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.

“They explained their plans for repatriation. However, they didn’t listen to the voices of refugees,” said Ko Aung Myaing from the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh.

Members of some local civil society organisations (CSOs) based in Arakan State have gone into hiding following recent junta raids on CSOs and international aid agencies operating in the state.

A local woman from Barwa Village, part of Chin State’s Paletwa Township, who was severely injured in an artillery shelling last week, is currently receiving medical treatment at Sittwe General Hospital.

Junta police arrested a woman selling firecrackers in the Arakan State capital Sittwe’s central market on Saturday.
 

The state-level version of Myanmar’s military regime is touting a plan to spend K3.5 billion (US$1.67 million) on beautifying Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State.