Statement on the 225th Anniversary of the Loss of National Sovereignty of Arakan
Date: December 31, 2009
Ref: AASYC/ GHQ/ Release/ 13/ 09
Since 6000 B.C.E, the Arakanese nation stood proud amongst the nations of the world, exercising sovereignty and developing independent literature and culture. However, taking advantage of the lack of national solidarity and a period of political instability in the history of Arakan, in 1784 the Burman chauvinists invaded and colonized Arakan after a request by the Royal Court of Arakan to intervene in a palace crisis and install a new a prince on the throne.
Not content with the occupation and colonization of Arakan, imperialist Burman governors took measures to Burmanize the language, literature and culture of Arakan between 1784 and 1826. By committing mass rape and forced marriage against Arakanese women, the Burman expansionists plotted the extinction of our nationality.
However during the British and the Japanese occupations of all of Burma, patriotic citizens of Arakan put aside the ethnic conflicts of feudal ages and joined hands with the other ethnic nationalities, including the Burman, to fight for liberation from the colonial yoke.
During the era of anti-colonialist cooperation, the Burman leaders made two promises to their Arakanese counterparts: that they would recognize Arakan as a republic and return the Mahamuni Image from Mandalay when liberation was achieved. However, the Arakanese national leaders who had risked their lives in the struggle against the British and the Japanese were imprisoned and branded as insurgents or bandits when Burma actually gained independence.
Arakan’s national liberation movement was also enfeebled by the flexible nature of some Arakanese leaders, who were deceived by the false promises of the federal constitution, and peace in exchange for surrendering arms.
Instilling parochial racial and religious prejudices as part of a divide-and-rule strategy, successive Burman regimes from 1947 up to now have succeeded in driving a wedge between the Arakanese and their sub-ethnic groups, between northern and southern Arakan, and between Arakan’s diverse ethnic and religious groups. By allowing forced marriage and rape to be perpetrated against Arakanese women by Tatmadaw troops, the henchmen of Burman imperialism, they have conspired to destroy the Arakanese nationality and society. Moreover, by luring the people with false promises of regional autonomy within a federal union (as with the 1947 Constitution), bluffing that civilian government will be constituted and a democratic system institutionalized, they have been trying to enslave the people and nation of Arakan permanently, by monopolizing natural resource extraction projects, the economy and commerce.
In 2010, the military authorities will attempt to formalize and entrench their grip on Arakan, and indeed Burma, in the national general elections. The constitution adopted in the flawed national referendum in May 2008 stipulates that at least a quarter of the seats in the national parliament must go to the military, and that the head of state must come from a military background; the junta is also in the process of transforming its proxy the USDA into a political party so that it can control still more of the parliament. Taking lessons from its embarrassment in the 1990 elections, the regime is doing its utmost to ensure that the 2010 elections are anything but free and fair. Aggressive measures have been taken to silence, through intimidation, violence, or imprisonment, anyone who questions, criticizes or opposes the regime, the constitution or the election process; they are particularly keen to neutralize any potential political opposition.
It was in this spirit that in August and September of 2009 dozens of politically-active Arakanese youth and young monks were arrested and subjected to interrogations, inhuman treatment, and torture. The authorities use violence and intimidation because they have no legitimacy; coercion is the only tool they have to protect their sham election process, which will not survive a challenge by legitimate democratic forces. The objective is to subjugate all such democratic challenges before the elections, avoid any demonstrations or unrest, and preserve the status quo of military dominance. Control and domination of Arakan is paramount because extraction of its abundant natural resources means billions of dollars in revenue for the regime. AASYC encourages all political forces in Arakan, as well as the rest of Burma, to continue to fight for political freedoms and democratic change in what is sure to be a tumultuous 2010. In the spirit of democracy, AASYC further encourages the people of Arakan and Burma to embrace the freedoms of thought and political choice, and support to whatever political forces their conscience decides.
On this Thursday, December 31st, 2009, the 225th anniversary of Arakan’s loss of national sovereignty, we, the All Arakan Students' and Youths' Congress (AASYC), would like to advise all citizens of Arakan as follows, so that our national identity, cultural heritage and national interest may be safeguarded:
- Be oriented towards national solidarity.
- Protect Arakan’s natural resources, its national identity, cultural heritage and national interest.
- Fight imperialism, chauvinism and militarism with whichever arms available.
Central Executive Committee
All Arakan Students' and Youths' Congress (AASYC)
General Headquarters
Thailand-Burma Border
For more information, contact |
Comrade Kyaw Myint |
