The Minister of Home Affairs, Lieutenant General Kyaw Swe, said everyone in the country have to abide the law of the land. He said in a media interview on 17 October in connection with the latest violent incidents in Rakhine State between the security forces and local Rohingya Muslims. The Minister urged the locals who are the citizen of Myanmar not to leave their places of origin as the police and military are providing protection to them. During a community meeting in Maungtaw recently, the Minister reiterated his government’s position. He said “ we will not allow losing even one inch of our territory… any nationality who live in Myanmar has to abide by the law of the land, if they can’t they should just leave…We will rather protect our citizen not care about other people leaving this place”. The Home Minister told Rakhine Buddhist community not to leave their homes, as other people would take over their places. He said the security forces would give full protection. Many Rakhine Buddhists have fled the area due to the operation by the security forces in search for the alleged perpetrators of 9 October attack on three border outposts of Myanmar security forces in Northern Rakhine State (NRS). The Rohnigya Muslims in NRS have been subjected severe restriction on movement as well as citizenship rights since 1966, when the military dictator General Ne Win was in power. Ref : The Voice, 18 October, 2016