Burmese refugees in Canada called on Trudeau to push Suu Kyi to allow an independent international investigation into allegations of widespread human rights abuses against the Muslim ethnic Rohingya minority in the western state of Rakhine. Farida Deif, Canada director for Human Rights Watch, urged Trudeau to use the meeting with Suu Kyi on Parliament Hill to specifically push her to accept the UN call. Trudeau made no mention of the Rohingya situation during a brief public photo-op with Suu Kyi as the two exchanged pleasantries in his office. "We have some way to go before we become a working, democratic, federal nation such as yours, but I'm sure we'll get there," Suu Kyi told Trudeau. His office said Canada was giving Myanmar an additional $8.8 million in humanitarian assistance to promote "peace and stability" programs, including human rights.

Source: CBC News June 07, 2017 23:03 UTC