MYANMAR
11 parties condemn Rakhine commission on ethnic relations in Myanmar
By Kyaw Zin Win
17 September 2016
Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
Politics
Military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party said the public feared Kofi Annan's commission to probe sectarian conflicts was influenced by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
YANGON (Myanmar Eleven/ANN) - Eleven political parties have released a joint statement urging the government to scrap former UN secretary general Kofi Annan’s commission on Rakhine State.
The Rakhine State Parliament denounced establishment of the commission and 14 parties have met at the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) headquarters in Thanlyin Street, Yangon, to discuss the probe into ethnic relations between Muslims and Buddhists in the state.
The National Unity Party, Democratic Party for a New Society, National Development Party, National Democratic Force, National Political Alliance League, Wunthanu National League for Democracy, Modern People’s Party, Wa Democratic Party, Kayin State Democracy and Development Party and People’s Democracy Party signed the letter.
Shan Nationalities Democratic Party and Democratic Party attended the meeting but did not sign the statement.
USDP spokesperson Khin Ye said: “The whole nation condemns it. So do the political parties. People demonstrated. However, the commission is still operating. We don’t denounce the establishment of the commission but we are pointing to the public concerns. We receive letters from the public saying they are worried. The government has responsibility for their concerns. Our statement is urging the government not to neglect the public concerns.”
The statement said the nation refused to accept the name Rohingya for the state’s Muslim community and warned of the danger of conflict. It said the public feared that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation influenced the commission.
The statement said the government should respect the Rakhine State Parliament’s objections against the commission and said the National League for Democracy would be held accountable for any negative consequences.