4. Addressing Important Social Issues

Crimes, thefts, robberies, and murders-related news receive a super high popularity index with thousands of shares on Facebook. Women are seen as vulnerable targets to commit crimes. In Myebon, a woman was found raped and murdered outside the village, and in Rathedaung, an 85-year-old grandma was robbed of her gold earrings and killed. Moreover, two men were slaughtered assumingly by thieves, and two were severely injured, which led the residents to feel insecure.

As the lawlessness of the regime increases, ordinary crime has proliferated, and locals are seriously concerned. Due to the decrease in administrative capacity and the rule of law under the competing authorities of the junta and ULA, the level of the crimes seem to increase as the challenges of joblessness, inflation and poverty are getting worse. As the political and economic situations become unstable, criminals are taking advantage of the situation.

Followed by that news are those of local residents demanding for repairing of old transportation infrastructures, which have been promised or are urgent. The junta claims a shortage of budget to start repairing the damaged Strand road in Chaungwa ward in Rathedaung Township. Moreover, thousands of residents from about 15 villages in Minbya Township’s Kudoseik Village tract are facing difficulties because a bridge over a creek used frequently by locals is damaged. On the other side, a new bridge crossing Gwa Creek and connecting Gwa Township with the Magyingu area in Ayeyarwady Region is intended to open to traffic soon, hoping for economic and employment opportunities.

Starting the health care situation in December, the Kyarinntaung cottage hospital in Myebon, despite two years passed since its opening, has not hosted doctors to provide services to the local residents. Residents from Thae Khon village on Maye-Ngu Island in Pauktaw Township said that about 30 villagers are suffering from diarrhea after drinking seawater which they have been drinking since a storm hit the village in October. Moreover, low quality of municipal performances, such as the lack of regular garbage collection, and the fetid smell emanating from the garbage heaps, have increased health problems for residents of Rakhine State.

Many schools were closed due to arm conflicts between the junta forces and the Arakan Army over the past few months. Weeks after the November 26 ceasefire, some schools haven’t yet reopened in Minbya, Kyauktaw and Rathedaung townships. The junta administration is assumed as planning to diminish the expenses in the education sector while collecting money from the students. The Arakan State Education Department will run matriculation exam centres primarily in towns because few matriculation students (with the old education system) are taking the exam. Due to this announcement, the junta may decrease the government’s expenditure on holding the exam; in contrast, students from rural areas find it financially difficult to commute to town to sit for the exam. On the other hand, the school fee for distance learners at the University of Sittwe for the 2023 academic year has more than doubled, according to the University staff. Distance learners who come from other parts of Rakhine State are already having difficulties due to high costs for accommodation and meals in Capital Sittwe, and of that change, some choose to give up their educational journey, instead of going abroad to work illegally.

The economic situation during the whole month did not show positive along with the challenging livelihoods of the people. The local businesses such as Arakan State oysters, betel nuts, dried fish and saltwater shrimp hatchery are in hardship as the local people eat less and demand declines. On the other hand, local products are not able to win the competitive market with imports from abroad. With increasing prices of labour and raw materials, some suppliers or harvesters choose to step away.

“As the political situation is not good, I don’t want to continue my studies. I don’t want to ask for money from my parents as the hostel rent is high and other prices are also increasing. So, I have decided to go abroad.” said a distance learner from Maungdaw to DMG on December 29.