Rakhine politicians reject junta chief’s claim of ethnic conflict & insurgency as the cause for State's underdevelopment

Narinjara News, 4 March 2023

Rakhine politicians have denounced the recent statement made by the military council chairman senior general Min Aung Hlaing, who attributed the slow development of Rakhine State to prolonged ethnic conflict & insurgency. They commented that the root cause of underdevelopment in the region lies in wrong policies of the authorities and also discrimination from the administration.

The junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in a meeting on 1 March at the western command meeting hall in Ann township with a number of officials blamed the ongoing ethnic conflict and insurgencies for the slow development of Rakhine State.

Opposing the statement, Rakhine’s veteran politician and former Pyithu Hluttaw member from Myebon township, U Pe Than asserted that Rakhine State has abundant natural resources, but successive Myanmar governments continue following discriminatory policies against the
Rakhine people.

"The successive federal governments have not framed any pragmatic policies for the development of Rakhine State. They have not concentrated on improving the transportation, constructing dams and factories here. With no option on hand, Rakhine people start migrating to other parts of Myanmar also outside the country,” he added.

He pointed out that the outbreak of ethnic conflicts in Rakhine State is only a decade old, but the State has been ignored for over six decades since Myanmar got independence.

"Myanmar leaders have never admitted their mistakes. The poverty and armed conflicts across the country are outcomes of their wrong policies. They would never review or acknowledge it, rather they blame the ethnic groups. All the current problems in Myanmar emerge because of their bad governance in all the years," he asserted.

Rakhine people were once highly educated and prosperous, claimed Pe Than, adding that after gaining independence from the British rule, successive governments in Rangoon/ Naypyidaw suppressed political, economic and educational opportunities to the Rakhine people.

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing also stated that Rakhine State was once a prosperous region, but due to various reasons including Islamist uprising and ethnic conflicts, it has not achieved the development as expected. He also added that human resources with knowledge and skills are necessary for the development of a region and a country as a whole.

U Khaing San Aung, Arakan National Party’s central committee member, said that the pertinent issue is understood by everyone. Moreover, the reasons behind the ethnic conflicts are also known to the stakeholders.

As the Rakhine State is neglected by the federal governments there are a few employment opportunities only. So many residents started leaving their places to work outside.

Former Pyithu Hluttaw representative from Kyauktaw township, U Tun Win also alleged that the Rakhine people were systematically suppressed in terms of education and economy. Today they have turned into the poorest people in Myanmar.

"Even during the British era, it was one of the most developed regions in Myanmar. It is the region from which many intellectuals came out. Now all sectors including the education in Rakhine State have been systematically made crippled,” he added.

Rakhine people had their own kingdom prior to the British rule, and they were at the top of education and economic sectors in Myanmar. But after independence, the federal governments have systematically made it a poor State. So, the junta chief’s comment is somehow accepted as insult to the Rakhine society.

Min Aung Hlaing also commented that the regional development can be accelerated with the intellectuals who erase misunderstandings among various ethnic groups and thus enhancing friendship among the people.

He stated that the government has emphasized on modern education across Myanmar as it should help developing the nation.