Arakanland News & Article

ARAKANLAND

 Problem of Arakan under the Infamous Burmese Military Rulers

By: Kyaw Tun

     Arakan, also known as Rakhine, is one of the states of Burma (Myanmar), and it is situated between the Arakan Roma (Arakan Range) and Bangladesh. According to Burma’s LostKingdom: Splendours of Arakan, “For over a thousand years the region which now forms the Rakhine State of the Union of Myanmar (Burma) was an independent state” (Gutman 3). Unfortunately, it was occupied by different countries. Burma forces invaded and conquered Arakan in 1784 (“1784-1785: A Global Chronology of Conflict”). The British encroached in 1824, and Japan penetrated in 1942. During the Burmese colonization in 1784-1824, the people of Arakan were victims of crimes against humanity by their Burmese successors, according to the local chronicle “Rakhine Razawon Thiek Kyan (New History of Arakan),” written by Ashun Sandamalalinkara. When the British rule in Arakan, with colonialism as a divide and rule policy, the economy of Arakan developed, and the social and political life of Arakan stabilized. However, the situation was still bad because the British Government allowed seasonal laborers from East Bengal to enter Arakan. Japan ruled Arakan for three years with fascism (“A Brief Background and History of Arakan”). When Burma gained independence from Great Britain in 1948, Arakan was subjected to Myanmar rulers. Due to Burmese subjection, the people of Arakan now face serious problems: social discrimination, economic exploitation, and political suppression.

    First, the social discrimination is one of the violations of the Burmese government which has racially ruled Arakan. The authorities always treat the Arakanese people as second class citizens. There are no equal opportunities; all high-level administrators and officers are Burmese, and there is no chance of getting jobs for the indigenous people of Arakan. When the Burmese government built many factories and heavy industries in Burma proper, Arakan was still ignored by authorities. This caused an increase in unemployment and poverty in Arakan. According to UNDP’s Burma report, “Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey in Myanmar (2009-2010): Poverty Profile,” Arakan (Rakhine State) is one of the second poorest states of Burma after Chin State. Looking for better job, many Arakanese—migrant labors-- went to Thailand, Malaysia, and other countries (“Burmese Migrants Struggle in Malaysia”). The people of Arakan have no opportunity to get jobs for their families to survive due to Burmese government’s discrimination policy. Second, human rights violations are widely spread in Arakan. Myanmar authorities, especially the Myanmar Army, systematically violate the local people. They have confiscated many lands from the native people of Arakan without compensation. For the Shwe Gas Field Project and the Arakan-China Pipeline Project, the authorities occupied many farmyards in Kyauk Pru Township. The farmers have not received any compensation. At the same time, authorities block fishing in the gas project area. Both farmers and fishermen have faced hardship. During the construction of the ‘Shwe Gas Project,’ the Burmese Army used forced labor. The Burmese Army committed harassments and rape of Arakanese teens, and they forced marriages of Arakanese people. Similarly, Burmese authorities have violated both Arakanese and Chin through the ‘Kalandan multimodal transport,’ which helps Burma through India, which is concerned about China’s growing influence. And India wants to gain access to the natural gas reserves off the Arakan coast (Johnson, Kazmin, and Mcgregor). Arakanese people have met every type of violation of human rights by Burmese authorities. Also, educational opportunities in Arakan are unacceptable because of the Myanmar Military Government’s discriminations policy. Eighty percent of people who live in rural areas do not pass the primary level. They totally depend on Monastic Schools. Arakan’s educational standard is shown in the lower 75%, according to the UNDP’s report in June, 2011 (UNDP 89). 

    In addition, there is no medical insurance. Myanmar Medicare Systems takes free care of children under five. The Myanmar People’s Hospital provides free surgery for emergency patients and free medication to maternal patients, according to Dr. Daw Thein Thein Htay, Deputy Minister for Heath of Burma (“Measures Being Taken for People to Enjoy Medicare System”). There are many shortages in facilities. Patients depend on foreign made medicines. Prices are very expensive. The medicine is illegally brought to the country from Bangladesh, India, China, and Thailand. In the People’s Hospital, the patients who are poor and who come from rural areas are always discriminated by doctors and nurses.  The rights of patients are nothing in Burma (“Myanmar Patient Pay the Price”).

    Arakan is one of the richest archaeological sites in Myanmar. Despite this, the Myanmar Military Government declared the old cultural heritage zones of Dhanywadi, Vesali, and Mrauk U to be turned into rail-road crossings, which has systematically destroyed historical sites, including city walls and pagodas. These three sites are officially recognized as “Protected and Preserved Zone (PZ)” (Han 40, 41, 42). These are totally violated by Burmese government.

