Students’ groups condemn recent ‘acts of sabotage’ in Arakan State

By DMG 24 Dec 2021

DMG Newsroom
24 December 2021, Sittwe

The Arakan Student’s Union, a group of Muslim students and the Arakan Students’ Union (Universities – Yangon) issued a joint statement on December 23 condemning a series of suspected crimes in Arakan State as acts of sabotage intended to divide the state’s people.

Unwanted incitement occurred in 2012 and 2017 in Arakan State, leading to sectarian and religious clashes that have affected millions of people, the statement said. 

Ko Zaw Min Tun, a Muslim student, said he did not want any trouble, and suspected that there was a group of provocateurs in Arakan State that was intentionally stirring up sectarian and religious tensions. 

“People of all faiths in Arakan State should avoid racist words in the meantime and, if there is a problem, they should complain to the local government without putting their emotions first,” he said. 

There were multiple reports of paddy harvesters and sheafs of paddy being set on fire in Arakan State over a period from December 9-14. 

In a statement on December 17, the United League of Arakan (ULA) — the Arakan Army’s political wing — said that some townships in Arakan State had experienced a “series of extraordinary events” this month that it warned could lead to sectarian conflict. 

Following the ULA statement, five cows belonging to a farmer in Mucha village, Mrauk-U Township, were attacked on December 20. 

In addition, two bundles of paddy were reportedly set on fire in Buthidaung Township on December 21. An employee of the General Administration Department was found dead on Thursday in Maungdaw Township and is believed to have been murdered.  

Later that same day, bundles of paddy belonging to a Muslim farmer from Nagayar village in Arakan State’s Minbya Township were reportedly set on fire. Nagayar village-tract is an ethnically diverse area consisting of five Arakanese villages, two Daingnet villages, one Mayamargyi village and three Muslim villages.