Arakan Army denies base seized by Rohingya militants
The pro-Arakan Army (AA) news agency, Arakan Princess Media, reported on Wednesday that Khaing Thukha, the AA spokesperson, denied claims by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) that it had seized an AA base in Maungdaw Township of northern Arakan State on Sept. 22. The AA seized Maungdaw on Dec. 8, which brought the entire 167 mile (270 km) long Burma-Bangladesh border under its control.
“[Rohingya armed groups] recently opened fire on our 56th border security post in northern Maungdaw,” Khaing Thukha told Arakan Princess Media, adding that the attackers fled across the border into Bangladesh. An ARSA video shared to social media on Sept. 22 claimed that its members had captured an AA base in Maungdaw, but did not disclose the exact details of the name or the location.
On Sept. 19, the AA accused ARSA and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) of killing and abducting non-Muslim residents of Maungdaw. It advised civilians to inform the AA administration when they have to travel. Twan Mrat Naing, the AA leader, met with the Muslim community in Maungdaw to discuss how to better integrate them into its expanding administration during a community meeting on Aug. 30.
Regime files charges against ethnic armed groups
Pro-military media reported on Wednesday that the regime Ministry of Home Affairs had filed charges under the new Election Protection Law against multiple individuals for “disrupting” the regime elections scheduled to begin on Dec. 28. This included leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU), the AA, and members of the Chinland Council, which was formed on Feb. 1, 2024 to resist the 2021 military coup.
Chinland Council members, including its Prime Minister Pa Thang, was accused of “detrimental” speech regarding the election in Thantlang Township on Aug. 31. KNU leaders, including Chairperson Padoh Kwe Htoo Win, are charged for calling on citizens to boycott the election on Aug. 26. The AA stated on Aug. 11 that it will not allow regime elections to take place in territory under its control. Both the KNU and the AA have been designated as “terrorist” groups by the regime.
The Election Protection Law, enacted on July 29, carries a minimum sentence of three years in prison to a maximum sentence of death, if convicted of “disrupting the elections.” Twelve people have been charged under this law, with one already convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison. The first phase of the regime elections is scheduled to take place in 102 out of Burma’s 330 townships on Dec. 28.
Nearly 5,000 members of 57 political parties to compete in elections
The Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on Tuesday that a total of 4,963 parliamentary candidates from 57 registered political parties will compete in the regime elections scheduled to begin on Dec. 28. It added that the candidates submitted their paperwork Sept. 8-22. The National League for Democracy (NLD), which was ousted in the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, was dissolved by the UEC on March 28, 2023.
“[An] election is an important process for the state and the people in order to create a stable and peaceful country. This important national agenda will make sure that the judicial, legislative, and governance sectors are carried out through parliamentary events that result from elections,” the UEC stated on Sept. 23.
A total of 61 political parties registered with the UEC but four more were dissolved on Sept. 9 for failing to meet its election criteria. Only six parties will compete nationwide. The pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) submitted the highest number of candidates at 1,018, according to the UEC. The USDP governed Burma from 2011-16 until it was defeated in landslides by the NLD in the 2015 and 2020 elections.
News by Region
ARAKAN—The Border News Agency (BNA) has called for the release of its reporter, Mu Dra, who was detained by the AA at her home in Maungdaw Township on Sept. 20. Her family said that she’s being held for questioning by the AA after a report was published in BNA on Sept. 9 about ethnic Mro children in Thihoaye village.
“Those who came to her house and took her away must also make sure she is safely returned. If they were a law-abiding organization, they would. So far, they haven’t even confirmed her arrest,” Kaung Mrat Naing, the BNA editor-in-chief, told Development Media Group. Mu Dra’s family were allowed to visit her in AA custody on Sept. 22.
MANDALAY—Residents of Madaya Township told DVB that one woman was killed and three others were injured by six rounds of artillery fired by regime forces in Yonepin village on Tuesday. Madaya is located 23 miles (37 km) north of Mandalay.
“One of the shells dropped onto a family’s home, killing the wife and injuring the husband, daughter, and a neighbor,” a resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Resistance members told DVB that regime forces have launched several air-and-artillery attacks in eastern Madaya this month.
SAGAING—Kalay Township residents report that all telecommunications networks have been unavailable since Sept. 13. The regime launched a counteroffensive against resistance forces in Kalay, and neighboring Falam Township in northern Chinland, in May. Kalay is 111 miles (180 km) west of the region’s capital Monywa.
Falam, located 49 miles (78 km) west of Sagaing’s Kalay, was seized by Chin resistance forces on April 9. “It feels like people have been blindfolded, disrupting work, banking, and daily life,” a Kalay resident told Khonumthung News. Another resident said that those who can afford it now use satellite internet, known as Starlink.
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