The Rakhine (Arakanese) organizations in Japan and South Korea jointlyobserved the 239th anniversary of Fall of Arakan Kingdom, an event annuallymarked on 31 December.

"The ceremony commemorating Rakhine sovereigntywas jointly held by the Rakhine communities in Japan and South Korea,"said an official from the Arakan Union-Japan.

Arakan Union-Japan and United Arakan Network-Koreajointly organized the event where over 400 Rakhine nationals from Japan andSouth Korea participated through online arrangements.

"We conduct this ceremony with the intention toremember that the Rakhine people once enjoyed freedom and independence. In 1784, during the reign of king MahaThammada, the sovereignty of the Arakanese Kingdom was compromised by the Burmesekings. Our aspiration is to restore the Rakhine sovereignty in the 240thanniversary,” added Arakan Union-Japan representative.

The ceremony was attended by a considerable number ofRakhine people from Japan and South Korea.

An official from the United Arakan Network-Korea saidthat they want this year to mark the end of Arakan's loss ofsovereignty.

“In the upcoming years, we aim to celebrate a periodof joy for the entire Rakhine nation. Our vision is for Arakanese people to shapetheir own destiny,” he added.

Responsible Arakaneseleaders participated in the ceremony virtually and delivered speeches while addressing questions raised by the Rakhine people in SouthKorea and Japan.

Currently an intense conflict is going on in Arakan (Rakhine) State between the ArakanArmy (AA) and the military junta, that resulted in displacing over 300,000individuals from their places.

Arakanese kingdom maintained its independence  for5000 years. History narrates four kingdoms namely Dhanyawadi, Waithali, Lemroand Mrauk-U.  On 31 December 1784, the invading armyof the Burmese kings occupied Mrauk-U, the capital of the Arakanese kingdom. This event finallyled to the demise of the dynasty and the collapse of Arakanese sovereignty.