Rakhine Chief Minister U Maung Maung Ohn has warned the state's citizens not to oppose the government's decision to grant citizenship to "Bengalis", the official term for those who identify as Rohingya.
The warning came after 40 people who identify as Rohingya were among 209 people, most of whom were indigenous Kaman Muslims, who received citizenship documents at a ceremony held at Myebon on September 22.
The warning followed a silent protest by Myebon residents, who shut the doors of their homes and closed their shops when the Chief Minister visited the town on September 22.
Rakhine government minister of transportation U Hla Han said U Maung Maung Ohn issued the warning at a meeting with township elders and leading monks in the state capital, Sittway, on September 23.
“The government issued these citizenship certificates only after scrutinising those Bengali people and this event is being monitored by the international community, so the Chief Minister warned them that the people of Rakhine need to be flexible,” said U Hla Han.
Rakhine State Hluttaw MP U Aung Win (Rakhine National Party, Myebon) said the town's residents did not oppose the government for issuing certificates to those with the right to be citizens.
"But we oppose the issuing of certificates to Bengalis under the name of Kaman," he said.
The Kaman minority is among the 135 ethnic groups recognised by the government.
