Arakan Army begins training residents of northern Rakhine State
Sources close to the Arakan Army (AA) told DVB that residents from 14 out of 17 Arakan townships under AA control must join military training to protect their communities from attacks by pro-regime forces, including Rohingya armed groups. The AA is providing a 45-day military training to one person per household. This includes women aged 18 to 35 and men aged 18 to 45. Some residents have fled their homes to avoid the training.
Khaing Thukha, the AA spokesperson, told media that the training is being provided to Maungdaw and Buthidaung township residents. “It is not forced recruitment,” a source told DVB on the condition of anonymity. “Young people must join the training to protect themselves from the [Rohingya armed groups]. They don’t need to fight in the battles but to protect their own people.”
All of northern Arakan came under AA control when Maungdaw was seized on Dec. 8. Residents there claimed that a total of 15 men and two women have been forcibly recruited by the AA. The regime controls the state capital Sittwe, the deep sea port of Kyaukphyu, and the island of Manaung. The AA expanded its Arakan offensive into Ayeyarwady, Bago and Magway regions in December.
Yangon returns to four hours of power per day
On Monday, Yangon residents returned to a schedule of four hours of electricity per day followed by eight hours of a power outage, according to the electricity supply boards of Tamwe, Botahtaung, Thingangyun, Yankin, Shwepaukkan, and East Dagon townships. It is unclear whether other townships will adopt a similar schedule.
“Now, the previously scheduled four-hour power outage has been extended by another four hours,” a resident of Dagon Seikkan Township told DVB on condition of anonymity. Many Yangon residents have received a four-hour on, four-hour off, electricity schedule since February. Residents claim that it was to allow their children to study for the 2025 matriculation exams, which were completed on March 22.
Under the new electricity schedule, neighbourhoods will be divided into three groups. Each group will receive power from 9 am to 1 pm, while the other two groups will remain without electricity. The regime Ministry of Electric Power announced that it had generated 48,112 megawatt-hours on Sunday, averaging 2,000 MW per hour—only half of the country’s total power demand.
Maung Zarni on human rights and social justice in Myanmar
Maung Zarni, a genocide scholar and co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition, joined the DVB Newsroom to discuss human rights and social justice in Burma and beyond. Zarni is the co-author of “Essays on Myanmar’s Genocide of Rohingyas (2011-18).” He discussed Burma’s relationship with Israel over the last seven decades.
“I think we need to remember Myanmar and Israel were very close because we became independent nation states in 1948,” said Zarni. “The Israeli military and technical companies and intelligence services have very close ties with the Myanmar military. They have trained the Myanmar military [to commit] atrocity crimes against different ethnic people.”
Watch DVB Newsroom podcast season 2 episode 11 featuring Maung Zarni on human rights and social justice in Myanmar and beyond on DVB English News YouTube or Spotify. Or if you prefer to listen to the audio version, find and follow us on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get podcasts.
News by Region
ARAKAN—Ten villages in Ponnagyun Township are struggling with access to drinking water, according to residents. The price of 1,000 liters of water is 35,000 MMK ($8 USD). “Those who can’t afford to pay for water have to use unclean water from ponds and creeks nearby,” a resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity.
Ponnagyun is located 21 miles (33 km) northeast of the Arakan State capital Sittwe. Another resident urged the United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the AA, to intervene and address this challenge. The AA seized Ponnagyun on March 4, 2024. Other AA-controlled townships: Rathedaung, Pauktaw and Kyauktaw, have reported water shortages.
The Narinjara News agency reported that the Arakha Times journal, which was distributed for free to residents, has ceased publication due to financial difficulties. The journal was distributed in Thandwe, Gwa, Ann, Myebon, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw and Rathedaung townships, where telecommunication services have been cut by the regime.
“We can’t afford to run the journal for free,” Aung Kaung Zaw, the Arakha Times editor told Narinjara News. The journal distributed a total of 30 copies per month to the eight townships, which are under AA control. It has distributed a total of seven editions since it was established in October.
MAGWAY—Residents of Salin Township told DVB that three civilians, including a Buddhist monk, were injured by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Shwesayan monastery in Gwaypin village on Monday. Salin is located 46 miles (74 km) north of the region’s capital Magway.
“Two fighter jets dropped bombs and fired rounds at the monastery,” a Salin resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Residents added that one civilian was killed and three were injured by airstrikes on March 20. At least 5,000 residents living in 10 villages have fled their homes due to a military offensive launched in Salin last month.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,400 MMK)
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