'I'm sick of them,' Bob Geldof hits out at world leaders
Bob Geldof has delivered searing criticism of a number of world leaders, saying he is "sick of them".
At the opening ceremony of the One Young World Summit in Bogota, Colombia, Geldof turned his particular attention to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi over her government's treatment of the Rohingya minority in Burma, also known as Myanmar.
"On this stage are some of the greatest people who have fought for justice and peace and equality in our world," he said, referring to the Nobel Peace Laureates sitting on stage behind him.
"And one of their number in Myanmar insults them - insults them all. Who took the greatest prize that humans can give to another and then becomes one of the great ethnic cleansers of our planet. This is a disgrace."
Ms Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, spent a total of 15 years under house arrest when in opposition. However, she has drawn widespread criticism for her silence on the treatment of the Rohingya people in Burma, which the UN human rights chief, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, has called "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing".
Geldof was joined on stage by counsellors from the One Young World Conference, including former secretary-general of the UN Kofi Annan, and Colombia's president Juan Manuel Santos, to open the three-day summit.
The summit, in its seventh year, brings together notable young people from 194 countries to discuss issues including climate change, conflict resolution and economic development.
In his speech on Wednesday, the singer and political activist also lambasted the leadership of Russia, China, the United States and other countries around the world.
"I'm sick of these leaders. I'm sick of Putin, I'm sick of Xi Jinping, I'm sick of Trump, I'm sick of Erdogan," he said.
"I loathe these people. I despise these people. How dare they behave in the manner they behave. How dare they daily insult us as human beings."
Geldof did give praise to President Santos and his efforts to bring peace to Colombia. He said the nation has "found a man who could put away the ancient enmities, the endless killing, where people could put aside the past and say there is something better than death, than torture, than kidnapping.
"There is something better - peace."
