Curfew orders in some Arakan State townships that were imposed as COVID-19 infection rates climbed alarmingly last year have been revoked, but the order in war-affected townships remains in effect, with authorities citing security reasons.

Commodity flows into Arakan State have slowed since Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup early this month, according to local businessmen.

The Myanmar Indigenous Peoples/Ethnic Nationalities Network, a 28-member alliance working on indigenous rights issues in the country, released a statement on February 12 expressing its opposition to this month’s military coup and support for nationwide protests against authoritarianism.

A list of people 18 years of age and older is being compiled in Arakan State for mass inoculation purposes, according to the state’s Public Health Department, as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Myanmar continues this month.

Myanmar’s military regime released thousands of inmates on Friday as a gesture to celebrate the country’s 74th Union Day. A total of 646 prisoners were released in Arakan State, according to state Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Min Than.

Banks are temporarily closed following the Tatmadaw’s seizure of power in Myanmar, presenting Arakan State residents with troubles because they cannot withdraw money from their accounts.

The prominent Arakanese politician Dr. Aye Maung and writer Wai Hun Aung, both serving long-term sentences for treason, were among more than 23,000 prisoners released nationwide under an amnesty by Myanmar’s new junta on Friday. 

After an initial period of quiet in the wake of the Tatmadaw’s February 1 coup, residents of Arakan State have increasingly made their displeasure known as protests have been reported in several townships of Myanmar’s westernmost territory this week.

Former Arakan State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu and two fellow National League for Democracy (NLD) politicians in Arakan State have been detained by the Tatmadaw in recent days, with their whereabouts unknown and no contact made with them as of Thursday afternoon, family members said. 

Protests against the February 1 military coup have been met with arrests and charges by authorities in at least three Arakan State townships over recent days as discontent continues to bring thousands out to the streets in cities and towns across Myanmar.

Steps will be taken this month to help internally displaced people (IDPs) return to their homes in Arakan State, according to Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Min Than.  

Preparations are being made to add environmental conservation law to the curricula of universities in Myanmar, according to U Hla Maung Thein, director general of the Environmental Conservation Department (ECD).

Ethnically Arakanese political parties and Arakanese people have repeated their calls for the release of prominent Arakanese politician Dr. Aye Maung and writer Wai Hun Aung after the military seized power from Myanmar’s democratically elected government last week.

Internally displaced people (IDPs) in Arakan State are concerned that the international community will withdraw humanitarian aid from the region following the military coup in Myanmar on February 1.

Dozens of civil society organisations in Arakan State released a statement on February 7 urging the Arakan National Party to reverse course regarding its decision to accept an offer for membership on the military junta’s State Administration Council.

In response to Myanmar’s February 1 coup, the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) released a statement on Sunday saying it would accept neither military dictatorship nor democratic despotism, but rather would continue its efforts to establish a genuine federal Union.

Three youth members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Arakan State’s Manaung Township said local police attempted to make them sign pledges agreeing not to protest any more, after they staged an anti-coup demonstration over the weekend.

The Arakan Front Party (AFP) has rejected an offer to join the governing body of the State Administrative Council after senior party officials reviewed the proposal.

If the Tatmadaw government holds another round of elections as it has vowed to do, the Arakan State-based Arakan National Party (ANP) and Arakan Front Party (AFP) will contest the polls, according to officials from the parties.