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| Pyinnya Sara |
Apart from the prison term, Pyinnya Sara was sentenced to a fine of 10,000 kyat (US $10).
Reporter Min Naing Thu of The Irrawaddy interviewed Pyinnya Sara's lawyer Aye Nu Sein about the case:
Question: What is the next step after the sentencing?
Answer: We have already paid the fine. We will lodge an appeal against charges under Act 292, 295, 406 and 24 (1), which relates to holding foreign currency.
Q: Who were the actual plaintiffs in court?
A: There were two lawsuits. One lawsuit was filed by U Tun Thein, and the other by Police First Lieutenant Myot Swe.
The first lawsuit by U Tun Thein consisted of charges under Acts 420, 292, 295, 406, 505 (b) with original case number 61/2010. The second lawsuit by, Police First Lieutenant Myot Swe, consisted of charges under Act 24 (1) of holding foreign currency, with the original case number 62/2010. Then for the case number 63/2010, Myot Swe acted as plaintiff for the charges under Act 61 (c) of the Municipal Act.
Q: How many witnesses did the plaintiffs' counsel produce in court?
A: For the case number 61/2010, 25 plaintiff witnesses were called. Out of two additional plaintiff witnesses, one was denied, so a total of 26 plaintiff witnesses were questioned.
Q: It was reported that the abbot submitted 34 defense witnesses to the court. However, after the witnesses were pressured by the police, no more witnesses were submitted. How did that happen?
A: I submitted 34 defense witnesses to the court. But while the abbot was preparing a defense in case number 61/2010, the State court declined to hear the case. So the abbot decided to defend himself and not use other defense witnesses. We then submitted our case amendment to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the final verdict was reached.
Q: Initially, it was reported that the abbot was charged under seven different Acts including Act 505(b), but later two Acts were dropped. How were they dropped?
A: In case number 61/2020, the Abbot was charged under five different Acts. We then had to submit our argument why these acts were not lawful to the case. The legal advisory council also claimed that Act 420 and 505 (b) could not be lawfully included in the case. So the court dropped these two acts. After that, we submitted to the State Court, with Case Amendment No. 113/2010, to review other charges. It was declined by the court on the same day it was submitted. On July 29, we submitted the case amendment to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the district court heard the cases against the abbot where he defended himself by not using defense witnesses. After hearing both sides, the verdict was announced.
Q: How many times were you able to meet the abbot during his detention to prepare the case?
A: I and my two assistant lawyers were able to meet with him twice in prison.
Q: Can you say that you had sufficient time to prepare for the case based on the fact that you had met him only twice?
A: Look at the whole proceedings. During the first section of hearing more 26 plaintiff witnesses the trial adjourned for one day. After the charges were made against the abbot, the trial was held daily from 10 a.m to 4 p.m without adjournment. After such a hectic six-day trial, 15 minutes interval breaks were given.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19626
Dr. Aye Kyaw has written books on education and culture in Burma. He was born in Lwe Chaung village in Taungok Township in Arakan State. He has a BA in history and religion, an MA in Asian history and a BA in law from Rangoon University. He earned a Ph.D in Southeast Asia History at Monash University in Australia.
Dr. Aye Kyaw taught at universities in Burma, Thailand and the US. Now retired, he lives in New York city.
While visiting Bangkok, he was interviewed by Ba Saw Tin on his views on Arakan history, politics in Burma and the debate over Rohingya history and their troubled relationship with the Burmese military government.
Question: Describe Arakan politics before Burma's independence?
Answer: Arakan leaders always joined in Burma's struggle for independence. They participated at the forefront in the struggle against British colonial rule and the Japanese invasion. If someone asks why they participated, it was because the Arakan wanted to rule themselves. The prominent Arakan leaders during British rule were Monk U Seinda, monk U Pyinnya Thiha, U Nyo Tun, U Aung Zan Wai, U Kyaw Min, U Ba Saw and others. These leaders were prominent figures in the Arakan resistance movement and Arakan politics. Monk U Ottama was one of the first leaders in Burmese politics.
If you look at the situation of the Arakan under British rule, there were two groups. One group worked with the British, and one group joined in the independence struggle led by Gen. Aung San.
U Nyo Tun was a famous student leader in the 1936 student strike, and he was quite well-known in both the Arakan and Burmese community. While Burmese acknowledge March 27 as marking the beginning of the resistance movement against Japan, the Arakan had already started their resistance against Japan earlier, around Feb. 12 or 13.
Q. What happened to the Arakan after the independence struggle?
A. The main reason they fought was to get their own state and self rule. Unfortunately, when Burma won independence, nothing came of it. They asked Prime Minister U Nu to grant them a state, but U Nu evaded the issue.
Q. How did politics development during the following years?
A. During U Nu's Anti Fascist Peoples' Freedom League (AFPFL) rule, there were two powerful political parties in Arakan State: The AFPFL and the Arakan Unity Party (AUP). U Kyaw Min led the AUP. U Aung Zan Wai and Taung Koke U Kyaw Tin led the AFPFL in the Arakan region.
Then the AFPFL split into two factions: the "stable" AFPFL and the “clean” AFPFL. The clean AFPFL faction leader, prime minister U Nu, set up Mayu District in Arakan State. He registered Bengali as citizens through national registration and allowed them to vote. During the Colonial era, the Bengali started coming into Arakan to work. They mostly worked in the agricultural sector, and then returned when the work was done. One of the prominent leaders among Bengali was Sultan Mahmud. The AFPFL was weak in a sense. When U Nu allowed Bengalis to enter Mayu District that was the beginning of today’s Rohingya problem.
Q. Do you know when the use of the term "Rohingya" began?
A. I think it appeared during the 1960s. Because even the Bengali leader, Sultan Mahmud, when he became a member of parliament, I don’t think he used the word "Rohingya." In earlier Burmese history and in Arakan history, I haven’t seen the word Rohinhya. Even after independence, there was no such word.
Q. What does "Rohingya” mean?
A. When Sayagyi U Tha Tun was in good health, we visited whenever he was in Rangoon. We had conversations on several themes: literature, history and other social matters. Once, he explained to me the meaning of Rohingya. The word derived from an Arakan word, Lwintja.
