Committee set up to strengthen role of Arakan CSOs in peacemaking

By DMG 02 Oct 2021

DMG Newsroom
2 October 2021, Sittwe

A civil society peace committee was set up in Sittwe on October 2 to strengthen the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in the peacemaking process in Arakan State.

The plan to form a civil society peace committee was discussed during a meeting and workshop at Arian Hall on Strand Road in the Arakan State capital on Saturday.

As there is no formal peace agreement between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar military in Arakan State, it is necessary for CSOs working for peace to have legitimacy, said U Khaing Kaung San, an information officer for the peace committee.

“The role of civil society organisations needs to be strengthened, especially in the peace process that successive governments have been pursuing, and especially after the military coup,” he said. “At this time, I think the role of civil society organisations is becoming more important. Another thing is that no peace agreement has been signed between the Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw in Arakan State. I think there needs to be a civil society organisation working for peace in Arakan State.”

Youth activists, middle-aged people and organisations interested in the peacemaking process were invited to the workshop on October 2 to discuss formation of the committee, which will have nine to 15 members.

“We discussed the peace process, especially the 2012 conflict, to avoid conflicts between different ethnic groups in Arakan State. The fighting that took place in 2019 and 2020 should not happen again in Arakan State. We formed this committee because it depends on what role our civil society will play in the peacemaking process,” U Khaing Kaung San said.

After the formation of civil society peace committees in each Arakan State township, state-level committees will be formed and capacity-building training courses will be provided to the township committees.

“I attended this workshop on behalf of Arakan human rights organizations,” said U Mrat Tun, director of the Arakan Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Association. “As a representative for an organisation, I think peace is essential. This is because if there is a clash between the two armed groups, there will be a lot of human rights violations and war crimes. With peace organizations in place, human rights abuses and war crimes can be eliminated or reduced.”

Saturday’s workshop was attended by 20 representatives from civil society organisations.