RANGOON – Under the request of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi an Arakan State Information Committee comprising seven representatives of relevant ministries was formed Wednesday to release timely information on the on-going conflict in Maungdaw Township.
The announcement was made at the Presidential Palace in Naypyidaw and came as the National League for Democracy-led government flatly rejected accusations by international rights groups of extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses by security forces.
Rights groups and observers have also called on the government to give journalists access to the operation zone.
Maj-Gen Soe Naing Oo from the Ministry of Defense responded that the Maungdaw area was declared an operation zone as it is hard to ensure the security and safety of journalists. “Security forces are frequently ambushed in that area,” he said.
The State Counselor’s Office deputy minister U Khin Maung Tin will act as the chair of the committee, while Maj-Gen Soe Naing Oo from the Ministry of Defense will be vice chair and the President’s Office spokesman U Zaw Htay will act as secretary of the committee.
The four other members of the committee are: Director General of the Ministry of Information U Kyaw Soe, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Daw Aye Aye Soe, Police Col. Myo Thu Soe of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Director General of the Ministry of Border Affairs U Zaw Myo Aung.
