Arakan State suffers the most oppression from successive military dictators

Lu Htet Naing, Narinjara News, 27 September 2024

Arakan State and its people have suffered the most severe oppression under successive military dictators and the current difficulties they face are a test of their morale and resilience in their pursuit of ultimate victory, said Myanmar political analyst and Senior lawyer U Kyi Myint.

"I have deep sympathy for the people of Arakan. They have endured immense suffering from the severe oppression from successive military dictators. Arakan is one of the most severely oppressed states under these regimes. We, Bamars are just now experiencing this oppression as well. We want to encourage the people of Arakan to endure- you can overcome this," he added.

After witnessing Vietnam's victory in the war against America, he noted that it was clear that, regardless of the opponent's strength, morale is what really  matters.

"The United States dropped tons of bombs on Vietnam—3.5 times more than the total dropped worldwide during World War II. At the end, the US lost the war. Morale is crucial. The current situation is the ultimate test of our morale and resilience. When we rebuild our country, our morale will be a hundred times stronger," he said.

U Kyi Myint also emphasized that Arakan has strong leaders and praised the commendable performance of the Arakan Army (AA).

"The performance of the AA is outstanding. They have earned praise and respect from around the world. The AA is achieving victories everywhere. Their spirit is strong, their conduct is admirable, and their leaders are exceptional. It is very difficult to find good leaders in Myanmar," commented  U Kyi Myint.

He further noted that successes of the AA have revitalized Myanmar's ‘Spring Revolution’, and the awakening has also strengthened the AA. Additionally, he highlighted that the momentum of the revolution has been revitalized by the strength of the ‘Three Brotherhood Alliance’.

He stated that the Arakanese are an ethnic group that has lived in an independent kingdom for centuries and the people of Arakan have the right to choose and determine their own future.

"I firmly believe that Arakan State can be developed successfully under the leadership of the AA. I deeply sympathize with the Arakanese people, who have been  affected by the oppressive military dictators and successive regimes. The people of Arakan have the right to make their own decisions regarding their affairs,” asserted U Kyi Myint.

The Arakanese people lived as an independent sovereign nation until 1785. Taking advantage of the disintegration of Arakanese unity, the Bamar king Bodawpaya launched a surprise attack without declaring a war that led to the fall of Arakanese sovereignty.

Despite the loss of sovereignty, the Arakanese national leaders allied with Bamar nationalist leaders, including General Aung San, to fight for and achieve the unified independence of Myanmar from the British colonial rule.

The Arakanese people achieved independence through collaboration with the Bamar people. However, fearing that Arakan State would be re-established as a separate country after Myanmar's independence, the successive rulers oppressed the Arakan people in various ways, engaging in a strategy of ‘divide and rule’.

As a result of this oppression, Arakan State, once the richest and most educated region during British rule, now becomes the second poorest state among the 14 regions and states after 70 years after Myanmar's independence, as stated by the current economic indicators. (Photo by AI)