Journalists are not restricted to access information in Arakan State’s conflicted areas but journalists are limited when attempting to travel to “hotspots” because of safety risks, said Major General Aung Thu, deputy minister for Home Affairs.

Muslims who fled from Myanmar and are living in the IDP camps in Bangladesh are going to wage a demonstration on 25 August for the two year anniversary of being displaced from their homes.

Displaced people from Myanmar who fled to Bangladesh are going to be accepted at the reception center in Taung Pyo Let Wae town in Maungdaw Township on 22 August, said U Soe Aung, administrator of Maungdaw district.

Author Maung Maung Soe, an observer of ethnic affairs, told media that military columns entered and checked villages with the suspicion that members of the AA are pretending to be villagers, and these checks prompted an increase in the number of IDPs in Arakan State.

Myanmar traders have been given lower prices when they cannot go to Bangladesh to seek new markets due to the entry ban while traders from Bangladesh cannot come and see goods in Myanmar, said Ko To Phate, a trader from Maungdaw town.

The incident occurred at about 10 p.m. Sergeant Hla Tun from No. 537 Regiment in Rathedaung Township was killed and his wife was hit by a piece of shrapnel and sent to hospital.

The head of Kyauktaw Township police was stabbed on the evening of 19 August, he received severe injuries and was treated at Sittwe General Hospital.

A police convoy struck explosive devices on the morning of 20 August in Ponnagyun Township, killing a police captain and injuring others, according to local sources.

“It was said that the IDP camps will be built before rainy season. The rainy season will end soon. So, their reply to the proposal was an empty one. We must say the project cannot be carried out in the allotted time,” the regional lawmaker said.

Arakanese people were required to apply for a permit from authorities to celebrate the event, so their enthusiasm for the occasion waned.

“IDP students cannot study regularly like other students. They have shorter class time so they cannot complete the curriculum on time. This could cause them trouble in the future”

The recent attack by the three members of the Northern Alliance on police stations and the Defence Services Technological Academy in Pyin Oo Lwin is considered a terrorist act and has much affected peace process, said U Zaw Htay, spokesperson of the President Office.

Local militia units have recently been found at the front lines of conflict areas between the Myanmar Army and the three ethnic armed groups, the three members of Northern Alliance said in its warning letter released.

The indictment of four top leaders of the Arakan Army including the commander-in-chief Major General Twan Mrat Naing is not a pressing issue for the government, spokesperson of the President Office U Zaw Htay told media.

Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed to start the repatriation process of over 3000 displaced Muslims as of 22 August, U Zaw Htay, spokesperson of the Office of the President, said at the press conference held on 16 August at the Presidential Palace.

“Previously, we transferred detained people through the ICRC. Our members are instructed not to torture POWs and to protect people’ safety and prosperity as much as they could. We always instruct them to follow international standards and ethnics on human rights,”

In order to provide aid for persons with disabilities in IDP camps in northern Arakan State, lists of disabled people are being collected as of this month, according to the Arakan State Association for Persons with Disabilities.

The Tatmadaw announced on 28 July that eight of them were picked out to join the AA through Pauk Taw Palaung village in Kyuaktaw Township. The AA’s spokesperson Khaing Thukha said that it was just a false accusation of the Tatmadaw.

Arakan State chief minister U Nyi Pu on 14 August submitted to the parliament the proposal to appoint a new minister and nominated colonel Min Than for the post of minister of security and border affairs.