Yangon unhappy over Dhaka's bid for UN arbitration

Myanmar is disappointed as Bangladesh decided to take the maritime boundary delimitation issue to arbitration at the United Nations.

As India and Myanmar have started developing their offshore resources, Bangladesh government opted for UN arbitration.

“When Bangladesh has decided to take the issue of delimitation of maritime boundary to arbitration at the UN, we were a little (bit) disappointed,” Myanmar Ambassador in Dhaka Phae Thann Oo told UNB in an interview.

“But, what I mean to say, we have an open, ongoing bilateral process on the issue of delimitation--and it is progressing. We should continue it. Only when the process has been exhausted without providing a solution, should we go for arbitration. That is again my personal opinion,” said the diplomat.

He noted with happiness that the two sides are still going to have the next round of technical-level meeting, in Dhaka, in November. “Neither country has abandoned the process,” he said.

At the next talks, they plan to raise the point of their disappointments over Bangladesh's decision to go for arbitration while the bilateral talks are on, and 'progressing'.

“We don't think it is necessary to go for arbitration. But whether Bangladesh goes ahead with it or not will be up to them. They are within their rights to do so, and we respect that,” Phae Thann Oo said.

About the disputed part of the Bay of Bengal, the envoy struck a high note of optimism about an amicable solution. “…one day, we'll have a mutually agreed settlement,” he said.

About press reports that Myanmar mobilised troops along the border, he said, “We deny this; this is not true in the context it has been reported.”

He informed that the Myanmar military government is faced with many problems as it is preparing for the elections next year. “To hold proper elections, you need the prevalence of law and order, you need peace and tranquillity. Sometimes, we need to move the troops around from this area to that.”

About border fencing, the diplomat said, “The fences we are putting up are beyond that (range). The fences, too, cannot be erected by local people, we have to bring in the army, make use of our military engineers. All these things are in preparation for the election and the subsequent transfer of power.”

On Rohingya refugees, he said this is an unfortunate issue between the two countries. “The so-called 'Rohingyas', for you of course...for us, they are Bengali Muslims. Now, the way we see it, if they are our citizens, they will not run away from our country, and our government also would take care of them. Over the years, we have been repatriating many of them also.”

He said, "Those who we find are our citizens we'll take them back, like we have done in the past."