Myanmar Says It Welcomes Aid to Rakhine State Through Diplomatic Channels

Myanmarese Muslim Rohingya stand in a shelter in Birem Bayuen in Indonesia’s East Aceh province.

Yangon, 07 Rabiul Akhir 138/05 January 2017 (MINA) – Myanmar on Thursday said it welcomes aid in cash and kind through diplomatic channels from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries to support the rehabilitation of communities in Rakhine state.

In a press release to the embassies of ASEAN member countries published on Thursday, Myanmar’s foreign ministry said it will coordinate tax exemption, customs clearance and transporting donated items with relevant departments.

Meanwhile according to Thursday’s official daily Global New Light of Myanmar, four shipping containers of food and clothing for the two communities in Rakhine state’s Maungtaw town, which is the first batch of 10 containers of aid from Indonesia, is expected to arrive at Yangon Port soon.

Despite the fact that terrorist attacks declines, government troops and border guards continued to launch area clearance operation for peace, security and stability in the area.

The Irrawwady reported that Malaysian “food flotilla” to Burma’s conflict-ridden Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships, could be met with a warning or with violence.

The aid program is being organized by the Malaysia Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations (MAPIM), a coalition of non-governmental groups, and is expected to depart Malaysia’s Port Klang carrying 200 tons of rice, medicine and other goods to Burma on January 10.

The outreach effort is to provide food and support for the Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority labeled by the Burmese government as interlopers from Bangladesh.

Zulhanis Zainol, secretary-general of MAPIM, told Malaysian media that he anticipated the flotilla encountering one of three potential scenarios: that the Burmese government would allow for the aid to be delivered; that security forces would block the ship and instruct it to turn around; or that they would attack the convoy.

Burmese authorities have reportedly received no official request for the ship to enter Burmese territory, either from the Malaysian embassy or the aid organization in question.

If they want to support Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships’ Muslim communities, MAPIM should follow procedure, said U Zaw Htay, repeatedly emphasizing the importance of not “exploiting” religion for political purposes and “deliberately trying to fuel the flame.” (T/RS05/RS01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)