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Alliance for Social Justice (ASJ) Maungdaw

Background

1. Rakhine State is a region where Rakhine nationals, who profess Buddhism, and those who profess Islamic religion, have coexisted since many ages ago. In the past, there was no issue, whatsoever, between the two communities, which lived together harmoniously. The original dwellers, the Rakhine nationals, were the majority, and those professing Islam had arrived in Rakhine region as seasonal laborers. But, as in India, Myanmar was colonized by the British, after which there was a gradual increase of permanent immigration of groups of people from India’s Bengal region. Pre- and post-World War II periods saw the emergence of anti- colonialism revolutionary and calls for independence movements in many regions of the world. Contemplating self-autonomy and establishing an independent country, every ethnic group and tribe initiated and organized various movements. Consequently, the population of resident Rakhine nationals and that of the immigrants became almost comparable, and people professing Islam from Rakhine State began their movements for self-autonomy. One significant point to note is how social relations developed between the two communities in Rakhine State – the Buddhist Rakhine nationals and the Islamic Muslims. Although they have coexisted for many centuries and interacted in a working atmosphere in marketing and trade sectors, there never were interracial marriages or acculturation, living as separate societies until the present times. Since this weakness in social harmony has been going on for some time, the following periods witnessed occasional conflicts between the two groups living in Rakhine. Generally, these conflicts occur when the government’s administrative mechanism collapses or when there is a change of government. Together with post-20th century marvelous developments in technology, one can plainly see global trends changing at a tremendous speed. Issues designated as a country’s internal affairs in the start of the 21st century have now unbelievably taking their place on the international stage. Weak countries, such as Myanmar, are hard pressed, facing and resisting international pressure. Therefore, it is essential that any issue should be not only locally perceived, but approached effectively from all sides in a global perspective. For a multi-racial, multi-religious country as Myanmar, it is of utmost necessity that subjects, such as, Diversity Management and Conflict Sensitivity – as there are many sensitive matters in every place – should be digested by one and all. To summarize, the most vital and main requisite for present Myanmar’s peace and stability is to accept diversity and to harmoniously coexist together. The region of Rakhine is where most of the social conflicts occur in today’s Myanmar and where most of the international interest is focused at. Thus, with an aim to support prevention of conflicts and to work together with other organizations with similar objectives, the Alliance for Social Justice (ASJ) has now been formed.

Objectives

2. (a) prevention of conflicts; (b) to accept diversity in the region and to harmoniously coexist together; (c) to develop human resources in the region; (d) to work for stability, peace and development of the region.

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Facts regarding Alliance for Social Justice (ASJ)

3. (a) Office location: 35, No. 1 Street, East Myoma Ward, Maungdaw (b) Date of formation: February 6, 2018 (c) Quantity of executive members: 12 (details below)

List of ASJ’s executive members No. Name National Registration Card Address Position

1 U Aung Kyaw Moe 11/SaTaNa(Naing)002395 35, No.1 Street, Chairman (Rakhine) Ywathit, East Myoma Ward Maungdaw

2 U Zaw Myo Thet 11/MaAhNa(Naing)026325 Myoma Kanyin Vice- (Rakhine) Dan, Maungdaw Chairman

3 U Zin Maung Lin 12/TaMaNa(Naing)105477 Myoma Kanyin Secretary (Bama) Dan, Maungdaw

4 U Maung Thein Hla 11/MaTaNa(Naing)029301 Tamanthar Village, Member (Maramagyi) Maungdaw Tsp

5 Daw Zin Mar Soe 11/MaTaNa(Naing)030549 Magyigone Village, Member (Thet) Maungdaw Tsp

6 Daw Yin Mya Oo 11/MaTaNa(Naing)000041 West Myoma Ward, Member (Rakhine) Maungdaw

7 Daw Khin Aye BTG-173341 No. 2 Ward, Member (Muslim) Buthidaung

8 U Muhammad Ismail 11/MaTaNa(Naing)030673 West Myoma Ward, Member (Muslim) Maungdaw

9 U Zaw Mali 11/MaTaNa(Pyu)000775 East Myoma Ward, Member (Hindu) Maungdaw

10 U Maung Maung Dwe 11/MaTaNa(Naing)023767 Nantyargaing Village, Member (Mro) Maungdaw Tsp

11 U Aw Mi Law 11/MaTaNa(Pyu)001564 East Myoma Ward, Member (Hindu) Maungdaw

12 Daw Shwe Yin San 11/ThaTaNa(Naing)073802 138, Zalun Village, Member Thandwe ICC-01/19-18-AnxA 21-10-2019 3/3 EK PT

Summary of ASJ’s activities

4. Under the leadership of ASJ, following activities have been carried out in Maungdaw District, up to the time this report was submitted: (a) Cleaning Campaigns at wards in Maungdaw 2 times (b) Awareness Trainings 19 times (c) Capacity Building Trainings 54 times (d) Community Meetings 14 times