Confederation the Only Option for Arakanese People, AA Chief Says
Confederation the Only Option for Arakanese People, AA Chief Says
The Irrawaddy, 11 Jan 2019
URL: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/confederation-option-arakanese-people-aa-chief-says.html
YANGON—The political objective of the Arakan Army (AA), an Arakanese ethnic armed group currently clashing with the Myanmar Army, is to obtain confederate status for Rakhine State, AA chief Major-General Tun Myat Naing told The Irrawaddy.
“We prefer [a confederation of states] like Wa State, which has a larger share of power in line with the Constitution,” said Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing, referring to the status of the AA’s ally, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), adding that a confederation is “better” than federalism.
“In a confederation, we have the authority to make decisions on our own. But there would be a common defense system. And there would be cooperation on market regulation and foreign affairs. To have control over our own destiny—self-determination—is the aspiration of every ethnic group. We can try,” he said.
Resource-rich Rakhine State is home to a number of strategic projects, but the Arakanese people do not benefit from them and live in poverty, he said.
The armed group has come under the spotlight after staging deadly attacks on border police outposts in Rakhine State’s Buthidaung Township on Jan. 4, prompting the President’s Office to instruct the Defence Ministry, which oversees the Myanmar Army (or Tatmadaw), to launch attacks on it, including air strikes if necessary.
It calls for allowing ethnic states to maintain their own armies, whereas the Tatmadaw insists there can only be one army. It also calls for granting complete authority to local governments regarding independent jurisdiction, legislation, resource exploitation and taxation.
Ethnic affairs analyst U Maung Maung Soe said, “It is true that ethnic armed groups like the Wa and Mongla have autonomy. They think they will be able to develop their areas if they have such autonomy.”
“The Wa and Mongla are existing problems. If the same problem occurs in a new place, I think heavy fighting will recur. I don’t want to comment on whether it is right or wrong. Everyone has his own opinion about federation versus confederation,” he said.
“We prefer [a confederation of states] like Wa State, which has a larger share of power in line with the Constitution,” said Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing, referring to the status of the AA’s ally, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), adding that a confederation is “better” than federalism.
“In a confederation, we have the authority to make decisions on our own. But there would be a common defense system. And there would be cooperation on market regulation and foreign affairs. To have control over our own destiny—self-determination—is the aspiration of every ethnic group. We can try,” he said.
Resource-rich Rakhine State is home to a number of strategic projects, but the Arakanese people do not benefit from them and live in poverty, he said.
The armed group has come under the spotlight after staging deadly attacks on border police outposts in Rakhine State’s Buthidaung Township on Jan. 4, prompting the President’s Office to instruct the Defence Ministry, which oversees the Myanmar Army (or Tatmadaw), to launch attacks on it, including air strikes if necessary.
It calls for allowing ethnic states to maintain their own armies, whereas the Tatmadaw insists there can only be one army. It also calls for granting complete authority to local governments regarding independent jurisdiction, legislation, resource exploitation and taxation.
Ethnic affairs analyst U Maung Maung Soe said, “It is true that ethnic armed groups like the Wa and Mongla have autonomy. They think they will be able to develop their areas if they have such autonomy.”
“The Wa and Mongla are existing problems. If the same problem occurs in a new place, I think heavy fighting will recur. I don’t want to comment on whether it is right or wrong. Everyone has his own opinion about federation versus confederation,” he said.