Rakhine conflict involves outside incitement, commission reports

Rakhine conflict involves outside incitement, commission reports

Published on Wednesday, 01 May 2013 05:50

Press conference on Rakhine conflict report in progress (Photo-EMG)

In last year's conflicts in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine, there was local as well as outside incitement, said the secretary of the conflict investigation commission.

Secretary Dr Kyaw Yin Hlaing disclosed the information during a press conference on the conflict report of the commission held at the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon yesterday.

The report said when surveys were conducted in the conflict areas, some groups outside the region were found to have instigated and interfered in sectarian clashes to seek their self-interest. They tried to make the internal issue globally, inciting genocide and religious conflicts, the report said.  

The report however did not identify the groups.

In a separate interview before the press conference, commission member Ko Ko Gyi said it was difficult to identify what religion and what race they are in the conflict areas. Later, all the Bengalis there unanimously call themselves 'Rohingya', and it is a great surprise, he explained.  
 
The 183-page report includes such chapters as the situations that can do harm to peace and stability between the two communities in Rakhine State, root causes for conflicts, losses caused by last year's violence, requirements and suggestions for regional economic growth, the problem of using the term 'Rohingya' and suggestions for peaceful coexistence between the Rakhine nationals and Bengalis.

According to the commission's report, the sectarian conflicts left 192 people dead, 265 injured, 8,614 houses destroyed, and more than 100,000 people internally displaced.

The commission members said they used the term 'Bengali' in the report as it was already mentioned in the country's officially collected census.

However, a spokesman of the National Development and Peace party, who was present at the conference, defended that Rohingya has existed for thousands of years. The term 'Bengali' is used to make a blow to Rohingya, he said.
 
Ko Ko Gyi said: "Kaman Muslims in Rakhine State said their race has existed for 400 years according to history. We and other national races accept that.

Such conflicts can increase misunderstanding, ensure fragile relations and heighten tensions between the two communities, the report said.

Ko Ko Gyi also said: "Those two communities have been living in Rakhine State on a basis of segregation. Trust cannot be built overnight. Coexistence must be initiated at schools. Then, the other side (Bengalis) will become independent and loyal to the state."  
When it comes to information releases, the report suggested that government officials should avoid statements and expressions that can exacerbate the existing problems at a time when the whole nation and the international community are watching Myanmar, the report stated. The government should say that legal action will be taken against government employees who took bribes in assisting those in entering the country illegally.
 
The Myanmar government is advised to form a body to find out all reasons and causes that led to the violence between the Myanmar society and Muslim community.  Solutions must be sought how to prevent further violence and if necessary, teams must be sent abroad to clarify true situations.  

It also suggests prompt measures to provide shelters to all the victims before the reason sets in, open schools and provide food security and sources of livelihood.

In the report, the commission said the Rakhine people express concerns over a population explosion of Bengalis in Rakhine State. So, educative programmes should be launched for family planning, it suggested.

Border security should be tightened and a sudden withdraw of security troops from the state must be avoided. A special team comprising military and civic intelligence personnel needs to be formed to prevent terrorism and the danger of extremist groups, the reported recommend.  

President Thein Sein himself formed the investigation commission on the Rakhine conflict last August, and the report came out more than eight months after its formation.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/05/01/rakhine-conflict-involves-outside-incitement-commission-reports/