Lwintja in Arakan means leaves falling from trees and blowing around without any purpose. The word basically means anything or anyone wandering around without a cause. I analyzed the word in the linguistic sense, and I once wrote an academic article in the Pyinnya Padesa journal, published by Rangoon University.
Q. Nowadays, many Arakans see the Rohingya as a threat. Why?
A. The underlying reason was the emergence of the Mujahids, who started an armed insurrection in Arakan State to try to acquire their own land. Originally, they were Bengali from Bangladesh. In earlier days, they came to work in Arakan and returned to their homes when the work was done. Then they faced difficulties living in Bangladesh because it was so crowded. Afterward, the Mujahids attempted to set up a Muslim State in Buthee Taung, Maung Daw and Yathei Taung townships of Mayu District, where U Nu had granted them the right to live. When the Mujahids began to prosper, the Arakans didn't accept the idea. The Arakans see them as a danger, threatening their land, national identity and religion, and that is why the Arakans are so allergic to the word, Rohingya.
Q. What is the background situation of Rohinja's emergence?
A. That is a good question. The Rohingya issue is just a problem on the surface. The underlying problem is the idea of "Islamization" and the expansion of Islam. The Rohingya movement is funded by countries in North Africa and the Middle East. These countries have donated large amount of money and weapons. In Southeast Asia, organizations in Malaysia support them. They support the expansion of Islam. They operate as “Burmese nationals” and “Arakan citizens” by using the name of Rohingya. Actually, Rohinja are not a race, and they are not Burmese citizens.
Q. The Rohingya are not acknowledged by the military junta as an ethnic nationality in Burma. But the Rohingya are seeking a position on the Ethnic Nationalities Council (in exile). The Arakan representatives oppose them. How do you define an ethnic nationality?
A. In 1978, while under the Burma Socialist Programme Party rule, me, Dr. Maung Maung (the late President), and U San Thar Aung discussed a law on ethnic nationality. Dr. Maung Maung was an academic on law, I am an historian and U San Thar Aung was director general of the higher education department at that time. We discussed the matter in a room in the State Council office.
I said that for recognizing an ethnic nationality in Burma, there was a census record during the Bodaw Phaya reign, made in the 18th century. It listed all nationalities living in Burma, and it mentioned Arakans, Karens and Mons (Talaings) in the survey. The document can be taken as a base, I suggested.
Dr. Maung Maung said that survey was too early. Then I suggested the year of 1824, a turning point in Burmese history when the British annexed lower Burma. Dr. Maung Maung agreed on that date, and we drafted a law that people living in Burma during 1824 were recognized as ethnic nationalities. We found no such word as Rohingya in that survey.
Dr. Aye Kyaw taught at universities in Burma, Thailand and the US. Now retired, he lives in New York city.
While visiting Bangkok, he was interviewed by Ba Saw Tin on his views on Arakan history, politics in Burma and the debate over Rohingya history and their troubled relationship with the Burmese military government.
Question: Describe Arakan politics before Burma's independence?
Answer: Arakan leaders always joined in Burma's struggle for independence. They participated at the forefront in the struggle against British colonial rule and the Japanese invasion. If someone asks why they participated, it was because the Arakan wanted to rule themselves. The prominent Arakan leaders during British rule were Monk U Seinda, monk U Pyinnya Thiha, U Nyo Tun, U Aung Zan Wai, U Kyaw Min, U Ba Saw and others. These leaders were prominent figures in the Arakan resistance movement and Arakan politics. Monk U Ottama was one of the first leaders in Burmese politics.
If you look at the situation of the Arakan under British rule, there were two groups. One group worked with the British, and one group joined in the independence struggle led by Gen. Aung San.
U Nyo Tun was a famous student leader in the 1936 student strike, and he was quite well-known in both the Arakan and Burmese community. While Burmese acknowledge March 27 as marking the beginning of the resistance movement against Japan, the Arakan had already started their resistance against Japan earlier, around Feb. 12 or 13.
Q. What happened to the Arakan after the independence struggle?
A. The main reason they fought was to get their own state and self rule. Unfortunately, when Burma won independence, nothing came of it. They asked Prime Minister U Nu to grant them a state, but U Nu evaded the issue.
Q. How did politics development during the following years?
A. During U Nu's Anti Fascist Peoples' Freedom League (AFPFL) rule, there were two powerful political parties in Arakan State: The AFPFL and the Arakan Unity Party (AUP). U Kyaw Min led the AUP. U Aung Zan Wai and Taung Koke U Kyaw Tin led the AFPFL in the Arakan region.
Then the AFPFL split into two factions: the "stable" AFPFL and the “clean” AFPFL. The clean AFPFL faction leader, prime minister U Nu, set up Mayu District in Arakan State. He registered Bengali as citizens through national registration and allowed them to vote. During the Colonial era, the Bengali started coming into Arakan to work. They mostly worked in the agricultural sector, and then returned when the work was done. One of the prominent leaders among Bengali was Sultan Mahmud. The AFPFL was weak in a sense. When U Nu allowed Bengalis to enter Mayu District that was the beginning of today’s Rohingya problem.
Q. Do you know when the use of the term "Rohingya" began?
A. I think it appeared during the 1960s. Because even the Bengali leader, Sultan Mahmud, when he became a member of parliament, I don’t think he used the word "Rohingya." In earlier Burmese history and in Arakan history, I haven’t seen the word Rohinhya. Even after independence, there was no such word.
Q. What does "Rohingya” mean?
A. When Sayagyi U Tha Tun was in good health, we visited whenever he was in Rangoon. We had conversations on several themes: literature, history and other social matters. Once, he explained to me the meaning of Rohingya. The word derived from an Arakan word, Lwintja.
Lwintja in Arakan means leaves falling from trees and blowing around without any purpose. The word basically means anything or anyone wandering around without a cause. I analyzed the word in the linguistic sense, and I once wrote an academic article in the Pyinnya Padesa journal, published by Rangoon University.
