The following is a transcript of a speech delivered in 2018 by Twan Morn Naing, the brother of the Commander-in Chief of the Arakan Army Twan Mrat Naing offering context about the intent of the Arakan Army. Dhaka Tribune is not entirely certain whether the transcript is representative of the speech delivered, but the transcript has been left intact for the most part with minor edits to improve legibility.
It is not the answer if 100 or 200 enemies (what they call “Bengali”) were killed in gun attacks. It is not the solution if 100, 200, or 1,000 enemies were killed. Because, there’s more than 600,000 Bengalis. Let’s say we can expel the Burmese army, but there remain Bengalis in that territory. Even if the Bengalis can be expelled, the territory will remain in the hands of the Burman.
So, in relation to Buthidaung and Maungdaw issues, rather than deciding with bullets, it’s important to take our time and allow the Arakanese people to settle down in that area. If we solve it with guns, we will be subjected to what Burman says.
The Rohingya in the shadow of the Arakan armyAnother thing, Arakan people use Facebook, not Twitter. On Twitter, they are posting that the AA (Arakan Army) and Burman (Burmese army) are killing (the Bengalis). What the “Kalar” (a racist and violent term used against Muslim minorities) are thinking is to eradicate both Arakan and Burman at once. What the Burman are thinking is to clear both Kalar and Arakanese. In this situation, the AA cannot bring guns into these problems. Frankly speaking, the Arakanese people are supposed to gradually penetrate that territory and settle down in Buthidaung and Maungdaw to a certain extent. For example, Asia’s Tiger, where you are, was occupied in ethnic terms, without firing a single shot. The Malay didn't even know that. In this time, if the AA does that, we will be subjected to what the Burman say or what the Kalar say.
The Kalar are now asking the United Nations for a “Rohingya Safe Zone.” The AA is also doing this. As a result, Burman can set a buffer zone, just like the problem in Israel before. So, the Kalar can do whatever they want. It can become an ungovernable territory. Remember, if we solve the issues of Buthidaung and Maungdaw with guns, we might lose. I don’t need to say this out loud. I am just responding to what the Arakanese people asked on how to be able to enter (that territory). Does it make sense? We must try to settle (there) at any price. The Kalar also came in the same way. They penetrated (in the territory) gradually for 40 or 50 years, and now they are raising their heads and are launching attacks and killing campaigns. So keep calm and observe. Does that make sense? Offer yourself some comfort if you feel anger take over. A solution with guns to the Buthidaung and Maungdaw issues would lead nowhere but to loss.
Arakan Army plans large settlement near Bangladesh borderThe Arakanese people often speak of the theory of “Hlay Nan Dar Htit” (a Chinese proverb used metaphorically to mean that a person sees things as static and takes measures without thinking about changing circumstances). I am not a lecturer, but I will say it as an Arakanese patriot. The Kofi Annan Commission’s report came out. Yes. What the Burmese government was doing is completely unfair. It was done without the input of the Arakanese. So, when Kofi Annan was talking about meeting the Arakanese people, some Arakanese elders failed to show up. I want them to meet with him. Because this is the lesson. If the Arakanese people are familiar with them, they can object to what is wrong when they write down the contents.
That's why they wrote it down before us and then released it -- there is no chance to make any objections anymore.
To be frank, the weight of the Arakan National Party is different from Kofi Annan's. Kofi Annan has great influence in the world. No matter how much we like him or not, people around the world will refer only to Kofi Annan's report. Our “no’ is not to be kept in our minds. We must eliminate these ideas.
Who is the face of modern ethnic hatred?Another example, there were politicians and ethnic organizations living in Chiang Mai and Mae Sot during the regime of SPDC (State Peace and Development Council). These NGO groups are planning to meet with Burmese delegations. There the Rohingya, along with the Arakanese, came under a name. In fact, the Kalar paid money to those NGOs to do this. At that time, no representatives from Arakanese groups were present there. We refused to attend it as there are representatives with Rohingya names. On the one hand, this is true. But there was no one who could explain the hardships of the Arakanese people, only so-called Rohingya attended it. All the contents were presented by Rohingya-only organizations. At that time, what they said on behalf of Arakan State was approved. Our voice was not heard by the world. The Kalar told the world that the Arakanese people are the wildest people in the world and that they’re the only people who cannot be not negotiated through talks.
