Junta leader visits Rakhine to consolidate power

Narinjara, 3 March 2023

The military council chairman senior general Ming Aung Hlaing’s recent visit to Rakhine State sparked criticism from a veteran Rakhine politician as being aimed to organize Rakhine people in support of his military regime in Naypyidaw and finally to strengthen the military ruler’s hold on power.

During his visit on 26- 28 February, the military chief also  pursued the Rakhine residents and businessmen to withdraw support from the United League of Arakan/ Arakan Army (ULA/AA).

U Phay Than, a former MP for Myebon township in Rakhine State, termed his visit as garnering support for his military regime even though his visit was announced as committed for the development of Rakhine State.

“Actual development of Rakhine State can only be achieved by resolving the political and military issues in the region and restoring basic rights for the Rakhine people,” said the local politician, adding that Ming Aung Hlaing is a man of talks (like his predecessors) but with no
work on the ground.

“There can be no hope for the Rakhine people from Ming Aung Hlaing’s recent visit,” asserted Phay Than.

Mentionable is that Ming Aung Hlaing arrived in Sittwe on 26 February and next morning he convened a meeting with local businessmen at U Ottama Hall in the city.

On 28 February, he engaged in discussions with Rakhine businessmen regarding the economic zone, which is a part of the Chinese project located in Kyaukphyu. He also visited the site where the special economic zone will be built, said U Ba Shin, a member of the advisory sub-committee of Kyaukphyu special economic zone management committee.

"Construction of the deep-sea port, which is the foremost component of the special economic zone, will be executed in line with the government's commitments. Subsequently, in conjunction with the  special economic zone, industrial zones will be established to generate employment prospects for the local people,” said Ba Shin, also a former MP.

The concerned deep-sea port initiative will span across Kyaukphyu , Ramree, and Munaung townships. Additionally, 4289.32 acre of land has been designated for the development of upscale residential properties associated with the zone.

Ming Aung Hlaing and local businessmen discussed various issues at Rammawaddy hall in Kyaukphyu where the chairman of economic zone management committee U Myint Thein presented a comprehensive report of the project.

A group of companies led by State-owned China International Trust Investment Corporation (CITIC) won the tender in December 2015 for the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port and special zone projects.

The deep-sea port on Made island will span across an area of 2500 x 600 meters, while the one on Ramree island will cover 1500 x 600 meters.

The concerned ports are designed to accommodate the large cargo ships, including mother vessels, carriers, and supertankers with a length exceeding 1000 feet. It will serve as a critical hub for exporting natural gas, extracted from Kyaukphyu gas reserve, and oil from rigs located along the Rakhine coast, to Kunming of China.

Many voices of opposition have also emerged claiming that the construction of Kyaukphyu economic zone and deep-sea ports will negatively impact the ecosystem along the Thanzit river. It may also hamper the fishing areas of local people, said U Tun Kyi, a member of Rakhine resources and environmental monitoring group.

 "Concerns are also expressed by the local people on confiscation of their land and loss of livelihood because of the project. Many fishermen believe that the fishing blocks may be drastically affected or some disappear entirely,” he added.

Following the informal ceasefire agreement between the military regime and Arakan Army members, Min Aung Hlaing made his second visit to Rakhine State within three months.

His first visit was to attend the 8th high-level committee meeting between the armed forces of Myanmar and Thailand, which was held in Ngapali from 19 to 21 January, where he discussed with general Chalermphon Srisawasdi, the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army.

Rakhine State stands out as a volatile region in Myanmar, where the military and political struggles continue since long back. It also emerges as an area of significant interest for superpower nations like Russia, China and India, where they have been making substantial
investments here.