AA’s confederation hopes clash with Rakhine’s ethnic diversity
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Phyo (NP News)-Nov 10
A Rakhine affairs specialist says the Arakan Army’s (AA) objective of establishing a confederation in Rakhine State faces significant challenges due to the state’s complex ethnic composition and uneven local support via the NP News.
Rakhine is home to a wide range of ethnic communities, including the Mro, Khamee, Chak, Marma, and Bengali peoples, each with their own languages, and traditions. These diverse groups, expert notes, make it difficult to build the kind of unified political structure that a confederation would require.
“In Rakhine, ethnic diversity runs deep. The northern, and southern parts of the state differ not only in demographics but also in political alignment and outlook,” the above- mentioned source said.
“Even within Rakhine, the situation in Maungdaw and Buthidaung is very different from Sittwe or Mrauk-U,” he noted. “Bringing all of these areas together under one system would not be simple.”
He also points out that southern Rakhine residents, many of whom speak Burmese and maintain closer ties with the central government, have shown limited support for the AA’s political objectives.
“The southern communities tend to be more integrated with national politics and are less influenced by the AA’s movement,” the analyst added.
According to the above-mentioned source, while the AA has expanded its influence in Rakhine State, its confederation goal may be difficult to achieve without broader trust and cooperation among Rakhine’s various ethnic and linguistic groups.
“The divisions are not only along township lines, there are also splits based on ethnicity,” he said. “If the situation is unstable, establishing a confederation system will not be easy, and it could even lead to renewed conflict. That’s why we have long believed that a federal system is the more viable option,” he stated. –