After they (Bengalis) had been making an attempt for 10 or 20 years, people began to feel sympathy for them, including Burman. Acquiring more and more “sympathizers,” we immediately expelled those who came and interviewed our Arakanese people, claiming that they are NGO people and journalists who were on the side of the Bengalis. So, they saw our behaviour coincided with what the Kalar were saying to them. It was seen, and even talks with us became a sensitive matter. At that time, (people) defected to the Kalar side after they assumed that the Arakans’ expulsion and what the Kalar said was true. The white people felt pity for the Kalar crying during the interview. The politics, including the name “Rohingya”, became powerful, and we, the Arakanese people, are bearing the brunt of its consequences. These are issues we need to review.
'Arakan Army has displaced thousands in Rakhine State'Next, two elderly Arakan women from Buthidaung were interviewed. Their answers are correct. But they responded to questions with anger. The way they speak is really different from the Kalar. The Kalar answered by using subterfuge, while Arakan people post pictures with knives online. The Kalar have a lot of bombs and have even used them at certain times, but they don't post about them online. I think we are the only ones who are not as clever as we are. Now we are feeling pain as well as hunger. That’s why, (we) need to think up a ruse at the political level globally.
Okay, now ... is it enough for us to be in silence for long? We can't feel that way forever. How worried should we be? We realize our territories have been occupied by waves of people. On the other hand, the descendants of the Arakanese people are suffering. The feelings of what I’m saying are similar to the ones of Arakanese patriots watching (me) now. But it might not be the same as what I think. I want everyone to think about this.
Another thing I forgot to mention, earlier this month before the arrival of the Burmese army, the Arakanese people shouted a slogan "NGOs get out," instead of “Burmese Army get out." That did a lot of favour to the Burmese army.
Don't do anything without a plan. To build a country, you have to face many obstacles first. It can be achieved only after experiencing many hardships and overcoming those feelings. Only then will we get the country we want. In the Kofi Annan Commission, (it stated that) the security of Arakan State is a serious concern because of AA, and that some security forces were killed by AA last year. They are not saying the deaths caused by the Kalar, but AA. The deaths caused by AA are few, but we can even say there’s none. When we fight, we only fight the Burmese army. But the whole world is saying the same. Those who rule us are whispering sweet words and oppressing us in whatever way they can. That's why we need to be a race that can think ahead.
How Arsa and the Arakan Army make money from trafficking RohingyasInstead of asking where AA is everytime something happens, confront the problems that arise. Keep on walking. Make it possible. Learn something from these situations. Look at how much we have cooperated with AA in eight years. It's not enough, not yet. More than that, keep in mind that it will be beneficial to us when we are in need, ensuring we cooperate with it (AA) wholeheartedly. Don’t be discouraged. We will try to confront every problem and achieve our goals at any price. This cannot be done alone.
We all need to cooperate and listen. I also want to encourage you to continue to be strong. Don't try to die by doing nothing. You need to prevent yourself from drowning by grabbing rocks and grass with both hands. When faced with this kind of situation, number one is to master your swimming skills. Number two is to think about wearing life jackets once you are on the water or buying them in advance (if you have none). Because we must cross the ocean. We must pass it. If we don't think ahead like this, next generations will face such suffering and loss of life, and the state will fall. We cannot let that happen. We need to strengthen our hearts and minds.
Finally, what I want to say is, some people are speculating whether AA carries guns. Some said they (AA) do not even issue a letter of condolence. AA is very clear. We are revolutionaries. We can't offer our condolences (to everyone) everywhere. We can’t show our sorrows as others do. If necessary, we will release it (a letter of condolence). We are not weak people -- every time the military junta does something, UN (Secretary General) Ban Ki-moon expresses a great number of his concerns and sorrows, but nothing works. Nothing will be effective. So, we cannot show that kind of concern and sorrow. They are tigers, but paper tigers. You don't need to think about it at all. We, the Arakanese people, cannot afford to be like paper tigers. We must never give up.
