Junta-appointed ministers visited Muslim refugee camps in Bangladesh on Wednesday as part of the Myanmar regime’s repatriation plan.

The chief of the Arakan Army (AA), Major-General Twan Mrat Naing, is reportedly attending a meeting of members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) in Panghsang, the headquarters of the United Wa State Army (UWSA).

Preparations have begun for a wind turbine project in Arakan State’s Gwa Township, which is a joint venture between China and Myanmar’s military regime.

Turtles and their eggs are sold widely in some markets in Arakan State despite a ban on poaching and the selling of endangered species of turtles.

A verdict in the case against three Kyauktaw Township residents, including social activist Ko Zaw Win aka Ludu Zaw Win, is expected at their next court hearing, according to a lawyer involved.

The export of rubber from Mon State and Tanintharyi Region is decreasing despite the favourable price of domestic rubber due to a rise in world rubber prices, according to local rubber farmers.

Members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) are holding talks in Panghsang, the headquarters of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), to strengthen the alliance.

The deputy military chief of the Arakan Army (AA), Dr. Nyo Twan Awng, attended an event to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the founding of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on March 11.

The military’s proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is canvassing support in southern Arakan State, where the politically persecuted National League for Democracy (NLD) once enjoyed popularity.

The plaintiff in an unlawful association case against a displaced man and a local resident in Kyauktaw has failed to show up for 12 consecutive court hearings, delaying justice, said family members of the accused.

The leaders of Myanmar’s military regime and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had a meeting regarding the issue of allowing family members to meet with prison inmates.

In order to be able to extract and use groundwater, water resources, analysis and research is being conducted.

The Arakan Army and Ta’ang National Liberation Army, two members of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, have said they will work together until the Kokang region is completely returned to the hands of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the alliance’s third member.

The Chinese ambassador on March 7 enquired about preparations for holding the election, the situation regarding the political parties, and the conditions that would allow a free and fair election to be held peacefully.

Residents want the removal of junta soldiers from encamping and living in the historical pagodas of Arakan State, and for people to be allowed to go on pilgrimages freely.

Sea urchins from Arakan State are fetching good prices due to high demand from other parts of the country, according to sea urchin dealers.

As the breadwinners of several families have been arrested, their wives and other family members are suffering from livelihood hardships.

They fled into India due to fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) in August of last year.

While most Myanmar political analysts believe the repatriation of Muslims from Bangladesh to Arakan State remains impossible at present, a Chinese envoy has praised the junta’s repatriation programme.