Curfew imposed in Northern Rakhine’s conflict areas

By DMG 02 Apr 2019

Khin Tharaphy Oo and Phadu Tun Aung/DMG

April 2, Sittwe

The order of a curfew has been imposed in Rakhine’s five conflict areas where ongoing fighting has been escalating in order to maintain regional stability and rule of law, a member of Rakhine State cabinet confirmed to the DMG on Tuesday.

The night time curfew is effective beginning April 2 in Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Minpya, Ponnagyun and Rathedaung Townships.

The order has been declared after three months of instability in the regions. Since January, detonation of mines and brutal assaults at security outposts and police stations occurred in northern Rakhine State. This has resulted in fatalities and injuries of soldiers and police in addition to destroyed state owned buildings and vehicles.

A letter signed and released by colonel Phone Tint, minister for Rakhine State Security and Border Affairs, said that he approved to impose a curfew from 9 p.m to 5 a.m in these five townships in order to prevent a collapse in politics, economy and social status in the regions and to build a sturdy administrative mechanism for regional stability and the rule of law.

Colonel Phone Tint instructed township management committees of the conflict areas and Sittwe and Mrauk-U district management committees on Monday to release the order of imposing a curfew in the five townships.

U Khaing Kaung San, director of the Wan Lark Foundation (Arakan), said that he did not want to give any comment on imposing a curfew because it was the government’s function, the government needs to deal with cases involving civilians being hit by stray mortar fire.

“Residential areas that become targets of artillery fire is the main problem in the community. I think, the government should try to handle it,” he said.

Following the attack by the ARSA in Maungdaw region, the order of a curfew from 10 p.m to 5 a.m has been imposed in Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships.

Since ongoing fighting in the region is intensifying, people are concerned that the military administration would become more pervasive in Rakhine State. However, the government said it did not have a plan to declare martial law.