10 November
During the ARSA terrorist attacks in 2017 in Rakhine State, local people fled their homes, and since then there have also been people who sought shelter in the homes of their closest relatives, but did not flee to the neighbouring country. Work has been ongoing to try and resettle these people.
The Committee for Accepting and Resettling Returnees, along with a working committee, was formed in July 2018 to carry out resettlement and socioeconomic development in the state after the 2017 ARSA terrorist attacks. They have conducted many works in the field to collect true information, as part of the efforts in effectively assisting the various processes.
The committee is currently involved in realistic measures to assist those displaced people who are sheltering at their relatives’ homes, as they seek to resettle the original villagers.
As an initial step, two villages in Maungtaw Township would be given priority under this project.
This reflects Myanmar's commitment that it will not shirk its responsibilities to take care of the rights and security of all those whom it must protect.
It is our responsibility to ensure an environment which is conducive for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of displaced people.
In fact, the issue of Rakhine is a most complex one, which is why the UN and its agencies, which have been present in the region for ten times longer than the present Government has been in office, must have some idea of the extent of the complexities of the problem.
The Government of Myanmar remains fully committed to take back verified returnees, based on the bilateral agreement signed with Bangladesh and the trilateral agreement signed with the UNHCR and UNDP.
We thank ASEAN, the ASEAN Secretariat and the AHA Centre for their constructive contributions to our efforts in creating the most suitable environment in which displaced people can return in peace, security and voluntarily.
As the national level strategy for closing the IDP camps in Myanmar has been approved, we will move forward, as we have vowed, to address the issue.
With the help of our friends who approach the problems in Rakhine in a practical and balanced way, we will continue our work while considering the complexities and sensitivities of all communities in Rakhine.
Focusing only on the rights of a particular community cannot lead to developing a sustainable solution to any complex issue.
GNLM
