RAKHINE crisis

Kofi Annan commission for independent investigation

The Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, constituted by the Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in September, 2016, published its interim report yesterday, recommending that the perpetrators of serious human rights violations against Rohingya populace during the crackdown by the security force should be brought to justice. Bilateral cooperation with Bangladesh on security and economic matters is critical to resolution to the complex Rohingya problem including the repatriation, said the report of the commission, commonly known as Annan Commission as it is headed by former United Nation Secretary-General Kofi Annan. “The Myanmar government and the Rakhine State government should allow full and unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas affected by recent violence. The government, assisted by international partners, should ensure adequate assistance to all communities affected by the violence,” it said.
“When refugees from northern Rakhine State return from Bangladesh, the government of Myanmar should help create a secure environment and, where necessary, assist with shelter construction for those whose homes have been destroyed,” it added.
“In the wake of the fatal attack on the Border Guard Police on 9 October 2016 and the subsequent military operations carried out in northern Rakhine State, allegations have been made of serious violations of human rights law by the security forces during these operations,” said the 15-page report.
“In light of the allegations of serious violations of human rights law, the government should –based on independent and impartial investigation – ensure that perpetrators of serious human rights violations are held accountable,” the body, commonly known as Annan Commission, said in its recommendations.
In his statement on the report, the commission Chair, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, said, “The report proposes a series of measures to address the situation in Rakhine State.” “These recommendations include a renewed call for unimpeded access for humanitarian actors and journalists to the affected areas in Northern Rakhine and for independent and impartial investigation of the allegations of crimes committed on and since 9 October 2016,” he said.
“We strongly believe that perpetrators of these crimes must be held to account,” he added. Annan said that his body is aware a number of unresolved concerns surrounding the verification of citizenship and recommends that they be clarified and resolved without delay.
“We also stress that inclusive access to healthcare and education for the all the people in Rakhine requires attention and improvement,” he said. In this context, the former UN chief said, “The Commission makes some interim recommendations for early remedial measures.
In the Commission’s view, he said, “Creating conditions conducive for inter-communal dialogue, representation and participation in public life are essential to ensure that Rakhine state is spared from recurring cycles of violence and destruction. We make some recommendations in that regard.”
“In developing these interim recommendations, my fellow Commissioners and I have undertaken numerous consultations and discussions with a wide range of stakeholders in Rakhine, Yangon, and Naypyitaw,” he added.
“As part of that consultative process, a Commission team visited Bangladesh. We have also held consultations with officials from Indonesia, Thailand and organisations based in New York and Geneva,” said Annan, adding, “Our consultations will continue as we work to produce our final report, and we look forward to further exchanges with communities and stakeholders across Rakhine State.
“We believe that bilateral cooperation with Bangladesh on security and economic matters is critical, as the outreach to ASEAN members,” he said. The recommendations in this report are not exhaustive and do not address all of the issues covered in the mandate of the commission, said the former UN chief.
“These are early proposals for action. The main body of our recommendations will be presented in a final report later this year,” he said. “We should accept that the nature of the crisis facing Rakhine state has changed due to the attacks of 9 October and the subsequent security operations,” said Annan. “This has led to investigations and reports by the United Nations and human rights agencies. However, we as the Advisory Commission are guided by our mandate to focus mainly on long-standing obstacles to peace and development in Rakhine State,” he said.

RAKHINE crisis

Kofi Annan commission for independent investigation

The Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, constituted by the Myanmars State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in September, 2016, published its interim report yesterday, recommending that the perpetrators of serious human rights violations against Rohingya populace during the crackdown by the security force should be brought to justice. Bilateral cooperation with Bangladesh on security and economic matters is critical to resolution to the complex Rohingya problem including the repatriation, said the report of the commission, commonly known as Annan Commission as it is headed by former United Nation Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The Myanmar government and the Rakhine State government should allow full and unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas affected by recent violence. The government, assisted by international partners, should ensure adequate assistance to all communities affected by the violence, it said. When refugees from northern Rakhine State return from Bangladesh, the government of Myanmar should help create a secure environment and, where necessary, assist with shelter construction for those whose homes have been destroyed, it added. In the wake of the fatal attack on the Border Guard Police on 9 October 2016 and the subsequent military operations carried out in northern Rakhine State, allegations have been made of serious violations of human rights law by the security forces during these operations, said the 15-page report. In light of the allegations of serious violations of human rights law, the government should based on independent and impartial investigation ensure that perpetrators of serious human rights violations are held accountable, the body, commonly known as Annan Commission, said in its recommendations. In his statement on the report, the commission Chair, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, said, The report proposes a series of measures to address the situation in Rakhine State. These recommendations include a renewed call for unimpeded access for humanitarian actors and journalists to the affected areas in Northern Rakhine and for independent and impartial investigation of the allegations of crimes committed on and since 9 October 2016, he said. We strongly believe that perpetrators of these crimes must be held to account, he added. Annan said that his body is aware a number of unresolved concerns surrounding the verification of citizenship and recommends that they be clarified and resolved without delay. We also stress that inclusive access to healthcare and education for the all the people in Rakhine requires attention and improvement, he said. In this context, the former UN chief said, The Commission makes some interim recommendations for early remedial measures. In the Commissions view, he said, Creating conditions conducive for inter-communal dialogue, representation and participation in public life are essential to ensure that Rakhine state is spared from recurring cycles of violence and destruction. We make some recommendations in that regard. In developing these interim recommendations, my fellow Commissioners and I have undertaken numerous consultations and discussions with a wide range of stakeholders in Rakhine, Yangon, and Naypyitaw, he added. As part of that consultative process, a Commission team visited Bangladesh. We have also held consultations with officials from Indonesia, Thailand and organisations based in New York and Geneva, said Annan, adding, Our consultations will continue as we work to produce our final report, and we look forward to further exchanges with communities and stakeholders across Rakhine State. We believe that bilateral cooperation with Bangladesh on security and economic matters is critical, as the outreach to ASEAN members, he said. The recommendations in this report are not exhaustive and do not address all of the issues covered in the mandate of the commission, said the former UN chief. These are early proposals for action. The main body of our recommendations will be presented in a final report later this year, he said. We should accept that the nature of the crisis facing Rakhine state has changed due to the attacks of 9 October and the subsequent security operations, said Annan. This has led to investigations and reports by the United Nations and human rights agencies. However, we as the Advisory Commission are guided by our mandate to focus mainly on long-standing obstacles to peace and development in Rakhine State, he said.