Parents and locals in Arakan State’s Taungup Township are keeping wary eyes on their children as they returned to school this week for the first time in nearly a year amid the fraught socio-political dynamics of post-coup Myanmar. 

A total of nine childrend have died from diarrhoea in Pauk Taw (Muslim) village in Minbya Township, Arakan State, and the number of people affected by the disease has exceeded 200.

Developers in Arakan State say they have faced difficulties due to the country’s faltering financial system and rising construction materials costs.

Three more men who returned from Bangladesh to Sittwe tested positive for COVID-19 on June 1, according to the Public Health Department in Arakan State. 

The Myanmar regime has since May 28 restricted access to the upper reaches of the Kaladan River, which hosts the main road linking Paletwa in Chin State to Kyauktaw Township in Arakan State, and is the land route leading to Samee and Matupi in Chin State, according to locals. 

The eight were arraigned at the Western District Court of Yangon Region on June 2, but Police Major Tint Shwe filed a motion to dismiss the case, according to defence lawyer U Aung Kyaw Sein. 

U Hla Thein, a spokesman and attorney-general for the Arakan State Administration Council, said 17 cases of children under the age of 18 arrested on suspicion of illicit ties to the Arakan Army (AA) were dropped in May. 

The Thandwe Township military council has ordered people in Thandwe to submit overnight guest lists, according to residents. 

 Arakan State News Summary (May 22-31, 2021)

The Tatmadaw regime announced on May 30 that it would suspend all military activities from June 1 to 30, “except the period when security and administrative machinery of the government in addition to State defence and administrative measures are attacked and encroached on,” as the junta prepares to reopen basic education schools on June 1.

Seven children have died from diarrhea in Pauk Taw (Muslim) village of Nagara village-tract in Minbya Township over the past five days, according to residents.

Residents of Pyar Kywein village in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, have demanded that the local bridge be repaired in a timely manner due to the collapse of its wooden beams.

Ma Khaing Phyu Win, a 10-year-old girl who is earning money for the family while pursuing her education, and Ma Su Hlaing Win aka Ma Su Chay, a 22-year-old woman from Kyauktaw town who is seeking justice in the death of her husband who was killed by unknown person, are received financial aid from donors after their stories were covered in DMG’s Weekly TV News programme.

No one was injured when two bombs exploded in Paletwa town, Chin State, around 7:30 a.m. on May 28, according to the township police station.

A two-day meeting of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) held on May 27 and 28 will result in the reconstitution of the Federal Constitution Drafting Working Group, which will be approved at the next meeting, according to concluding remarks by General Yawd Serk, the interim leader of the PPST.

Ah Maw village on Pan Tin Island, which is located about 13 nautical miles west of Taungup town, has been hard-hit by erosion and was divided into two parts by tidal currents on the night of May 26, according to local residents.

As the number of students has increased this academic year, Palay Yadana monastic school in Thandwe town, Arakan State, is in need of financial aid.

The Rammarwadi traditional rowing competition, which had been suspended for three years, is being held again this year in Arakan State’s Ramree Township, from May 27-30, according to the central organising committee.

Myanmar’s reputation globally has diminished as a result of the February 1 coup and subsequent actions taken by the military government, the head of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) said on May 27.