The current situation highlights a paradox. The ULA/AA is advancing a political project that seeks to redefine Arakan as a multi-ethnic, inclusive homeland where Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and other communities share equal rights. Yet this project is being tested by border militarisation, insurgent violence, and cross-border political agendas.

The Arakan Army, which has declared that Arakan State should be a junta-free zone, is facing pressure from outside powers in the ongoing battles in Kyaukphyu and Sittwe.

Myanmar's education system has suffered a major setback since the coup. Myanmar's military regime has targeted schools across the country with airstrikes, citing war as the reason, and children's educational aspirations have been dashed amid insecurity.

In January of this year, as the Arakkha Army (AA) was battling for control of Mrauk-U and while the seven men were awaiting sentencing in a Mrauk-U cell, junta soldiers took them to the military's Light Infantry Battalion No. 378, shot them dead and dumped their bodies.

The regime has reportedly recruited Muslims from villages and camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Sittwe, Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Kyaukphyu townships through threats, coercion and incentives. There were some who escaped because they did not want to serve in the army, but most of the Muslims targeted were forced to join the military.

The junta banned local people from traveling in the waters around Maday Island for two-and-a-half months from July 15 to September 30 to carry out repair and dredging to allow large oil tankers to enter and exit the port on the island.

Kyaukphyu in Arakan State is home to significant Chinese investments, including the Shwe gas project and the Kyaukphyu port. However, local people enjoy little benefit from those investments.

Residents and those monitoring foreign investments in Arakan State said the regime is offering Kyaukphyu to China in exchange for its help in resolving Myanmar's political and military crises.

What is significant about the latest fighting in Arakan State is that the regime has mobilised the RSO, ARSA and ARA, which successive military regimes have declared terrorist organisations, to fight for it.

Despite the AA’s military victories, the state has suffered serious damage as the regime has deliberately targeted residential areas as it has done in other parts of the country.

The storm also uprooted hundreds of perennial trees in both urban and rural parts of Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Mrauk-U, Pauktaw and Myebon townships. Many of the trees were at least 40 years old, and some were older than 100 years.

Written By Maung Tun Kyaing

Since a 2020 ceasefire with the Myanmar military, the United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army, has expanded its parallel administration, including a judiciary, revenue department and public security offices. Apart from this, the Arakanese ethnic armed group has also made efforts to restore racial harmony in Arakan State, which has been riven by sectarian strife for years.

In the early days of the 2021 coup, Arakan State was relatively...

Though wildfires are common in the hot season, which is from March to May in Myanmar, locals said they have noticed a surge since March this year.

Written By Gaung

Some 13 miles to the west of Kyauktaw in Arakan State, there lies a majestic mountain range known as Arkar. At the foot of the mountain range is a large reservoir named after a local village called Pyaing Chaung. 

“The reservoir fails to serve its primary purpose except that it will release some water during heavy rainfall in the rainy season. So, the reservoir just sits idle,” said U Tun Kyaing Maung, the administrator of Pyaing Chaung...

The year 2022 has come to an end and the New Year has begun. Like other parts of Myanmar, Arakan State faced bloodshed and crises over the past year.

The fighting flared, according to local residents, because junta troops and border guard police attempted to encroach on AA-controlled areas on the pretext of border patrols to monitor the movement of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

The Myanmar military, government and NCA signatories held the first session of the Union Peace Conference in August 2016 under the peace framework outlined by the NCA. In addition to the leaders of NCA signatories, representatives from some non-signatory EAOs addressed the conference. No official agreement was reached at the end of the conference, however.

The ALD held its first conference in October 1989 in Sittwe, during which a 15-member central executive committee was elected. The committee included U Oo Than Tun as patron, Dr. Saw Mya Aung as chairman, Dr. U Aye and U San Tun as vice chairs, U Aye Pe as general secretary, and U Aye Tha Aung as the joint general secretary.

The UWSA has continuously demanded an autonomous state. Rather than federalism and democracy, the UWSA is more interested in acquiring the official status of statehood. The Wa ethnic armed group has described the post-coup crisis as an internal issue of the Bamar ethnic people, and said it would not take sides as it does not want to see its involvement causing further conflict.