Former UNSG Kofi Annan and members of commission in Rakhine State.
Mr Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary-General and current chairman of the Rakhine State Advisory Commission, along with commission members and the Deputy Minister for Border Affairs Maj-Gen Than Htut, Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Moe Tun and members of the Rakhine State Cabinet, left Sittway Airport for Kyikanpyin village in Maungtaw by helicopter yesterday morning.
Mr Kofi Annan and the commission visited the village, which is located near the No.1 Border Guard Police command centre that came under violent attack on 9 October. The commission chairman and party proceeded to Warpeik Village, where Police Brig-Gen Thura San Lwin, Commander of the No.1 Border Guard Police HQ, explained that the village was linked with the 9th October violent attacks in part because lost weapons from the Kyikanpyin No.1 Border Guard Police Command HQ were recovered there.
Afterwards, Commissioner of Maungtaw District U Ye Htut explained the situations in the area. The district commissioner and the police commander replied to questions raised by Mr Kofi Annan.
Mr Kofi Annan and members of the commission also visited Kyetyoepyin Village and met with local people before proceeding to Shwe Baho Village in southern Maungtaw to meet with local residents.
Later, Mr Kofi Annan and members of the commission visited Buthidaung and met with local ethnic people at the Guest House of the township administrator and with Muslim residents at the meeting hall of the township administrator before visiting Buthidaung Hospital.
Mr Kofi Annan expressed his thanks to authorities for arrangements to meet members of the both communities during his visit.
The advisory commission will submit their report to the union government based on their findings on ground within 12 months and the recommendations will ease tensions between the two communities, according to Mr Kofi Annan.
Mr Kofi Annan and commissioners visited Rakhine State in September for the first time and said that they did not find any oppression between the two communities. His second visit to Rakhine State will last 9 days. The commission is scheduled to visit Myaybon and Mrauk-U today.