Q. Nowadays, many Arakans see the Rohingya as a threat. Why?
A. The underlying reason was the emergence of the Mujahids, who started an armed insurrection in Arakan State to try to acquire their own land. Originally, they were Bengali from Bangladesh. In earlier days, they came to work in Arakan and returned to their homes when the work was done. Then they faced difficulties living in Bangladesh because it was so crowded. Afterward, the Mujahids attempted to set up a Muslim State in Buthee Taung, Maung Daw and Yathei Taung townships of Mayu District, where U Nu had granted them the right to live. When the Mujahids began to prosper, the Arakans didn't accept the idea. The Arakans see them as a danger, threatening their land, national identity and religion, and that is why the Arakans are so allergic to the word, Rohingya.
Q. What is the background situation of Rohinja's emergence?
A. That is a good question. The Rohingya issue is just a problem on the surface. The underlying problem is the idea of "Islamization" and the expansion of Islam. The Rohingya movement is funded by countries in North Africa and the Middle East. These countries have donated large amount of money and weapons. In Southeast Asia, organizations in Malaysia support them. They support the expansion of Islam. They operate as “Burmese nationals” and “Arakan citizens” by using the name of Rohingya. Actually, Rohinja are not a race, and they are not Burmese citizens.
Q. The Rohingya are not acknowledged by the military junta as an ethnic nationality in Burma. But the Rohingya are seeking a position on the Ethnic Nationalities Council (in exile). The Arakan representatives oppose them. How do you define an ethnic nationality?
A. In 1978, while under the Burma Socialist Programme Party rule, me, Dr. Maung Maung (the late President), and U San Thar Aung discussed a law on ethnic nationality. Dr. Maung Maung was an academic on law, I am an historian and U San Thar Aung was director general of the higher education department at that time. We discussed the matter in a room in the State Council office.
I said that for recognizing an ethnic nationality in Burma, there was a census record during the Bodaw Phaya reign, made in the 18th century. It listed all nationalities living in Burma, and it mentioned Arakans, Karens and Mons (Talaings) in the survey. The document can be taken as a base, I suggested.
Dr. Maung Maung said that survey was too early. Then I suggested the year of 1824, a turning point in Burmese history when the British annexed lower Burma. Dr. Maung Maung agreed on that date, and we drafted a law that people living in Burma during 1824 were recognized as ethnic nationalities. We found no such word as Rohingya in that survey.
Maung Rammar reports.
In Pyithu Hluttaw on September 27, U Ba Shin, a Pyithu Hluttaw Representative from Kyauk Pru asked if there is any plan to distribute electricity to Kyauk Pru using natural gas from Shwe Natural Gas deposits located about 25 miles from the township. In his reply to the question, Union Minister for Energy U Than Htay said that natural gas obtained from Shwe Natural Gas fields will be exported to China through the Burma-China natural gas pipeline and gas cannot be used against the China-Burma agreement.
The opinions of some Arakanese leaders on the statement made by Union Minister for Energy U Than Htay were solicited by Narinjara and gathered together here as follows:
U Aye Thar Aung
General Secretary of Arakan League for Democracy (ALD)
Secretary of Committee of Representing People’s Parliament (CRPP)
“It is very insulting to the Arakanese that gas from Arakan will not be used in Arakan. In short, those words are very hurting ones. Arakanese mainly own all the resources extracted from Arakan. Whether it is gas or oil or wood products or seafood, Arakanese own all those valuable resources. If Burma is a true union and Arakan is a part of it, Arakan should have rights to enjoy some benefits of local products. Therefore, I think the statement saying that there is no plan to use Arakan gas for Arakan is an insult to all Arakanese.”
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Dr. Aye Kyaw (U.S.A)
“Gas and other resources from Arakan should bring benefits to all Arakanese. Right now, Arakanese do not get any benefits they deserve. Therefore, we cannot say Burma is a true union as she should be. Though we heard the term Union of Burma, in reality, Burma is just a fake union. Therefore, some appropriate arrangements for Arakanese should be made so that Arakanese can gain some benefits from Arakan gas, teak, and ironwood. I am not saying just for Arakan. Such arrangements should also be done for other states. Then, our country will become a true union. Otherwise, Burma will not become a true union and we will get stuck with a fake one.”
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Dr. Khin Maung
Chairman of National Union Party of Arakan (NUPA)
Vice-Chairman I of Arakan National Council (ANC)
“The Union Minister openly and bluntly reaffirmed their policy that Arakan’s land, water, air, and all natural energy are all under [the central government's] total control. All of them are actually Arakanese property. However, Arakanese do not have the right for self-determination and freedom of speech. It indicates that Arakanese are losing rights to use its own resources. Therefore, I think Union Minister for Energy dare to imply that the current government does not care for Arakanese and the government will manipulate Arakan resources any way they want for their own benefits instead"
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Daw Saw Mra Raza Lurn
Chairwoman of Arakan Women Union
“In my opinion, such statement that Arakan natural gas will not be used for Arakan is an utter insult to all Arakanese. Arakanese own that oil and natural gas and they should be used in Arakan. The statement made by the current government, though it publicly said it is moving toward democracy, is an insult to all Arakanese. All Arakanese should protest this effectively. For the sake of all Arakanese and Arakanese interests, I would like to urge all Arakanese to join hands together with the prominent Arakanese leaders and protect [our own] interests.
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Ko Tun Zaw
Joint Secretary I of All Arakan Students and Youth Congress (AASYC)
“Exporting all the energy generated in Arakan to a foreign state, instead of using it to fulfill the needs of the state, shows, in my opinion, the lack of respect to the will of Arakanese. Though [the leaders of the current government] are currently declaring that they would listen to the voice of the people and the government is a democratic one that respects the people, I think this incident shows that the government is not democratic and does not listen to the peoples' voice.”
