Myanmar Army sets Lakka village on fire in Arakan

On May 16, 2020, at 1:45 PM, Myanmar Army again set Arakanese village of Lakka in Mrauk U Township on fire after it had done similar criminal deed just one week ago to Nga Sa Yin Chaung village in Minbya Township in the lost Arakan to Myanmar(western Myanmar).

Light Infantry Battalion 337 based in Mrauk U and Light Infantry Division 55 reinforced from beyond the Arakan or Myanmar regions   - total over sixty   -  entered into Lakka village after  they atrociously persecuted villagers in the nearby village of Tin Nyo.

While Myanmar soldiers entered into Lakka village, they fired gunshots indiscriminately to every house in the village and then set entire village on fire.

U Tha Sein , who is Mrauk U Township lawmaker , confirmed this war crime committed by Myanmar Army. He told media that he saw the Lakka village which was engulfed in flames and he was also reported by villagers that Myanmar soldiers set their village on fire.

No firefighter and fire engine was appearing to extinguish because they are not allowed to come for extinguishing by brutal Myanmar soldiers. There are over 400 houses in Lakka village and it has a population of two thousands. But villagers were to flee their village to nearby Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps after Myanmar Army threatened to kill them.  

Almost every house in the village of Nga Taug Tu chay in Rathitaung Township also were set fire on May 4, 2020 by brutal criminal Myanmar soldiers and the entire village of Tinma in Kyauktaw Township too was set on fire in March this year. There were over 500 houses in Tinma village which were burnt to ground by Myanmar soldiers.

Myanmar Army is still not complying any International Laws and Humanitarian Laws. It is still committing crimes and war crimes against the humanity in the lost Arakan to Myanmar even if the world leaders and UN Secretary General urge warring parties across the world to cease their fighting in support of the bigger battle against the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The powerful landmine abandoned by Myanmar Army killed two children and injured a girl in Arakan

The very powerful landmine abandoned by Myanmar Army in the Tharaoak village in Buthitaung Township in northern Arakan  killed two Muslim children  and injured a girl on May 12, 2020. Six months ago, all villagers from Tharaoak village had already fled their village because of clashes between the Myanmar Army and Arakan Army.

Since then, Myanmar Army stations in the village often and it cut some trees and bushes around the village so that it can clearly see the village from nearby Saidain Bridge where it has military post.

From nearby villages of Tharaoak village, Muslim children used to gather to collect firewood which remained in Tharaoak village after Myanmar soldiers cut trees and left them and the children also used to pluck mango fruits from remaining mango trees in the village.

Unfortunately, a boy, aged 11, and two girls, aged 10 and 8 , respectively, were killed  and injured by landmine left by Myanmar Army in the village. The entire one leg of the boy was blown up and a girl, aged 10, whose head was opened in the blast. Another girl, aged 8, was critically injured.

Villagers believe that Myanmar Army intentionally is planting powerful landmine in the village to kill or wound its enemy by the time they approach  the village.

Irresponsible Myanmar Army nowadays intensifies its killings and arrestings on the civilians of Arakan after declaring ceasefire in all regions except in the lost Arakan to Myanmar.

Three Rohingyas Muslim critically injured by Myanmar Army

Three civilians of Arakan in northern Arakan were injured on May 11, 2020 by the time Myanmar soldiers launched mortar shells into Muslim village of Paithay in Kyauktaw Township in the lost Arakan to Myanmar (western Myanmar).

According to residents, Myanmar soldiers came to send some medical supplies -    masks and pesticide – on the face of the matter or superficially to hospital in Kyauktaw Township. After leaving hospital for their base, Myanmar soldiers launched two mortar shells into Rohingya Muslim village of Paithay wounding three Rohingys critically. They were admitted to hospital later. Of that total, two Rohingyas suffered very much serious wounds on their entire bodies.

But Myanmar Army told media that they were attacked by two remote landmines planted by Arakan Army near the Paithay village at road side of Rangoon- sittwe about over 300 meters west of Kissapanadi Bridge in the evening hours and it also told that nobody was injured in the attack.

