During the evening of Friday 25 August, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) called on all parties in Burma/Myanmar to implement "without delay" the recommendations made in the final report of the advisory commission on Rakhine State, Myanmar, the previous day.
The recommendations "for the economic and social development in Rakhine State", "if implemented with full ownership of all relevant stakeholders, have the potential to address the complex challenges in Rakhine State and find sustainable solutions towards lasting peace, stability and prosperity", the spokesperson said in a press release.
The EEAS spokesperson welcomed the Myanmar government's commitment to give the report its full consideration with a view to implementing the recommendations as soon as possible. "We are ready to cooperate with the government of Myanmar and the people of Rakhine in addressing the challenges of the state identified by the advisory commission", the spokesperson added. The recommendations focus among other things on greater freedom of movement for Rohingya civilians and the closure of camps for displaced persons, where 120,000 people have been living since 2012.
Elsewhere, speaking about the attacks carried out by Rohingya rebels on Burmese police stations, which claimed 92 lives in the north of Rakhine State during the night of 24 August, the EEAS spokesperson called for the perpetrators of these "despicable attacks" to be brought to justice. "We expect all parties to act responsibly and exercise restraint to avoid further escalation of violence", the spokesperson said, adding that the attacks "highlight the need for a decisive and comprehensive approach to address the situation in (Rakhine) State". In retaliation for these attacks, the Burmese security forces, who are tracking down the rebels, are reportedly also attacking Rohingya civilians who flee the fighting. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)