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Ko Wong Aung
Global Coordinator of Shwe Gas Movement
“We welcome to the efforts of the companies involved in Shwe Natural Gas Project for the development of the locals; whether they try to help in health care or education sectors by building clinics and schools. However, we can’t be satisfied by having new schools, and clinics without medical supplies and doctors. What they have done is not operating well at all. In reality, due to Shwe Gas project, the farmers lost their ancestral lands and they have become landless farmers. When their lands that have been passed down generation after generation were stripped from them, they had no right to refuse. Both the government and the companies are forcing the farmers to sell their land at the meager price they want to pay. Nothing has so far benefited the locals; whether in terms of job opportunities or electricity for development purposes, or water or gas. Some portion of the gas will be allocated for government cronies to run their industry and the rest would be sold to China. For the locals, they lost the livelihoods including their ancestral lands. People become unemployed. National and cultural heritages are even now being threatened to vanish.
Summary of Shwe Gas Project
The Ministry of Energy and Daewoo International Corporation started the oil and natural gas exploration off the coast of Arakan. In 2004, the huge natural gas deposit called “Shwe” was found and the efforts to extract were later undertaken to produce economically.
It is estimated that over 2,900 million dollars of revenue will be generated annually. While the Arakanese (the sole owner of the oil and gas) believe that some profits from the Shwe gas should be used for the development of Arakan, Union Minister for Energy U Than Htay spoke up that there is no plan to use Arakan gas for Arakan causing tension between the government and Arakanese.
post copy from Narinjara New
In Pyithu Hluttaw on September 27, U Ba Shin, a Pyithu Hluttaw Representative from Kyauk Pru asked if there is any plan to distribute electricity to Kyauk Pru using natural gas from Shwe Natural Gas deposits located about 25 miles from the township. In his reply to the question, Union Minister for Energy U Than Htay said that natural gas obtained from Shwe Natural Gas fields will be exported to China through the Burma-China natural gas pipeline and gas cannot be used against the China-Burma agreement.
The opinions of some Arakanese leaders on the statement made by Union Minister for Energy U Than Htay were solicited by Narinjara and gathered together here as follows:
U Aye Thar Aung
General Secretary of Arakan League for Democracy (ALD)
Secretary of Committee of Representing People’s Parliament (CRPP)
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Dr. Aye Kyaw (U.S.A)
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Dr. Khin Maung
Chairman of National Union Party of Arakan (NUPA)
Vice-Chairman I of Arakan National Council (ANC)
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Daw Saw Mra Raza Lurn
Chairwoman of Arakan Women Union
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Ko Tun Zaw
Joint Secretary I of All Arakan Students and Youth Congress (AASYC)
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Ko Wong Aung
Global Coordinator of Shwe Gas Movement
Summary of Shwe Gas Project
The Ministry of Energy and Daewoo International Corporation started the oil and natural gas exploration off the coast of Arakan. In 2004, the huge natural gas deposit called “Shwe” was found and the efforts to extract were later undertaken to produce economically.
It is estimated that over 2,900 million dollars of revenue will be generated annually. While the Arakanese (the sole owner of the oil and gas) believe that some profits from the Shwe gas should be used for the development of Arakan, Union Minister for Energy U Than Htay spoke up that there is no plan to use Arakan gas for Arakan causing tension between the government and Arakanese.
post copy from Narinjara New
Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and new President of Burma, U Thein Sein, met in Naypyidaw on August 19 and held what state media called a "frank and friendly discussion". Asked of his opinion on the meeting by Narinjara, U Aye Thar Aung, Secretary of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) replied as follows:
U Aye Thar Aung: "Generally speaking, it is a good thing that President Thein Sein and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi meet and talk. However, since I have no knowledge of what they discussed, it is hard for me to elaborate on the matter. Anyhow, Burma is now at the defining moment that demands the national reconciliation and a solution to the ongoing armed conflicts with ethnic groups. At such a critical moment, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is admired by the country, and President U Thein Sein, who represents the current government, meet, and this is really a good thing. Through dialogue, the nation�s important problems can be solved. If one meeting can not solve them, I believe, the next meetings will"
Narinjara: "Could we say this meeting indicates that Burma is rerouting to the right track?"
U Aye Thar Aung: "Such meeting could be seen as a positive step. However, it has to be honest and open. The nation, its ethnic groups and citizens, would like to see sincerity in the current government. There were meetings in the past, but nothing fruitful came out. I don�t want this meeting to be like the previous ones. It will be the best if this meeting can lead to serious dialogue that can build national reconciliation. That is what people want. That is what ethnic groups of this country want. That is the only way that can stop civil war and bring peace."
Narinjara: "As an ethnic leader, how do you perceive this meeting?"
U Aye Thar Aung: Our nation is going through hard times. A meeting between the current President U Thein Sein and leader of the National League for Democracy is definitely a good thing. However, as an ethnic leader, I would like the ongoing fighting in the ethnic areas to stop and ceasefire to begin. When I say ceasefire, I meant not just for a particular region but for the whole country. Only after ceasefire can efforts to bring peace and tranquility be initiated and national reconciliation will become achievable. It will be great if we can do that.
Narinjara: Now President and Daw Suu met. People in exile after the 1988 uprising are invited to come back home. Also, we see economic workshops and forums. Could we say Burma is moving in the right direction?
U Aye Thar Aung: Though I can say meeting and workshops that you mentioned and also talks to reduce poverty are a good thing, we need to practically materialize them. Sweet talk is not enough. In the past, we have heard so many charming programs. But in reality, nothing results. Therefore, we should not applaud based on what we hear. We should only applaud based on what they actually do. There are so many things to do right now. To build peace with ethnic groups and to stop the ongoing armed conflicts are urgently required. On the other hand, U Thein Sein stated that some problems will be solved only through the 2008 Constitution. Such a statement will not help bring peace to the country. There are many sections in the 2008 Constitution that armed ethnic groups do not accept. The constitution also tries to force them to be the Border Guards under government command. Therefore, U Thein Sein�s statements contradict each other and I don�t foresee all that sweet talk will actually materialized into actions.
copy from Narinjara
Narinjara: "Could we say this meeting indicates that Burma is rerouting to the right track?"