Arakan Army spokesperson Mr. Khaing Thukha was telephoned by Radio free Asia(RFA) to respond. He told RFA that there was no clash between Arakan Army and Myanmar Army at that day in Kyaktaw Townships. However, Myanmar Army is still launching mortar shells into villages randomly whenever it passes villages, said Mr.Khaing Thukha.

Media expressed that from April to May 11, 2020 alone, there were 45 killed and 87 injured in the lost Arakan.to Myanmar.

(OPINION) WILL NLD GOVERNMENT AND TATMADAW FORCE TO DISSOLVE ANP OR CO OPT FROM NATIONAL ELECTION IN 2020

Arakan National Party campaign in 2015 national election

Sittway. My 12, 2020( Opinion: Arakan Information Centre - AIC ) 

Sequence of systematic crackdowns, intimidations, harassments, arrests, draconian law suits  over the members of Arakan National Party (ANP) is raised higher concern among the people and leaders whether NLD government and Tatmadaw are co opting to either dissolve the party or marginalize it from 2020 national election. 

  

ANP won majority parliamentary seats in Rakhine State and third largest seats in the national parliament in 2015 election. But the party was not allowed to form the state government. Instead, NLD picked its member for the chief minister and formed the local government without people support. 

DR. Aye Maung, popular and one of the key political figures, was charged with high treason and sentenced for lengthy imprisonment for his political speech that Myanmar government viewed motivating nationalism. 

 After Arakan Army has been emerging armed struggle for greater autonomy since 2018 and Tatmadaw is responding with aggressive counter military offensives and targeting civilians, the conflict in Rakhine state is widen to political confrontation. 

For worse, NLD government is overtly relax. But it is covertly allowing police and courts to arrest and charge ANP members with unlawful association acts and terrorist laws. 

Tatmadaw prosecuted a lawmaker from Buthedaung township in March for his media interview and telling the shells fired from the Tatmadaw landed in a village and injured civilians. The charges are still pending. 

Tatmadaw ran TV Myawaddy publically denounced and threatened Rakhine lawmakers of ANP, who provided evidences and witness accounts of Kyauk Seik incident to media, where 8 villagers were skilled and 14 civilians injured in April.

In May first week, police arrested and charged some ANP members in Tungup township with unlawful association acts. They were released by the court but immediately recharged with terrorist laws in this week.

Police arrested ANP’s chairman of Toungup township and sympathizers of the township municipal chairman and former chairman. They are charged with terrorist laws on May 11. 

These arrests and charges made on the ANP members after there were news came out of Toungup that AA members treated NLD members in the township. 

There are also a number of untold cases of harassing ANP members in Kyuakphu and Ann townships as well. 

All of these harassments and intimidations over the ANP members are indicting National Election Commission may take further severe actions against the party including disqualification of election and outlawing it.

NLD perceives ANP is as a great threat in 2020 election in Rakhine State. Tatmadaw on its military point of view feels ANP is the friend of enemy. 

Both the NLD government and Tatmadaw are in the same page of domination and subversion of central power, and ANP in their eyes is dragging  leg. Without the ANP they think is unchallenged power in Rakhine. 

Analysts are concerned draconian laws against the civilians and the legally registered political party is only pushing the people more support of AA. Furthermore, it is gravitating toward full civil war and dangerous. 

Historically, Rakhine people are politically mature and actively participated in elections in the past and at the present times, and this kind of non-violent political motivation should be encouraged. 

History speaks. 

During the newly independent nation and parliamentary democracy era in 1950s, Rakhine ethnic people voted for their national party instead of the mainland based central Burman dominated party. Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL) led by U Nu competed against Independent Arakanese Parliamentary Group (AIGP) and later emerged to Arakan National United Organization (ANUO) in 2951 election. But the result was fatally suffering to the AFPLF. 

