Both Myanmar President U Thein Sein and Vice President Sai Mauk Kham have recently stressed the utmost importance of peace and stability for development of the country' s Rakhine state hit by series of communal violence since last year.

The two leaders visited Rakhine state in post-violence period, meeting local ethnic people in some townships including Sittway and Thandwe.

U Thein Sein said development cannot be achieved with lack of peace and stability and rule of law, calling for people to cooperate in regional development tasks and to restore peace and stability in the region.

He stressed the need that service personnel are to know not only political, economic and administration reform process of the government but also implementation of people-centered policy.

Pointing out that Sittway, the capital of the state, has sound foundations for development through implementation of Sittway- Paletwa-Kaladan project, he said, Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project will create job opportunities for the local people, especially the youths, and contribute to economic development.

As Kyaukphyu SEZ project plays a crucial role in regional development of Kyaukphyu region, the government is inviting foreign and local investment in the economic zone.

Concentrating on electrification of Rakhine state, the government is building a 50 mega-watt gas power plant in Kyaukphyu to supply power to 17 townships of the state.

In accordance with its roadmap for rehabilitation tasks in the Rakhine state, Myanmar government is also trying to complete the citizenship scrutinizing process in the state involving both communities as early as possible despite setback to the immigration and issuing national scrutinizing citizenship, according to Vice President Sai Mauk Kham.

"Only when the scrutinization task is completed, will the mistrust between the two communities in Rakhine state be removed," Sai told the Central Committee for Restoring Community Peace and Stability in Rakhine State.

Sai tasked the work committee to draw plan for providing food to the internally-displaced people in the state next year.

"Though restoration of community peace has achieved success to a certain extent, some conflicts occurred in some parts unexpectedly," he said, citing the latest recurrence of riot in Thandwe.

"Action will be taken in accord with the law without discrimination on the ground of race and religion," warned U Thein Sein, who arrived in Thandwe on an inspection tour a day after the outbreak of the riot, saying that his government will use all ways and means vested by the constitution for restoring peace and stability and ensuring rule of law in the state.

Sai said he was saddened by last series of riots in Rakhine state, Meikhtila, Pyay, Lashio and Kantbulu. He blamed the incidents for having strained the relations between Myanmar and some ASEAN member nations, hindered the flow of foreign investment to Myanmar, especially to Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone in Rakhine state, the government efforts of reform and poverty alleviation.

A renewed communal violence, triggered by an argument over the parking of a three-wheeled motorbike in front of a shop, broke out in Thandwe on Sept. 29, killing five people and injuring five others with 59 houses, two religious buildings and one fuel station in more than 10 villages and wards being burnt down in three days.

The violence has forced the authorities to extend the already- imposed curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting Oct. 1.