U Aye Thar Aung: "Such meeting could be seen as a positive step. However, it has to be honest and open. The nation, its ethnic groups and citizens, would like to see sincerity in the current government. There were meetings in the past, but nothing fruitful came out. I don�t want this meeting to be like the previous ones. It will be the best if this meeting can lead to serious dialogue that can build national reconciliation. That is what people want. That is what ethnic groups of this country want. That is the only way that can stop civil war and bring peace."
Narinjara: "As an ethnic leader, how do you perceive this meeting?"
U Aye Thar Aung: Our nation is going through hard times. A meeting between the current President U Thein Sein and leader of the National League for Democracy is definitely a good thing. However, as an ethnic leader, I would like the ongoing fighting in the ethnic areas to stop and ceasefire to begin. When I say ceasefire, I meant not just for a particular region but for the whole country. Only after ceasefire can efforts to bring peace and tranquility be initiated and national reconciliation will become achievable. It will be great if we can do that.
Narinjara: Now President and Daw Suu met. People in exile after the 1988 uprising are invited to come back home. Also, we see economic workshops and forums. Could we say Burma is moving in the right direction?
U Aye Thar Aung: Though I can say meeting and workshops that you mentioned and also talks to reduce poverty are a good thing, we need to practically materialize them. Sweet talk is not enough. In the past, we have heard so many charming programs. But in reality, nothing results. Therefore, we should not applaud based on what we hear. We should only applaud based on what they actually do. There are so many things to do right now. To build peace with ethnic groups and to stop the ongoing armed conflicts are urgently required. On the other hand, U Thein Sein stated that some problems will be solved only through the 2008 Constitution. Such a statement will not help bring peace to the country. There are many sections in the 2008 Constitution that armed ethnic groups do not accept. The constitution also tries to force them to be the Border Guards under government command. Therefore, U Thein Sein�s statements contradict each other and I don�t foresee all that sweet talk will actually materialized into actions.
copy from Narinjara
Facing an economic crisis and joblessness, many individuals and families have been leaving Arakan State in search of opportunities to survive elsewhere. The areas worst hit by the crisis are Mraybon and Munbra Townships, which were also hit hard by Cyclone Giri. There are concerns that the crises may lead to the loss of Arakanese national races in the state, as those who are leaving to work overseas in Thailand and Malaysia have been deserting their homeland and selling off their property.
Narinjara has interviewed U Hla Saw, general secretary of the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, which is the main Arakanese political party, concerning the crises in western Burma's Arakan State.
Q: What are the reasons behind Arakanese people leaving their homeland?
A: This is not a crisis that suddenly emerged in Arakan State, but one that has been building from the decades-long restrictions and monopolization of the land and water where people earn their livelihoods. Since they have no freedom to earn their livelihood from their surrounding lands, forest, mountains, ponds, creeks, rivers, or the sea, and have no other jobs, they have to leave their homeland for opportunities elsewhere just to survive.
Q: What can stop the people from leaving their homeland?
A: The people here are mostly dependent on the surrounding natural resources and they should have rights to access these public resources freely to sustain their daily lives in their localities. There are systems such as leasing out the sea, river, creeks, and pods to private businesses in our state. Those systems were unheard of even in the age of the BSPP government, and we should try together to stop those systems that have come to exist currently in our state. If we fail to abolish those systems, then we will have to watch people continuing to leave our homeland.
Q: What will happen to the future Arakanese nationalities if they keep leaving their homeland?
A: Arakanese people are now facing various challenges, such as lack of opportunities for work, no electricity, and shortages of food and water in their homeland. So they have been leaving Arakan State because it is just the most neglected and least developed state in Burma. However, their departure is also dependent on their personal choices. If we have to look from the perspective of race or nationality, the issue is a problem that may gradually lead to the cessation of a national race.
Q: What should the Arakanese do to solve their problem?
A: It is not possible to stop the people who left their homeland behind for their personal interest and survival, but we should work together to develop our own state and to create job opportunities inside the state. Especially the politicians, the educated, and the intellectuals should come together to demand the pre-requisites such as electricity and better infrastructure for sustainable development of the state without fear from the central government.
Q: What is the latest situation inside the state?
A: People, especially from the cyclone-affected Munbra and Mraybon Townships are moving to Tanaig in Kachin State. The Yuzana Company is also taking not only individuals but also families from those areas to employ them as laborers in their projects. The company officials have been collecting them at a Buddhist shrine public hall in Munbra Town and have been taking them every day in crowded busses to their projects. I heard that most of the people are worried about being trafficked by the officials after being taken there, but they have no choice and have to follow them to get the opportunity for a job to earn a living.
copy from Narinjara
Q: What are the reasons behind Arakanese people leaving their homeland?
A: This is not a crisis that suddenly emerged in Arakan State, but one that has been building from the decades-long restrictions and monopolization of the land and water where people earn their livelihoods. Since they have no freedom to earn their livelihood from their surrounding lands, forest, mountains, ponds, creeks, rivers, or the sea, and have no other jobs, they have to leave their homeland for opportunities elsewhere just to survive.
Q: What can stop the people from leaving their homeland?
A: The people here are mostly dependent on the surrounding natural resources and they should have rights to access these public resources freely to sustain their daily lives in their localities. There are systems such as leasing out the sea, river, creeks, and pods to private businesses in our state. Those systems were unheard of even in the age of the BSPP government, and we should try together to stop those systems that have come to exist currently in our state. If we fail to abolish those systems, then we will have to watch people continuing to leave our homeland.
Q: What will happen to the future Arakanese nationalities if they keep leaving their homeland?
A: Arakanese people are now facing various challenges, such as lack of opportunities for work, no electricity, and shortages of food and water in their homeland. So they have been leaving Arakan State because it is just the most neglected and least developed state in Burma. However, their departure is also dependent on their personal choices. If we have to look from the perspective of race or nationality, the issue is a problem that may gradually lead to the cessation of a national race.
Q: What should the Arakanese do to solve their problem?
A: It is not possible to stop the people who left their homeland behind for their personal interest and survival, but we should work together to develop our own state and to create job opportunities inside the state. Especially the politicians, the educated, and the intellectuals should come together to demand the pre-requisites such as electricity and better infrastructure for sustainable development of the state without fear from the central government.
