Committee on Supporting Peace and Stability in Rakhine State held a meeting with Rakhine State Cabinet in Sittway yesterday.

Attending the meeting at the government office were Committee on Supporting Peace and Stability in Rakhine State Chairman U Aye Tha Aung, who is also Deputy Speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw, Committee Vice Chairmen Union Information Minister Dr Pe Myint and Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu, committee members Deputy Minister for the Office of the Union Government U Tin Myint, State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Phone Tint, Yangon Region Minister for Rakhine Affairs U Zaw Aye Maung, State MP U Maung Maung Ohn, state ministers and heads of state departments.

Committee Chairman U Aye Tha Aung spoke at the meeting, saying this is the first meeting held by the committee since its inception on 14 March on orders from the Office of the President. Although this is the committee’s first visit to Rakhine State, it has already met with Rakhine associations and political parties based in Yangon. The Chairman said this meeting will produce a report to submit to the Union Government from this meeting, and a report on the short-term and long-term tasks will be compiled as well. He said the suggestions made at this meeting will be put on record and will be included in the report based on their premises. He urged attendees to contemplate the conflicts that have occurred in Rakhine State. He said the State Government and the committee will hold a follow-up meeting accordingly.

Chairman U Aye Tha Aung said the committee will open an office in Rakhine State and a working committee related to this will be formed as well, prompting attendees to participate in discussions on these two matters.

Next, attendees discussed short-term and long-term plans and procedures to swiftly reduce the ongoing conflicts in Rakhine State, and the Chairman delivered a closing speech afterwards.

In the afternoon, Committee on Supporting Peace and Stability in Rakhine State and State Hluttaw Speaker, Chairpersons and secretaries of Hluttaw Affairs Committees and MPs held a meeting at the State Hluttaw Office. Rakhine State Peace and Stability Supporting Committee Chairman delivered the opening speech and the vice-chairpersons and members discussed tasks to undertake for implementing peace, stability and development in Rakhine State.

The Committee on Supporting Peace and Stability in Rakhine State held a coordination meeting with political parties, civil society organizations, and resident elders of Sittway at the state cabinet office in the evening.

The committee chairman said K100 million will be provided through the humanitarian organizations of Kyauktaw and MraukU townships for the IDPs housed within them. He said they will follow up with support programs for Yathedaung, Minbya and other townships soon.

This was followed by a discussion between the committee vice-chairmen, after which the political parties, CSOs and local elders in attendance openly discussed the future of Rakhine State’s peace and stability. —MNA
(Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)