We should not forget 13 August

Photo: Narinjara News

 Today, August 13, marks the 55th anniversary of Arakanese  City of Sittwe Rice Problem Day. Even though Years had passed, Arakanese new generation still is mourning and unable to forget this day because between 400 and 500 Arakanese are killed by the Myanmar government led by Ne Win.

By the time all the rice from Arakan was forcibly taken and sold to foreign nations by the Myanmar government in 1967, the Arakanese people faced famine. Therefore, over ten thousand Arakanese people took the streets of Sittwe City to protest and demanded to back of all the rice to Arakan. Instead of returning rice to Arakan,Myanmar Army fired into proceeding when they arrived at Mra rice mill, killing between 400 and 500 Arakanese people.

When Myanmar Army fired into the proceeding, some protestors ran and jumped down into Satroekay Creek and swam to another side of the creek,  which was nearby the Mra rice mill. But they were also shot and killed from the bank of satroekay creek by Myanmar Army, appearing the water creek blood-red color with Arakanese protestors.

Hence, the new generation of Arakan painfully commemorates every year on this day to remind the past in which Myanmar killed innocent Arakanese old generation intentionally and also observe how to avoid situations like this from invaders Myanmar or Burma.

Under Myanmar's rule, the Arakanese people are systematically massacred every now and then on every situation by Myanmar or Burma since Arakan lost its sovereignty to Myanmar or Burma.