    The second major problem of the Burmese Military Government is that it set up a policy that economically exploits Arakan. Arakan is abundant in natural resources: natural gas, oil, marble, and timber. The government sold Arakan’s natural gas to China:   Burmese workers are building what is being called "one of the most lucrative foreign-funded development projects in the country's history." The twin oil pipelines will stretch from Burma's west coast to its northeast border and into China. The pipelines are expected to earn Burma about $1 billion per year, however, not everyone is a supporter. (“Foreign Investors Back Burma Pipeline)

    According to “Pipeline Project Seal Chinese Links with Burma,” the local people are worried because

this gas belongs to all people of the region. It should not be taken without benefitting the people. The

Burmese army will get the money, and they will use it to purchase weapons to kill people (Jenkins).

This project—gas pipeline and crude oil pipeline led by China National Petroleum Corporation with other

companies from Burma, South Korea and India-- has a 30 year period of MoU with China, and Burma

signed to sell 6.5 trillion cubic feet (cf) of gas from the  Shwe gas fields of the Arakan coast. The Burma

government will earn at least $29 billion before transferring to Burma (“No Blood for Gas 2”). However,

the people of Arakan have no benefit in this project. When the Burma regime sold the gas, the people of

Arakan faced a shortage of electricity.           

    On the other hand, the Burmese Military Government has started a multi-million dollar project with the assistance of India since 2010. This multimodal transport project has constructed a road and inland waterway from Sittwey (Akyab) port in Arakanto Mizoram and Calcutta in India. This project will supply gas from Arakan to north-eastern India. The Kalandan Movement, an alliance of Arakan River Network  (ARN), the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) in Burma, and the Zo Indigenous Forum (ZIF) and several other civil society groups express their deepest concern about the lack of benefits to the local people of Arakan and Chin (“Kaladan Project should benefit India, Myanmar: Pressure Groups.”).

     Arakan is totally dependent on agriculture, fishing, and forestry which are the major Arakanese industries. Rice is the main crop in Arakan State, and rice cultivation takes up the 85% of total agricultural land. There are estimated 70% farmers, 20% fisherman, 5% traders, and 5% government servants. Fresh-fish, shrimp, lobster, and dried-fish (salt-fish) are mainly exported out of state. Coconut and toddy palm plantations are also important businesses. And bamboo, fuel wood, and timber productions are also the main earning for local businesses. Crude oil is traditionally produced with primitive methods. However, all major business are still controlled by the Burmese Military Government and their cronies,and they have taken all business opportunities, including Arakan’s trade (Min 8, 9).                 

    Finally, the most important problem is political in Arakan, which has still lost its independence under the Burmese government suppression policy, according to Myanmar Constitution Law 2008. Arakan is a country which is now part of Burma, but then was an independent kingdom (Collis 15). It has a long history and its chronicle era is calculated from 3325 BC until to 1784 AD when the Burmese King, Bodaw Maung Wying, brutally invaded Arakan with an unjust or a genocidal war. After 40 years of inhuman Burmese rule in Arakan, colonists from England via India and Japan came to Arakan through Thailand with the intent of occupying it with different policies. The British ruled Arakan in 1824 during the colonial period in 1942; Arakan was controlled by Japanese fascists. In 1948, when the Burmese said that Burma was free from Great Britain, Arakan became one of the colony states of Burma.               

    Before Burma’s independence, the Arakanese revolution, led by Ven. U Sein Da, Ven. U Pinnya Thiha and Captain Kra Hla Aung, fought against the British and Japanese occupations. Their purpose was for Rakhines to demand separate independence for their ancient sate; however, their objective was unsuccessful after the attainment by the Burmese independence in 1948 (“Rakhines.” Ethnic Groups of South Asia and Pacific”). In 1974, Arakan became its own state but there is no power to right of self-determination, according to Myanmar Constitution Law (2008).     

    According to “Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2008),” wich is written by the Burmese Military Government, Arakan is coming under military rule (The Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Dept. of Ministry of Information 3, 19, 20,104, 105, 106, 107). The people of Arakan have long suffered under Burmese military rulers who do not respect the principles of democracy, principles of equal rights, and self-determination of the people of Arakan. Their rules of principle are the threatening, arresting, torturing, and killing to rule with fascism.                 

    In addition, for political intention, the corrupt Burmese Military Government has created a huge problem between the native people of Arakan and illegal Chittagongnian Bengali Muslim. They call themselves “Rohingya,” which is the old label of Arakan in colloquial Chittagong dialect (Qanungo 232). This is taken from the old name of Arakan (Rakhine) “Rohang.”  The term that is used by them is definitely committed an “identity thief.” The Burmese authorities unofficially allowed them with bribery to settle north-west Arakan. However, authorities block them from passing Burma proper through the Arakan range. In fact, it is visible and clarifies that the Burmese government created the conflict between the indigenous people of Arakan and Bengali Muslims when the Arakanese people demanded the share of gas selling profit to benefit of local people in 2012 (Parameswaran). This puzzle is one of the deepest concerns of Arakan.                

