“It is true that the state of emergency has been lifted in Arakan State as it has become stabilized now, but it’s untrue that the night curfew, which was imposed in Maungdaw District, has been lifted. The night curfew (Section 144) is a regional order that is renewed every two months,” he told Narinjara.

After religious and racial conflicts erupted in Arakan State in June 2012, the Arakan State government came under the direction of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) which imposed the state of emergency. As the state has been stabilized since 2014 and 2015, the state of emergency was lifted by presidential order, U Hla Thein explained.

“Now things have become stabilized in the state and the new government will take office soon so we don’t want to handover the duty of Arakan State to the new government while the state is still under a state of emergency. That’s why the state of emergency has been lifted before the change in the state government,” U Hla Thein said.

Maungdaw resident, U Khin Maung Than. told Narinjara that he welcomes the continuation of the night curfew in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships in the west of the state.

“There aren’t any problems in Maungdaw town. The security is good. Security is weak in the countryside. There may be difficulties for ethnic Arakanese people when searching for frogs and picking vegetables if the night curfew remains.  The night curfew is still needed because the border areas are not that stabilized and security is still weak,” he said.

Night curfew has been imposed in Maungdaw Township and Buthidaung Township since June 2012 and the curfew hours have been gradually reduced. Curfew hours currently are from 11 pm to 4 am.

Translated by Thida Linn with editing by BNI staff.