Curfew criticised as unnecessary burden in stabilised Arakan State

By DMG 22 Mar 2022

DMG Newsroom
22 March 2022, Sittwe

A growing chorus of voices in Arakan State say existing curfew orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure should be repealed in some townships as the state is currently stable.

The curfew has made it difficult for farmers, businesspeople and those who rely on the forest for their livelihoods, and there have been delays in the flow of goods, advocates of repeal argue.

U Aung Myint, an official from Kathi Oo bus line plying the route between Sittwe and Yangon, said travel itineraries could be upended by the curfew in cases of unforeseen circumstances.

“When vehicles leave Sittwe, for example, if something is delayed on the road due to some difficulties, we have to spend the night there if we cannot pass through the Ann checkpoint. Because we export crab, we lose money if we do not export on time,” he explained.

Curfew orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure were imposed in some Arakan State townships amid conflict between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) from 2018-20.

Section 144 curfew orders were extended for an additional two months in the Arakan State townships of Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Minbya and Myebon on February 2. An ongoing curfew order under Section 144 in Ann Township, Arakan State, was extended for another two months from March 2.

U Aung Kyaw Mra, a resident of Pyaung Seik village in Kyauktaw Township, said that although curfew orders were acceptable during the fighting, it was not necessary to extend them in certain jurisdictions for the time being.

“If you have to go to the hospital as an emergency patient, the curfew order is an obstacle and a problem for the people. The curfew is not a good thing because it deprives the people of their rights and causes hardship in times of peace,” he added.

At present, there is no need for a nighttime curfew in Arakan State, agreed Ko Myo Lwin, a resident of Ann town.

“There were casualties during the fighting between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military in 2019. Since then, the curfew order has been extended every two months. In fact, given the current situation in Arakan State, there is no need to impose a nighttime curfew,” he said.

Ko Ann Thar Gyi, a resident of Minbya town, pointed out that livelihoods were being negatively impacted by the curfew every day.

“Locals sometimes have to work full time. Even now, vendors have to go out at night. I think the nighttime curfew should not be imposed in Arakan State because it is a time of political and military stability between the Arakan Army and Myanmar military,” he said.

U Hla Thein, a spokesman for the Arakan State Administration Council, told DMG that if members of the public want the curfew order lifted because it is peaceful in their respective areas, they can submit their proposal to the state’s military government council through the relevant township administration.

There have been almost no clashes for more than a year after the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) reached an informal ceasefire arrangement in November 2020.