Arakan Army Trains Fighters to Oppose Myanmar’s Military

 

In Myanmar, several hundred young people kick up dirt as they run early one morning along a dusty path. They are preparing to join groups such as the Arakan Army (AA), which operates training camps in the northern state of Kachin.

The area also is home to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), another armed group.

The AA was formed in 2009 and now claims to have 7,000 troops. It is fighting in Rakhine State against troops loyal to the government of Myanmar, also called Burma.

The Arakan Army says it is fighting for more self-rule and control over their territory.

“The reason I joined the Arakan Army and train as a female soldier is because I don’t want to see the Myanmar army oppress and kill Rakhine people anymore,” says Soe Soe. The young woman carried an AK-74 rifle on her shoulder as she spoke¹ to a VOA reporter.

“The Myanmar army bullies² and treats us badly in every way they can. I can’t take it so I made a decision to serve my nationality and army,” Soe Soe added.

The AA is just one group belonging to the Northern Alliance. Others include the KIA, the Ta-ang Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).

The Arakan Army has been involved in heavy fighting in Rakhine State. At the same time, the group continues ceasefire negotiations³ with both the government and Myanmar’s military.

In Rakhine State, international investment and development has caused land values to increase. So there is growing pressure on armed groups to bring peace to an area that contains valuable resources.

The Arakan Army’s deputy commander is Nyo Tun Aung, a doctor. He says the Rohingya Muslims are not the only group under attack in Rakhine State.

“When there were problems with Bengali in Rakhine State, the world paid attention and had sympathy for them,” he said. “We want to beg the world please look at what’s happened to the Arakan people and feel for us too. We’re also in the same situation like the Bengali.”

In Myanmar, many people use the term “Bengali” when they talk about the Rohingya Muslim population in Rakhine State. It means the Rohingya come from neighboring Bangladesh and are not ethnic⁴ Burmese.

More than 750,000 Rohingya were driven out of Rakhine State in army operations in 2017. More than 900,000 now live in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Top Myanmar officials are under investigation⁵ by rights groups for crimes against humanity.

Most of Rakhine state’s civilian⁶ population are Buddhist⁷ ethnic Rakhine, but they are still a target of the central Burmese army.

Parts of the state are of large economic importance. Both China and India have provided money to finance development. The development has already led to displacement⁸ of the area’s Buddhist and Muslim populations.

The $484 million Kaladan project plans to connect Sittwe port with the Indian seaport⁹ of Kolkata. India is supporting a deep sea port in Kyaukphyu. That project has an estimated cost of $1.3 billion.

A $1.5 billion oil pipeline¹⁰ will also stretch from the Bay of Bengal to China.

While the pipelines¹¹ and deep sea ports will provide oil and gas to neighboring countries, the people of Rakhine have yet to see any gains from the development.

“One day I stand on top of the mountain. I look down to the capital and I see their lights all over the city. But when I look back to our village, I hope to see the lights, but what I see is only the darkness,” says Kyaw Than. He is a soldier with the Arakan Army.

Police announced anti-terrorism charges against four Arakan Army leaders earlier this year for attacks on police buildings in Rakhine State. The charges are the first ever against an ethnic leader under Myanmar’s Counter-Terrorism Law.

I’m Susan Shand.

Words In This Story

rifle – n. a shoulder weapon

bully¹² – v. to oppress; to treat someone in an insulting way

resource – n. a support of money, materials or other things that one needs to operate effectively

beg – v. to ask for help; to appeal

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 bullies   

n.欺凌弱小者, 开球 vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负

参考例句：

• Standing up to bullies takes plenty of backbone. 勇敢地对付暴徒需有大无畏精神。
• Bullies can make your life hell. 恃强欺弱者能让你的日子像活地狱。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

5 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

6 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

7 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

8 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。

9 seaport   

n.海港，港口，港市

参考例句：

• Ostend is the most important seaport in Belgium.奥斯坦德是比利时最重要的海港。
• A seaport where ships can take on supplies of coal.轮船能够补充煤炭的海港。

10 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

11 pipelines   

管道( pipeline的名词复数 )； 输油管道； 在考虑（或规划、准备） 中； 在酿中

参考例句：

• The oil is carried to the oil refinery by pipelines. 石油通过输油管输送到炼油厂。
• The oil carried in pipelines. 石油用管道输送。

12 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。