Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the severity of violence towards Rohingya people in Rakhine from the Burmese civilian population

The Government has strong reason to believe​ that serious acts of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, have been carried out against the Rohingya. It is important that the international Fact-Finding Mission is able to investigate fully, including through access to Burma, so we can understand the full extent and nature of the violence. It is clear that the military have created the current situation in Rakhine, and bear primary responsibility for the suffering we have seen. But there is also credible evidence that civilians in Rakhine State have carried out acts of violence against Rohingya individuals and groups, and against their homes and property.

I underlined the UK's deep concern about the violence in Rakhine when I met Burma's Defence Minister on 20 November. I stressed the need for Burma's military and police to restore security, to allow an independent international investigation of what had happened, and to guarantee the safety of those Rohingya who wish to return to their homes.

This violence shows the importance of addressing the underlying issues in Rakhine, including inter-communal tension. The Rakhine Advisory Commission presented a range of good recommendations that could contribute to the longer term resolution of these problems. The UK has made clear it supports for these recommendations, and is ready to assist with their implementation.