Dhaka Tribune
August 23rd, 2020 
File Photo: Myanmar police officer stands guard in Maungdaw, Rakhine July 9, 2019. Photo taken on July 9, 2019 Reuters
Coronavirus has recently surged in Sittwe with new cases
There is no sign of peace and stability returning to Arakan any time soon, according to a report.
The Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU) Report to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the situation on the ground in Arakan state, Myanmar, was submitted by ARU Director General Dr Wakar Uddin on Saturday.
The report said while the armed conflict between the Burmese military and Arakan Army continues to escalate, the government of Myanmar added another ingredient to the volatility in Arakan – the election controversy.
Anger and frustrations are mounting in the Rohingya community that have voted and served in the national and state assemblies (including the Military’s assembly) for many decades, as the government has banned them from participating in the upcoming national election.
While all the turmoil spiral, the Rohingya community has to brace another issue – the rising coronavirus cases in Arakan. The disease has recently surged in Sittwe with new cases, and prevention plans for the Rohingya community is almost non-existent due to the lack of safety education and material supplies.
Disenfranchisement of Rohingya from electoral process
On August 10, the Election Commission of the government of Myanmar rejected the application of five Rohingya candidates who submitted the application for contesting in the upcoming National Election, sources on the ground report. They are the candidates from political parties which have already registered with the Election Commission.
The commission reportedly described “the candidates of Islamic faith from Buthidaung Township,” obviously rejecting the term Rohingya.
The government claims that they are not citizens, apparently citing the Military’s 1982 citizenship law, commonly known as the black law, that abruptly voided the citizenship of Rohingya.
Unrelenting armed clashes, instability in Arakan taking toll on civilian population
On August 9, as a group of Burmese military converged near Apaukwa village in Kyauktaw Township, a bomb exploded, which was followed by an outbreak of heavy gunfights, according to sources from the ground.
It was unclear who was responsible for the initial explosion; however, the gunfights were reportedly between the Burmese military and Arakan Army. As a result of the armed clash, approximately 50 village residents, including women, were taken to the police station for interrogation.
On August 8, the Burmese military reportedly shelled Zaydi Brang village of Buthidaung Township from a military vessel cruising along the Mayu River and the shelling also hit the Auk Chaung Daung village, according to sources.
Also Read- Govt officials: No existence of ARSA in Rohingya camps
Four village residents reportedly received bullet wounds, but the injuries were not serious. Dozens of village residents from the Zaydi Brang area have fled to Rathedaung town and nearby villages.
On August 6, village residents of Taragu village of Buthidaung North heard sounds of large artillery and small gunfire believed to be coming from a location where an armed clash between Burmese military and Arakan Army was taking place, according to reports from the ground.
The clash continued on and off during the day, and approximately 80 village residents of the Kami ethnic group fled the village and took shelter in Tharapi village. Currently, over 500 village residents from nearby villages are taking shelter in Tharapi village.
Government of Myanmar excludes Arakan Army from Peace Conference with ethnic armed groups
On August 5, a Myanmar government official said the government will not invite Arakan Army (AA) to the fourth session of the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong.
Seven ethnic armed groups which have not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) were invited to the peace conference.
The Myanmar government will invite two leaders each from the seven NCA non-signatory groups, but not from the AA, government Spokesman U Zaw Htay reportedly told journalists in Naypyitaw.
The Burmese military chief again takes aim at the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi
On August 7, the Burmese military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said the government should call a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC), saying that it is too risky for “only one person” to make decisions for the country, the Irrawaddy reports.
The army chief was obviously referring to the State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who usually has the final say in the process of government’s decision making.
In contrast to Myanmar’s previous military-dominated government, the current National League for Democracy (NLD) administration reportedly has not convened any meeting of the military-dominated NDSC, except for one 2019, which was not described as an NDSC meeting.
The military chief also said how the National Reconciliation and Peace Center, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has failed to achieve peace despite the military announcing a nine-month ceasefire from 2018 to 2019, according to the Irrawaddy.
Sharp rise of Covid-19 cases in Sittwe, Arakan state
The Burmese Ministry of Health and Sports has announced that 399 people have been infected with Covid-19 in Sittwe, Arakan state, the VOA Burmese reports.
A number of sectors in the city have been placed under new lockdown. The market hours have been reduced to half-day and mandatory mask rules are in effect.
The report ends with several recommendations for the OIC and the international community on what they must demand from the government of Myanmar.
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