Arakan – geography, natural resources and historical landscape

But this wealth has not benefited the local population fairly. Instead, military authorities, central control systems, and local power structures have often taken control of coastal areas, fishing rights, transportation routes, and fish farming ponds. Many Rohingya families say that shrimp and scampi ponds, especially from the 1990s, were seized or controlled by the military and state actors. After this, an industry that previously provided income and export opportunities was gradually destroyed through looting, restrictions, taxes, corruption and lack of freedom to trade. Amnesty International has also documented land confiscation, forced labor, arbitrary taxes and movement restrictions against Rohingya in northern Rakhine.

For the Rohingya and other communities in Arakan, this has been a double injustice. They live by the sea and rivers, but are not allowed to freely use their own fishing resources. They have knowledge, labor, and a tradition of fishing and farming, but are hindered by movement restrictions, military control, conflict, and blockades. When fishing gear, boats, ponds and market access are controlled or confiscated, families lose not only income but also the opportunity to survive with dignity.

Fishing and the coastal economy should be one of Arakan's biggest sources of development. With fair management, the sector could provide employment for fishermen, farmers, women in dried fish processing, youth in transport and trade, and local businesses in refrigeration, export and marketing. Instead, military control and prolonged conflict have turned a natural wealth into an area marked by loss, poverty and insecurity. Rakhine's seas, rivers and coastal resources belong to the people who live there, and a just future must ensure local control, free access to livelihoods, protection of fishermen and fair sharing of the revenues from marine resources.

The mangrove forests in Arakan consist of well-known species such as Rhizophora, Bruguiera, Ceriops, Avicennia, Sonneratia, Heritiera and Xylocarpus. These forests are not only economic resources, but also a natural protection for the coastal population. When mangroves are removed for timber, charcoal, agriculture or commercial projects, local communities lose both their income base and protection from natural disasters.

Arakan has long been known for its significant forest resources and timber trade. Valuable timber from Myanmar has gone to international markets, and some old-growth forest areas may contain trees that have grown over several generations. At the same time, forest resources have often been controlled by central governments, military structures, state-owned companies and powerful trading networks, while local communities near the forests still lack electricity, roads, schools, healthcare and a secure economy.

This shows the same injustice that is seen with gas, oil and agriculture: Arakan's natural resources create value for others, while the people themselves are often left with poverty, environmental damage and loss of control over their own land. Old forests and valuable tree species must therefore not be treated simply as commercial commodities. They are part of Arakan's natural heritage, economic foundation and future security. Fair management of forests and mangroves must give local people the right to protection, sustainable use, income and participation.

Sittwe/Akyab is also of great strategic importance. Through India's Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project Sittwe port is linked to the Kaladan River, Paletwa and further to Mizoram in India. This could provide Northeast India with an alternative trade route to the Bay of Bengal and at the same time make Arakan an important hub for regional trade between Myanmar, India, Bangladesh and the rest of South Asia.

If these ports had been developed with local participation, transparency and fair distribution, Arakan could have received major benefits: jobs, roads, electricity, warehouses, fishing industry, exports, local trade, education and modern infrastructure. Ports and sea transport could have made Arakan an economic center in the Bay of Bengal.

But in practice, port development has often been controlled by central governments, military interests, state-owned companies and foreign investors. Since Burma's independence on 4 Since January 1948, Arakan's strategic location and natural resources have been largely exploited by others, while the local population has received very little in return. The International Commission of Jurists has pointed out lack of transparency, land issues and the risk that local people will not benefit fairly from the Kyaukphyu project. The Kofi Annan Commission also described Rakhine/Arakan as strategically located and resource-rich, but characterized by underdevelopment and stagnation.

This is a great injustice. Arakan has the coast, ports, rivers, natural resources and historical trading position that could make the state one of the richest and most developed regions in the area. Instead, many port areas remain underdeveloped, while local people live with poverty, conflict, lack of electricity, poor infrastructure and an uncertain future. A just future for Arakan must therefore involve local control, transparency in port projects, fair compensation, environmental protection, and that revenues from trade and ports are primarily used for development for the people of Arakan.

But this potential has never been developed in a fair and targeted manner. Since Burma's independence on 4 Since January 1948, central authorities have largely exploited Arakan's resources without investing enough in local development, infrastructure, security, roads, electricity, the hotel industry, cultural preservation, and international marketing. Arakan has had enormous resources, but the local population has benefited little from them.

If the cultural and tourism sector were to be developed in a fair manner, it had to be built on peace, security, inclusion and respect for all people in Arakan, including the Rohingya. Tourism cannot grow on a foundation of persecution, discrimination, war and forced displacement. Historical sites and natural attractions lose their value if the population that belongs to the land is denied rights, security and dignity.

Today, the Arakan Army controls large parts of Arakan, according to international news reports, but the Rohingya people still experience serious threats, displacement and abuse. There is also public prosecutors from Bangladesh about yaba and amphetamine trafficking along the border, which AA has denied. Such conditions create insecurity and hinder any real tourism development. A region cannot be built as an international tourist destination if armed actors prioritize military control, ethnic exclusion, smuggling and power over peace, justice and development.

Arakan's culture and nature should instead be used as the basis for a peaceful future. Mrauk U, its beaches, islands, rivers and historic towns could create jobs for youth, income for families, protection of cultural heritage and international recognition. But this requires local participation, security for all communities, protection of historical sites, investment in infrastructure, and a policy that sees Arakan as a homeland for all its people – not just as an area that can be controlled, plundered, or used strategically by others.