Kofi Annan news conference

August 24, 2017

Mr. Kofi Annan, the chairman of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, answered questions from reporters yesterday during a news conference in Nya Pyi Taw after his commission submitted their final report.

Mr. Anna first clarified that the commission’s job was to review the situation in Rakhine and to advise the government in Rakhine and its local residents on how to end conflicts and work towards achieving peace, prosperity and reconciliation.

Q: What do you think about the 1982 Citizenship Law?

A: The Adviso - ry Commission views this as a good process. As Myanmar has the world’s largest number of unregistered nationals, the situation should be addressed and not allowed to continue. National identity registration and the freedom to travel around the country are complicated but necessary issues.

The commission has given recommendations on how to deal with these issues and it is hoped they will be effective.

Q: How should the security concerns in Rakhine be dealt with?

A: The recommendations from the Advisory Commission are based on goodwill and when they are followed by those responsible, it will also be based on goodwill.

Since there are security concerns in Rakhine, these should be dealt with, but in a manner where the perpetrators are dealt with directly with no harm or loss inflicted on civilians. The commission’s advice is not related to matters of security within Rakhine State.

Q: How can we ensure the effectiveness of the Advisory Commission’s recommendations?

A: The commission only gives recommendations, but the implementation of them is up to the government of Myanmar and the State Counsellor will review the commission’s recommendations. Mr. Annan said during his meeting with the Commander-in-Chief, they discussed minimising civilian casualties during security operations and how to help local residents resume their daily lives when these operations are over.

He said the recent security operations were conducted on hilly regions where there were few civilians.

Q: How do you respond to comments from people who do not want foreign experts advising on Rakhine’s issues?

A: The commission should be viewed as Myanmar’s commission, as it was formed by the State Counsellor after approval from the Hluttaw.

U Win Mra, a member of the Advisory Commission, said the commission is made up of three foreign experts and six local experts who have to report to the State Counsellor, so it is effectively a Myanmar commission and shouldn’t be viewed as interference from foreign entities.

Ye Khaung Nyunt, Zaw Gyi, Myat Sandi

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar