Vox Pop: People of Arakan share views on AA’s administrative and judicial track record

By Admin 10 Apr 2023

DMG Newsroom

The Arakan Army (AA) — formed by 26 young people in Laiza, Kachin State, close to the Chinese border in northern Myanmar and where the Kachin Independence Army ethnic armed group is headquartered — celebrated the 14th anniversary of its founding on April 10.

Established in 2009, the AA has grown into a powerful ethnic army in a relatively short span. Amid periods of intense fighting with the Myanmar military starting in late 2018, the ethnic armed group has consolidated its control over large parts of Arakan State, running an administration and judiciary in parallel with Myanmar’s military regime.

But are the administrative and judicial functions of the AA and its political wing, the United League of Arakan (ULA), meeting people’s expectations? DMG sought the voices of different tribes, politicians and locals in Arakan State on the strengths and weaknesses of ULA/AA governance.

Ashin Nandathara || Abbot of Myatanzaung Monastery

On the 14th anniversary of the founding of the Arakan Army, I see that the AA has reached further down the revolutionary path than any other. Starting with Taung Min Kyaw Htwee more than 200 years ago in the Arakan Revolution, until today, there has never been a revolutionary organisation as strong as the AA. The AA is much ahead of other ethnic armed organisations except UWSA [United Wa State Army], including other Kachin and Karen resistance groups in Myanmar.

The AA’s weakness is that it is still not easy to become an internationally recognised government on the current path. There is still a need for more systematic administration and justice in AA’s administration and judiciary.

U Aung Khin || Muslim Translator

As an advantage, Muslims in Arakan State, especially Muslims in northern Arakan State, have been discriminated against for the past 50 years. Since 1992, they have been unable to travel to mainland Myanmar, unable to apply for an ID card, and restricted from even going from one village to another. When the Arakan Army emerged, it was seen that Arakanese and other ethnic groups including Muslims in Arakan State were treated equally, without discrimination.

To tell you the truth, since about four years ago, the Muslims in Arakan State have been travelling from village to village, and it is quite heartening to see that the Arakanese people have put love and understanding in front of them.

The Arakan Army is not yet an organisation that has full administrative power in Arakan State, so I see that they are doing as much as they can to a certain extent. However, the areas under the administration of ULA/AA need to be maintained so as not to be legally unregulated at the bottom level.

Ann Thar Gyi || Resident of Minbya

Arakan State and Arakanese people need their own government. At a time when the Arakanese people were longing for their own government, ULA/AA emerged and as an Arakanese, I am proud to witness the AA’s functioning of important things, including the judiciary and administration, related to the interests of the Arakanese people.

The Arakan Army also has its weaknesses, because every government has strengths and weaknesses. I can see that the Arakan Army and the Arakan People’s Authority are always trying to turn weaknesses into strengths, so I would like to say that I don’t see much weakness.

U Tin Ngwe || Vice Chairman || Kaman National Development party

The ULA/AA is led by a young leader, his clarity and ideas are good and can catch the attention of the people of Arakan. We find the politics of the ULA/AA very encouraging because AA [leadership] can express political ambitions and these ideas flow.

Compared to previous revolutionaries, AA leaders have had higher ideals and higher goals. The Arakan Army is also seen as reliable for the tribes living in Arakan State.

The AA is doing territorial control, especially law enforcement during the cessation of hostilities in Arakan State. Since it is the beginning of the legal phase, there may be difficulties for the AA. Of course, there are people who do not want the AA’s judgments. I believe that the current ULA/AA will be able to overcome the difficulties faced in 2022 in 2023 and do the right thing for the people.

Ko Kyaw Marm Khaing || Youth Activist

After the 2015 election, when the Arakan government was formed, depending on the weakness of the NLD, the AA grew stronger. The people did not expect that the AA would become so powerful militarily. Now, the AA has a lot of military advancements. It can be said that the AA was able to do what the revolutionary veterans of the past could not do.

On the other hand, when it comes to the administration, the AA is not yet ready, so there are weaknesses and jokes among the people regarding the administration. Mainly regarding taxation; the tax rates set by the AA are a burden on the people.

And we see weaknesses in the AA’s judiciary. In addition to strong territorial demarcation and weak security, the AA has weak security when it comes to the judiciary. The military council has firmly established the administration in Arakan State. The AA appointed some inexperienced people in its administrative and judicial sectors, including some people with bad reputations, and people’s trust in the administration has weakened. I see that it is necessary for the AA to remedy these in time.