The Mon State Civil Society Organizations’ Network has issued a statement condemning the ongoing violence in northern Rakhine State and calling for ethnic communities to band together.
“The statement was released to show sympathy between ethnic people. We can’t act like it’s not concerned with [all of] us. Our society can’t accept the violence. We denounce it,” said U Min Aung Htoo, coordinator of the Mon State Civil Society Organizations’ Network.
The August 29 statement denounced the recent attacks in northern Rakhine State, which the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army took credit for. The coordinated attacks on August 25 targeted 30 border guard posts and killed at least 12 security officials, prompting renewed clearance operations and ongoing clashes. The statement also expressed sympathy for Rakhine people and local families who have been affected by the violence.
“The existing government is in a tight spot because the situation is difficult to handle,” said U Min Aung Htoo.
On August 28, a group of civil society organizations released a separate statement also condemning the August 25 attacks and calling for, “the government of Myanmar protect the safety, dignity, and basic human rights of all the civilians".
