UN chief backs Myanmar efforts to resolve Rakhine issue

By Kyaw Ye Lynn

YANGON, Myanmar

United Nations (UN) chief Ban Ki-moon has endorsed the Myanmar government’s efforts to resolve issues in western Rakhine State, where communal violence since mid-2012 has left nearly 100 people dead and some 100,000 displaced.

Ban described the situation in Rakhine -- home to around 1.2 million Rohingya Muslims -- as “complex” after meeting with State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi in political capital Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday.

“We are happy to see the courageous steps the government is taking, including the establishment of an advisory commission headed by my predecessor Mr. Kofi Annan to look at overall issues in Rakhine,” Ban told a press conference.

“People who have been living for generations in this country should enjoy the same legal status and citizenship as everyone has,” Ban added, referring to the Rohingya, described by the U.N. as one of the world's most persecuted minority groups.

Ahead of his visit, Ban had called on the Suu Kyi-led government to fully respect human rights.

"The new leadership must now overcome discrimination, ensure equality and promote inclusive development for all," Ban said in a statement Monday

The U.N. chief arrived in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday to make an opening speech at the Union Peace Conference, which is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

“We congratulate all participants to the conference as peace and stability are the most important things for Myanmar,” he said.

The four-day 21st-Century Panglong Conference -- also called the Union Peace Conference -- sees 10 armed ethnic groups that failed to sign a nationwide ceasefire agreement with the previous government and eight that signed participate in political dialogue to push for the formation of a federal union.

Elsewhere Tuesday, the European Union welcomed progress made in recent months towards increasing the inclusive nature of the process.

It described the conference as an important milestone in the advancement of peace and national reconciliation in the country.

The EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement Tuesday that the success of Myanmar's transition depends on putting an end to conflict.

“Though much has been achieved over the past few years, challenges still lie ahead,” Mogherini said, adding that ongoing clashes, especially in the north of the country, result in continued human suffering and undermined confidence in the process.

“Fighting must cease and disputes resolved through negotiation,” she underlined.