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GMMTV Should Mention the Arakanese in Its Letter of Apology
News Analysis, October 24, 2026
The release of the Thai television series Scarlet Heart Thailand has raised controversy over the use of cultural traditions without proper recognition of their origins. Among these is the Arakanese (Rakhine) Oil Lamp Dance, a cultural practice with its own identity and significance. The controversy is not only about the use of a traditional dance but also about whether the people who preserve that culture receive the recognition they deserve.
On October 23, GMMTV released a letter of apology concerning the controversy. However, the letter did not mention the Arakanese or identify the Oil Lamp Dance as part of Arakanese culture. This omission raises an important question: can an apology fully address cultural misappropriation if it fails to recognize the people whose cultural heritage was used?
Arakanese culture should not simply disappear under the broad label of Myanmar culture. The letter should mention 'Rakhine/Arakan' as it has described about 'Lanna' and 'Tai' culture. Although Arakan is part of Myanmar, the Arakanese have a distinct cultural identity, traditions, and historical experience. Treating all cultural traditions as one common national culture can overlook the differences among the country's diverse communities. Recognition of cultural diversity requires more than general statements about national culture. It requires naming the communities and acknowledging the origins of their traditions.
For the Arakanese, this issue is particularly sensitive because preserving their cultural identity has been a long struggle. The Oil Lamp Dance is not merely a performance that can be separated from its cultural roots. It represents a tradition associated with a distinct community. The previous controversy involving popular Myanmar singer Chan Chan, who was accused of misappropriating the dance, shows that concerns about cultural recognition are not new. The latest incident has therefore brought this issue back into public discussion.
When a Thai television production uses Arakanese cultural elements without properly identifying their origins, the failure to mention the Arakanese in the subsequent apology adds another layer of hurt. The original concern is about the use of cultural heritage without recognition; the omission in the apology risks making the community invisible once again.
For people who are struggling to preserve their distinct identity, this is not a minor detail.
GMMTV should therefore revise or clarify its apology to explicitly acknowledge the Arakanese and the cultural origin of the Oil Lamp Dance. A meaningful apology should recognize not only that a mistake occurred but also whose cultural heritage was affected.
Cultural respect begins with recognition. The Arakanese are not merely part of a broad national cultural category; they are a community with their own distinct heritage. If an apology aims to address cultural misappropriation, it should name the people concerned and acknowledge their identity. Anything less risks repeating the very omission that made the controversy painful in the first place.
