A spokesperson from the Rakhine State government has told Mizzima on October 7, that both the Union and State governments are committed to dealing with the issues in the state in a fair and balanced manner.
A spokesperson from the Rakhine State government has told Mizzima on October 7, that both the Union and State governments are committed to dealing with the issues in the state in a fair and balanced manner.
U Win Myaing, spokesperson for the Rakhine State government spoke in response to an October 3 press release from Senior United Nations Humanitarian and Development officials that said they had seen appalling human suffering but also signs of hope during a recent visit to Rakhine State.
“The refugee camps are not alone in having troubles. Most of [Myanmar’s] countryside suffers from troubles, the international community needs to make its criticisms justifiable,” said U Win Myaing.
UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Development Programme Regional Director for Asia Haoliang Xu and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Director of Operations John Ging met displaced people and government officials during their visit.
Violent clashes in Rakhine in 2012 led to the displacement of 140,000 people into 68 camps and settlements for internally displaced people.
“We need to scale up poverty eradication across Rakhine, with a particular focus on development solutions which promote peaceful co-existence,” said Mr Xu. “Stability and peace can be achieved only when the needs of all communities are met.”
Mr Ging said underdevelopment is a cause of the conflict, but it is clear that development alone is not enough. “Without a just and equitable solution to the citizenship crisis in Rakhine there will never be lasting peace and prosperity in Myanmar.”
Mr Xu and Mr Ging said they had engaged with government officials at the national and local levels who expressed commitment to finding a solution to the crisis. They called on all UN agencies to engage in and support this process to help ensure that the outcome was just, equitable and promoted human rights for all.
