• Burmese
Sunday, June 15, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
26 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Household Search Operations to Be Carried Out in N Rakhine

Moe Myint by Moe Myint
February 1, 2019
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
Security forces on patrol in Maungdaw, northern Rakhine State in September 2017. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

Security forces on patrol in Maungdaw, northern Rakhine State in September 2017. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

YANGON – The Rakhine State government has granted permission to state police and military to carry out a household check operation in seven townships of northern Rakhine State, in an attempt to find members of the Arakan Army (AA) who may be hiding in the villages.

The Irrawaddy has seen an instruction letter written by the Rakhine state government, dated Jan. 25 and signed by the state’s finance and planning minister U Kyaw Aye Thein on behalf of the Rakhine State chief minister, and addressed to the state’s General Administration Department (GAD), the Rakhine State Police Force, the Population and Immigration Department as well as the Fire Services Department.

It stated that the Rakhine State government received reports earlier this month stating that AA members are mingling in villages in the seven listed townships, in northern Rakhine. The Union government has opened a case against the AA under the Counter Terrorism Act for attacking four border outposts in northern Rakhine in which 13 policemen were killed and dozens of firearms and a large quantity of ammunition were seized on Jan. 4.

RelatedPosts

Tree-Planting Hides Logging Frenzy; Moving Mountains for Steel Production; and More

Tree-Planting Hides Logging Frenzy; Moving Mountains for Steel Production; and More

June 14, 2025
235
Civilians in Need as Arakan Army Advances on Kyaukphyu

Civilians in Need as Arakan Army Advances on Kyaukphyu

June 11, 2025
3.2k
Rakhine Reset: India, Bangladesh Turn to AA as Myanmar Junta Ousted    

Rakhine Reset: India, Bangladesh Turn to AA as Myanmar Junta Ousted    

June 4, 2025
21.7k

Following this, several government departments asked for permission to carry out joint “household and population status examination” operations, in which they intend to carry out checks on all household registration documents and to photograph all family members on the list, as well as searching suspicious homes in the townships of Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw and the ancient city of Mrauk-U in Myebon Township which is one of Rakhine’s most popular tourist attractions.

After holding a state cabinet meeting on Jan. 23, the National League for Democracy (NLD)-appointed ministers decided to allow the operation to be carried out in these seven townships “in line with the procedure.”

The letter mentioned the four departments to be responsible for implementing the operation and ordered them to report back to the state government when completed. The Rakhine State parliament deputy house speaker U Mya Than confirmed the authenticity of the letter, saying that the signature matched that of Minister U Kyaw Aye Thein.

“We have to wait and see their actions in the seven townships. We have already informed our lawmakers to monitor whether their actions go beyond the [stipulated] procedure or not.”

In conversation over the phone with The Irrawaddy on Thursday, Minister U Kyaw Aye Thein said they had previously allowed such inspections in that area, but when questioned on the most recent inspection operation approved on Jan. 25, he said he could not remember signing it.

“I cannot remember well because I’ve had to sign many letters,” he said.

Rakhine State police chief Col. Kyi Linn said he was not aware of the letter.

When The Irrawaddy contacted township administrative officials from Kyauktaw, Rathedaung and Maungdaw, they all said they hadn’t received the letter as of Thursday. They speculated that this is because it is addressed to the security forces and higher departments rather than township level administration and they believe its authenticity.

The Irrawaddy asked them whether the state government gave the same order to the military following the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA)’s attacks on government border outposts in 2017. In that case, the operation resulted in a crackdown on the Rohingya community which drove more than 700,000 people to flee across the Bangladesh border. The UN has been calling for army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing to be prosecuted at the International Criminal Court for his role in committing the crimes against the Rohingya community.

In response to the question, the officials said they never heard of a headcount instruction letter during the 2017 Rohingya crisis.

Despite the letter specifying townships in northern Rakhine, it has been reported on the ground that teams of fully-equipped soldiers, police and immigration officials are carrying out checks in at least three village tracts in southern Rakhine’s Kyaukphyu Township this week where several Chinese mega projects are located.

The day after the AA’s Jan. 4 attacks, Myanmar’s de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi organized a rare high-level meeting in Naypyidaw and the President’s Office later gave the green light for the army to retaliate against the AA rebels.

In a Jan. 18 press conference held by the army in Naypyidaw, Maj-Gen Tun Tun Nyi revealed that “She, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, instructed us to effectively crush the AA. If we don’t, there will be finger-pointing over why [the army] has not crushed [members of a recognized] ethnic group, but has crushed ARSA (who practice a different religion).”

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Arakan ArmyRakhineTatmadaw
Moe Myint

Moe Myint

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Arakan Army Captures Myanmar Junta Brigade General in Chin State Rout: Report
Burma

Arakan Army Captures Myanmar Junta Brigade General in Chin State Rout: Report

by The Irrawaddy
January 15, 2024
36.5k

Rakhine-based armed group has reportedly detained the chief of 19th Military Operations Command after seizing his base in Paletwa Township.

Read moreDetails
Three Rebel Army Chiefs Predict Rapid Fall of Myanmar Junta
Burma

Three Rebel Army Chiefs Predict Rapid Fall of Myanmar Junta

by The Irrawaddy
August 18, 2023
26.9k

Powerful armed groups in Karen, Kachin and Kayah states say the regime is ready to topple.

Read moreDetails
Interview

Myanmar’s Junta And Its Military Face Annihilation, Arakan Army Says

by Hein Htoo Zan
November 25, 2023
22.5k

The current war in Myanmar differs from past conflicts in the country because ethnic armies are no longer on the...

Read moreDetails
Battle of Paletwa Loss Turns Tide Against Myanmar Junta on Western Front
Analysis

Battle of Paletwa Loss Turns Tide Against Myanmar Junta on Western Front

by Moe Sett Nyein Chan
January 23, 2024
22k

The military’s demoralized Western Command is feeling the heat as the Arakan Army closes in on towns in northern Rakhine,...

Read moreDetails
Rakhine Reset: India, Bangladesh Turn to AA as Myanmar Junta Ousted    
Analysis

Rakhine Reset: India, Bangladesh Turn to AA as Myanmar Junta Ousted    

by Banyar Aung
June 4, 2025
21.7k

Growing engagement with the Arakan Army reflects realities on the ground, where Myanmar’s regime has lost control of its western...

Read moreDetails
Another Myanmar Battalion Routed in Rakhine as AA Eyes State Capital
War Against the Junta

Another Myanmar Battalion Routed in Rakhine as AA Eyes State Capital

by The Irrawaddy
February 1, 2024
16.1k

The Arakan Army says it seized one of three junta bases in historic Mrauk-U on Tuesday as fighting intensified across...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Military lawmakers leave Parliament in Naypyitaw. / Reuters

Military a Possible No Show For Parliament Debate on Amending Constitution

Aung Win Zaw (center) and Zeya Phyo (behind him to the left) attend a hearing at the Yangon Northern District Court on Friday. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy

Verdict in U Ko Ni Murder Case Due Feb. 15

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

2 days ago
1.2k
How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

4 days ago
1.1k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Tourism Sector Mocks Junta’s Russia Tourist Drive

    Myanmar Tourism Sector Mocks Junta’s Russia Tourist Drive

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Sagaing Protesters Condemn Civilian Govt Toll Charges

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Sagaing Region Braced for Myanmar Junta Airstrikes After Jet Crash

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Is TNLA, Under Chinese Pressure, Conceding Northern Shan Gateway to the Regime?

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.