The military coup on February 1, 2021, has thrown Myanmar into political chaos, with armed revolution against the junta taking place across much of the country. Tensions are also escalating in western Myanmar’s Arakan State, as the military and the Arakan Army (AA) have returned to armed conflict after more than a year of detente.

Since September 16, Myanmar’s military regime has imposed a travel ban on local and international nongovernmental organisations (NGOs/INGOs) providing food supplies and other humanitarian assistance to displaced people in six Arakan State townships including Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Minbya, Mrauk-U and Myebon, citing security reasons amid renewed hostilities with the Arakan Army (AA). It remains unclear how long the ban will be in effect.

September 21 is recognised annually as International Day of Peace, also known as World Peace Day. But in Myanmar, instability and a stark lack of peace prevails in the aftermath of the February 2021 military coup. Renewed hostilities in recent weeks between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) have prompted many locals to flee for their lives in Arakan State. 

The military should not use passenger buses. Bus owners may feel compelled to accept the cargo of the Myanmar military. The military should only use their own trucks and vehicles, and it is totally unacceptable to use public transport for military purposes.

Military tensions are running high across various parts of Arakan State as clashes have continued for about a month in Maungdaw and Paletwa townships. In the latest escalation to date, the regime on Saturday carried out airstrikes in Maungdaw Township as it attempted to retake a border guard police outpost near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, which the Arakan Army occupied on August 31. 

The junta-controlled Central Bank of Myanmar early this month adjusted the official exchange rate from K1,850 to K2,100 per US dollar, a move that economists say will increase the prices of imports. The exchange rate has since reached around K3,000 per dollar in the open market.

Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army (AA) reached an informal ceasefire agreement ahead of the country’s November 2020 general election, after some two years of often-intense fighting in Arakan State. Military tensions have escalated this month, however, with clashes increasing in frequency and casualties reported on both sides, as well as hundreds of civilians displaced.

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August 13 marked the 55th anniversary of “rice crisis day” in Arakan State, a date of tragic brutality in 1967, under the rule of dictator General Ne Win and his Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP). That year, Arakanese people faced severe food insecurity and starvation after a cyclone in May badly affected rice yields and the government refused to provide sufficient supplies of the stable grain, having instead over-allocated rice for export. Due to the scarcity, even those who could afford it were unable to buy rice. Some people in Arakan resorted to eating taro root and roselle, while others starved to death.  

Those who have committed crimes will be punished for their sins. My son is no longer in the revolution, but the people who are there will take revenge.

Six members of the Arakan Army were killed when the Myanmar military carried out airstrikes on an AA outpost in territory of the Karen National Liberation Army’s Brigade 5, near the Myanmar-Thai border in Kayin (Karen) State. Some members were also injured, and a handful of buildings in the area were damaged or destroyed. The AA has vowed retaliation for the attack.

More than 17 months since the coup, political instability prevails in Myanmar, and fighting between the military regime and anti-junta resistance forces remains a near-daily occurrence. Prak Sokhonn, ASEAN’s special envoy to Myanmar, last week visited the country on his second official trip aimed at mediating the increasingly intractable conflict between the military junta and its opponents.

That day, two soldiers came to our shop to buy rope. We sell building materials. One of them was an officer and the other was a private. They left by motorbike after paying. AA members showed up when they arrived some distance from our shop. At that time we didn’t know they were AA members. They tried to seize them. It was followed by a fight. One of them was pushed onto the road in front of the township administration department. Another was pushed into the ditch. 

Veteran politician U Pe Than, who resigned from the senior ranks of the Arakan National Party (ANP) last year, recently talked to DMG about the current political landscape.

Leaders of Myanmar’s opposition National Unity Government (NUG) and the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) met for the first time this month, holding a two-hour virtual meeting on May 16.

“Ko Htin Latt Oo, don’t go too far. You have been irritating. I won’t give a shit about peace [if you carry on]. I will come to your place and crush it,” Arakan Army (AA) chief Major-General Twan Mrat Naing warned on Twitter on Friday, addressing the commander of the Myanmar military’s Western Command. 

The Myanmar military regime’s oppression of independent media outlets since its coup on February 1, 2021, is well documented. The junta has raided media agencies’ offices, revoked their licences, and arrested and prosecuted dozens of journalists.

Sunday marked the 13^th anniversary of the founding of the Arakan Army (AA), which was established by 26 young people on April 10, 2009, in Kachin State’s Laiza, the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The Arakan Army now counts thousands of soldiers among its ranks, and has established a strong presence in Arakan State, both militarily and administratively. 

As Myanmar Buddhists prepare to welcome a new year, it is the third consecutive under threat of pandemic and the second consecutive under military rule. Economic circumstances are dire for many, but optimism remains. Prominent Arakanese figures and residents have shared their wishes for Myanmar’s Buddhist New Year with DMG as the country looks ahead to ME 1384.