Arrest warrants requested for Arakan Army leaders
The Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) announced on Wednesday that it has already petitioned the Federal Court in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to issue arrest warrants for Arakan Army (AA) leaders, including Twan Mrat Naing and Nyo Twan Awng. This is in relation to the Rohingya genocide case under universal jurisdiction opened in 2021.
It accused the AA of mass killing, as well as abusing and starving Rohingya civilians in Arakan State over the last year. “There is no question that these atrocities amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya,” said Tun Khin, the BROUK president. The AA has gained control of 14 out of 17 Arakan townships since it launched its statewide offensive in November 2023.
Khaing Thukha, the AA spokesperson, dismissed accusations by the Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) that the AA killed at least 600 Rohingya in Htan Shauk Kan village of Buthidaung Township in northern Arakan on May 2, 2024. Arrest warrants were issued by Argentina for 25 military and state officials, including jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and Min Aung Hlaing on Feb. 13.
Over 200 civilians killed by airstrikes in Myanmar last month
At least 235 civilians have been killed in 204 airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on areas under the control of resistance forces across the country in August, according to DVB data. Mandalay Region recorded the highest number with 73 deaths in 41 airstrikes. This is followed by Sagaing Region with 43 deaths in 34 airstrikes.
Nay Phone Latt, the National Unity Government (NUG) spokesperson, told DVB that the NUG has tried to minimize the number of civilians killed by airstrikes through education and awareness. DVB has documented that 41 civilians were killed by six airstrikes in Mogok last month. Mogok, located 124 miles (200 km) northeast of Mandalay, was seized by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in July 2024.
The People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Magway Region’s Yesagyo Township told DVB that five civilians were killed and 10 were injured by airstrikes in Ngatayaw village on Aug. 30. Yesagyo is located 133 miles (214 km) north of the region’s capital Magway. Both Mogok and Yesagyo were among 63 townships placed under martial law by the regime on July 31.
Regime forms ‘Central Committee on Security Supervision’
Sources close to the regime told DVB that a 14-member “Central Committee of Security Supervision” was formed under its new General Elections Protection Law on Aug. 13 to oversee polls and manage lower level committees in the country’s states, regions, as well as in its self-administered divisions and zones located in Shan State and Sagaing Region.
“The committee is another layer of legal repression ahead of the scam elections, on top of an elaborate and draconian legal system used to punish the public for any perceived activity critical of the process,” David Mathieson, an independent analyst on human rights and conflict in Myanmar, told DVB.
Regime media reported that the first meeting of the central committee was held at the Myanmar Police Force Headquarters in Naypyidaw. It is mandated to provide security during the elections scheduled to begin on Dec. 28. A source close to the regime told DVB on the condition of anonymity that a 10-member “Committee of Security Supervision” was also formed in Yangon Region on Aug. 26. Read more
News by Region
NAYPYIDAW—The regime Ministry of Commerce on Monday set the reference rate of palm oil at 6,410 MMK ($1.4 USD) for one viss (1.8 liters), marking an increase of 110 MMK ($0.02 USD) from last week, according to its website. Consumers told DVB that they paid over 10,000 MMK ($2 USD) per viss of palm oil in the market.
The ministry’s figures showed that Burma consumes 1.2 million tons of cooking oil annually, of which 0.9 million tons are imported from Malaysia and Indonesia. Pro-military media reported that the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) sold over $1.9 million USD to edible oil importing companies and $727,500 USD to fuel importers on Aug. 28.
KAREN—Residents of Hpa-An Township told DVB that nearly 300 cargo trucks have been seized by police for transporting “Thai commodities” into Burma since late August. This follows the suspension of all imports at the No. 2 Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Myawaddy on Aug. 18.
Myawaddy is located 81 miles (130 km) east of the state capital Hpa-An. Sources in Myawaddy told DVB that over 600 cargo trucks loaded with goods from Thailand have been stuck since Aug. 18. A merchant told DVB on the condition of anonymity that border trade had “ground to a halt.”
ARAKAN—Residents of Kyaukphyu Township told DVB that a political party called the Rakhine Nationalities Party opened its office on Aug. 28. The Union Election Commission (UEC) approved its registration on Aug. 5. Kyaukphyu is located 317 miles (510 km) south of the state capital Sittwe.
The party leader Ba Shein told DVB that he has not submitted his candidate list due to “difficulties in phone and internet connectivity.” Ba Shein is a former elected member of the Lower House for the Arakan National Party (ANP) in Kyaukphyu. The ANP was not allowed to re-register by the UEC.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,350 MMK)
