Rakhine State authorities told BBC Burmese that 200 members of the Rakhine community in Maungdaw Township would be invited to receive police training and then serve as ‘local police’.
This move comes after Buddhist Rakhines called for the formation of a ‘people’s force’ after three border guard stations were attacked on October 9. Nine security officers were killed in the attacks. Several Rohingya Muslims were arrested following the attacks.
Members of the Rakhine population who have completed primary education and are between the ages of 18 and 35 are eligible to apply for the police training.
According to Rakhine State authorities, the training programme will promote stability and law enforcement in the region.
U Min Aung, the head of the Rakhine State Information Department, said the newly deputised police will be assigned to their own villages after undergoing six months of training.
Local authorities have allowed aid groups into villages that have suffered from the recent violence, according to U Tin Maung Swe, the secretary for the Rakhine State government.
Aid groups had initially been denied access to vulnerable populations in Rakhine State, particularly Rohingya villages, prompting an outcry from human rights groups.
“UN representatives are allowed to go and check there,” said Zaw Htay, the spokeperson for the President’s Office.
The World Food Programme had been supplying food to tens of thousands of people before the violence began last month. Its access was terminated after the attacks in northern Rakhine State and was only restored yesterday.
(BBC BURMESE)