Q: What is the latest situation inside the state?
A: People, especially from the cyclone-affected Munbra and Mraybon Townships are moving to Tanaig in Kachin State. The Yuzana Company is also taking not only individuals but also families from those areas to employ them as laborers in their projects. The company officials have been collecting them at a Buddhist shrine public hall in Munbra Town and have been taking them every day in crowded busses to their projects. I heard that most of the people are worried about being trafficked by the officials after being taken there, but they have no choice and have to follow them to get the opportunity for a job to earn a living.
copy from Narinjara
U Maung Oo, who was serving as the home minister and the commander of western command under the former SPDC regime, has recently visited Kyaukpru, the port town in western Burma's Arakan State, for the first time after being appointed as the regional in-charge for the state by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) that runs the present regime in the country. During his one-day visit to the town, he called on the local departmental officials as well as his party's members and townspeople. Narinjara got the chance to interview a senior local departmental officer who attended the meeting with him as presented below:
Q: Could you please tell us about the meeting with him?
A: Yes, he visited in our town on 26 June 2011 and held a meeting with the senior local officials at 1pm in the Rammarwaddy Hall in the town. He was also accompanied by U Kyaw Khin, the representative of the state parliament from Ramere Township from his party.
Q: What did he discuss with the officials in the meeting?
A: He especially asked us questions on why his party, the USDP, had lost in the last election and he ordered that we must ensure all votes from us and from our staffs for the party in the coming election.
Q: What else has he ordered of the officials?
A: He told us that we, all the senior and junior officials, must have relations with no party except the USDP and he asked us if there was any official of ethnic Rakhine among us and made us raise our forefinger if we were Rakhine in the meeting.
Q: Why has he done so just for the Rakhine ethnic among the officials?
A: I did not know why did so in the meeting, but I thought he asked that question just for insulting the officials on their own ethnic background. And he also told us that ethnic Shan and Rakhine are the worst among the ethnic peoples because the majorities of those peoples had voted for their own ethnic candidates in the last election.
Q: Is there anything more he talked about regarding the ethnic peoples?
A: No, but he told us that if we need school or factory or road then go to the Rakhine party that has won most of the seats in the election.
Q: Has he done anything more except meeting the officials during his visit to Kyaukphru?
A: Yes, he visited the Nagar Monastery around 3 pm and asked the abbot of the monastery about his party’s election loss in the area and the abbot answered his question, saying that his party lost the election due to the disqualified candidates represented by the party. After visiting the monastery, he held meeting with the town elders around 4 pm at the district general administration office and he raised the same question to the elders, and they gave the similar answer back to him like the abbot did.
A: Yes, he visited in our town on 26 June 2011 and held a meeting with the senior local officials at 1pm in the Rammarwaddy Hall in the town. He was also accompanied by U Kyaw Khin, the representative of the state parliament from Ramere Township from his party.
Q: What did he discuss with the officials in the meeting?
A: He especially asked us questions on why his party, the USDP, had lost in the last election and he ordered that we must ensure all votes from us and from our staffs for the party in the coming election.
Q: What else has he ordered of the officials?
A: He told us that we, all the senior and junior officials, must have relations with no party except the USDP and he asked us if there was any official of ethnic Rakhine among us and made us raise our forefinger if we were Rakhine in the meeting.
Q: Why has he done so just for the Rakhine ethnic among the officials?
A: I did not know why did so in the meeting, but I thought he asked that question just for insulting the officials on their own ethnic background. And he also told us that ethnic Shan and Rakhine are the worst among the ethnic peoples because the majorities of those peoples had voted for their own ethnic candidates in the last election.
Q: Is there anything more he talked about regarding the ethnic peoples?
A: No, but he told us that if we need school or factory or road then go to the Rakhine party that has won most of the seats in the election.
Q: Has he done anything more except meeting the officials during his visit to Kyaukphru?
A: Yes, he visited the Nagar Monastery around 3 pm and asked the abbot of the monastery about his party’s election loss in the area and the abbot answered his question, saying that his party lost the election due to the disqualified candidates represented by the party. After visiting the monastery, he held meeting with the town elders around 4 pm at the district general administration office and he raised the same question to the elders, and they gave the similar answer back to him like the abbot did.
Q: We heard that you had gone to the affected areas and helped. Where did you go?
A: Mainly I went to Kyauk Pru, Mraybon and Pauktaw Township.
Q: What did you contribute there?
A: Among the three towns, the biggest damage was felt in Mraybon and Pauktaw. I donated packages of instant noodle soup and clothes. When we were there, we gave 100 bags of rice, 160 pieces of Tarpaulins (12’ x 15’) and 1700 sheets of corrugated roof. To dig water wells, we also donated 500,000 kyat for Angu Village, 400,000 kyat for Taungnyo Village and 300,000 kyat for another village.
Q: What do the victims need the most right now?
A: The main need would be sampans and fishing nets since they make a living working out at sea. But to tell you from our experience in the Irrawaddy Delta region, the sampans should be the ones that people can actually use for their work. They should be the ones that they can take out to the sea and do fishing. In almost every village, thousands of sampans and fishing boats were destroyed by the storm. So we want them to have sampans and fishing nets back. Another thing is farmlands. They were damaged by saltwater due to the failure of dikes and embankments. Therefore, those dikes and embankments should be fixed so that farmers can farm next season. This will require efforts and commitment from the government and other powerful organizations. To grow again in the saltwater-damaged farmland, we need special paddy species that can survive in that environment. Now the farmers are not only struggling to get food on the table, they have neither specific paddy species nor money to farm again. Therefore, it is very important to issue grants to them. Also, water wells are contaminated with saltwater and they need to be fixed as well.
Q: We heard health condition of the people in the affected areas is deteriorating. What did you find?
