Annan meets both sides in Rakhine

He met 10 Muslim leaders at an Arabic-language school in Aung Mingalar in the state capital.

Then Annan met ethnic Rakhine in Minngan refugee camp. The media was denied access to both meetings.

Ethnic Rakhine Khin Mar Nwe, a Minngan camp resident, said: “What we discussed was whether we can stay together with the 'Bengalis' or do business together," she said using the controversial term for the Muslim community which is called the Rohingya by the international community. "We said we are not OK to stay together with them and we don’t want to do business with them. We told that they will bully the Rakhine women."

The Rakhine refugees reportedly told Annan that the Muslim community received more donations although both Rakhine and Muslims were in crisis together.

She continued: “Although we receive food together, they get other goods every month. We haven’t received other goods for our school and commodities since 2013. We get only food. However, 'Bengalis' receive umbrellas, shoes, cosmetic goods and other products.”

When the commission asked them how the two communities lived together, she said she did not want to live with Muslims. "If we stay together, ethnic Rakhine do not dare to sleep at night and it is very unpleasant for us," she said she told the commission. 

Maung Lone, a committee member of the Minngan camp, said: “They asked us what we need and what we do for business. And how the two communities get along. We said we do not have businesses. And the two communities can no longer stay together though we stayed together with the 'Bengalis' before. Now the ethnic Rakhine people are threatened when the illegal immigrants who call themselves Rohingya come.”

Zaw Zaw, a Muslim who lives in Aung Mingalar, said: “Experts from the international community, especially Kofi Annan, are investigating the Rakhine State issue. We are glad for that. However, the commission does not have decision-making powers. The government will have to decide.”