The presiding judge has postponed the verdict for the 23 men approximately 10 times, with the latest postponement coming at a hearing on November 10. The case was adjourned until November 17.

Banks are only operating for limited hours in the region because of security concerns, resulting in reduction in the availability of cash, the UN aid agency continued.

“There is still no justice to this today,” said Daw Hlaing May Nu, whose husband U Maung Maung Thein was killed by junta soldiers. “I have lost both my husband and house, and I feel like there is nothing left to lose.”

Local anti-regime forces have barred residents displaced by fighting from entering downtown Kawlin as resistance fighters are conducting clearance operations in the area and announced a date to allow residents to reenter the town,

The accused has been identified as 39-year-old Ko Maung Thet Soe aka Ko Maung Chay. The plaintiff in the case against him has failed to appear at court hearings a total of 27 times, according to family members of the accused.

Min Aung Hlaing vowed to strike back at the ethnic alliance, and explained away defeats by saying his regime has to exercise restraint while fighting near the Chinese border to avoid souring bilateral relations.

“Operation 1027,” an offensive being carried out by the tripartite Brotherhood Alliance, is gaining momentum, and the theatre of operations in northeastern Myanmar continues to expand.

Political analysts say the Myanmar military is short of personnel to contain the offensive, especially if Operation 1027 spreads beyond Shan State.

With the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) engaged in military activities on the ground in Arakan State, internally displaced people (IDPs) are concerned that fighting between the two sides may resume.

Furniture from altars and TV stands to wardrobes and door jambs are usually made with teak or ironwood (Xylia xylocarpa), but these woods are selling for around 4 million kyats per tonne at present, and are also short in supply.

“Farmers are preparing to harvest rice earlier than usual due to the unpredictable political situation,” said U Tun Hla Maung, a local farmer from Panphechaung Village in Kyauktaw Township.

A social activist said the drug trade has thrived because of the vacuum of authority created by the parallel administrations of Myanmar’s military regime and the Arakan Army (AA).

The Myanmar military continues to test weapons in Arakan State, with junta battalions in Minbya Township conducting ongoing live-fire drills, according to residents. 

About 100 junta soldiers from the military’s Ann-based regiment raided the Tattaung police station and detained U Myo Min Tun and two police constables. Two other police officers managed to flee at an entrance to Ann town.

The regime will utilise the new flight of state-owned airline Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) to Kunming to maintain the border trade with China, according to a source close to MNA.

Muslim refugees typically cross the border en route to foreign countries despite various difficulties, and are arrested if caught and sentenced to prison terms by the respective township courts.

Myanmar Navy vessels are checking the number of passengers, ID cards and lists of commodities from cargo boats and ferryboats operating in Arakan State.

Myanmar’s military regime has so far brought prosecutions against five journalists from media agencies based in Arakan State since the coup.

Arakan Army (AA) personnel arrested junta police on patrol and seized their car at around 3 p.m. on Tuesday in Mrauk-U town, Arakan State, sources told DMG.