Ban welcomes commission probing violence in Rakhine state

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon has welcomed Myanmar’s establishment of a 27-member commission to investigate the recent violence in the western state of Rakhine, which has left at least a dozen civilians dead since the end of May. “This Commission is comprised of a representative cross-section of national figures in the country,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement carried by the UN News Centre. “It could make important contributions to restoring peace and harmony in the state and in creating a conducive environment for a more inclusive way forward to tackle the underlying causes of the violence, including the condition of the Muslim communities in Rakhine.” he added Recent tensions between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in the western state of Rakhine left at least a dozen civilians dead and hundreds of homes destroyed, as well as at least 64,000 people displaced. Ban’s spokesperson added that the Commission will “be integral to any reconciliation process” and the United Nations is ready to provide assistance in a “constructive spirit to Myanmar’s reform and reconciliation efforts, and to help that country overcome its imminent challenges.”