Myanmar calls for legal action against violent attackers in northern state

YANGON: Myanmar’s parliamentary House of Nationalities (Upper House) has called for legal action against violent attackers operating in northern Rakhine state, China’s Xinhua news agency reported citing the state media, Myanmar News Agency yesterday.

Debating on a motion for such action on Wednesday, parliamentarians insisted that terrorist efforts in the state need to be stopped and security of the western gate be ensured to prevent the spread of the incidents to other parts of the country.

Besides, for the development of the region, heavy industries, agricultural and livestock breeding should be established and security forces should be deployed more than ever permanently, the parliamentarians stressed.

The MPs called for halting subsidies from some international organisations that are believed to fund the violent attackers, saying that support and aid from international anti-terrorism organisations can be obtained when the armed attackers are regarded as terrorists.

The MPs also proposed reporting to the UN Security Council so that aid and support of terrorist groups can be effectively stopped. A spate of violence occurred in Buthidaung and Maungtaw from last October to July left at least 44 civilians killed and 27 others kidnapped. — Bernama