    So far, the people of Arakan have faced too many concerns: fearful, poor, uneducated and undeveloped under the rule of the Burmese Military Government. As the trouble-maker, the government and authorities always suppress the people of Arakan socially, economically, and politically. Many types of problems in Arakan are begotten by them. Constantly, the people of Arakan are hurt and face nightmares because of the suppression of the infamous Burmese military rulers.

 Works Cited

“A Brief Background and History of Arakan.” Arakan Rivers Network. N.p., 2009. Background: Arakan. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.

“Burmese Migrants Struggle in Malaysia.” IRIN 14 Oct. 2009. IRIN Asia:Myanmar. Web.9 Oct. 2014.

Collis, Maurice. The Land of the Great Image.  New Directions Books, New York: James Laughlin. 1985. Print."Foreign Investors Back Burma Pipeline." Pipeline & Gas Journal 239.7 ( 2012): 12+. Academic OneFile. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.

Gutman, Pamela. Burma’s Lost Kingdoms: Splendours of Arakan. Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2001.Print.

Han, Zaw Oo. Cultural Heritage Protection in Myanmar. Ministtry of Culture Dept. of  Archaeology and National Museum. N.p., Web. 9 Oct. 2014.

Johnson, Jo, Amy Kazmin, and Richard Megregor. “Asean Appeals for Help over Burma CALL  TO CHINA AND INDIA.” Financial Times 22 July 2006: 5. Academic Onefile. Web. 25. Sept. 2014.

“Kalandan Project Should Benefit India, Myanmar: Pressure Groups.” Time of India 12 June 2013. General OneFile. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

“Measures Being Taken for People to Enjoy Medicare System.” New Light of Myanmar 21 August 2013. Web. 2 Oct, 2014.

Min, Win. “Burmese Military Government: Crony Capitalists in Uniform.” N.p., Web. 9 Oct. 2014.

“Myanmar Patients Pay the Price.” Irrawaddy 9 Aug. 2013. Magazine-Society. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.“No Blood for Gas.” The Shwe Gas Movement 28 Oct. 2009. Web. 9 Oct. 2014.

“1784-1785.” A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East. Ed. Spencer C. Tucker. Vol. 3: 1775-1860. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2010. 958. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

Parameswaran, Gayatri. “A Call to End Darkness in Burma.” Radio Netherlands Worldwide. 21 Jan. 2012. Web. 10 Oct.2014.

 Qanungo, Suniti Bhushan. A History of Chittagong Vol.1.  Chittagong: Billa Printers, 1988. Print.

“Rakhine.” Ethinic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An Encyclopedia. James B. Minahan. Sanata Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2012. 268-270. Ethnic Groups of the World. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Dept. of Ministry of Information. Constitution of the  Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2008). Rangoon: October, 2013. Print.

UNDP.” Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey in Myanmar (2009-2010): Poverty Profile,” IHLCA Project Technical Unit. Sida, UNICEF, UNDP. June 2011.Web. 25 Sept. 2014.           

