SUMMARY

The ALP (Arakan Liberation Party) was a separatist rebel group that began to fight a low-intensity intrastate armed conflict over territory against the Government of Myanmar (Burma) in the 1960s. The group claimed to represent the Rakhine ethnic group, and initially its primary goal was to achieve independence for Rakhine state in western Myanmar. The ALP later modified its demands to instead focus on the creation of a federal union in Myanmar.

The first iteration of the ALP was created on 9 April 1967; however, military defeats to the Government of Myanmar (Burma) and general disintegration led to re-formations of the group in 1973 and 1981. The ALP, despite its re-formations, has always been a staunchly Rakhine nationalist group. The group maintained activities not only in Rakhine state, but also Karen state; it kept most of its bases along Myanmar’s borders with India and Thailand. In 2012, the group agreed to sign a ceasefire agreement with the Government of Myanmar (Burma); however, the ALP’s military activities had largely subsided many years before this. The group has continued to exist as a minor political party.

At its inception in 1967, Khaing Pray Thein led the ALP. Following the re-formation in 1973, the group came under the leadership of “President” Khaing Moe Linn and “Vice Chairman” Khaing Ba Kyaw; the Myanma army killed Khaing Moe Linn in 1977. After 1981, the ALP came under the leadership of Khai Ray Khai; as of the 2010s, Khine Ray Khine and Soe Naing Aung led the group. For the duration of its existence, many high-ranking members and leaders of the ALP were former Buddhist monks.

The ALP maintained an armed wing called the Arakan Liberation Army (ALA). While some sources suggest that the ALA may have had 200-300 fighters during the 1970s, most estimates put the group’s strength at less than 100 fighters for most of its existence.

During the 1970s, the ALP had very close ties to the ethnic Karen separatist rebel group KNU. The KNU was in fact a driving force in the ALP’s re-formation in 1973, and most of the group’s fighters received training from the former. The ALP failed to coordinate its actions with other Rakhine groups.