The rates of migration Arakan State has been increasing by the day due to economic hardships among the Arakanese people, said an Arakanese community leader in Akyab.

“Yes, we have recorded that there are over half a million Arakanese people currently in Rangoon who have migrated from Arakan in recent years,” said the leader.

Arakanese are not only migrating to Rangoon, but also to other parts of Burma and neighboring countries such as Thailand and Malaysia.

He said that about 30,000 Arakanese are currently staying in Thailand illegally, and about 20,000 are staying in Malaysia as illegal workers.

In Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State, over 5000 families have moved to Rangoon and other parts of Burma to seek out a better life over the last ten years.

The leader said that Arakanese people could not live in Arakan peacefully after the economic crisis hit Arakan in recent years. At the same time, Arakanese people have been losing business opportunities as a number of Burmese battalions stationed in Arakan State have been monopolizing business and industries in the State.

“Currently, there are over 60 battalions, including the Navy and police, in Arakan, and all army battalions are involved in local business. The whole of Arakan businesses are now under the Burmese army,” the leader reported.

The Burmese army in Arakan State has been involved in a number of business sectors including bus transport, ferry boats, restaurants and bars, bamboo and palm, timber production, shrimp and rice mills, as well as other agricultural sectors.

As the Burmese army is involved in all business sectors in Arakan and monopolized the local industries, many middle class Arakanese people have lost opportunities they once had in the state.

Because of this situation, there is an exodus of Arakanese people from their home to Rangoon and other parts of Burma as well as neighboring countries, looking for good jobs and business opportunities there, the leader said.