Narinjara News, 19 August 2022

Following afierce fighting between the junta forces and Arakan Army (AA) in northernRakhine State, the military council has prohibited the movement of villagers inthe southern part of Maungdaw Township and southwestern part of Rathedaung Township.

A villagerinformed Narinjara News that since Thursday, the junta authority has banned themovement of residents in several villages located at along the motor roadbetween Angu Maw in Rathedaung township and Maungdaw.

Among thevillages, four Muslims villages are also included which are PhatawPyin, Nyang Chaung, Pading and Du Nyaung Pin village citing securityreasons.

The villages areabout 4 miles away from the downtown area of Maungdaw. Now the residentsof those villages are banned from passing through any village and even goingto Maungdaw town, said a villager.

The militarycouncil has also set up many checkpoints at the entrances of thosevillages.

Locals statedthat a fighting took place near Waila Taung in northern Maungdaw between thegovernment forces and AA members.Another clash on 13 August was alsoreported from Rathedaung township which is also very close to the southern partof Maungdaw.

“The place offighting is far from our village, even though the authority has imposedrestrictions in our places. Now we can not go out,” said a villager.NarinjaraNews tried to get a response from the Rakhine State security & borderaffairs minister colonel Kyawthura and the Maungdaw township governor overtelephones, but failed.

It is yet to beannounced for how long the imposition will continue. If it elongates theresidents may face troubles in their living.

On 13 August,three battles took place near Kyauk Pandhu village under Maungdawtownship, another place near Myanmar-Bangladesh (under Maungdaw township) andone more at Mayu  range between Dom Baik and Chang Kha Lainvillages under Ratheaung township.

The armypersonnel immediately restricted the ferry service from Sittwe to Angu Mawport in Rathedaung township and even the road connecting Angu Maw withMaungdaw locality has also been closed since 14 August.

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