Since clashes broke out near Kyaukyan and Maung Phyu villages in Rathedaung Township, Arakan State, in the evening of January 24, residents have fled to nearby villages, according to local sources.

Thirteen people accused of having illegal ties to the Arakan Army and held in detention for most of last year were cleared of those charges and released by the Sittwe District Court on January 24.

An artillery shell that landed in Kin Taung (Muslim) village, Buthidaung Township, early on January 25 killed two villagers and injured seven others, according to family members of the victims.

Tobacco cultivation was once fairly commonplace in the township, but in recent years the ranks of tobacco farmers have declined, according to U Aung Kyaw Min, who once grew tobacco himself.

A non-optimal security environment has hampered implementation of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project amid ongoing clashes in parts of Arakan and Chin states, according to Indian Ambassador to Myanmar H.E Shri Saurabh Kumar.

The Union Supreme Court has rejected a final special appeal for prominent Arakanese politician Dr. Aye Maung and writer Wai Hun Aung, who were sentenced last year to 20 years in prison for high treason and incitement.

Authorities are struggling to issue fishing licenses in strife-torn Arakan State, according to U Soe Naing, head of the Department of Fisheries in the state.

The Tatmadaw True News Information Team’s secretary, Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun, has said that the military does not undertake offensive maneuvers using Mrauk-U’s ancient pagodas as bases of operation.

Political leaders this week said that although successive Myanmar governments including the current administration have promised to form a federal Union, none has had a systematic framework for introducing it.

On January 21, the Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye and Arakan State government's officials made the site inspection trip to the area where the University would be built.

The Sittwe District Court will rule on January 24 in a case involving 13 people who have been on trial for more than nine months, facing charges under Section 17(1) and (2) of the Unlawful Associations Act, according to lawyer U Tun Hla.

The Arakan Army has denied an accusation made by the Tatmadaw that the ethnic armed group this week set fire to a motor vehicle and abducted the driver in Ann Township, Arakan State.

The ICOE was formed by the Myanmar government on July 30, 2018, to investigate allegations of human rights violations during hostilities between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in Arakan State in 2016-17.

The Arakan Army (AA) has released U Hawi Tin, a National League for Democracy lawmaker in Chin State’s Paletwa Township, after holding the MP in detention for more than two months, the ethnic armed group said in a January 20 statement.

Indian Ambassador to Myanmar H.E. Shri Saurabh Kumar said the Indian government provided the donation as part of his country’s efforts to encourage social and economic development in Arakan State.

Landmine blasts in the Arakan State townships of Minbya and Ponnagyun on January 19 injured nine people, including three children, residents said.

The Tatmadaw arrested a sergeant-level Arakan Army (AA) officer in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief announced on January 20.

A passenger bus running from Yangon to Kyaukphyu overturned near Kalar Pone village in Ramree Township at about 5 a.m. on January 20, killing four people and injuring six others, according to a Kyaukphyu funeral services charity group.  

One man was shot dead and another was arrested in Mrauk-U during an incident at a Tatmadaw checkpoint on the morning of January 19, according to Arakan State lawmaker U Tun Thar Sein.