In a ruse which has been tried successfully earlier, the Burmese military junta is offering economic incentives to Arakanese insurgents who are willing to surrender, says a local source.

A leader will get kyat 50,000, while the second in command gets kyat 30,000. A senior member will be given kyat 10,000 and others with families will receive kyat 15,000. A family of a senior insurgent member will be given a monthly support of kyat 2,000.

The insurgents who surrender are to be provided with a supply of commodities as well as financial aid collected from local businessmen. The last group which surrendered from Arakan Army were given at least kyat 500,000 collected from contributions by local business firms, said a businessman who was forced to donate.

Other surrendered Arakanese insurgents were given land and housing in “model” villages in northern Arakan. The land for cultivation and housing were all confiscated from the local people.

Khaing Lynn Naing and his group who broke away from Arakan Army and surrendered in 2002 were given 75 acres of confiscated land with housing facilities in Thu Kha Mying “model” village, in Maung Daw Township.

On top of such assets, they were also given permits to trade and transport cattle, rice and timber that are generally not allowed to the public says a source in the region. The junta is trying to lure the insurgents with money and financial aid.