13 civilians killed in Myanmar's western state attacks

A total of 13 civilians were killed with two injured and other five missing during the period of armed attacks in Myanmar's Rakhine state from Oct. 9 to Feb. 3, the State Counselor's Office Information Committee announced Saturday.

Three border outposts in Maungtaw of Rakhine state were attacked by armed men on Oct. 9 last year in which nine policemen and five soldiers were killed and a dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in Maungtaw since Oct.10.

Following the incident, the government formed a 13-member investigation commission, led by Vice President U Myint Swe, to probe into the background of the attacks.

Tasked to formally report to the president by Jan. 31, the commission released an interim report on Jan. 4, exposing that the armed attacks in Maungtaw were conducted by Havid Tuhar-led Aqa Mul Mujahidin linked with Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) operating in the region.

However, the date to release the report was postponed by the commission as the new acquisitions concerned with human right abuses were appearing in Rakhine state.

The report will be released when the investigation process is completely accomplished.

Moreover, Myanmar government formed an advisory commission led by Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary-General, in August last year to provide recommendation to the government on measures for resolving the complex challenges facing Rakhine state.

The commission issued a statement in November last year which called for all communities' constructive engagement with the commission.

source: Xinhua