Myanmar’s military regime has granted K10 billion from national economic development funds for development works in Arakan State, according to a message sent by junta chief Min Aung Hlaing for the 48th anniversary of Arakan State Day on Thursday.

Local people were not interested in the 48th anniversary of Arakan State Day event organised by the military regime and only civil servants under the military junta attended the event, said people who visited the celebrations.

As many as 2,000 local people were forced to flee after a fierce clash broke out between the military and a coalition led by Brigade 3 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) near Leinpinwel Village in eastern Bago Region’s Shwegyin Township on December 15, according to ground sources.

The Paletwa Township Court has reportedly sentenced two brothers to three years in prison under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code and Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act, according to family members.

The military’s proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in Arakan State has begun preparing for a new general election, which the military regime plans to hold next year.

Declining fish stocks in the Thanzit River in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu have become a source of dispute for local fishermen, with one group accusing the other of encroaching on their fishing territory.

The Arakan State Administration Council (ASAC) of Myanmar’s military regime has urged local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Arakan State to try and look for markets by taking advantage of an ongoing exhibition of local products.

Despite the latest ceasefire, Myanmar’s military regime continues to restrict the supply of medicines from Arakan State’s Kyauktaw to Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State.

An administrator in Minbya’s Okkarpyan Ward, Arakan State, has been charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA), according to family members. 

Local residents continue to leave Arakan State for foreign countries to work amid continuing instability and high unemployment in the region.

Local residents in the Arakan State capital Sittwe have called on authorities to handle a chaotic parking situation along the street leading to the central market.

The number of migratory birds entering Arakan State this fall has decreased due to climate change and a scarcity of feeding and nesting grounds for bird species, according to an environmental conservation group in the state. 

Paddy yields are reportedly lower this year and farmers are facing financial losses due to climate change’s effects on the rice paddy harvesting season, high input costs, poor paddy prices and armed conflict in Arakan State.

Myanmar’s military regime is reportedly not ready to hold informal talks on the issue of sustainable peace-building with seven signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

Residents of Yadanarbon Village, part of Tanintharyi Region’s Bokpyin Township on the Myanmar-Thai border, were reportedly forced to relocate by the military regime.

Betel nut growers in Arakan State have reported a decline in demand for their products. Home-grown betel nuts are barely selling due to travel restrictions that are still in effect despite a recent ceasefire between Myanmar’s military regime and the Arakan Army.

The saltwater shrimp hatcheries in Arakan State cannot even meet local demand due to a lack of technological footing, local shrimpers say.

Fighting between Myanmar’s military regime and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Namhsan Township, northern Shan State, continued on Monday, with the regime conducting airstrikes, according to sources.

Despite the latest ceasefire, reached on November 26, the Myanmar military has dispatched reinforcements to some townships in Arakan State over recent days, according to locals.