by Feng Yingqiu
NAY PYI TAW, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said Tuesday that the Myanmar government is striving to restore the situation in northern Rakhine state to normalcy.
She made the remarks during a special speech at the Myanmar International Convention Center-2 in Nay Pyi Taw, attended by 700 participants including 120 foreign diplomats.
Inviting the international community to cooperate constructively for Myanmar's endeavors, Aung San Suu Kyi said the final report of the advisory commission, led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, contributed to bringing about peace and development as well as resources to the Rakhine state.
She pledged to implement the commission's recommendations, which she said would also help bring about rapid improvement to the situation of the state within the shortest timeframe.
Aung San Suu Kyi said the root cause of the current crisis in Rakhine is hatred and fear, adding Myanmar is undesirable of seeing a divided nation due to disparity of faith and nationalities.
She said Myanmar will not be afraid of outside interference and irresponsible remarks over its undertakings in pursuit of peace and stability.
Before the State Counselor's speech, Defense Minister Lt-Gen Sein Win told the media that local Rakhine nationalities are in fact the victims.
The security forces have been instructed to adhere strictly to the code of conduct in carrying out security operations to curb violence, exercise all due restraint, and take all measures to avoid collateral damage and the harming of innocent civilians, he added.
Deputy Representative of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Paul Edwards voiced cooperation with Myanmar.
He told Xinhua that "We will find ways in which we can work to put and practise so we could partner with the Ministry of Social Welfare and we will work with them soon."
Aung San Suu Kyi also said that there had been no armed clashes or clearance operation since Sept. 5.
She warned that action would be taken against anyone who violate human rights in Myanmar, regardless of race, religion and political stance
Aung San Suu Kyi voiced Myanmar government's readiness to start verification process of refugees in Bangladesh at any time, as part of the refugee repatriation process in line with the 1993 Agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
She said verified refugees will be accepted and provided with security and other humanitarian aid.
She highlighted the government's social economic development in Rakhine, saying the Rakhine state's socio-economic development plan 2017-2021 has been drafted to boost regional development in various sectors.
She stressed that all people in Rakhine state including Muslim students have access to education and healthcare services without discrimination.
She also said the government is trying to promote inter-communal religious harmony by engaging interfaced groups.
With regard to relations with Bangladesh, Aung San Suu Kyi said the government is trying to enhance the existing relations, expecting Bangladeshi home minister to visit Myanmar to jointly handle the security affairs in the border area.
Following the submission of the final report of Kofi Annan's advisory commission in August, the Myanmar government formed a 15-member implementation committee, which is responsible for preventing harming of innocent civilians and addressing economic and social issues in the Rakhine region.
Terrorists launched fresh attacks on police outposts in Rakhine on Aug. 25, displacing residents from a number of areas in Maungtaw district to border areas.
