State Counsellor, Boris Johnson holds talk over latest development in Rakhine

February 12, 2018

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi received Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom (UK), at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. During the meeting, they cordially discussed matters pertaining to the latest developments in Rakhine State, including the repatriation process. In the afternoon, Mr. Johnson and Dr. Win Myat Aye, the Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, travelled to Sittway in a special plane and were welcomed by Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu.

The Foreign Secretary and his entourage then travelled to Pantaw Pyin Village Tract in Northern Rakhine via military helicopter. The village tract is mostly populated by Muslims. Johnson spoke with the villagers there and asked them about the fire incidents and the help they had received from the Union government.

Later, they inspected the construction of houses for the villagers, which were being built with the help of the Yangon Region government. They then travelled to Taung Pyo Letwe Township and inspected and toured the temporary repatriation office there.

Mr. Johnson was briefed by officials on the repatriation process. The repatriation was scheduled to start on 23 January 2018 after Myanmar and Bangladesh reached a mutual agreement. Arrangements have been made at Taung Pyo Letwe Camp to accept returnees from Bangladesh returning by land, and at Nga Ku Ya’s repatriation camp for those returning by sea. Returnees will also have access to a temporary shelter in Hla Pho Kaung Camp, a transit camp.

The Foreign Secretary later thanked the officials responsible for showing him around Rakhine State and said he supported the efforts being made by the Union Government in the repatriation process and for Rakhine State’s development. He said Britain was interested in further discussions to support education and healthcare for women and children, as part of Britain’s Department for International Development plans.

Johnson and his entourage then travelled back to Sittway from Taung Pyo Letwe and flew to Nay Pyi Taw in the evening.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar