Myanmar military’s State Administration Council (SAC) has finally granted autonomy towards long fighting rebel group of Arakan known as Arakan Army in order to fight against civilian democratic movement. Full story can be found here:-<\/p>\n
The move comes as the rebel group strengthens its influence across the state<\/p>\n
Ward administrators in Rakhine State\u2019s Kyaukphyu Township have been warned that they must\u00a0 inform the Myanmar military about the activities of the Arakan Army (AA), which\u00a0has recently strengthened its influence<\/a>\u00a0in the region.<\/p>\n The armed group and its political wing, the United League of Arakan (ULA),\u00a0established<\/a>\u00a0its own judiciary earlier this month and has taken on other administrative roles in the state, such as imposing stay-at-home orders amid rising Covid-19 cases.<\/p>\n The junta reacted to the move by strengthening its forces in the northern part of the state in the second week of August,\u00a0raising fears<\/a>\u00a0among civilians of a return to open hostilities.<\/p>\n A commander from the Kyaukphyu-based 34th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) summoned administrators on Monday, one of the officials who attended the meeting told Myanmar Now on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n \u201cHe asked us if we are aware of the ULA\/AA conducting judicial matters in our neighbourhoods. I said we didn\u2019t know. Then he told us to report to the military if the AA is going to do such things at ward administration offices,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n Other administrators based in Kyaukphyu said they had been instructed by their township administration head not to talk to the media about the matter.<\/p>\n The Rakhine-based Narinjara news outlet reported on Monday that administrators from all 17 wards in downtown Kyaukphyu were called to the meeting with the commander.<\/p>\n