It has been eight months since intense clashes resumed in Arakan (Rakhine) State. The coup junta has enforced a severe blockade on both land and water routes and has disrupted phone lines and internet networks under the guise of wartime measures. As a result, the local population bears the brunt of these blockades, enduring significant hardships and struggles.
Furthermore, Arakanese youths unanimously lament that the ongoing clashes are robbing young people of their future dreams.
“Just before I was set to start school in China on a scholarship, the war reignited, roads closed, and I lost my chance for that scholarship”, a 19-year-old girl from Pauktaw Township said.
Last November, she had to delay her eagerly awaited overseas education due to renewed conflict in Arakan State.
The COVID-19 pandemic and local military conflicts have deprived Arakanese youth of educational opportunities and significantly affected their morale.
Currently, fierce fighting continues in Arakan State, with the Arakha Army (AA) having gained control over Pauktaw, Minbya, Myebon, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, and Ramree townships in Arakan State, along with Paletwa Township in Chin State.
In the townships of Sittwe, Maungdaw, Kyaukphyu, Thandwe, Taungup, Gwa, Ann, and Manaung, which remain under their control, junta troops are targeting residents, especially young people, with arrests, charges, killings, and other forms of oppression, prompting many young people to flee.
“In fact, junta troops are arbitrarily arresting nearly everyone, but the threat is particularly high for young people. Initially targeting only men, soldiers now detain women as well”, a Sittwe resident reported.
Since clashes resumed in Arakan State on November 13, in the six months leading up to May 13, junta troops have arrested 346 men and 79 women, totaling 425 civilians, according to AA. As the conflict nears its eighth month now, the number of arrests exceeds what AA initially reported.
Regime troops arrested over 300 locals in Byainphyu Village, Sattyoekya Ward, Sittwe on May 29. They also detained more than 150 men, women, and underage minors in Mingan Ward, Sittwe on June 16, about 40 displaced individuals seeking refuge in Theintan and Narrikan villages, Sittwe Township on June 20, and 46 villagers from Amyintkyun Village on June 22.
Among those arrested are numerous young men and women. Some have been released, while others remain detained, with families unable to contact them.
Young people, who play crucial roles in various community welfare efforts, are fleeing due to targeted arrests, intensifying concern among the Arakanese population.
“The organization I worked for used to conduct field trips to remote villages for educational activities. However, when the fighting resumed, all our operations came to a stop. Now, I find myself unemployed”, a youth from Kyauktaw Township said.
The junta has been arresting not only youths from Arakan State townships still under its control but also tracking and detaining Arakanese youths who fled to mainland areas.
On May 31, Ko Khin Win Maung, also known as Ko Gambarri, a former youth leader of the Arakan National Party (ANP), along with three students, was arrested by the junta in Hlaing Township, Yangon Region. Subsequently, Ko Gambarri was charged with terrorism under Article 50(J).
Arakan State has consistently been one of Myanmar's poorest and least developed regions under successive regimes. Opportunities for Arakanese youths in education, social, and economic aspects have been exceedingly scarce as well.
As a result, many young people sought opportunities abroad or took jobs far from home, while widespread unemployment prevailed. Meanwhile, some chose the path of armed resistance.
Young people lamented the hardships they faced as they left their jobs in areas still controlled by the junta and fled for safety.
“Without a job, it's really tough to cope with the skyrocketing prices these days. Sometimes I get mad and feel like wanting to do things that aren't right”, a woman who fled Kyaukphyu told DMG.
For some Arakanese youths, upon returning from abroad, they find themselves unable to return home due to the junta's travel restrictions. Instead, they are stranded on the mainland, struggling with the hardships of unemployment.
The Arakanese youths are urging the junta to reopen blocked routes and restore intentionally severed telephone and internet networks, taking into account the local population, despite the ongoing fighting in Arakan State.
“The youths aren't responsible for the fighting and can't stop it. That's why the closed roads should be reopened”, a Gwa resident said.
Arakanese youths emphasized that prolonged road blockades will make life harder for local people and hinder progress in all aspects.
In war-torn Arakan State, employment opportunities for young people are nearly non-existent. Therefore, local youth are compelled to seek opportunities on the mainland and abroad.
