Bengalis from neighbouring country illegally immigrated Rakhine region of Myanmar

Excerpt from The New Lights of Myanmar, 30-Jan-2009

Bengalis from neighbouring country illegally immigrated Rakhine
region of Myanmar - The government had to scrutinize illegal
immigrants under national necessity - The government keeps on
preventing illegal immigrations

NAY PYI TAW, 30 Jan—Bengalis from the neighbouring country illegally
immigrated to Rakhine region of Myanmar. Around 1948, the illegal
immigrants demanded that Myanmar designate Buthidaung and Maungtaw as
their province. In the meantime, they launched armed insurgency
against Myanmar through Mujahid movement. So, the government had to
suppress the armed insurgency.

With the aim of preventing illegal immigrants from entering the
nation, the government launched Operations "Kyeegan" and "Shwe Kyee"
in Buthidaung and Maungtaw regions in 1966, and Operation "Myat Mon"
in Sittway and Kyaukpyu districts from 1969 to 1971 and took the
census of Bengalis. Many Bengalis on the border of the neighbouring
country and illegal immigrants of Bengalis in Rakhine State merged
together into Rohinja National Liberation
Organization and rose against the nation. So, the government again
had to suppress the movement.

Under the Operation "Nagar Min" in 1978, Bengalis illegally living in
Maungtaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Pauktaw, Kyauktaw, Sittway, MraukU
and Minbya townships in Rakhine State were scrutinized to find out
whether they were nationals or not.The majority of them dared not
face the scrutinization, and fled to their native neighbouring
countries.

According to the agreement reached between the two countries, they
were received under Hintha Plan. In the process, 186,968 of them re-
entered the nation from 31 August 1978 to 19 December 1979.

In the late 1991 and early 1992, the government, under the national
necessity, had to scrutinize Bengalis illegally living in Maungtaw,
Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Pauktaw and Sittway townships in Rakhine
State to expose whether they were nationals or not. The majority of
them left the nation in fear of the scrutinization.

Under the talks held with the People's Republic of Bangladesh, and
with international organizations, the Union of Myanmar agreed to
receive those Bengalis who met the four requirements.

In 13 years, from 1992 to 2005, Myanmar received 46,933 households or
236,495 persons. According to the lists, 1192 households or 6365
persons have yet to re-enter Myanmar, but they have not come yet.

Now, the government is taking necessary measures under the national
duty to prevent such illegal immigration. - MNA