Narinjara News, 4 March 2023

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

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

Opposing the statement, Rakhine’s veteran politician and former Pyithu Hluttawmember from Myebon township, U Pe Than asserted that Rakhine State has abundantnatural resources, but successive Myanmar governments continue followingdiscriminatory policies against the
Rakhine people.

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

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

"Myanmar leaders have never admitted their mistakes. The poverty and armedconflicts across the country are outcomes of their wrong policies. They wouldnever review or acknowledge it, rather they blame the ethnic groups. All thecurrent 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, successivegovernments in Rangoon/ Naypyidaw suppressed political, economic andeducational opportunities to the Rakhine people.

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing also stated that Rakhine State was once aprosperous region, but due to various reasons including Islamist uprising andethnic conflicts, it has not achieved the development as expected. He alsoadded 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 thatthe pertinent issue is understood by everyone. Moreover, the reasons behind theethnic conflicts are also known to the stakeholders.

As the Rakhine State is neglected by the federal governments there are a fewemployment opportunities only. So many residents started leaving their placesto work outside.

Former Pyithu Hluttaw representative from Kyauktaw township, U Tun Win alsoalleged that the Rakhine people were systematically suppressed in terms ofeducation and economy. Today they have turned into the poorest people inMyanmar.

"Even during the British era, it was one of the mostdeveloped regions in Myanmar. It is the region from which manyintellectuals came out. Now all sectors including the education in RakhineState have been systematically made crippled,” he added.

Rakhine people had their own kingdom prior to the British rule, and they wereat the top of education and economic sectors in Myanmar. But afterindependence, 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 acceleratedwith the intellectuals who erase misunderstandings among various ethnic groupsand thus enhancing friendship among the people.

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