November
17, 2016
The
government yesterday strongly refuted a recent report by a rights organization
that accused Tatmadaw troops of burning down houses in northern Rakhine State.
Concerning
the accusations in the report, it has been announced that findings of the
committee from its field inspections will be released shortly. The Bangkok Post
on 14 November published a news story of violent attacks by government troops
in Maungtaw that started on 9 October, the same day that border guard outposts
were attacked by armed men. Other media outlets also published the news story.
The State
Counsellor, in consultation with leaders of the Tatmadaw, sent teams to
Warpate, Kyetyoepyin, Pyaungpite, Dargyisar villages and surrounding areas by
Tatmadaw helicopters on 15 November in order to take photos or to get a
first-hand view of the situation. The Tatmadaw field inspection team found that
105 structures in Warpate, 30 structures in Kyetyoepyin Village, 30 structures
in Dargyisar Village, 20 structures in Pyaungpite Village had been burnt down.
Findings of the teams were displayed at the press conference that showed photos
from Human Rights Watch as well as those from the Tatmadaw that seemed to show
very different views of the same area.
The
government photos show a much smaller area of burnt houses, while the Human
Rights Watch photos show much greater devastation. The government contends that
the burnt homes shown in their photos were caused by attackers, not by the
Tatmadaw.
Yesterday’s news conference also included an announcement from the Secretary of the State Counsellor’s Office Information Committee. Deputy Director-General U Zaw Htay of the President’s Office said that a State Counsellor’s Office Information Committee has been formed by the president’s office. The aim was to release correct information about the situation in Rakhine State in a timely manner.
The
committee will hold press conferences and issue press releases when warranted.
Then, the committee responded to queries of the media.
Concerning
the question on declaring the Maungtaw area as an operation zone and the use of
helicopters in fighting, U Zaw Htay said that the area was declared as
operation zone because of the violent attacks. The limited use of helicopters
was begun because a commanding officer was attacked. Although helicopters can
carry rockets and bombs, the helicopters contained only mounted machine guns.
He also
said that findings of the committee will be released starting tomorrow, with
the media allowed to cover news in the area in the same ways as diplomats were
allowed to visit. A news team from the Ministry of Information led by a
director has been sent there in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and
Ministry of Home Affairs. Based on the security situation of the news team,
private media will also be sent there, he said.
He also
pledged to cooperate with the media for sensitive conflict reports in the
future.
U Zaw Htay continued to say that the office of the Rakhine State Information Committee is opend at the Presidential Palace, with Maj-Gen Soe Naing, the deputy leader of the Tatmadaw Information Team, together with other responsible personnel being at the office.
He also pledged that the information team of the Tatmadaw would release ground reports in Rakhine State as soon as it is ready.
Regarding
the challenges faced by the government in restoration of community peace and
stability in Rakhine state, U Zaw Htay said out of 36 suspects arrested on 12
November, Mohammad Islam, 41, was living in Pwintphyuchaung Village and he,
along with villagers, went to the fighting with the government troops. He added
that Mohammad Islam told the police during the interrogation that the violent
attackers who came back from Bangladesh set fire to the homes.
The
Deputy Director-General continued to say that Sardu Armay, who was arrested on
14 November, told police that he came to Myasin Village together with villagers
to fight the government troops.
U Zaw
Htay continued to say that diplomats asked the villagers during their trip to
the conflict areas whether they understood the writings on the placards they
were holding, the villagers replied that they did not understand them and they
received the writings from Viber. The villagers did not answer who sent the
words to them, he added.
Maungtaw conflict was not a simple phenomenon and it was found that violent attackers are planning how to fight the security forces when the troops came to their village.
It needs to create an environment for peaceful coexistence of the both communities to get grid off the extremism from the villagers who were inculcated, he added.
However, it was found that it was difficult to solve the issue as the attackers are mixing with the villagers and it needs to take time to settle the problem, he said.
During the investigation into rape accusations in the conflict areas, local women replied that no rape cases happened there, he said.
The fresh
conflict in the Rakhine State was the third one and instigators behind the
conflict were linking with the international communities, he said.
Daw Aye
Aye Soe, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the
October-9 attacks were considered instigating the conflicts as all denied the
human right resolution proposal at the United Nations.
Regarding
the measures taken by the government troops, Maj-Gen Soe Naing Oo said that the
coordinated attacks on the four border outposts on 9th October are considered
infringing on the sovereignty of the country.
In
response to the attacks in which nine policemen were killed and 65 arms were
taken away by the armed attackers, the government troops a still carrying out
operations within the limit allowed by the government and in accordance with
the international laws.
Regarding the using of a helicopter in the fighting, he continued to say that the troops were under attack from three directions by more than 830 armed attackers in which 30 were with guns and the remaining were holding machetes, spears and catapults. To disperse the crowd, the troops first used rubber bullets to control them and one commanding officer died in the earlier situation.
To save
the troops and the injured officers, the Tatmadaw used the helicopter but did
not use rockets and bombs following the Geneva Convention rules.
Regarding
the reporting at conflict areas, he said the attackers were not in uniform and
the troops could not exactly say where the camps of the attackers were. The
security forces were ambushed frequently and the area was declared the
operation area as it was difficult to ensure security and safety, he added. The
troops are taking security measures in the areas following the instructions of
the government and international rules, he said.
Ref; The
Global New Light of Myanmar
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