84 State power and identification schemes in Rakhine WWII and its aftermath: interruption of the registration of foreigners In 1942, Japan, having assisted the Thakins in the formation of the Burma Independence Army (BIA), occupied large parts of Burma. The British retreated to defend India. There was fierce fighting in the Rohingya areas of Rakhine as Britain defended against Japanese entry into India. This predominantly Rohingya region was to pass backwards and forwards between the warring empires more than any other area in Burma. Britain re-captured Maungdaw and Buthidaung three times between 1942 and 1945 (Tinker, Griffin et al. 1984). In 1942, as a result of the occupation of Burma, there was an exodus/evacuation of approximately 500,000 Indians and Burmese-Indians out of Burma. This was almost half the total population. Many died on route (Tinker 1959; Naorem 2020). Other Burmese also fled including many of the populations of Rakhine—both Rohingya and Buddhist Rakhine. In 1943, with the support of the Japanese, Burma declared independence from Britain, but it was to be short-lived (Tinker, Griffin et al. 1984). In 1945, the British re-entered and reclaimed Burma. Following the surrender of Japan, the region was placed under temporary direct rule with a view to full independence. In the three years before Burma gained independence from Britain, the Burma/India immigration agreement negotiated in 1941 was not in force. Instead, the British focus was on ensuring a labour and skills supply for post-war reconstruction. In June 1945, it was agreed between Burma and India that evacuees in India from the period of Japanese occupation would be issued with evacuee documents to facilitate their return to Burma. Even those unskilled labourers who would have been treated as new immigrants under the 1941 immigration arrangements were issued with evacuee documents and able to return. This was resented by some Burmese (Mohan 1955) and was to be the first of many international disagreements and negotiations over repatriation documents for Myanmar’s displaced populations, which still continue today.41 Burmese-Indians in Burma continued to fear for their safety after the war. On 27 December 1945, Nehru, who was to be the first Prime Minister of India, wrote a letter to prominent Burmese-Indian, Raschid, urging him to return to Burma and tell Burmese-Indians in the country that, for their ‘personal safety,’ they should ‘throw their lot in with the Burmese’ and not expect any ‘special treatment’ from India.42 In the lead-up to independence, many assurances were to be made by the Burmese leadership to those Burmese-Indians whose loyalties lay with Burma. In a radio address, two weeks before independence Tin Tut, key negotiator of the Nu-Atlee or the independence agreement and first Minister of Foreign Affairs,43 said: Discount the evil rumours of impending catastrophe for Burma in general and for Burma Indians in particular and believe that the great body of the Burmese people are not thinking of ill-treatment or expulsion.44