Myanmar forms commission to probe into deadly attacks in western state

The Myanmar government has formed a special commission to probe into the Oct. 9 attacks by armed men on border posts in Maungtaw, the country's western Rakhine state, the president's office said on Friday.

The 13-member investigation commission is led by First Vice President U Myint Swe and U Zaw Myint Pe, who is a member of the parliament's legal affairs and special cases assessment commission.

The fact-finding commission is tasked to investigate the violent attacks and ensure existing laws, rules and regulations be observed to avoid similar incidents.

The commission is to make recommendations and advice on the stability of the area. A report will be directly submitted to the president by Jan. 31, 2017.

Three border posts - Kyikanpyi in Maungtaw, Kotankauk in Rathedaung and Ngakhuya Office - were attacked on Oct. 9 by hundreds of armed men, which left five soldiers and eight policemen dead.

Among the some 30 attackers, two women have been killed and 12 others have been captured in the follow-up armed clashes between the government troops and the armed men in Maungtaw.

A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in Maungtaw since Oct. 10.

Islamic extremists funded by foreign terrorist organizations were involved in those attacks, the government said. Endit