U Pe Than: ‘The public knows who’s willing, who’s pretending to do rescue work’

By Admin 24 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom
24 June 2023, Sittwe

Following its meeting with the Brotherhood Alliance, a military alliance made up of the Arakan Army (AA) and two other ethnic armed organisations, in Shan State’s Mongla on June 1, Myanmar’s military regime imposed a travel ban on local and international nongovernmental organisations and civil society organisations in Arakan State, hampering their efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to local people affected by Cyclone Mocha.

AA chief Twan Mrat Naing urged local people in Arakan State to overcome the challenges posed by the storm with patience and unity.

Later, the regime denied imposing a ban, but required aid groups to report to local authorities prior to their travel. The United Nations Office on Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Myanmar (UNOCHA-Myanmar),  however, has said the travel ban is still in effect.

Veteran Arakanese politician U Pe Than recently spoke to DMG about relations between Myanmar’s military regime and the AA, and why the junta has imposed restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid for storm-ravaged Arakan State.

DMG: How is the relationship between Myanmar’s military regime and the Arakan Army currently?

U Pe Than: The regime should have made concessions at a time when people are experiencing hardships. But instead it has imposed travel restrictions, which can exacerbate tensions between the AA and the regime. But from the statement of Major-General Twan Mrat Naing, we can conclude that the AA would go slow and steady to reach their goal because people would face greater troubles if the AA fights back with force at a time when people are suffering serious hardships.

So, he does not want to cause military tensions, but rather to build good relations with the regime. I think he will seek to build trust and achieve good results at political dialogue.

DMG: What do you know about the talks between the regime and the Brotherhood Alliance in early June?

U Pe Than: As far as I know, the tripartite military alliance pressed three demands at the meeting. They demanded that they be removed from the list of unlawful associations, that their detained members be released, and that restrictions on delivery of relief supplies to victims of Cyclone Mocha be lifted. But junta representatives talked about the election, and federalism. The military alliance did not respond to the junta's proposal. So, the meeting failed.

DMG: Storm-hit communities in Arakan State need assistance. UNOCHA-Myanmar said the regime continues to suspend travel permits for organisations. What is your view on that?

U Pe Than: The AA entered a ceasefire with the Myanmar military for the sake of people who were suffering from hardships. People face more serious hardships now. Some cyclone victims still don’t get shelter, and are facing starvation. Meanwhile, food prices have soared, and people are expecting international assistance, hoping that it will help reduce food prices, and facilitate the growing of monsoon paddy. 

The AA will not be happy that the Myanmar military has broken its promise and imposed restrictions. But the AA can’t afford to fight with the regime because it could cause more serious troubles for people in Arakan. No other government in the world harms its own people, and blocks assistance from other countries for its people.

The regime wants to deliver the relief aid from the international community by itself, hoping that it will help revive its image. It is trying to take advantage of international relief aid. It is not a good thing to take political advantage of relief supplies intended for storm victims.

DMG: How do you think the junta’s restrictions in Arakan State will affect the relationship between the military and the AA?

U Pe Than: The junta’s restrictions have had an impact on the relationship between the military and the AA. The junta is also concerned that the food supplies will go to the ULA/AA. This is the reason why the junta imposed travel restrictions on local and foreign relief groups. Another thing is that the junta seems to be concerned that the relief items will not go into the hands of the people, but instead into the hands of the ULA/AA, either through the people or otherwise.

As the junta has violated its promise, even if there is no fighting between the two sides at the moment, it can be said that the junta started provocation in order for the fighting to happen.

DMG: The junta has assigned military generals to manage relief efforts in storm-affected areas in Arakan State. How are storm victims receiving help on the ground?

U Pe Than: I heard that the Union government has allocated a budget of K7 billion for the storm relief in Arakan State. Military generals may be in charge of managing that budget. I think the generals are being assigned because of the plans to collect the data and try to get international aid and other people’s donations and encouragement. But I still don’t see the junta helping the people enough. It can be said that the military generals first took the initiative to implement their plans and gain international aid for political gain.

DMG: What could be the reasons behind the junta’s not allowing local and international relief groups to freely help the storm-hit areas in Arakan State?

U Pe Than: This has two points. The first point is that international organisations rely on their organisations at the bottom to distribute relief items to storm victims. International organisations provide relief through CSOs, NGOs and INGOs. The junta has restricted aid and relief to international organisations with its approval. The public knows who is willing and who is pretending to do rescue work for storm victims.

DMG: How do you see AA helping people affected by the storm in Arakan State?

U Pe Than: The ULA/AA helps storm victims repair the damaged homes and bridges. The junta provides a small amount of cash assistance to the storm victims. I don’t know exactly the cash amount supplied by the junta. The ULA/AA is not financially able to use as much as the junta, so the group provides labour and other small support to the people.