TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Myanmar allowed Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) to resume their operations and reopen clinics in Kachin, Shan, and the Yangon region.
However, they are still banned from working in Rakhine, where at least 33,000 people are in treatment for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
MSF clinics in Rakhine were closed down last Friday after reports of mass killing of Muslims in the Du Char Yar Tan region last January. International community reacted angrily which caused Myanmar to soften. Spokesman for President Thein Sein, Ye Htut, said the government only imposed ban on the Rakhine region, not all Myanmar regions.
The National Commission of Human Rights in Myanmar denied genocide had taken place. However, in Feburary 7, head of mission for MSF in Myanmar, Peter-Paul de Groote said they had treated 22 Muslims wounded due to violence after an incident in January 14.
This report became one of the bases for the UN Human Rights Council and US to urged Myanmar to investigate the alleged genocide. However, Ye Htut accused MSF of spreading lies. This accusation was followed by thousands of locals protesting and demanding the government to expell MSF from Rakhine.
MSF was further accused for prioritizing Rohingya Muslim people rather than local Buddhists in Rakhine. This was denied by MSF. "All MSF services are provided based on medical need only, regardless of ethnicity, religion or any other factor."
REUTERS | BBC | SITA PLANASARI AQUADINI
