Junta hosts football tournament in Kyaukphyu despite nearby clashes

By Admin 25 Oct 2025

DMG Newsroom

24 October 2025, Kyaukphyu

In Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State—where armed conflict remains intense—the junta’s district administration is staging a football tournament featuring teams from the military, police, and government departments, in what locals say is an attempt to project an image of urban “stability.”

Eighteen teams are slated to compete, including squads from Police Battalion No. (32), Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 34, various departments, and ward teams such as Ngalapwe, “Government,” and “Officers.” The opening ceremony was held on October 23 at the municipal football ground, and matches are scheduled to run until November 3, residents said.

“It’s an open-class futsal-style cup organized by the District General Administration Department,” a Kyaukphyu resident told DMG. “Teams include department staff, police, and soldiers.”

Since November 2023, the military council has sealed Kyaukphyu by land and sea, including the checkpoint at the “Stone Gate” on the town’s approach roads. Residents say the blockade, soaring prices, job scarcity, arrests and intimidation, and clashes on the town’s outskirts have created severe physical and psychological hardship.

Locals also report a spike in crime—break-ins, looting, and threats. “They’re using the tournament to claim the town is calm and that locals support them,” a townswoman said. “In reality, apart from people close to the military, others are being arrested, jailed, and threatened.”

Residents from wards such as Paik Seik, Pinphyu Maw, Sabban Chaung, and Zediya say junta forces have been seizing and destroying small fishing boats and detaining fishers on the riverbanks for allegedly fishing without permission.

According to figures compiled by DMG, during the recent battles for control in Arakan, the junta detained no fewer than 110 Kyaukphyu residents on allegations of links to the Arakan Army (AA); many are being held in prisons, police stations, and military interrogation centers.

A local man criticized athletes taking part in the junta’s public-relations push: “Players should have some shame. If you kick a ball with no principles while people suffer under the junta, one day the public will blame you. Remember that innocent civilians are dying because of their actions—keep your distance from them.”

Civil servants in Kyaukphyu have reportedly been pressured to support junta-run elections, avoid outside contacts, report to the military at any time if summoned, and publicly back the regime’s activities. Those who do not comply face salary cuts, administrative penalties under the civil-service law, and even criminal charges, sources said.

Fighting around Kyaukphyu has been reported within roughly 13 miles of the town to the east and southwest. While there were no major engagements recently, locals said they heard some small-arms fire yesterday evening (Oct. 23) near Kulabar and Gaw Tu villages.