Rakhine monks asked to have security forces between Rakhine and Rohingya communities

To maintain peace between local Buddhist Rahine and Muslim Rohingya communities, monks from Rakhine State asked to deploy security forces. The request was asked at the Sittwe State Buddhist Meeting in June 17. “We request for the good of the people living here. We request to relocate the Rohingya in a place away from Sittwe and to deploy security forces between the two communities. All the monks attended agreed the decision. We also sent the request to the State Government.” said a monk.

 

Although the current situation is clam in Rakhine State, there are worries that unrests will emerge again. “There could be riots and unrests. There always were such kinds of disputes. What happened is just a bigger one. Both sides are of satisfied. That is why the authorities need to solve the problem carefully” he continued.

 

The decisions from the meeting were (1) to give the Rohingya a place away from Sittwe, (2) to place security forces between the two communities and (3) to ask the Rohingya for their National Registration Card. For those who do not have the card will not be allowed to stay in Rakhine State and the rest of Myanmar. There are also derogatory statements not to offer the flowers sold by Rohingya to Buddhist Shrines and not to offer jobs to Rohingya. 

Moe Wai (Rakhine State – Myit Makha)