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ARAKANLAND

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ARAKANLAND

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ARAKANLAND

Sean ဆိုတဲ့ေကာင္က David ကို ေနာက္ကေန လည္ပင္းကိုဖက္ျပီး ခ်ဳပ္ေပးတယ္..
ေရွ ့က BAR ပိုင္ရွင္သူေဌးသားက တလက္မဓါးနဲ ့ထိုးတယ္...David ရဲ ့မ်က္ႏွာနဲ ့ေမးရိုးေအာက္မွာဒါဏ္ရာရတယ္ အေနာက္က ေနDavid ကိုသိုင္းဖက္ျပီးခ်ဳပ္ေပးထားတဲ့ Seanရဲ ့လက္ဖ်ံကိုပါဓါးနဲ ့ထိုးမိတယ္..David မ်က္ႏွာ နဲ ့ေမးေအာက္က ဒဏ္ရာရယ္ Sean လက္ဖ်ံ ေပၚကဒဏ္ရာကိုၾကည့္ရင္ ထိုးတဲ့သူက ဘယ္သန္ျဖစ္ဖို ့မ်ားတယ္။ လက္ဖ်ံကို အထိုးခံလိုက္ရလို ့ Sean က ခ်ဳပ္ေပးထားတာကိုလႊတ္ေပးလိုက္မွ ေခါင္းငိုက္က်ျပီးလည္ထြက္သြားတဲ့ David ကိုေနာက္ကေန ဦး ေခါင္းေနာက္ပိုင္းကိုထပ္ထိုးတယ္.။ မေသမရွင္ျဖစ္ေနတဲ့ David ကိုေရထဲဆြဲခ်တယ္..ျပီးေတာ့ Hanna ကို သူတို ့ဘလက္ကာယ လုပ္တယ္..။လက္လြန္သြားေတာ့ Hanna ကို ပါႏွတ္ပိတ္လိုက္တယ္..။BARပိုင္ရွင္ရဲ ့သား ဟာ ဘယ္သန္ လားဆိုတာတစ္ခ်က္ၾကည့္ရလိမ့္။ ျဖစ္ပြားခ်ိန္က မနက္၂နာရီေက်ာ္္ေက်ာ္..။ David နဲ ့Hanna က အဲဒီအခ်ိန္မွာကတည္းကေသေနျပီ..။
Bar ပိုင္္ရွင္သား က အိမ္ျပန္ေျပးတယ္ သူ ့အေဖနဲ ့သူ ့အေဖသူငယ္ခ်င္း ထိုင္းရဲ ကို ေျပာျပတယ္..သူ ့အေဖနဲ ့ရဲ က Sean ကို အျပစ္ပုံခ်ဘို ့လုပ္တယ္..Sean ထြက္ေျပးတယ္ စတိုးဆိုင္တစ္ခုထဲကိုဝင္ေျပးျပီး ေငြသိမ္းေကာင္တာေနာက္က ေန ေနာက္ကလိုက္လာတဲ့Bar ပိုင္ရွင္နဲ ့ထိုင္းရဲ ကိုဓါတ္ပုံရိုက္ျပီး facebook တင္တယ္ သူ ့ကိုလိုက္သတ္ေနတဲ့၂ေယာက္ဆိုျပီးေျပာတယ္..။
အဲဒီအခ်ိန္မွာ အနားမွာဂီတာတီးေနတဲ့ ရခိုင္သား၂ေယာက္ က ေဆးလိပ္နဲ ့ဘီယာလာဝယ္တယ္..CCTV ကင္မရာမွာျပတဲ့ အခ်ိန္က မနက္၄ နာရီဝန္းက်င္..David နဲ ့Hanna က ေသျပီးေနျပီ လြန္ခဲ့ တဲ့ ၂နာရီေလာက္ကတည္းက.။ လူ၂ေယာက္ကို သတ္ထားတဲ့ သူ၂ေယာက္က သတ္ျပီး ၂နာရီေလာက္မွာ ေဆးလိပ္ ဝယ္ ဘီယာထြက္ဝယ္လုပ္ေနမွာမဟုတ္ဘူး ေျပးတာၾကာျပီ။ ဒီႏွစ္ေယာက္ေဆးလိပ္ဝင္ဝယ္တာကိုေတြ ့တဲ ့ခုနက Sean ေနာက္ကို လိုက္လာတဲ့ Bar ပိုင္ရွင္နဲ ့ထိုင္းရဲ က ဆြဲစားလိုက္တယ္..အခင္းျဖစ္ပြားရာေနရာကိုတဖက္လွည့္နဲ ့ေရာက္ေအာင္ပို ့တယ္
ေဆး မူး ဘီယာမူးေနတဲ့ ရခိုင္သား၂ေယာက္အူေၾကာင္ေၾကာင္နဲ ့ခံလိုက္ရတယ္..။ အခင္းျဖစ္ျပီး ေနာက္ေန ့ Sean နဲ ့Bar ပိုင္ရွင္သား ကို ေကာ့ေသာင္ကၽြန္းက ေန အျမန္ ဘန္ေကာက္ကိုလႊတ္ေရွာင္ခိုင္းတယ္။ရခိုင္ေလး၂ေယာက္ကို ေဆးလိပ္ဖင္စီခံက DNA နဲ ့သူတို ့ DNA တူတယ္ဆိုျပီးဝန္ခံခိုင္းတယ္..။ ရိုတီကုလား နဲ ့ေနာက္ျမန္မာစကားျပန္၂ေယာက္က ပါ အဆင္းဘီးတပ္ေပးတယ္..။ 
( just plane analysis )

Source: Maung Maung Aye's FaceBook

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ARAKANLAND

Photo: Shwe Myanmar Media

ARAKAN, thantway--The first conference of Arakan Nation Party successfully held in Napali, Thantway, southern Arakan.

Dr. Aye Moung was unanimously elected as a president of ANP after six days long debiting meeting. They elected 39 members of Central Executive Committee (CEC) in the conference.

U Pho Mum and Daw Aye Nu Sein were elected as vice-president and U Tun Aung Kyaw became the first general secretary of ANP. And U Tha Tun Hla, U Aung Won and U Kyaw Zaw Oo were also elected secretary members. 

 For the sake of national unity and national interest, Arakan National Party (ANP) emerges after the two parties, Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), founded by U U Tha Tun and Dr. Saw Mra Aung and Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP), headed by Dr, Aye Moung and U Hla Saw, unification.

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