The junta announced over loudspeakers, on 2 September 2024, that it will start strictly enforcing a 9:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew in Ann Town, Rakhine State.
The curfew order has been in place for four years and is renewed every two months, But, until now it has not been stringently enforced.
As well as making announcements on speakers, Ann Town Ward Administrators have also been personally visiting households to tell them that no one should go outside after 9:00 pm and that they will not be responsible if people go out later than this and encounter problems.
A woman from Ann Town said: “The curfew order has been in place for a while, but such announcements were not made before. Now, with the loudspeaker system, it’s being enforced, and the administrators themselves are also coming to remind us. After 9:00 pm, no one is allowed to go out, and if anyone does and faces any problems, no responsibility will be taken. In particular, they are advising young people not to go out.”
She went on to explain how the curfew is now being more stringently enforced saying: “Previously, there was a curfew order, but it allowed people to go out between 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm There was no checking on the road, but now, if you are out past 9:00 pm, you will be arrested. I have also heard that there have been more arrests recently. The situation has become much stricter.”
Residents are anxious and worried that the junta is more strictly enforcing the curfew because it is preparing for an Arakan Army (AA) assault on the town.
The junta has been setting up camps in Ann Township villages and has increased its military presence in the township. Junta soldiers have also been planting landmines in areas of Ann Township that they believe the AA will attack.
Also, the junta-appointed Ann Township Administrator has directed the relevant departments to only provide electricity during the evening and to not provide electricity during day, starting from September 2024, according to a local who spoke to Narinjara and is familiar with the relevant administration departments.
He said: “Although there has been no official statement yet about providing electricity only in the evening, the Ann Township Administrator has already informed the relevant departments.”
