Myanmar's upcoming memorandum of understanding with two United Nations agencies to facilitate the repatriation of Rohingya refugees has raised hopes that international access will be widened in the ravaged western corner of the country.

News on Thursday night of the pending agreement was matched by an announcement from Myanmar that it will set up a three-person independent commission of inquiry into the "violation of human rights and related issues following the terrorist attacks" by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa), an armed group that claims to be fighting on behalf of the country's beleaguered Rohingya minority.