The Rakhine people presented Union Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mahn with a demand for forming of people’s militia units under the command of the Army.
At a meeting between representatives of 17 townships in Rakhine state and the Speaker, Zaw Aye Maung, the Yangon regional government Rakhine Affairs Minister, made a presentation on geopolitical, social and border security affairs. He informed the Speaker about the situation in the state after the Border Inspection and Supervision (Nasaka) units were disbanded.
The Nasaka was disbanded on July 12 and replaced by the police force for manning security in the border areas of Rakhine state.
“Cooperation between union government and Rakhine people for security in the state is necessary. We demand the formation of a people's militia in each and every township in the state. I request you to have faith in the Rakhine people and entrust us this duty”, Zaw Aye Maung said.
Similarly, Maungdaw Township representative Aung Kyaw Nyunt said that people’s militia units were badly needed in Rakhine state to check the deteriorating situation of law and order and high rate of crimes, especially thefts and robberies.
The representatives of Sittwe, Kyauktaw, Maungdaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya and Yathetaung Townships also reiterated the demand to form people’s militia units in their areas.
Speaker Thura Shwe Mahn replied, “I shall forward all the presentations and demands to the President, both Houses of the Parliament and the union and state government.”
Regarding local area development, the representatives presented issues, such as, high rate of electricity in the state which is about MMK 500 (50 US cents approx.) per kilowatt hour, lack of job opportunities, youth development matters and lack of good road for transportation.
Presidential Office Union Minister Soe Thein recently said at the meeting with local authorities in Sittwe on September 16 that it was not easy to lower the current electricity rate of MMK 500 per kilowatt hour in Rakhine state.
The meeting titled ‘Rakhine family get-together for development in the State’ was held on September 29 at the International Business Center (IBC) in Yangon. Speaker Thura Shwe Mahn invited three representatives from each township in Rakhine State to the meeting.
