Abrar Hussain of DOT
The head of the United Nations in Myanmar expressed concern about the situation in the western state of Rakhine, where fighting between the military and the rebel Arakan Army has displaced about 4,500 people since early December.
Knut Ostby, who acts as the resident coordinator for the United Nations, said in a statement he was “deeply concerned about the situation” and urged “all sides to ensure the protection of all civilians” and to respect human rights.
“Mr Ostby further appeals to all sides to intensify efforts to find a peaceful solution to the situation and to ensure humanitarian access to all people affected by the violence,” the United Nations said in a statement.
Myanmar government leader Aung San Suu Kyi discussed insurgent attacks on police in a rare meeting with the military chief on Monday, in which her administration reportedly called for the armed forces to “crush” the rebels.
The Arakan Army wants greater autonomy for Rakhine State, where the mostly Buddhist ethnic Rakhine people make up the majority of the population.
In 2017, the Rakhine State saw a military-led crackdown, following attacks allegedly by Rohingya Muslim insurgents that prompted hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee westwards into neighboring Bangladesh.
At a meeting on Monday between government and military leaders, the office of President Win Myint said it had instructed the military to “crush the terrorists”, the government spokesman later confirmed at a news conference.
While Suu Kyi is barred from being president by a military-drafted constitution, the president is still a loyalist. Suu Kyi is seen as de facto leader of the civilian government, while the military remains in charge of security.
On the other hand, Arakan Army insurgents killed 13 policemen and wounded nine in attacks on four police posts on Friday, as Myanmar celebrated Independence Day, state media reported. Source: Reuters
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