THE Arakan National Party (ANP) said on 26 August that it opposed to a government-appointed advisory commission on Rakhine State issue. A former the United Nations Secretary General and a Nobel laureate Kofi Annan is appointed as the head of the commission. The commission was appointed by the State Counsellor, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to advice the government on a long-term strategy on how to resolve the racial and religious tensions in Rakhine State. The 9-member commission include three foreigners including Mr. Annan. An announcement form ANP said it opposed to the appointment of the three foreigners in the commission, as they have no knowledge on the background history of Rakhine State. The government appointed the commission is tasked to do research and advice on such issues as conflict prevention, providing humanitarian assistance and on the national reconciliation. An advisory commission on the Rakhine State was appointed under the previous U Thein Sein led government. That commission has given recommendation to lift travel restrictions on Muslims and to encourage them to educate themselves. The racial and religious conflicts in Rakhine State in 2012 has triggered similar incidents in other parts of Myanmar. Reference: BHRN & DVB Burmese (http://burmese.dvb.no/archive/165553)