Rohingya people in Palongkhali region near Ukhia, Bangladesh after fleeing from Rakhine state of Myanmar (Photo: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – More than 7,000 people have been granted nationalverification cards in Myanmar’s northern state Rakhine since local authoritiesstarted a verification process on October 1, the Myanmar News Agency reportedon October 29.
Thenational verification process is one of the recommendations proposed by anadvisory commission on Rakhine state, led by former United Nations SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan.
Theverification process, using biometric methods for the national identity system,is the first step towards scrutinising citizenship in accordance with the 1982Citizenship Law.
UAung Min, Director of the Rakhine State Immigration and Population Department,said the process is being carried out in stable areas.
Meanwhile,Myanmar has formed nine private sector task forces to join the mechanism ofUnion Enterprises for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development(UEHRD) in Rakhine state, chaired by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
Thenewly established mechanism aims to allow the government and local andinternational organisations to work in all sectors of society for thedevelopment of Rakhine state.
SuuKyi prioritised three main tasks to be done in Rakhine, including therepatriation of refugees who have fled to Bangladesh and providing humanitarianassistance effectively; resettlement and rehabilitation; and bringingdevelopment and lasting peace to the region.
Thegovernment is also ready to implement a national verification and repatriationprocess in accordance with agreed criteria set out in a joint statement betweenthe foreign ministries of Myanmar and Bangladesh in 1992.
Morethan 600,000 Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar fled into Bangladesh since violent governmentclearing operations were launched after militants attacked police outposts inRakhine state on August 25.-VNA
