Not only men but also women are leaving Arakan State for foreign countries in search of better economic prospects, according to women’s rights organisations.

The No. 1 Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge over the Moei River in Myawaddy, Kayin (Karen) State, which had been closed for three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and political instability, has reportedly reopened to traffic as of January 5.

Humanitarian operations in Arakan State have been largely shackled by the Myanmar military regime, which has targeted charities and social activists helping local communities and internally displaced people (IDPs).

An argument broke out when police stopped a vehicle belonging to the Arakan Army (AA) and carrying AA members on the road in front of the Lucky Guesthouse in Maungdaw, Arakan State, at around 8 a.m. on January 6.

Rubber plantation workers in Tanintharyi Region’s Dawei District have complained about a regime requirement that they must have proof of residency issued by their ward and village administrators or be sacked. 

About 90 village administrators from Rathedaung and Ponnagyun townships in Arakan State, who have submitted their resignation letters, were summoned for a meeting at the township administrator’s office on January 5.

The Sittwe branch passport office in Arakan State has suspended operations for two weeks for a system upgrade, a passport office source told DMG.

The exchange took place at a location between Padetha and Kuntaung villages in Ponnagyun Township, Arakan State, a reliable source said.

Gunmen who shot dead three members of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) in Sittwe’s Setyonsu Ward on Wednesday were members of the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA), the Sittwe-based ALP alleged in a statement on January 5.

Myanmar’s military regime continues to bar local and international nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) from helping displaced people in Arakan State, more than one month after an informal truce between the military and Arakan Army (AA) was reached.

No political prisoners behind bars in Arakan State were released in the military regime’s granting of a mass amnesty to mark Myanmar’s 75^th Independence Day anniversary on Wednesday.

A group of people led by the military’s proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) staged protests against a United Nations Security Council resolution in Thandwe and Taungup, Arakan State, on January 3, according to local residents.

Three men who were shot dead by unknown gunmen in Sittwe’s Setyonsu Ward on Wednesday were members of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), according to party officials.

The Kyauktaw Township Court ordered the filing of charges against three residents, including social activist Ko Zaw Win aka Ludu Zaw Win from Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code, according to the lawyer and family members.

Myanmar’s military regime is forcing internally displaced people (IDPs) from more than 20 displacement camps in Sittwe town to return to their homes.

Some 90 village administrators in Arakan State’s Rathedaung and Ponnagyun townships who recently submitted resignations have agreed to return to their posts at the request of the United League of Arakan (ULA), the armed wing of the Arakan Army (AA).

Fierce fighting between the military and anti-regime groups led by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) has been ongoing for three days in a row in Taungzun Village, part of Kayin (Karen) State’s Kyainnseikgyi Township, forcing at least 2,000 locals to flee.

The Karen National Union (KNU) issued a statement on January 1 warning all civil servants working under the Myanmar junta in Papun Township, Kayin (Karen) State, to resign from their jobs within the next 10 days.

Corn growers along the Laymyo River in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township are suffering losses due to increased production costs and a poor harvest year.