But after AFPLF refused to give statehood and Rakhine leaders actively taking parts with Shan and Mon for greater autonomy movements for numbers of reasons and facts they joined hands with the ethic people and unitedly calling for federation, General Ne Win responded it with the military coup. 

After General Ne Win took over the power and restored one party system under Burmese Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) in 1960s and approved Arakan Division to the statehood, Arakan people were calm and participating in single party elections. 

At this the current democracy transition struggle, people still vote for the national party, and it is history fact that they want home rule. And, the majority people dismay marginalization. 

Both Tatmadaw and NLD should consider another alternative for dialogue and peaceful solution on Rakhine conflicts instead of marginalization of ANP and harsh oppression on the people. 

Myanmar cannot afford another full civil war while facing international pressure, ICJ law suit, and incoming war crimes law suits. 

Might is not answer for Rakhine conflict but wise and brave heart will reconcile between politically distancing people. 

No warring party fights nowadays each other in the world , but Myanmar Army is still fighting and killing Arakan cruelly

Myanmar Army excluded Arakan Army when its released statement on ceasefire in all regions in Myanmar, saying exception of the areas where terrorist groups declared by Myanmar government take positions. Myanmar Army’s ceasefire is just for period of three months, from May 10 to August 31.

However, Myanmar government urged all armed groups in Myanmar to cooperate with it that media outlets of Myanmar published but nothing was coming out from Myanmar government.

According to Arakan News, every analyst sees this ceasefire initiation is no difference from the previous ones.  Arakan News writes that one of Analysts in capital Sittwe in Arakan said “It is a mere reaction and a whitewash of the army and the government to defend ICJ quarterly report before the international court in The Hague”.

Arakan Army spokesperson Mr. Khaing Thukha told Radio Free Asia (RFA) that Myanmar Army tends to control every clash with other armed groups in the regions and then it will reinforce their battalions into the lost Arakan to Myanmar to attack Arakan Army again.  

Whenever Myanmar Army declared ceasefire on the pressure of international community, it always excluded Arakan Army. Last year saw excluding Arakan Army is just similar to this time. Nothing has changed.  But, what appear to change is that it will intensify offensive attacks against the Arakan Army than ever before. That is the most likely to be, said one of the analysts.

No sooner had Myanmar Army declared ceasefire except in Arakan than its soldiers arrested civilians of Arakan on the accusation of supporting to Arakan Army yesterday. Torturing villagers after arresting them from the villages to their bases or onto navy ships, Myanmar Army is committing war crimes against the humanity in the lost Arakan to Myanmar.

How Myanmar or Burma  treats cruelly  on Arakan is that it is killing and eliminating Arakan nowadays  while every armed force across the world stops fighting due to outbreak of COVID-19. No warring party fights nowadays each other in the world but  Myanmar Army is still fighting and killing Arakan cruelly.

Beating, kicking, slapping and abusing to civilians of Arakan on the navy ship of Myanmar in the video file also spread widely online yesterday. And a Myanmar soldier posed for a photo, holding proudly the blood dripping head of civilian of Arakan on facebook after beheading him.

This kind of race of Burma or Myanmar should not be existed on the earth. If they are not on earth, the world can definitely have with many peace-loving races forever without atrocious and brutal Myanmar or Burma. People around the world gradually know that Myanmar or Burma causes the whole world to be no peaceful globe nowadays.

Myanmar Army is bombing on the civilians of Arakan

Myanmar Army based in Myuk Taung village of Kyayktaw township in the lost Arakan to Myanmar fired artillery shells of the long range of some miles day in day out across over the village of Taung Baw to another mountain range on May 8, 2020.

Unfortunately, at 8PM, there were three shells which landed in the Taung Baw village, wounding a school teacher and a school girl. Of three, two shells had landed in the village and one had also landed in the school premises. 

Local Media, Narinjara News, reported and later, Arakan News also quoted that a school teacher Maung U Soe Thain, aged 29, was critically wound and a school girl Ma Thawdar Pho, aged 11, was slightly injured.

Arakan News continues to write on its website that the villager, who does not want to publish his name, confirmed the shells were fired from the Myanmar military base.

