MNHRC Chairman clarifies situations on the ground in Maungtaw

December 27, 2017

Dr. Win Myat Aye, Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement received MNHRC headed by U Win Mra, Chairman of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission at the May Kha Lar Hall of the Ministry yesterday afternoon.

In the meeting, the commission submitted, “Due to lack of knowledge about the situations found out on the ground during the trip headed by U Yu Lwin, member of the MNHRC and party to Maungtaw region in Rakhine State from December 11 to 15 and news and information concerning the performances carried out by the Government, there were anxieties about the displaced people among those from outside the country. At the time when the commission reached there, arrangements for the displaced Islamist families in the country, Rakhine nationals and national ethnic minorities had clearly been found, with the arrangements for accepting those who would arrive back from Bangladesh found to have not yet been ready.

As regards to this, the commission would like to know situations carried out by the government and situations on the development. According to the procedures, the report on the findings of the MNHRC had been reported to the President and in the report, necessary suggestions had been described.”

The Union Minister replied, “Situations were different between the two periods — the time of the commission’s trip and the present time. Developments had been made as regards the preparations for the resettlement and rehabilitation. For those who will enter by road, the camp for accepting the arrivals to come has been built at Taungpyo-Letwe and the camp for those who will come by waterway built at Ngakhura. They will stay there for one or two days. After that, as for those who already had their own houses, they can go directly to their houses. As for those whose houses were burnt down in the attacks, they must stay temporarily in the 8-room-house barracks.

Upon completion, they will be allowed to move to new houses. During the stay at the temporary camps, the Ministry will arrange for their food. Arrangements are being made to accept them as of 22nd January 2018. Initially a group of 450 Hindus are to be accepted. During the stay the new arrivals can make money by working in construction sites under the plan “Cash for Work.” Co-operations are being made in combination with respective ministries, donor companies and members of regions and states for accepting the arrivals in time.”

The Commission Chairman said to the Union Minister to make the government’s performances, especially concerning the arrivals known to the country as well as to the world, transparently, it was learnt.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar