Myanmar state counselor meets independent enquiry commission on work plan

ANGON, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) — Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has met with four members of the Independent Commission of Enquiry on Rakhine issue, chaired by Ambassador Rosario Manalo, to discuss the work plan of the commission, Myanmar News Agency reported Thursday.
At their meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday, terms of reference and the formation of dedicated secretariat to assist the commission’s work were also touched upon.
Myanmar government announced the establishment of the four-member independent enquiry commission on Rakhine issue on July 30 as part of the government’s initiative to address reconciliation, peace, stability and development in the state. The commission comprises two international and two local members.
The independent commission is tasked to investigate the allegations of human rights violation and related issues following the terrorist attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) last year.
Ambassador Rosario Manalo, who was former Deputy Foreign Minister of the Philippines, the four-member commission will be assisted by national and international legal and technical experts in its independent enquiry work.
The other three members include Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
The Myanmar government has reiterated that if there is violation of human rights by the security forces in Myanmar with firm evidence, investigation will be launched and action will be taken according to law, objecting the attempted reference of Myanmar to the International Criminal Court to which Myanmar is not a member nor a signatory.
The ARSA extremist terrorists launched attacks on police outposts in Myanmar’s Rakhine state on Aug. 25 last year, displacing a vast number of residents to neighboring Bangladesh.  Enditem