Five people were arrested in Buthidaung Township, Arakan State, by the Tatmadaw under the Counter-Terrorism Law for alleged links to the Arakan Army (AA). They were placed in custody in Buthidaung Township Court on August 13.

A mine exploded on the morning of August 14 near Ah Pauk Wa police station in Kyauktaw township, Arakan State, the residents said.

Government authorities have tried to stop to some organizations providing assistance to IDPs in camps in Mrauk-U Township, aid workers said.

The Arakan Army (AA) issued a statement against the Myanmar Police on August 12 warning its officers to stop arresting and torturing Arakan people by misusing their authority. The letter also warned the police force not to frighten people or disturb Arakan national activities.

Three ethnic armed groups – TNLA, MNDAA and the AA released a joint statement on August 12, asking Tatmadaw to stop launching offensives in Arakan State and northern Myanmar.

Before artillery shells landed in the village, the sound of mine explosion and gunfire could be heard from a place about one mile west of the village at about 6p.m, said the senior monk of the village monastery.

The Youth Committee from Arakan National Party (ANP) requested the government to stop arresting Arakanese youths on suspicion of ties with the AA and detaining and torturing youths, some of which died during their incarceration.

The minister for Security and Border Affairs of a region should have good relations with local residents to support a region’s stability, but Colonel Phone Tint was weak in public relations, said U Khaing Kaung San, Executive Director of the Wan Lark Foundation.  

The Myanmar government has cut off Internet service in war torn areas in eight townships in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in Chin State for 50 days. The Internet blackout has reached 50 days on 10 August.

Civilians who have lost limbs due to artillery fire or landmine explosions due to ongoing fighting need prosthetic replacements, aid workers said. 

The Yangon Region’s Western District court indicted Arakanese deportees under the Counter-Terrorism Law that might carry a life sentence on 9 August.

Five schools in Rathedaung Township and eight schools in Minbya Township have been closed after villagers fled to safety during fighting in their areas, said U Sein Tun Hla, deputy director general of the Arakan State Education Office.

The administrator of Thameehla (Yet Khone Daing) village in RathedaungTownship is a staunch supporter of the Arakan Army and attacked military troops many times with explosive devices, the Tatmadaw announced.

The humanitarian assistance for Arakanese IDPs has been decreasing because the Arakan State government has limited INGOs, apart from the WFP and ICRC, to provide aid for Arakanese IDP camps and imposed restriction on local CSOs to apply for permits before collecting funds for IDPs, he said.

Local parliamentarians said they found at the end of July that a fish crushing factory near Pin Lal Nar village in Kin Myauk village tract of Kyauk Phyu Township was planning to run the factory on coal.

The number of students enrolled in monastic schools in Arakan State has increased this year because of fighting between Tatmadaw and Arakan Army (AA), said the venerable monk U Ar Yiya Wantha, secretary of a monastic school group. 

The Tatmadaw troops moved into the village shooting guns that scared local residents and they fled from their homes, said a villager who fled from their home and on the condition of anonymity.

Tatmadaw soldiers on August 5 arrested a primary school teacher, Nay Zaw Linn, 27, who worked in Pyin Chaung Village of Buthedaung Township, for questioning.

Four of 11 people arrested by police for alleged links to the Arakan Army (AA) were allowed to meet their families on August 8 at Ponnagyun township’s police station, U Maung Maung Than, a family member of detainees  told DMG.