According to local media, the teacher was an elementary school teacher who was beforehand preparing some school works before opening school period and stayed in the school premises. He got wounds on the left hand, on the waist and on the buttock. His hand may necessarily be amputated, expressed local media, Narinjara News.

A school girl Ma Thawdar who got also injure on her left eyebrow. The school from which most of glasses of windows too were broken and the bricks at walls of school were also crumbled apart from plaster.

Meanwhile, another Arakanese woman Ms.Aye chan Khain, aged 36, lived in the village of Ann Thar in Minbya Township, happened to get gunshot wound on her left calf of leg while she was busy in her own shop-house, selling items to local residents.

According to Ms Aye Chan Khaine, in front of her shop-house, there was a mountain range from which the bullet came and hit her. She saw and heard loud sound of  strafing of jet fighters on the mountain range. She was admitted to Minbya hospital for further treatments. Her condition is now stable.

Myanmar Army ,which is criminal before the court of ICJ, is committing crimes and war crimes everyday against the humanity in the lost Arakan to Myanmar by killing, shooting, beheading, arresting and setting people and villages on fire with the backup from Myanmar government led by so-called Nobel Laureate heartless and haughty  Aung San Suu Kyi.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH OF WAR ON ARAKAN AND PHENOMENON OF HEFTY MILITARIZATION

Two jet fighter flying near Ramming bridge above the Laymyo river and fired missiles on May 7, 2020

Overview (Arakan News )

It is not in Afghanistan nor Syria; it is in Arakan in western Myanmar where two Russia made supersonic jet fighters flew over just above the heads of local fishermen and fired the missiles into the mountains and near the highway. It was lucky the missiles did not hit the fishing cannoe. 

Military aggression has been easing in middle east and Afghanistan after Covid-19 pandemic threating every region and every one. But government and army spokespersons in Naypaytaw are very proud of briefing the press and accusing Arakan Army was shooting WHO and WFP vehicles.

It is how it goes on to behavior warmongers and aggressive people. Very unfortunate, Burma, now Myanmar, was not enforced to sign armistice treaty with disarmament provision with American led alliance before the independence. This nation should be considered the most aggressive as Asia Axis after North Korea. In the future, civilized and peace loving nations should keep in mind Myanmar needs to sign a disarmament treaty. 

At the present time, a Sittway based military analyst who remains confidential for his personal security, foresees Myanmar army’s dry season offensive operation supported by airstrikes, navy, and artillery firepower are gradually easing in Rakhine State. His own analysis is somehow interesting. 

Glancing on Operation Theatre 

According to the analyst, Tatmadaw is reducing its ground troops from attacking on AA positions and bases in thick jungles and high mountains in the eve of stormy monsoon weather but moving back the forces to the bases while focusing in villages and towns to search, arrest, and interrogate suspects of AA supporters. 

“The army is prioritizing to reposition its troops of 15,000 to defense the bases and newly set up artillery bases in the frontlines in northern Rakhine and southern Chin states,” He said. 

Beginning of winter and through out the summer season from November to April, Myanmar army has aggressively launching military operations against AA, an attempt to defeat and contain AA fighters advancing to south, penetrating in villages and towns, and cut off supply lines and connection with rural populations. 

“The war Myanmar army fighting in this summer is first to defeating AA by air and navy supports in three months period, but it later changes to secure logistic support as well as clearing military supply roads, and defending hardware and artillery installations in new bases,” the analysist said. 

Why is that? 

By looking back the heavy military presence and carrying out aggressive operations by moving place to place and timelines in northern theatre in Paletwa, Minbya, Kyauktaw, and Ponnaygun townships will be tangible wider scenario and more understanding on Naypaytaw strategy.

Firstly, the army attacked AA bases in Paletwas township in Chin State through December to May. Jet fighters and helicopters are consistently bombing and firing missiles to the mountains and jungles--sometime to the villages--where possible AA bases are located while ground forces attacking. 

