Myanmar MPs reject 'Rakhine proposal'
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NAY PYI TAW - Myanmar’s Lower House voted down the proposal to remove foreign experts from the Rakhine State Advisory Commission.
The experts include former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The commission is now in Rakhine State. When they arrived at the Sittwe airport yesterday, they faced a protest by more than a thousand people. It is scheduled for a press conference on Friday.
The motion was submitted by MP Aung Kyaw Zan for Pauktaw Township in Rakhine State and discussed by 34 MPs—24 from the NLD, four from the military-linked Union Solidarity and Development Party, three from the Arakan National Party and four military representatives.
Despite support for the proposal from the USDP and ANP, the motion was shot down by members of ruling National League for Democracy, which holds a majority in the Lower House.
MP Khin Saw Wai for Yathedaung Township stressed the need for the government to pay special attention to the issue as the Rakhine people have raised concerns.
“Illegal immigration of Bengalis does not affect Rakhine people alone; it affects all the people of Myanmar,” she added referring to the ethnic minority more commonly known as Rohingya.
"To address the Bengali issue, the previous government already formed a commission led by Dr Myo Myint. I want to say that the present government is only responsible for putting the report submitted by the previous commission into reality. It is not necessary to form a new one," said MP Khin Saw Wai.
Military MPs pointed out that the State Counsellor Law does not prescribe any right or duty of the state counsellor to form such a commission. Some said the commission’s formation could spark unnecessary consequence as it does not have the support of the local people.
The military MPs said there should be transparency as to whether the formation of the commission was in line with the constitution and other laws.
“Having ignored the suggestions of the previous government, the current one formed Rakhine State Advisory Commission led by three foreigners, including Kofi Annan. Therefore, we fear that the advisory commission will turn our domestic issue into an international one. We also worry that the country may face untoward incidents because of the report that will come out. The formation of the commission ensures a good image in the international sphere, but it has no transparency. The report the commission will issue must pursue the interests of the country. It must be a bias-free report. The stance and attitude of local ethnic groups should be taken into account. If the report goes against the criteria above, the country may face adverse conditions,” said military MP Lt-Colonel Myint Zaw.
