September 19,
2017
State Counsellor
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday condemned human rights violations in Rakhine
State and said violators would be brought to justice, and addressed
international concerns.
The State
Counsellor made the remarks in a speech delivered from Nay Pyi Taw, in her
first address to the nation since the 25 August attacks by ARSA extremist
terrorists, which sparked a military response that has forced thousands of
refugees into neighbouring Bangladesh and thousands of others to temporary
camps in southern Rakhine.
“There has been
much concern around the world with regard to the situation in Rakhine. It is
not the intention of the Myanmar government to apportion blame or abnegate
responsibility. We condemn all human rights violations and unlawful violence.
We are committed to the restoration of peace, stability and the rule of law
throughout the state”, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said.
“The security
forces have been instructed to adhere strictly to the code of conduct in
carrying out security operations, to exercise all due restraint and to take
full measures to avoid collateral damage and the harming of innocent civilians.
Human rights violations and all other acts that affect stability and harmony
and undermine the rule of law will be addressed in accordance with the strict
norms of justice.
“We feel deeply
for the suffering of all the people who have been caught up in the conflict.
Those who have had to flee their homes are many. Not just Muslims and Rakhines
but also small minority groups such as Daing-net, Mro, Thet, Magyi and Hindus,
of whose presence most of the world is totally unaware.
The State
Counsellor addressed international concerns on the situation in western
Myanmar.
“I am aware of
the fact that the world’s attention is focused on the situation in Rakhine
State and, as I said at the General Assembly last year, as a responsible member
of the community of nations, Myanmar does not fear international scrutiny and
we are committed to a sustainable solution that would lead to peace, stability
and development for all communities.
“After several
months of seeming peace and quiet, on the twenty-fifth of August, 30 police
outposts, the regimental headquarters in Taungala Village were attacked by
armed groups. Consequent to these attacks the government declared the Arakan
Rohingya Salvation Army and its supporters responsible for acts of terrorism as
a terrorist group in accordance with the Counter-Terrorism Law Section 6,
Subsection 5”.
The State
Counsellor also said she wanted to explore the reasons why there was an exodus
of Muslims to Bangladesh, but also why most of the Muslim community in north
Rakhine State did not choose to leave.
“The government
is working to restore the situation to normalcy. Since the 5th of September,
there have been no armed clashes and there have been no clearance operations.
Nevertheless, we are concerned to hear that numbers of Muslims are fleeing
across the border to Bangladesh. We want to find out why this exodus is
happening. We would like to talk to those who have fled, as well as those who
have stayed. I think it is very little known that the great majority of Muslims
in the Rakhine State have not joined the exodus. More than 50 per cent of the
villagers of Muslims are intact. They are as they were before the attacks took
place. And we would like to know why. This is what I think we have to work
towards. Not just looking at the problems but also looking at these areas where
there are no problems. Why have we been able to avoid these problems in certain
areas? And for this reason, we would like to invite members of the diplomatic
community to join us in our endeavour to learn more from the Muslims who have
integrated successfully into the Rakhine State”, she said.
GNLM and Reuters
Ref; The
Global New Light of Myanmar
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