Arakan Army cleverly repositioned and attacked the very strategic location on water transportation gateway of Miwa military base for over 45 days. Myanmar army paid heavy prices to defend the base. At one point, entire battalion and its commander were killed and captured by the AA fighters after parachuting. 

Secondly, the army at the same time attacked AA bases and positions in the deep and far north of Kaladan River in Kyauktaw township. The army faced heavy causalities near Tin Ma, Mu Than Pyin, and Mar Lar villages. Again, jet fighters and helicopters dropped bombs in the jungles and mountains. Some bombs fall into Mu Than Pyin. Later on, the army set fire Tin Ma, Mar Lar, Mu Than Pyin, and Saba Htar villages. Thousands of villagers had to take shelters in Kyauktaw. 

Thirdly, in the beginning of January while attacking in Kyauktaw and Paletwa, the army sent 4,000 reinforcement troops to Minbya township to secure Ramaung Bridge and to attack AA positions in wide range of 15 villages. Since then, the army has been consistently attacking AA positions. Jet fighters, helicopters, and navy are backing up the ground forces. 

While AA were busy defending its positions near Ramaung bridge, it turned back and assaulted the military training school in Minbya township in March. That shock up the military planer in Naypaytaw.  

Ten of thousands of villagers had to run away from the villages and set up temporary IDP camps. 

The latest the army attack was on May 7, and two jet fighters fired missiles to the mountain near Ngya Sa Yin village. 

“The ground troops in Minbya are useless. The air strikes are only deterring AA not to wipeout entire battalions. Most of the troops bringing from the mainland are incapable and inexperience as well as lack of skill commanders. Most skillful commanders are assigned in state and national parliaments,” the analyst said. 

The final push is Ponnaygun township. Three thousand soldiers are mobilized in populated village tracks such as Nat Taung, Let Wea Sar Taik, Kyauk Seik, Di Par Yon, and Ken U. These village tracks contain with 20 villages and reply on waterway transportation and some narrow roads. 

Most of the reinforcement troops were landed by navy in Kyauk Seik in first week of March. Then they were transported to Let Wea Sar Taik by roads and small boats. Then AA cut the road and attacked by landmines. 

Most troops were encircled by AA fighters in the jungles and hills near Khit Ka Toe village. Then jet fighters and helicopters bombed the hills to clear the way out when artilleries were fined from Sittway and Ponnaygun. The fight lasted 45 days. 

In April second week and after the shells killed 8 civiliand and wounded 14 villagers in Kyauk Seik, AA attacked the navy landing port near the village and killed several soldiers. 

“This is the end of full scale operation in Ponnaygun township and attacking on AA bases, but the army is changing its operation to arrest villagers from every village and interrogate. That is the way they army thought they could find AA members and supporters in the village as intelligent gathering operation,” the analyst said.

AA stronghold township like Rathedaung, Maybone, and Buthedaung are left out of full scale military operations but sporadic fights and jet fighters bombing sometimes.

The analysis said, “It shows the weakness of the army leaderships and insufficient troops to assemble wide range of Arakan theatre. If AA extends the fights in the south, Naypaytaw will be in big trouble.” 

Myanmar government and Myanmar Army are two sides of the same coin

The military operation of Myanmar Army to fight against the Arakan Army in the lost Arakan to Myanmar just becomes as an act of terrorism nowadays when Myanmar Army kills, tortures, arrests, beheads and sets civilians of Arakan on fire alive. 

However, it is always considered necessary by Myanmar government for maintaining to Arakan as a hidden colony under the Myanmar rule. Moreover, government of Myanmar has already instructed its Army to launch military operation against the Arakan Army. So, Myanmar government also becomes the main accomplice when its Army commits crimes against the humanity in Arakan.

Every day, the worst crimes committed by Myanmar Army in Arakan are freely being given permission by government of Myanmar. Therefore, both of them , Myanmar government and Myanmar Army , are war criminals and two sides of the same coin.

