The Narinjara News

(30 July 2009)

www.narinjara.com

 

NEWS IN ENGLISH

 

Lack of Factories and Mills Cause Youth Migration

Most Arakanese prefer travelling by ships

Biggest Bangladesh Army pull-out from Chittagong Hill tracts

 

NEWS IN BURMESE

http://www.narinjara.com/burmese.asp

 

Biggest Bangladesh Army pull-out from Chittagong Hill tracts

 

 

 

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Narinjara News

Sittwe, 30 July 2009

 

 

Lack of Factories and Mills Cause Youth Migration

 

Burmese migrant workers in Thailand and Malaysia have been facing many difficulties, including unemployment, due to a global economic crisis, but many Arakanese are still leaving for the two neighboring countries to find jobs.

 

A monk from Rangoon said, "At least 10 to 20 Arakanese youths from Arakan State arrive at Danyawaddy monastery in Rangoon on a daily basis to look for jobs. Sometime women and children are among them."

 

The monastery belongs to Arakanese monks and is located at the eastern foot Shwedagon Pagoda in Bahan Township in Rangoon, and it is bustling with migrant workers from Arakan State.

 

"Some of them live in Rangoon if they find a job. But most of the youth have left for Thailand and Malaysia through two border towns - Kothaung in Thanintharyi Division and Myawaddy in Karen State," the monk added.

 

A monk from Aung Dhama Yitha Arakanese monastery in Kothaung said, "Some Arakanese migrant workers return to their homes from Malaysia and Thailand after losing their jobs, but at the same time, many Arakanese youth have left the country through Kothaung to look for work."

 

It is well known in Burma that the situation is difficult for Burmese workers in Thailand and Malaysia, but the Arakanese youths leave for these countries one after the other.

 

U Tha Kyaw Aung, a former politician from Owe Dan Ward in Sittwe said, "The migration of youth to neighboring countries to look for work is directly related to the central government in Burma, because the government never set up any factories or mills to develop the state economically after Burma's independence in 1948. This is the root cause of Arakanese youth leaving the state for other parts to look for work.. However, the Burmese military government is happy for Arakanese youth to leave the state."

 

In Sittwe and other towns, there were some large rice mills constructed by British during colonial rule in Burma, but all the mills have suffered damage and are not operating.

 

A large number of Arakanese left their homes for Thailand, Malaysia, and other parts of Burma such as Hpakant in Kachin State, a while ago due to the poor economic situation in Arakan under military rule. 

 

During the time the military government has been in power, over 50 army battalions have been based in Arakan State as part of ethnic cleansing by the junta. Half of the land in Arakan was confiscated and is currently under the control of the army.

 

"We really worry about our nation and culture because we will lose our national identities in the future because of abuse by the Burmese military government against our people," U Tha Kyaw Aung said.

 

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Narinjara News

Sittwe, 30 July 2009

 

Most Arakanese prefer travelling by ships

 

Most Arakanese prefer to travel by ships in Arakan state rather than motor vehicles and trains because they consider ships safer than the other two modes of travel, said a traveller. 

 

“Traveling in motor cars in Arakan state can be very dangerous. Many travellers died recently in several car accidents in the state. So people prefer travelling by ship,” he said.

 

On 2 April 2009, 21 pilgrims died when a bus turned turtle near Ann Township. The bus was travelling from Rangoon to Arakan carrying 54 passengers. Another bus accident occurred on 3 May 2009, in which at least five passengers died.

 

“This year, at least 50 people died and many were injured in car accidents in Arakan state. So people are afraid and avoid travelling in buses and motor vehicles,” he said.

 

The Burmese military authorities constructed a motor road between Sittwe and Rangoon between 1995 and 2000 but the road is neither properly laid nor smooth. It was constructed by the Burmese Army in a slovenly manner with forced labour of local people.

 

“With the onset of monsoons, the road is damaged by landslides, coming in the way of people travelling. But the land construction department is unable to repair the road on time because of lack of funds. So traveling along motor routes in Arakan is risky,” he said.

 

An elder in Sittwe said that the military government has constructed a new railway route from Sittwe to Ann in February 2009. While it is good for transportation in Arakan, “but we want to request the military government to renovate and restore the motor route first to a better condition so that safety is ensured for travelers”..  

  

“Right now we need a perfect highway in Arakan rather than a railway route. The motor road is enough for our state. I do not understand why the military government constructed the railway route in Arakan before completing the motor road,” the elder added.

 

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Narinjara News

Dhaka, 30 July 2009

                

Biggest Bangladesh Army pull-out from Chittagong Hill tracts

 

 In its biggest pull-out, the Bangladesh Army is withdrawing a brigade of its troops and 35 temporary camps from Chittagong Hill tracts, an announcement by the Bangladesh government said yesterday.

 

The process is to begin immediately and will be concluded by September this year, said a press report.

 

An Inter Service Public Relations press release issued yesterday said that this would be the biggest army pullout from Chittagong Hill tracts.

 

The decision was taken by the government after reviewing the law and order situation of the hill tract area.

 

The present Bangladesh government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken a big step forward as part of its policy to implement the Chittagong Hill Tract Peace Accord.

 

A total of 200 security camps have been withdrawn from the Chittagong Hill Tracts in phases following the signing of the treaty 12 years ago.

 

However the leader of the Partabya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) said that only 150 camps were withdrawn out of a total of 400.

 

The withdrawal of the Bangladesh Army from Chittagong hill area is part of the Chittagong Hill tract peace treaty between the Bangladesh government and Parbyata Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), United People's Party of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in English, the political organisation that controlled the Shanti Bahini militia in 2007.

 

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Narinjara News (NN) was founded by a group of Arakanese in exile in Bangladesh from Burma in 2001 seeking to voice for the people depriving of human and democratic rights and to pave the way for them who are struggling for those rights. The Narinjara News is an independent organization, not affiliated with any political party or organization. Any opinion or advice relating to our News Agency is warmly welcomed and please email to:  narinjara@...

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