Rakhine State

Rakhine State (räkēn`), formerly Arakan (ărəkăn`, äräkän`), state (1983 pop. 2,045,891), 14,194 sq mi (36,762 sq km), W Myanmar, extending along the Bay of Bengal. It lies at the foot of the Arakan Yoma mountain range, which rises to 10,050 ft (3,063 m) at Victoria Peak. The capital is Sittwe. The Arakanese, or Rakhine, who are of Burmese stock with strong Indian influences, are mostly engaged in intensive rice cultivation. The Rohingya, a Muslim people who speak a Bengali dialect, form a large minority, but are not recognized Myanmarese ethnic nationality by the national government; they have suffered much persecution. The region, which is geographically isolated, was the seat of a powerful kingdom (after the 15th cent.), famous for a colossal image of Buddha. At various times under Burmese rule, it finally was absorbed into Burma (now Myanmar) in 1783; it was the first Burmese territory ceded (1826) to the British after the first Anglo-Burmese War. In the 1950s there was a movement for secession from Myanmar.