Narinjara News

Akyab, 14 June 2005

Burmese authority surveys the Hindu population in Arakan state

Burmese authorities recently surveyed the population of Hindu people in Arakan state, but other communities were excluded from the survey, reported a Hindu community leader from Akyab.

The district administrators from four districts of Arakan state conducted the survey during the past few weeks as per the Rangoon authority’s instructions.

But there is no detailed information as to why the Burmese military government conducted the survey only on Hindus, said a Hindu goldsmith.

The authorities collected a list of about 5000 Hindus living in Arakan state. The Arakanese Hindus originally hailed from India and most of the Hindu people in Arakan are working in the gold trade and general stores.

Hindu people entered into Arakan state while under British rule (1825-1948).  They entered from India across Bangladesh, which at that time was also a part of the British Empire, said a Hindu leader. #

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