Commission probing Rakhine says ‘rule of law’ being observed
Myanmar’s military clearance operations in northern Rakhine State are being carried out “lawfully”, the investigation commission led by Vice President Myint Swe concluded after wrapping up a three-day field visit to Maundgaw. The announcement comes as Human Rights Watch released a report accusing the military of complicity in the burning of villages, an accusation the commission denies. Secretary of the investigation commissinon U Zaw Myint Phay told The Myanmar Times it would be necessary to collect more facts before submitting a report and making the findings public. “We plan to visit the Maungdaw area [another two or three] times,” he said, adding that it wasn’t clear when these trips would take place, and that the 13-member taskforce would need time to analyse the data already collected. “It is too early to comment further on this investigation,” he said. In a statement released on December 14, the commission said there had been no attacks or burnings since November 22.
