The Arakan National Party (ANP) and Arakan Front Party (AFP), two of Arakan State’s most popular and powerful political parties, have not yet begun preparing for controversial elections that Myanmar’s military regime plans to hold next year. 

Ten political prisoners serving prison terms in Tanintharyi Region’s Dawei were hit with additional, lengthy sentences on October 5, according to the Dawei Political Prisoners Network (DPPN).

A local philanthropist and some other residents of Mrauk-U Township, Arakan State, who were recently detained by Myanmar’s military regime have been released, family members told DMG.

Junta soldiers detained two local men in Chin State’s Paletwa Township and took the pair to the military’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 289 headquarters, residents told DMG.

A woman was injured when an artillery shell landed and exploded in Mon Daunt Chaung Village, part of Chin State’s Paletwa Township, at about 6 p.m. on Friday, according to locals.

One of the Arakan Front Party (AFP) senior members who went missing on Tuesday evening was freed on Thursday night.

Ko Mrat Thu Tun aka Ko Phoe Thiha, a former reporter in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U who was detained by the Myanmar military, was charged under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code on Friday, according to family members of the accused.

Six civilians including a child and an older teenager in Palaung Pyin Village, Minbya Township, were injured when their village was struck by junta artillery strikes at around 1 p.m. on Friday, according to local residents.

A 100-household head in Kanpyin (Muslim) Village in Arakan State’s Buthidaung Township was shot dead by a group of masked men at about 8 p.m. on October 6, according to a village administrator.

There were more than 20 clashes between junta troops and the Arakan Army (AA) in Paletwa Township, Chin State, in the first week of October, the ethnic armed group said in a statement on Friday.

Four local people in Arakan State’s Thandwe Township have been arrested in recent days, among whom two were reportedly charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act.

Two senior members of the Arakan Front Party (AFP) went missing on Tuesday evening, according to family members. 

A local philanthropist in Mrauk-U, Arakan State, was reportedly taken from his home by junta soldiers at about 6 a.m. on Thursday, according to sources close to the detainee. 

A woman was injured and some houses were damaged by artillery strikes in Arakan State’s Minbya and Rathedaung townships on Wednesday, according to locals. 

Medicines are urgently needed to provide healthcare services to more than 9,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Palaw Township, Tanintharyi Region, according to aid workers.

The Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO) on Monday called for the earliest possible shutdown of Pinpet Steel Mill in Shan State’s Taunggyi, citing environmental concerns.

The junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) has summoned the Arakan National Party (ANP) to explain itself over a statement in which it condemned the regime for fatal shellings of villages in Arakan State.

Myanmar military troops and the Arakan Army (AA) clashed between Gutar Pyin and Taung villages in Arakan State’s Buthidaung Township on Wednesday morning.

Family members say they have not been in contact with two local men in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township who were recently detained by the Myanmar military.