UNHCR chief meets villagers in Maungtaw

June 4, 2017

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Mr. Filippo Grandi met with villagers in Maungtaw Township yesterday, observing the situations in villages.

At the meeting with villagers at the primary school in Aung Zeya Village, Mr Filippo pledged to assist in issues to which the UNHCR can contribute, inviting the voices of the local people.

Local people spoke of the challenges they face making a livelihood for themselves and their families in Maungtaw.

Following the meeting, the UNHCR chief visited Kyikanpyin (West) Village and met with villagers.

The UN delegation left Maungtaw for Yangon in the afternoon.

Further south in Sittway, Rakhine State’s capital, a man was killed and six were wounded yesterday when they were attacked by a mob of people, officials said.

The attack happened while they were touring around YaungniOo Jetty to buy a boat, according to the Information Committee of the State Counsellor’s Office.

The seven men had travelled into Sittway from a camp on the outskirts of the town and they were attacked by several people with bricks .

Before the incident, Maung Nu, also know as Maung Ni Ra Mauk, the victim, and other six men followed a car carrying U Myint Naing and ten other men who were allowed to leave the Darpaing camp to give statements in a criminal case at a court in Sittway. The group returned and went to Sittway No 2 Police Station and asked the police to provide them with security.

Afterwards, they escorted by a policeman, and had gone to see a boat they were planning to buy from a businessman.

At the boat jetty, an argument developed.

Maung Nu, also known as Maung Ni Ra Mauk, 55, died from wounds inflicted to his head. Six others were injured and hospitalised.

At 6:30pm yesterday, two of the injured were still receiving medical treatment. The remaining four were sent back to the Darpaing camp by security forces.

Police said several arrests have been made in the incident of the fatal stone throwing. At additional security forces have been deployed to ensure that conflict does not spread to other areas, according to the information committee.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar