Security still needed in Rakhine: officials

Security still needed in Rakhine: officials

By Ei Ei Toe Lwin   |   Monday, 15 July 2013

Tight security is still necessary in Rakhine State to contain communal violence that erupted in June 2012, state and union government officials said last week.

Minister for Industry U Aye Myint speaks in Yangon on July 9. (Aung Htay Hlaing/The Myanmar Times)

Members of the Central Committee for Implementation of Stability and Development in Rakhine State said at a press conference in Yangon on July 9 that almost 1200 people had been arrested as a result of two outbreaks of deadly violence that month.

They also gave an overview of security measures put in place since the May 28, 2012, rape and murder of 27-year-old Ma Thidar Htwe in Ramree township.

Furore over the incident and subsequent events led to the first outbreak of violence in June 2012, which was followed by more mob violence in October.

In response, the government instituted a curfew and assigned security forces to the area, officials said. They also warned that individuals and organisations behind the violence in Rakhine State would be exposed and legal action taken against them.

Rakhine State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Htein Lin said that almost 1200 people had been arrested and of these, 507 "culprits" in 195 cases have been sentenced. "Courts are still hearing 54 cases involving 662 culprits," he said.

Col Htein Lin added that the cases involve more Muslims than Rakhines but he added that the government is "taking care of the security of both communities".

"There are many security forces guarding near the IDP camps and also Tatmadaw are on guard around the state," he said. "Security operations are still ongoing. There has not been a reduction in the number of forces."

A report published in April by an investigation commission set up in August 2012 to probe outbreaks of communal violence in Rakhine State advised the president to increase security forces in border areas rather than decrease them.

At the press conference, Rakhine State Minister for Home Affairs Brigadier General Kyaw Zan Myint provided more exact details of the number of armed forces currently at work in Rakhine State.

"More than 6000 individuals comprising 2000 policemen of the Rakhine State Police Force, more than 3000 security troops, 1200 border region and immigration troops, and soldiers from the Tatmadaw are cooperating to provide security to the state," he said.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Thant Kyaw added that the government is also working to ensure the conflict does not spread beyond Rakhine State to the rest of Myanmar or further afield.

"The government has been making all-out efforts for the peaceful coexistence of different communities in the country and for community peace," he said. "All countries should cooperate with each other to stop the spread of conflicts."

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/07/16/security-still-needed-in-rakhine-officials/