Myanmar: Ban welcomes commission probing violence in Rakhine state

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes today’s establishment, by President Thein Sein of Myanmar, of a 27-member Commission to investigate the recent violence in the country’s state of Rakhine, according to his spokesperson.

“This Commission is comprised of a representative cross-section of national figures in the country,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement. “It could make important contributions to restoring peace and harmony in the state and in creating a conducive environment for a more inclusive way forward to tackle the underlying causes of the violence, including the condition of the Muslim communities in Rakhine.”

Recent tensions between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in the western state of Rakhine left at least a dozen civilians dead and hundreds of homes destroyed, as well as at least 64,000 people displaced.

Mr. Ban’s spokesperson added that the Commission will “be integral to any reconciliation process” and the United Nations is ready to provide assistance in a “constructive spirit to Myanmar's reform and reconciliation efforts, and to help that country overcome its imminent challenges.”