The sister of the Arakan Army (AA) Chief Maj-Gen Twan Mrat Naing has been detained along with her husband in connection with the seizure of explosive devices in Mandalay, U Zaw Htay, Spokesperson of the State Counsellor’s Office said during a press conference held at the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw on 25 October.

Locals said that more than 40 civilians, who were taken from Lat Khote village in Minbya Township by the Tatmadaw to use as guides, returned home around 4 p.m. on October 23.

 A land survey staff member, who was detained and questioned at Buthidaung police station, is facing charges under the Counter-Terrorism Law’s article 50 (a) and 51 (c).

A convoy transporting detained people who have been facing trial at Maungdaw district court hit a landmine at about 4P.M. on 24 October, U Soe Aung, Administrator of Maungdaw District, confirmed the DMG.

Since Arakan State government did not arrange land for war refugees, officials from War Taung IDP camp in Kyauktaw Township have to rent land for IDPs, village administrator U Sein Shwe Bu told the DMG.

Two civilians from Chaung Gyi village, Myebon Township, have been released on the evening of 22 October after being taken on Monday by the Tatmadaw for questioning, according to the village administrator U Maung San.

The committee previously contracted the process to tender winners who set the rate at K100 a day. It started collecting tariffs this month but the new tariff is higher and the rate is different from prior ones, a vender said.

A land survey staff member was taken from his house by the police from Myoma police station of Buthidaung around 12 p.m. of October 22 for questioning, the family said.

“A landmine exploded today a furlong away from the east side of our village. Soon after that, they [the Tatmadaw] entered the village, firing guns into the air. We were told to gather in front of them. Then they asked us whether we know the Arakan Army (AA) or were we members of AA. They took our gold jewelry, money and mobile phones with them,” the villager said.

An artillery shell exploded in Apaukwa village, Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State around 5 a.m. of October 23 and injured two people, according to locals.

29 Muslims, who fled Myanmar to Bangladesh, have returned to Taungpyo Letwei resettlement camp in Maungdaw District on October 22 under the program of the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Arakan State (UEHRD), U Soe Aung, Maungdaw district administrator said.

More than 100 people waged a protest in front of the Myanmar embassy in Tokyo, Japan on 21 October while Daw Aung San Suu Kyi visited Japan to attend the Japanese emperor’s enthronement ceremony.

“An artillery shell landed near the school around 10 a.m. today. The school is closed because teachers and students are frightened,” U Maung Pu said.

The government should provide educational stipends for the Arakanese refugee students who are in distance education programs, said Ko Zaw Zaw Tun, secretary of Rakhine Ethnic Congress (REC).

Although three people including the brother in law of Khaing Thukha, spokesperson of Arakan Army (AA) were charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law, the Kyauk Phyu District Court decided on October 21 to dismiss law suits unconditionally because no strong evidence can be shown to support the allegation, the lawyer of the accused said.

U Tun Myint,51, and Ko Naing Linn,29, have been taken to No.9 Tatmadaw Training School near Kan Nee village in Minbya Township for questioning, U Maung San, administrator of Chaung Gyi village, told the DMG.

An artillery shell landed on a house after a military convoy was hit by a landmine on the morning of 21 October near Khaung Laung village, Minbya Township, injuring two villagers, local sources said.

“Political problems will not end by arresting relatives of the leaders of the ULA/AA. It is necessary to stop persecution on Arakanese people. The government will face negative consequences that follow this kind of act,” Khaing Thukha said.

The Pakhoku student union group arrived in Ann on October 18 and was stopped by the authorities but was later allowed to continue traveling because of intervention by the State Hluttaw. On October 20 when the group arrived in Minbya, they were stopped for a second time.