Nine government schools were closed in Buthidaung Township because of clashes between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA), according to the township education officer office.

Khaing Thukha, the AA spokesperson, said that they didn’t commit the crime and responded that the Tatmadaw was spreading disinformation about the group during the visit to Myanmar of the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs.

A female student from Kyauk Yan village, Rathedaung Township was struck by a stray bullet during hostilities between the Tatmadaw and the AA, U Sandawara, abbot of the Kyauk Yan monastery, said.

Since hostility in Arakan State has been intensifying and controversial accusations on both sides occur very often, journalists should have free access to information in the region to let known people the truth, the Arakan Army says.

Ten people from Yay Bote village, Rathedaung Township, were abducted by the Tatmadaw on the morning of 30 October, according to local people.

Arakan State Hluttaw Speaker U San Kyaw Hla counselled IDPs that peace was essential to return home and urges them to pray for peace when IDPs in Buthidaung town of Arakan State reported to him their desire to back home.

They work as excavators and were heading to Ywar Haung Taw village by motorbike for business. A military column near the village told them to dig up a landmine, but it went off and people were injured, said a local person who asked not to be named for security.

A construction worker who is building fence at Gin Taw border guard outpost at Ain Din village tract, in south of Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, received bullet injuries on the afternoon of 30 October.

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi urges leaders of ethnic armed organizations that have yet to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) to participate in historical political dialogues in her speech on the 4th anniversary of NCA Agreement held in Nay Pyi Taw on 28 October.

The Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) have been fighting near Taung Phyu Mountain in Pan Myaung village, Minbya Township, Arakan State since October 27 and the Tatmadaw launched air attacks during the fighting, the locals said.

Buthidaung township court on 29 October remanded eight people including the owner of Shwe Nadi express boat service following the AA’s abduction of passengers on-board, according to a family member of the detained people.

David R. Stilwell, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, arrived in Sittwe, Arakan State on the afternoon of October 28 and met with representatives from four Arakan civil society organizations at an NGO office.

The Tatmadaw needs to immediately stop its offensive operations in, Kokang and Ta’ang regions to start negotiations with sincerity, the Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and Ta’ang National Liberation Army, identified themselves as Three Brotherhood Alliance, said in its statement issued on 29 October.

Since deaths and injuries from landmine explosion are increasing where the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) are fighting, the government and respective organizations need to work together to conduct awareness training on landmine risk education.

A workshop entitled “What the youth should do” was held in Sittwe on October 27, aiming to encourage young people in Arakan State to participate in business, education and political affairs.

Two people, who were hit and injured by stray bullets from Yay Bote village in Rathedaung township, were sent to hospital on October 28 with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in cooperation with Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), U Hla Kyaw, head of Township Red Cross Unit said.

“We released civilians who are not associated with the military. They are nine construction workers and three car drivers. We released them last night,” Khaing Thukha said.

The Defence Services Department stated on the evening of October 27 that the head pilot, who flew the helicopter to rescue the detained Tatmadaw soldiers, was shot by the Arakan Army (AA) and injured people [Tatmadaw is still investigating which type of bullet the AA used].

As many as 13 people from Yaybote village in Rathedaung Township, were arrested by the Tatmadaw on 27 October, according to locals.