The Irrawaddy
16 May 2017
 |
| Members of the Arakan State Advisory Commission meet Burma Army representatives. |
RANGOON – Arakan State Advisory Commission member Al Haj
U Aye Lwin said a meeting between Burma Army Chief of General Staff Lt-Gen Mya
Tun Oo and the commission was “highly productive.”
‘‘The army promised that it would help in whatever the
advisory commission needed. There were no objections or negative comments
during the meeting,” said U Aye Lwin.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the commission
would meet with Burma Army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, but the meeting was
instead held with Lt-Gen Mya Tun Oo in Naypyidaw
on Monday. https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/lt-gen-mya-tun-oo-appointed-burmese-militarys-chief-of-general-staff.html
Commission member Dr. Tha Hla Shwe said the army gave its
comments on the interim report, which was launched in
March. https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/arakan-state-advisory-commission-releases-interim-report.html
Al Haj U Aye Lwin told The Irrawaddy over the phone on
Tuesday that the meeting took place in line with government protocol, but that
the leaders of both sides have been in direct contact throughout the process.
Before the meeting with army generals, the commission
also met with the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) on Sunday. But
the party refused to make recommendations to the
commission, still objecting to its formation and international involvement in
internal affairs. http://goo.gl/rNNDoA
U Aye Lwin said the rejection was overstated and that
despite a lack of official party response, the USDP chairman and central
executive committee members shared their experience regarding the issues in
Arakan State.
He added that the USDP has rejected the overall formation
of the commission so was choosing not to release official party stances
regarding a commission they do not recognize.
Al Haj U Aye Lwin said the army reiterated that the
current ground situation in Arakan State was still unsafe, in reference to the
continued limited access to humanitarian assistance groups and media.
The army general also claimed during the meeting that the
army had halted counterinsurgency operations and handed security matters in
Arakan State over to the home affairs ministry and local law enforcement.
According to commission members, he also discussed the
controversial citizenship application process, which has left the Rohingya
Muslims in the region stateless and in apartheid-like conditions.
The commission will submit a final report to the
government in August.