A: We met with nurses in about 15 villages that we visited. I also gave away packages of electrolyte solution and bottles of eye cleansing solution in the villages. According to the nurses, not the whole village but a few people are suffering from diarrhea due to the contaminated water. What I am especially concerned with is that people have not rebuilt their houses yet. They are temporarily living in the makeshift tarpaulin tents. It is not safe. Now the cold season is around the corner. When the weather gets cold, the health condition could get worse. The water-borne diseases could spread in the long term.
Q: We heard about shortage of drinking water. When you were there, what did you see in terms of how they are trying to resolve that problem?
A: Yes. There is a shortage of drinking water. In the contaminated wells and ponds, saltwater sinks and the freshwater stays atop. So people collect and use the water sitting at the top portion of the well. But it is not that safe to drink. Some people still use water contaminated with saltwater. Some use the water from the well that is full with garbage. I gave some money to remove the garbage from that well. Some villages are in serious trouble. People have to paddle in their canoe and sampans for a couple miles just to get drinking water. I plan to go back there and resolve that water crisis in consultation with villagers.
Q: What are the relief agencies there doing now as a priority?
A: Some agencies are still collecting data. They have not got the money to help. But WFP (World Food Program) is giving away rice. I was told by the WFP personnel that they would be giving rice for up to 3 months. But I told them it would not be enough. I told them that it is also important to help the victims get back on their feet. I also saw Mraybon Township Association and Rakhine Thahaya Organization are handing out clothes to the victims. Also, I saw a few people staying in the white tents distributed by the international NGOs. So I asked them why other people were not getting these tents. They replied that they were afraid to get them because the tent is to be returned later and if they accidently cause a hole or some type of damage, they could get thrown to prison.
Q: Then, what is the government doing there to help the people?
A: I saw some wood and corrugated roof from the government at Mraybon Jetty. They were given to Buddhist monasteries through government channels.
Q: How long it will take for the people from the affected areas to go back to their original condition?
A: It will take quite a while because in villages, only house pylons are left and the rest of the house is gone. They have no money to rebuild. To rebuild their home, to put a roof on their house, and to be able to do what they were doing for a living, it will take a year or two, in my opinion to go back to their original condition. But that depends on how much assistance they receive. Right now, cold season is coming. I am very concerned that diseases might break out more intensively if they go through cold season living homeless. And, nobody is helping them with water wells.
Q: Did you go on this trip as an ALD leader?
A: Yes, as ALD. We donated and assisted with our members’ contribution.
Q: Could you tell me the names of the villages that you visited?
A: Among the hard-hit quarters in the town, I went to the ones where most of the poor people live such as North Quarter, South Quarter, Pyintharhtwatwa Quarter, Taungpaw Quarter, and coastal areas. Among the villages, Angu Village, Ywathikay Village, Taungnyo Village, Thawinzatekay Village, Kangyemaw Village, Dagon Village, Watkhaung Village, Kanthar Village and Gaungphyu Village. Some villages that I did not go to, but the villagers visited me, are Phyuchay Village, and Thanthayar Village. The hardest hit village I visited is Kyuntharyar Village.
Q: We heard some villages have not received any assistance yet. Did you hear that too?
A: Yes. I did. They wanted me to come. But I could not. To reach there, we must go in canoe and walk for 2 or 3 miles. Since I was not in good health, I could not go even if I wanted to. I knew that help has not gotten there yet because it is too hard to reach these villages.
Q: What are the names of these villages?
A: I could not remember the names. From Taungnyo Village, you still have to travel a lot farther. Even in Taungnyo Village, the mud was up to my knee. It was very difficult to travel. Even from Taungnyo Village, it is still far away to reach these villages.
A: Mainly I went to Kyauk Pru, Mraybon and Pauktaw Township.
Q: What did you contribute there? A: Among the three towns, the biggest damage was felt in Mraybon and Pauktaw. I donated packages of instant noodle soup and clothes. When we were there, we gave 100 bags of rice, 160 pieces of Tarpaulins (12’ x 15’) and 1700 sheets of corrugated roof. To dig water wells, we also donated 500,000 kyat for Angu Village, 400,000 kyat for Taungnyo Village and 300,000 kyat for another village.
Q: What do the victims need the most right now?
A: The main need would be sampans and fishing nets since they make a living working out at sea. But to tell you from our experience in the Irrawaddy Delta region, the sampans should be the ones that people can actually use for their work. They should be the ones that they can take out to the sea and do fishing. In almost every village, thousands of sampans and fishing boats were destroyed by the storm. So we want them to have sampans and fishing nets back. Another thing is farmlands. They were damaged by saltwater due to the failure of dikes and embankments. Therefore, those dikes and embankments should be fixed so that farmers can farm next season. This will require efforts and commitment from the government and other powerful organizations. To grow again in the saltwater-damaged farmland, we need special paddy species that can survive in that environment. Now the farmers are not only struggling to get food on the table, they have neither specific paddy species nor money to farm again. Therefore, it is very important to issue grants to them. Also, water wells are contaminated with saltwater and they need to be fixed as well.
Q: We heard health condition of the people in the affected areas is deteriorating. What did you find? A: We met with nurses in about 15 villages that we visited. I also gave away packages of electrolyte solution and bottles of eye cleansing solution in the villages. According to the nurses, not the whole village but a few people are suffering from diarrhea due to the contaminated water. What I am especially concerned with is that people have not rebuilt their houses yet. They are temporarily living in the makeshift tarpaulin tents. It is not safe. Now the cold season is around the corner. When the weather gets cold, the health condition could get worse. The water-borne diseases could spread in the long term.
Q: We heard about shortage of drinking water. When you were there, what did you see in terms of how they are trying to resolve that problem?
A: Yes. There is a shortage of drinking water. In the contaminated wells and ponds, saltwater sinks and the freshwater stays atop. So people collect and use the water sitting at the top portion of the well. But it is not that safe to drink. Some people still use water contaminated with saltwater. Some use the water from the well that is full with garbage. I gave some money to remove the garbage from that well. Some villages are in serious trouble. People have to paddle in their canoe and sampans for a couple miles just to get drinking water. I plan to go back there and resolve that water crisis in consultation with villagers.
