The death of Kofi Annan on Saturday was a great loss for Myanmar at a time when it is trying to implement the recommendations of the late UN secretary general’s commission on the humanitarian crisis in northern Rakhine, U Thar Hla Shwe, a member of the commission, said on Sunday.
“We lost a wise gentleman who had heartfelt sympathy for our country and was eager to solve the Rakhine issue,” said U Thar Hla Shwe.
At a time when the world turned against Myanmar over its alleged failure to resolve the crisis, Annan took up the challenge of leading the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, which was tasked with finding a lasting solution to the crisis.
He braved criticism by well-funded lobbyists that he was being used as a deodorant by the Myanmar government in its alleged “ethnic cleansing” activities.
The unflappable Annan forged on, leading the commission that came up with 88 recommendations last year to deal with the crisis.
Laetitia van den Assum, a member of the commission, said that his engagement in Myanmar stands out as “a major effort of his final years”.
“He arrived in Yangon in September 2016, well prepared for the complexity and intransigence his commission would find in its path. He immediately reached out to those who had criticised his appointment, ensuring them of his strict impartiality and underlining the importance of solutions that would address the concerns of all communities in Rakhine State,” she said, arguing that this inclusive approach became the “cornerstone” of the commission’s recommendations.
“While Annan firmly believed in the importance of diversity, he also recognised how decades of government neglect and impoverishment had contributed to turning communities in Rakhine State against each other,” Van den Assum added.
“In order to move forward together,” Annan wrote in the introduction to the final report, “the past must give way to a renewed vision for a dynamic future.” Van den Assum stressed that such a vision requires the support of all local communities.
“While there will always be detractors, the people of Myanmar, and Rakhine State in particular, could pay no greater tribute to Kofi Annan’s legacy than to embrace the need for a renewed vision with diversity and equality at its core. That requires an open discussion about what it means to be a 21st century citizen of Myanmar,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mark Field, UK foreign minister and minister for Asia, said on Twitter that the Annan commission’s recommendations “remain essential for peace and dignity for the Rohingya in Burma. We remain determined to see them implemented in full,” he went on.
Annan, who also won a Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work and a prominent United Nations secretary-general, died on Saturday at age 80.
According to a statement of the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Annan family, the Nobel Peace Laureate passed away peacefully on Saturday after a short illness.
Annan, who served as the seventh UN secretary-general from 1997 to 2006, was a constant advocate for human rights, development and the rule of law. He had a life-long commitment to the cause of peace and the great respect for him and his essential work was illustrated when he, together with the UN as a whole, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
He was a founding member of The Elders, an international organisation founded by Nelson Mandela and an independent group of global leaders working together for peace and human rights.
The Elders said in a statement that it was shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of their dear friend and colleague.
‘’He was an inspiring boss, a dedicated international public servant, a true statesman, and a very gentle man. Kofi Annan RIP,’’ U Than Myint U, a historian and writer, tweeted.
Moywa Aung Shin, a spokesperson for the National League for Democracy (NLD), said the ruling party is deeply saddened by the passing of Annan and was proud of him because of his impartial recommendations on Rakhine, aimed at creating a harmonious multi-ethnic community in the troubled state.
“We must continue with his recommendations. He advised many counsels and found the ways to resolve the issue,” said Moywa Aung Shin.
Annan was appointed by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as chair of the Rakhine commission in 2016.
He visited Myanmar several times, the last time was when he presented the 88 recommendations of the commission just before the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army launched attacks on government security outposts in the area, apparently to preempt his proposal to find peace in northern Rakhine.
U Thar Hla Shwe said Annan really wanted to resolve the Rakhine issue.
‘’We felt his consideration on Rakhine while we were working together on the commission,” he said.
He added, “If we implement the recommendations of Kofi Annan, the Rakhine issue will definitely be resolved and the state would enjoy development. The issue will fade away when the commission’s recommendations are carried out properly.”
U Tun Aung Kyaw, secretary of the Arakan National Party, which strongly objected to the Annan commission, said the party objected to the commission because it was led by international experts.
But he added that the party will always remember Annan for the respect he showed to the different ethnic groups in northern Rakhine.
“We would never forget that Mr Kofi Annan was the only one who met with us to discuss Rakhine,” U Tun Aung Kyaw said.
