Myanmar’s military regime has detained two people in Ramree town, two villagers in Minbya Township and three underage youths in Kyaukphyu Township over the past two days as junta arrests in Arakan State for alleged Arakan Army (AA) affiliations have accelerated in recent weeks.

Three new Covid-19 variant cases were reported between September 10 and 20 in Arakan State after several months of no reported cases in the state, according to the junta-controlled Ministry of Health. 

The Myanmar military regime’s Arakan State Administration Council on Tuesday warned some business owners in Arakan State not to financially support the Arakan Army (AA), according to business owners. 

The Myanmar military reportedly took Ko Zaw Myo Tun aka Nga Pwa, a resident of Kai Shay Ward in Arakan State’s Taungup, and U Myint Hlaing, chairman of Kai Shay social organisation, for questioning on September 19. 

The Myanmar military has arrested at least 13 people over a two-week period in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu, Manaung, Taungup and Ann townships on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army, according to U Khaing Thukha, a spokesman for the ethnic armed group. 

Local residents in Arakan State have complained about skyrocketing air fares as ticket prices have as much as doubled for domestic air travel.

The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) has urged the members of fellow Arakanese parties and armed organisations to work under its umbrella, while hinting that it would not accept a merger.

Myanmar military and police personnel detained Ko Mrat Thu Tun aka Ko Phoe Thiha, a former reporter, near Latkauk bazaar in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U at about 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

At least 5,000 locals were displaced by fighting between junta troops and anti-regime groups in Moebye, Shan State, on the morning of September 19, according to residents. 

Myanmar’s military regime on Tuesday imposed tightened checks at a security checkpoint run by military police at an entrance to the Arakan State capital Sittwe, according to drivers and travellers. 

Four people were injured in Nagara Village, Kyauktaw Township, when their house was struck by an artillery shell fired by junta troops at around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to villagers. 

The Myanmar military arrested two men in downtown wards of Minbya, Arakan State, at around 2 p.m. on September 20, according to residents.

Some homes in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U town were reportedly damaged as the Myanmar military directed heavy weapons and small arms fire into residential areas at around 11 p.m. on September 19. 

The recent meeting between members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) in Panghsang, Wa State, was productive, according to the deputy commander-in-chief of the Arakan Army (AA), Dr. Nyo Twan Awng.

The Arakan Army (AA) will officially reveal its policy on the crisis facing the state’s Muslim population when it can hold official talks on the international stage as the legitimate government of Arakan, the AA spokesman said during a press conference on Monday. 

The Arakan Army (AA) does not cooperate militarily with anti-regime groups under the umbrella People’s Defence Force (PDF) banner, but “it does assist in social issues,” the AA spokesman has said amid ongoing speculation about the Arakanese ethnic armed group’s place in the opposition movement.  

Locals in Arakan State have criticised Myanmar’s military regime for seizing unlicensed motorcycles in many parts of the state while the regime’s motor registration authority has suspended services to issue vehicle licences. 

Action is being taken against the perpetrators in the murder of a young woman who was stabbed to death last month near the government offices in Sittwe, Arakan State, said U Khaing Thukha, spokesperson for the Arakan Army, at an online press conference on Monday. 

Family members have called on authorities to allow them to visit inmates detained in prisons across Arakan State as many relatives say they’ve not been able to meet with their loved ones since the third wave of Covid-19 struck last year.