Q: What are the relief agencies there doing now as a priority? A: Some agencies are still collecting data. They have not got the money to help. But WFP (World Food Program) is giving away rice. I was told by the WFP personnel that they would be giving rice for up to 3 months. But I told them it would not be enough. I told them that it is also important to help the victims get back on their feet. I also saw Mraybon Township Association and Rakhine Thahaya Organization are handing out clothes to the victims. Also, I saw a few people staying in the white tents distributed by the international NGOs. So I asked them why other people were not getting these tents. They replied that they were afraid to get them because the tent is to be returned later and if they accidently cause a hole or some type of damage, they could get thrown to prison.
Q: Then, what is the government doing there to help the people?
A: I saw some wood and corrugated roof from the government at Mraybon Jetty. They were given to Buddhist monasteries through government channels.
Q: How long it will take for the people from the affected areas to go back to their original condition?
A: It will take quite a while because in villages, only house pylons are left and the rest of the house is gone. They have no money to rebuild. To rebuild their home, to put a roof on their house, and to be able to do what they were doing for a living, it will take a year or two, in my opinion to go back to their original condition. But that depends on how much assistance they receive. Right now, cold season is coming. I am very concerned that diseases might break out more intensively if they go through cold season living homeless. And, nobody is helping them with water wells.
Q: Did you go on this trip as an ALD leader?
A: Yes, as ALD. We donated and assisted with our members’ contribution.
Q: Could you tell me the names of the villages that you visited?
A: Among the hard-hit quarters in the town, I went to the ones where most of the poor people live such as North Quarter, South Quarter, Pyintharhtwatwa Quarter, Taungpaw Quarter, and coastal areas. Among the villages, Angu Village, Ywathikay Village, Taungnyo Village, Thawinzatekay Village, Kangyemaw Village, Dagon Village, Watkhaung Village, Kanthar Village and Gaungphyu Village. Some villages that I did not go to, but the villagers visited me, are Phyuchay Village, and Thanthayar Village. The hardest hit village I visited is Kyuntharyar Village.
Q: We heard some villages have not received any assistance yet. Did you hear that too?
A: Yes. I did. They wanted me to come. But I could not. To reach there, we must go in canoe and walk for 2 or 3 miles. Since I was not in good health, I could not go even if I wanted to. I knew that help has not gotten there yet because it is too hard to reach these villages.
Q: What are the names of these villages?
A: I could not remember the names. From Taungnyo Village, you still have to travel a lot farther. Even in Taungnyo Village, the mud was up to my knee. It was very difficult to travel. Even from Taungnyo Village, it is still far away to reach these villages.
Minbya: People in Min Bya Township in Arakan have raised their voice regarding their daily hardships in the township at a public meeting that was held on Wednesday as part of the founding day of the township's Rakhine National Development Party, said party leader U Tha Kyaw.
"We held a public meeting during the founding ceremony of the RNDP in Min Bya where over 100 people attended and shared their problems and bitter difficulties. They also demanded we present their difficulties and problems on a daily basis to the state and central government," U Tha Kyaw said.
Most of the people were from rural villages and gathered in the meeting to raise their voice about their daily difficulties in their respective villages in Min Bya Township.
"The people especially presented to us to get more fertilizer and loans from the government for their farming because the government-provided fertilizers and loans are insufficient. We promised to submit their demand to the government authority step by step," said U Tha.
A young farmer who attended the ceremony said that he submitted two points in the meeting - first to form village administrations in accordance with the present constitution, and second to inquire with the high authority about the issue of leasing creeks and rivers in Arakan State.
He said, "Now the current government authority has appointed village administrators in the villages across our township against the present constitution. In the constitution, the village administration must be appointed with respectable gentlemen in the village, but the government authority in our township has appointed the former village chairman, who were appointed by the military government in 2006, to be the village administrators. All of the people in our township want the village administrator to be appointed in accordance with the present constitution, so we revealed this in the meeting."
Many people who attended the meeting from rural areas demanded they eliminate the system of leasing creeks and rivers out to businessmen because the system is very challenging for the survival of Arakanese people throughout the state.
"Many people presented the issue of creek, river, and ocean leasing to private businesses by the government. Most Arakanese people have not been able to carry out their daily livelihoods in the creeks and rivers since the government began leasing them to businessmen," he said.
The RNDP won a majority of elected seats in Arakan State in the last election but was unable to form as a majority in the Arakanese state because the government reserved more seats for former military personnel who are aligned with the government-backed USDP.
RNDP leaders will present the people's difficulties to the Arakan State government as well as the central government during the next parliamentary sessions, said U Tha Kyaw.
Most of the people were from rural villages and gathered in the meeting to raise their voice about their daily difficulties in their respective villages in Min Bya Township.
"The people especially presented to us to get more fertilizer and loans from the government for their farming because the government-provided fertilizers and loans are insufficient. We promised to submit their demand to the government authority step by step," said U Tha.
A young farmer who attended the ceremony said that he submitted two points in the meeting - first to form village administrations in accordance with the present constitution, and second to inquire with the high authority about the issue of leasing creeks and rivers in Arakan State.
He said, "Now the current government authority has appointed village administrators in the villages across our township against the present constitution. In the constitution, the village administration must be appointed with respectable gentlemen in the village, but the government authority in our township has appointed the former village chairman, who were appointed by the military government in 2006, to be the village administrators. All of the people in our township want the village administrator to be appointed in accordance with the present constitution, so we revealed this in the meeting."
Many people who attended the meeting from rural areas demanded they eliminate the system of leasing creeks and rivers out to businessmen because the system is very challenging for the survival of Arakanese people throughout the state.
"Many people presented the issue of creek, river, and ocean leasing to private businesses by the government. Most Arakanese people have not been able to carry out their daily livelihoods in the creeks and rivers since the government began leasing them to businessmen," he said.
The RNDP won a majority of elected seats in Arakan State in the last election but was unable to form as a majority in the Arakanese state because the government reserved more seats for former military personnel who are aligned with the government-backed USDP.
RNDP leaders will present the people's difficulties to the Arakan State government as well as the central government during the next parliamentary sessions, said U Tha Kyaw.