The Principle of Self-Determination is one of the most important ideas in 20th century political history. It relates to the creation of new States out of the old colonial empires, to the sovereignty of Peoples and to the very basis of UN itself. Self-Determination is an essential human right, supported in the opening articles of both the major Covenants as well as in the Charter of the UN.

Self-determination emerged in the 19th century through nationalism in countries which were then parts of empires. It was an idea formed in opposition to those empires, linking up with the idea of democracy and self-rule.

Arakan with an area of about 20,000 square miles was long famous and widely known to Arabs, Dutch, Portuguese and British traders as a centre of international trade and commerce and is situated in the tri-border region between modern day --Burma, Bangladesh and India. Although it is made a part of Burma now, it had never been so in the past. Culturally, socially, economically and politically the people of Arakan were independent for centuries. Chiefly for its geographical location, it had not only remained independent for the most part of history, but also endeavoured to expand its territory in the surrounding tracts whenever opportunity came. Completely cut off from Burma by high mountain range of Arakan Yoma, the people of Arakan neither drank from the same water with Burmans nor dependant on them for trade or commerce. Not a single river flows from Burma to Arakan and Arakan to Burma.