The “watch committee” for civil society organizations in Rakhine State has announced that its member groups will not meet with the Rakhine State Advisory Commission headed by Kofi Annan.
The watch committee includes 74 organizations operating in Rakhine State.
Kofi Annan will visit Rakhine State from December 2 to 4. He and his team with make stops in Sittwe, Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships.
Watch committee chairperson U Than Htun told The Voice: “Everyone has agreed not to meet with the Rakhine State Advisory Commission. We have no plan to meet with [Annan] during this trip. We decided this because the commission is still using the word ‘Rohingya’ for Bengalis.”
Presidential spokesperson Zaw Htay said: “We have allowed Annan to go to conflict areas, including Buthidaung and Maungdaw. We planned that.”
The advisory commission has said it will meet with representatives from both Rakhine and Rohingya communities during its visit.
U Aye Lwin, a member of the commission, said: “We are going to listen to voices from both sides. We have also planned to meet with Rakhine civil society organizations.”
