SITTWE- San Kyaw Hla, Rakhine State Parliament Speaker, met with the United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) Special Envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener, at his office yesterday.
On the occasion, they frankly discussed about their views on current special meeting of top leaders, repatriation of returnees from Bangladesh, closing of IDPs camps, job opportunities for rehabilitation tasks, health sector, social affairs, freedom of movement[around the country], peaceful coexistence among two communities, issuance of National Verification Card-NVC, difficulties being faced while receiving medical treatments and UN’s help for peace, tranquility and development in Rakhine State.
“They [UN] wanted to close down Bangladesh refugee camps and to send them [Bengalis] to their native [Rakhine State]. Mainly, they desire to have freedom of movement for Bengalis like an Arakan citizen. The Bengalis said that they faced difficulty when they came to Rakhine State for medical treatment. We urged parliament to solve the difficulty of their healthcare services after discussing with the government. At present, no one is really returning from Bangladesh. We already said at the parliament concerning the repatriation program. The parliament decided to relocate them[returnees] at the southern Maungdaw Township. We agreed with the parliament’s decision. I think she may agree it to it too. She met with the State leaders as well as the military chief while visiting Myanmar. I liked her more than the UN’s ex-special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar because she has softer comments. The international community is exerting pressure on Myanmar. It is their job. But we don’t need to follow suit to their pressure,” said San Kyaw Hla, Speaker of Rakhine State parliament.
When Christine Schraner Burgener arrived in Rakhine State for the second time, she met with not only Arakan social organizations, Bengalis from IDPs camp but also Rakhine State government body.
She also met with the residents from Buthidaung Township and said that the dispute occurred in northern Rakhine State was the problem between those who had wanted to claim those regions and those who that were cautious of giving away their sovereignty to others.
She also held a meeting with the ethnic representatives in Rakhine State and said that she came to Myanmar with the aim to listen to the voices of the locals and their feelings. She would later proceed to Bangladesh to attempt to bring 48,000 returnees from Bangladesh. So far, her actions and words seem to indicate of her impartial stance on this highly controversial issue with the aim to actually sustain peace and tranquility amongst communities in Rakhine State.
The visiting Christine Schraner Burgener and party arrived in Rakhine State on October 13th and they observed closing down of Nidin IDPs camp in Kyauktaw Township and also visited Gaungtoke village, Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Sittwe Townships.
