Amid a two-year war that has resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties and hundreds more arrested unjustly on suspicion of illegal involvement in the conflict, International Human Rights Day on December 10 carried particular resonance in Arakan State this year. This year, at the end of which some townships in Arakan State will have endured almost 18 months with severely throttled internet access, or none at all.   

In the general election’s wake, DMG interviewed U Naing Soe to discuss this year’s winless independent field, as well as Arakan State’s past, present and future politics. 

With the shifting peace process dynamics and a reconfigured government set to take office next year, DMG’s Aung Htein sought the opinions of a variety of stakeholders to find out whether they thought the government might withdraw its declaration of the Arakan Army as a terrorist group.

As Election Day draws near, ethnic political parties are taking stock of their prospects in southern Arakan State, where parties from the Bamar-dominated mainland have historically seen greater success at the polls. DMG’s Khin Tharaphy Oo — who has reported on public opinion, the challenges facing campaigns in the COVID-19 era, and political parties’ hopes for the upcoming vote — recently caught up with the leadership of three prominent Arakanese political parties and the state’s ethnic Kaman party, to get their thoughts on an election season like no other.

DMG compiled the opinions of some of the candidates who had prepared to compete for seats in Pauktaw Township, only to be told of the nixed polls earlier this month.

With the election just weeks away, DMG reporters Khin Tharaphy Oo and Min Tun spoke exclusively with some of the candidates who were supposed to contest in the cancelled constituencies, to hear their thoughts on what the future holds for Arakan State’s politics and its people.

DMG spoke to Dr. Myo Nyunt, a spokesman for the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), about the recent cancellation of elections in several Arakan State constituencies.

Against this backdrop, DMG journalist Khaing Roe La recently interviewed Dr. Min Zaw Oo, executive director of the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security, about the conflict’s opposing sides, the impacts of war on the people of Arakan State, and prospects for peace.

DMG reporter Khin Tharaphy Oo recently interviewed several women contesting the 2020 election in Arakan State about why they decided to run, the challenges they are facing in this highly unconventional election year, and what they will prioritise if they win. 

With a new generation set to exercise its franchise, DMG reporter Khin Tharaphy Oo recently interviewed several youths in Arakan State about what they are looking for in a candidate this election year. 

With thousands more displaced in just the past few weeks, DMG reporter Min Tun interviewed IDPs in three Arakan State townships to find out what kind of government they want to see emerge from the 2020 election.

Three students from the Arakan Students’ Union who protested outside the compound of the Arakan State government offices were arrested on September 9 and remanded under Section 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law, a provision that carries with it a maximum penalty of three years in prison.

DMG reporter Khaing Roe La recently interviewed Phado Saw Kwe Htoo Win, vice chair of the Karen National Union, about Myanmar’s peace process, with the discussion touching on progress made, challenges facing the negotiations and hopes for peace between the government and ethnic armed groups.

Given the mixed results to date, DMG reporter Khaing Roe La asked five stakeholders to compare and contrast Myanmar’s peace process under the previous government and the current administration.

Dr. Tin Mar Aung raised eyebrows last month when it was revealed that she would contest the 2020 general election as a member of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD). The former personal assistant to State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be contesting an Arakan State Hluttaw constituency in Taungup Township, considered a stronghold of the ruling National League for Democracy — the party of her old boss.

Sitting Arakan State lawmaker U Poe San from Kyaukphyu Township is not likely to defend his seat in this year’s general election, after election officials rejected his candidacy on the basis of his son’s alleged links to the Arakan Army. 

DMG reporter Khin Tharaphy Oo recently interviewed Dr. Aung Naing Lin, who travelled from Yangon to work temporarily at Sittwe General Hospital, about the health conditions of COVID-19 patients, infections among medical staff, and prevention and treatment measures.

On August 24, the Tatmadaw announced that it was extending a unilateral ceasefire until the end of September in order to facilitate efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic and honour its obligations under recent peace agreements. But like its original declaration made in May, the renewal does not include “areas where terrorist groups declared by the government take positions.”

As conflict continues to plague Arakan State, military inspections of camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) have reportedly increased in recent months, raising anxieties in the camps. DMG interviewed U Wai Hla Aung, manager of Tin Nyo IDP camp in Mrauk-U Township, where more than 3,000 people are sheltering.