Alas, an act of terrorism of Myanmar Army has grown beyond the measure in recent days in the lost Arakan to Myanmar. Much to regret of peace-loving civilians of Arakan and their leaders, the threats of an act of terrorism of Myanmar Army have been mounting in several townships in northern Arakan.

Members of Parliament (MPs) are being threatened while protecting civilians of Arakan in order to avoid Myanmar Army’s killing and arresting. Despite the frequent denunciation of this act of terrorism  of  Myanmar Army by world leaders at international forums, most of local residents are being arrested by Myanmar Army while they are travelling by boat and car in northern Arakan.

According to Arakan.news site, two days ago, the army stopped score of motorboats and arrested several villagers including the female contractor of World Bank for community development project in Thar Zay village when they were traveling by motorboats. The arrested woman is Ma U Tin May, and no one knows where she is taken to. 

Another woman – Daw Ma Than – was also arrested when a lot of soldiers are entering into the town of Poonayung and searching every house. The Myanmar soldiers also arrested four men near the town yesterday when they were going out to nearby village by small motorboat. They were badly beaten and tortured in front of the public and taken to the military base of LIB 550. Since then no one has contact with them.

Arakan.News site continues to write that residents feel fear and helpless under the lawlessness and freehand brutal government security forces’ unwarranted shooting, searching, arresting, and torturing. The town residents are victimized under the men in military uniforms who are given impunity to commit war crimes in the name of “counter insurgency operation.

Despite the constantly extension of unilateral ceasefire by Three Brotherhood Alliance , Myanmar Army intensified offensive assaults and killing civilians of Arakan

Due to Myanmar Army’s offensive military operation against the Arakan Army in the lost Arakan to Myanmar (western Myanmar) , 32 Arakanese people were killed and 68 were injured in April alone in this year .The Arakanese  media  DMG writes that April proved to be another bloody month in Arakan as at least 32 Arakanese civilian killed and 68 were injured.

The townships where the largest number of casualties are being made by Myanmar Army

across the Arakan are KyaukTaw township, Poonagyun township ,Mrauk U township and Minbya township.

Myanmar Army’s strategy while fighting against Arakan Army is just four-cut policy – cutting rations, cutting information, cutting arms and ammunition and cutting recruitments. So, Myanmar Army always targets to kill civilians of Arakan whom it presumes is that civilians of Arakan are supporting supply of above- mentioned to its enemy.   

Why Myanmar Army has been doing internet communication ban, killing civilians of Arakan, blocking humanitarian aid to war refugees and blocking international media person  nowadays is that it is just utilizing four-cut policy against the Arakan Army.But, on the other hand, Arakan Army absolutely realizes what its enemy is doing. Therefore, Arakan Army is practicing tactic to triumph four-cut policy by guerrilla war strategy. 

At the same time , the unilateral ceasefire Arakan Army and its Three Brotherhood Alliance has declared for several times is to effectively carry out practical tasks and to facilitate the peace building process between Arakan Army , its allies and the government of Myanmar and its military.

Similarly, Arakan Army and its Three Brotherhood Alliance have now extended a unilateral ceasefire from May 3, 2020 till May 31, 2020, with the aim to declare a proper bilateral ceasefire between them and the Myanmar Army, to start political dialogue, to make real developments for our peoples, to protect life and property of the general public, to maintain stability for the borders of neighbouring countries bordering with Myanmar and to support the preventive and combative measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Despite the constantly extension of unilateral ceasefire by  Three Brotherhood Alliance of the Kokang (MNTJP/MNDAA), the Ta’ang (PSLF/TNLA) and the Arakan (ULA/AA), Myanmar Army has not halted their sea-land-air joint operations against the Arakan Army but conducted the most intensified offensive assaults than ever, based on racial hatred, targeting civilians of Arakan. As a result, heavy fighting is occurring on a daily basis to date. And civilians of Arakan are being targeted to kill more and more by Myanmar Army.

