Penang activists held a solidarity rally at the Esplanade yesterday, expressing support for the persecuted Rohingya people, describing the violence carried out by the Myanmar authorities on the community as a “genocide”.

Organised by social reform movement Aliran and Penang Stop Human Trafficking Campaign, the 50-odd protesters carried placards to urge a stop to the violence that appears to have escalated recently, although the Myanmar government and its leaders, including Nobel laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi have tried to water down the crisis.

During the event, protesters wrote messages on colourful post-it notes, which would be sent to the Rohingya, and observed a minute of silence for those who have died from the brutal attacks...