Vox Pop: Arakan State voices on International Day of Peace

By Admin 21 Sep 2023

DMG Newsroom
21 September 2023, Sittwe

September 21 is International Day of Peace as designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001. Amidst the political instability caused by the 2021 coup in Myanmar, the entire population is feeling uneasy.

Once-renewed fighting in Arakan State has been kept at bay for more than nine months, but a power struggle remains between the military and the Arakan Army (AA). About 58,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) are still unable to return home and have been facing livelihood hardships.

DMG spoke to IDPs, youths and politicians in Arakan State on this year’s International Day of Peace, discussing the suffering and ever-present insecurity induced by conflict.

Ko Shine Nyein Khant || Arakanese youth

For us, peace is a hope. Until now, there is a lack of peace and there are still many people who do not have equal rights. Now people are threatened and feel insecure about their travel. If there is a problem, there is no answer. That’s why people want peace. 

It has a lot to do with the two sides’ strict principles, not looking at the people’s feelings and not looking at the ground situation. It is up to the relevant officials to achieve peace. I see that these are due to the needs of the rulers. There is a lot of difference between a peaceful country and a non-peaceful country. If the head of a house is bad, the family will suffer. The rulers of the country do not want peace and will never have peace.

U Phoe San || Former lawmaker || Kyaukphyu Township

There will be peace if there is a desire for peace among the people. If there is a conflict, if the conflict is resolved with armed forces, there will never be peace. If there is a problem in Arakan or Kachin states, how will peace be achieved because of the military’s bombings and planes?

The Union Peace Conference–21st Century Panglong was held but failed. Successive governments have signed Nationwide Ceasefire Agreements (NCA) with ethnic armed organisations and held peace talks, but so far they have not been successful. Myanmar has been without peace for more than 70 years due to the civil war that arose with independence. Peace cannot be achieved as long as there is a military dictatorship and bigotry. If the main military dictatorship and bigotry are to be reduced, then peace will be a step closer.

Ma Khaing Aye Nyunt || IDP ||  Kaviyadanar IDP camp || Kyauktaw

I want people in Arakan State to achieve peace and freedom. I want IDPs in Arakan State to return home. There is no peace in Myanmar due to armed conflict and instability. The country is not peaceful, people struggle to make ends meet and they feel insecure.

That’s why peace is so important. Only when there is peace will the people’s social, educational, medical, and economic conditions be OK. Also, everyone has a responsibility for peace. The rulers should work mainly to achieve peace. Also, I don’t want wars to happen. I want the kind of peace that allows me to do what I want.

U Than Htay || Secretary-1 || Khami National Development Party

I want the whole world, including Arakan State, to have lasting peace as soon as possible. It would be better if all concerned find a political solution around the table and move forward peacefully and benefit the Union and Arakan State. That’s why, no matter what, we want everyone to build moral unity first and then achieve unity and political agreement.

Since before we were born, Myanmar has not been at peace with military conflicts and has been far from peace for many years. Ethnic areas are worse and have never tasted peace. That’s why people want peace. Only when there is peace will the country be peaceful and people’s living conditions will be comfortable. That’s why peace is important.

Ma May Su Hlaing || IDP || Zedipyin IDP camp || Rathedaung Township

On this International Day of Peace, I have only one request: We want to return to our community from the life where we are fleeing the fighting. Although there is no fighting in Arakan State for the time being, the military has yet to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERWs). This is the reason why IDPs dare not return home. We want to return home only after the landmines and ERWs are cleared. IDPs want to return home because they face various hardships at displacement camps.