Arakan News Agency
A spokesman for the office of Myanmar President Zaw Htay denied that the government would establish Buddhist militias in Arakan state to confront Muslims.
The NDP spokesman said the party, after becoming the ruling party in 2016, had no plans to establish paramilitary forces in Arakan state.
“We are paying particular attention to the fight against terrorism and the security of local people. But here we are talking about the formation of popular militias, I want to make clear that this is not the policy of the government.”
Media reports quoted a government official in Arakan, capital of Arakan state, on a government plan to provide arms and military training to ethnic ethnic Rakhine in the northern city of Maungdaw.
On Sunday, Buddhist monks and local residents took to the streets in 15 towns of Arakan province, demanding the government provide greater security and arming local Buddhists, fearing Islamist militants.
Members of the Arakan National Party, which holds a majority of seats in the Arakan state parliament, made the proposal last week during a meeting with the Myanmar army chief, General Min Aung Hlaing, but gave no clear answer.
