UN envoy unable to visit conflict areas

Myanmar did not allow the UN special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, to visit conflict areas in northern Rakhine State on Tuesday, citing safety concerns, reported Myanmar Times yesterday.

U Mya Than, deputy speaker of the Rakhine parliament, said she was not allowed to visit Maungdaw township and refugee camps in Buthidaung township because of government fears for her safety.

Than, who met with the UN envoy, said Burgener asked the parliament to urge the state government to allow her to visit the refugee camps.

“She told me that she wanted to go to the camps and give aid to the refugees but the government would not allow it. I explained to her about the security risk of going to these areas,” he told Myanmar Times.

He added that the special envoy focused the discussion on the clashes between the Tatmadaw (military) and Arakan Army (AA) and the refugees, but did not bring up the repatriation of over 700,000 refugees from northern Rakhine who are living in Bangladesh.

“She urged parliament to push the government to try to stop the fighting as soon as possible and to allow UN organisations to visit the camps,” U Mya Than said.