On International Women’s Day, which fell on March 8, a cross-section of women in Arakan State shared their views on gender inequality and the challenges they face under military rule.

Residents in Sittwe feel deprived of their security amid a reportedly rising crime rate in the Arakan State capital, which these days sees reports of muggings in broad daylight in which motorbike-riding thieves grab handphones and purses from pedestrians.

DMG interviewed U Myo Kyaw, general secretary of the ALD, to find out more about his party’s election stance and its view on Myanmar’s political situation more broadly.

Myanmar-based political observer and former lawmaker for the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party U Ye Tun recently spoke to DMG about the new Political Parties Registration Law.

Some of Arakan State’s smaller ethnic political parties spoke to DMG about their views on the junta-organised election scheduled for later this year, and whether they plan to contest the vote.

The year 2022 brought renewed conflict to Arakan State as a ceasefire between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) broke down in August, resulting in mass displacement and scores of civilian casualties. At the same time, economic hardship and the Covid-19 pandemic continued to make life difficult for many of the state’s residents. 

The informal truce was observed on humanitarian grounds, according to the AA spokesman, who said Arakan State’s residents have been suffering for months from junta blockades of roads and waterways, and indiscriminate junta artillery strikes.

Since the military coup in February 2021, power outages have become a frequent occurrence in Arakan State, and this month, electricity has been out at least twice a day, often lasting for four hours or more.

Arakan State has returned to a region of active armed conflict, with the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) locked in renewed hostilities since August. The military has arrested scores of civilians, and imposed tight travel restrictions in many parts of Arakan State. 

An informal ceasefire between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) circa November 2020, after two years of often-intense fighting between the two sides, effectively collapsed in August. In the weeks since, more than 17,000 people have been displaced by the renewed fighting in Arakan State and neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township.

The military coup on February 1, 2021, has thrown Myanmar into political chaos, with armed revolution against the junta taking place across much of the country. Tensions are also escalating in western Myanmar’s Arakan State, as the military and the Arakan Army (AA) have returned to armed conflict after more than a year of detente.

Since September 16, Myanmar’s military regime has imposed a travel ban on local and international nongovernmental organisations (NGOs/INGOs) providing food supplies and other humanitarian assistance to displaced people in six Arakan State townships including Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Minbya, Mrauk-U and Myebon, citing security reasons amid renewed hostilities with the Arakan Army (AA). It remains unclear how long the ban will be in effect.

September 21 is recognised annually as International Day of Peace, also known as World Peace Day. But in Myanmar, instability and a stark lack of peace prevails in the aftermath of the February 2021 military coup. Renewed hostilities in recent weeks between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) have prompted many locals to flee for their lives in Arakan State. 

The military should not use passenger buses. Bus owners may feel compelled to accept the cargo of the Myanmar military. The military should only use their own trucks and vehicles, and it is totally unacceptable to use public transport for military purposes.

Military tensions are running high across various parts of Arakan State as clashes have continued for about a month in Maungdaw and Paletwa townships. In the latest escalation to date, the regime on Saturday carried out airstrikes in Maungdaw Township as it attempted to retake a border guard police outpost near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, which the Arakan Army occupied on August 31. 

The junta-controlled Central Bank of Myanmar early this month adjusted the official exchange rate from K1,850 to K2,100 per US dollar, a move that economists say will increase the prices of imports. The exchange rate has since reached around K3,000 per dollar in the open market.

Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army (AA) reached an informal ceasefire agreement ahead of the country’s November 2020 general election, after some two years of often-intense fighting in Arakan State. Military tensions have escalated this month, however, with clashes increasing in frequency and casualties reported on both sides, as well as hundreds of civilians displaced.

‘It takes two hands to clap’ | ANC leader discusses what’s needed to unite Arakanese armed groups

August 13 marked the 55th anniversary of “rice crisis day” in Arakan State, a date of tragic brutality in 1967, under the rule of dictator General Ne Win and his Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP). That year, Arakanese people faced severe food insecurity and starvation after a cyclone in May badly affected rice yields and the government refused to provide sufficient supplies of the stable grain, having instead over-allocated rice for export. Due to the scarcity, even those who could afford it were unable to buy rice. Some people in Arakan resorted to eating taro root and roselle, while others starved to death.