This is the response from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to Burma Campaign UK supporters who emailed them to call for a UN Security Council meeting on the crisis in Rakhine State:

31 August 2017

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for getting in touch about the situation in Rakhine State.

The British Government shares your concerns about rising tensions in Rakhine State.  That is why, following the recent attacks by Rohingya militants, and the subsequent security response, we raised the situation in Rakhine at the UN Security Council on 30 August. The UK condemned the attacks by Rohingya militants and offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.  We also urged the security forces in Rakhine to show restraint and called for all parties to de-escalate tensions.

The recent violence emphasises how important it is to address the long-term issues in Rakhine for all communities. State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, made an early commitment to Rakhine soon after taking office last year, setting up an Advisory Commission, chaired by former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. The UK welcomed the final recommendations of the Advisory Commission, launched on 25 August, and stands ready to support the Government of Burma in implementing them.

The UK has long been one of the biggest bilateral humanitarian donors to Burma and to Rakhine State. Since 2012, we have provided over £30 million in humanitarian assistance supporting work, including on sanitation and nutrition for over 126,000 people. We have also provided nearly £8 million to address the humanitarian suffering of Rohingya refugees and the vulnerable Bangladeshi communities that host them.

I would be grateful if you could publish this response on your website/circulate this response to your supporters.

South East Asia Department

A PDF version of the letter is here: Violence against the Rohingya – response letter

View this original letter HERE.