Elucidating the spirit of peace

Written by Khaing Kyaw Sun DMG(Development Media Group)

Although those in power can often get away with misdeeds and injustices, it is usually the general populace who feel the weight of shame for the wrongdoing of their leaders. To this day, Germans feel a sense of disgrace due to the horrific era of Hitler and his henchmen. The world experienced the worst atrocities in human history during Hitler’s 12-year reign from 1933 to 1945.

Despite their high level of modernity and development, the Japanese too feel shame for the past deeds of older generations from the fascist era. Television dramas in Myanmar today often depict the worst Japanese atrocities and the evils of the British colonists, and when watching such shows covering these historical transitions, it can be sickening to watch those relying on the use of force and weapons to commit such atrocities, torturing and oppressing defenceless and destitute peoples.

Although many people are capable of feeling apprehension and remorse when considering such historical events, the injustices that are being committed and experienced today, in real time, frequently get short shrift. While everyone despises the villain in the movie, some become like the villains who misuse their authority. The viewer feels indignation when people in films are abused, and there is empathy for those actors who play the role of victim, yet the reckless and bullying behaviour that is taking place elsewhere — in real life — is all too often ignored.

Among humanity’s extinct civilisations, the history of the Maya serves as an interesting example as well as a useful lesson. Researchers have established that the rise and fall of Mayan civilisation can be divided into two distinct parts, with the year 761 AD as its turning point. Prior to that year, the Mayan people were systematic in the way they fought wars. However, in the period after 761 AD the systematic nature of their warfare and their structured order of battle gave way to looting and murder, destruction and pillage, ultimately marking the beginning of the end of Mayan civilisation. As such, officials in Myanmar can take note of the Mayan example and be wary and vigilant as to whether the conflicts in our country — once systematic and in accordance with the laws of war — are now leading toward a state of chaos and violence.

If conflicts evolve into a state of chaos and turmoil, rather than combat that is defined by rules, the recovery of those affected will drag on unnecessarily. A country is comprised of its peoples — if those people are suffering, then all will fall behind and suffer.

After invading a country and cleansing it of all those deemed a threat, Indian King Ashoka was confronted with scenes of corpses stacked sky-high, ruins and wailing wounded. When he heard their screams he was shocked and devastated, and failed to enjoy the taste of his victory. If one regards other people’s pain and suffering as victory, then those people lack compassion. If there is no compassion, there will be no desire for peace.

Some wars are fierce. Some wars endure for years, even decades, and are filled with cruelty. However, there is less bloodshed when those conflicts involve leaders who at heart want humanity and peace. Between 1189 and 1192, the Third Crusade ended with two kings who sought peace. Egypt’s King Saladin and England’s King Richard realised that the only things that came of their ancestors’ follies of war were misery, poverty and contempt. Despite their pride, both kings were inclined to end the war and bring about peace due to a heartfelt pain caused by the deaths of their subjects, the slaughter and destruction, and the pain and suffering across the land. Diplomats were dispatched. Negotiations and concessions were made. The war ended.

If conflicts are really to be brought to an end, excessive egos need to be replaced with loving kindness. It will not be a true spirit of peace if it is based on ego and arrogance. The mentality of peace with arrogance and ego is a lie. If those that wish for peace do so with sincerity and courage, they will take consideration of their people’s suffering. For the Crusades to end, King Richard made a profound speech, offering a proposal for peace to King Saladin. “Both your soldiers and my soldiers have died. The country is devastated. Chaos reigns. Don’t you think this is enough? Isn’t it time to stop this madness?” Richard asked. It was with these heartfelt words of compassion that the deadlock was finally broken and the fires of war that had raged for so many years were finally extinguished. This wasn’t about manipulation or taking advantage of the other party and thus their peace was genuine and durable.

The current conflict in Arakan (Rakhine) State, western Myanmar, has resulted in the destitution and displacement of more than 150,000 people. Hundreds of civilians have been killed and injured, and many homes in the villages have been burnt to the ground. Among those responsible, I hope there is a real and true sense of what it means to achieve peace. Only those who create war can bring about peace. The attainment of true peace is but a matter of compassion.