On 13 August 1967, an incident occurred in Sittwe, Rakhine State, where Ne Win's military regime fired on Arakanese protestors, killing over 300 Arakanese people. The protest erupted due to severe food shortages caused by government hoarding and forced rice exports, despite local starvation.
The day is annually commemorated by the Rakhine community on August 13 to remember the brutality of the military dictatorship.
Names
The event is referred to as multiple names including "Rice Killing Day", "Rice Crisis Day" and "Rice Massacre".
Event The event occurred during the rule of General Ne Win and the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP). Earlier that year, a cyclone in May significantly reduced rice production which lead to widespread food shortages. At the same time, government policies prioritized rice exports to other parts of the country and domestic supply was limited. As a result, many people in Arakan faced serious difficulties obtaining food, regardless of their ability to pay. Some turned to alternative foods such as taro root and roselle, while others experienced severe hunger.
In Sittwe, these conditions led to public unrest. On August 13, residents organized a protest, which was met with a military response. The military regime's security forces opened fire on the crowd, causing multiple casualties.
Casualties The government's statement said the death toll to be at 24, but eyewitness claimed that more than 300 people died. Around 100 people were also injured.
Legacy The anniversary is held by Rakhine diaspora in several places including in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and USA.
References