The administrative machinery of the military council in Arakan State is now on the verge of collapse. Even in the junta-controlled capital Sittwe, the government offices are no longer functioning, according to local residents.
A government employee from Sittwe said, “The administrative machinery is no longer functioning. Most employees have left their departmental jobs due to the intensification of the armed conflict. Some have taken leave, while others are absent without leave and do not show up for work. There are very few staff left in the government offices in Sittwe.”
Although there have been no armed clashes in the capital Sittwe, no office worker has come to work in the government offices since mid-February, confirmed another Sittwe government employee who did not want to be named.
“The office doors are open. It’s just that no employees are coming in to work. Even the departmental officers themselves are being absent without leave. Now the government employees are not allowed to leave the city anymore. The military council is taking strict measures against the staff,” said the government employee.
In the town of Buthidaung, the salaries of government employees were not paid due to the closure of government banks. As most of the employees fled the fighting, government operations came to a standstill, according to a resident of Buthidaung.
“The banks have been closed for a long time. There is no longer a township general administrator either. Government operations have ceased. The staff are not getting paid. Until the end of February, offices were still operating with their staff. But since March there has been no one left in the town,” explained the government employee.
In Maungdaw too, only a few key staff are reporting for duty while the rest are absent, meaning the junta’s administrative machinery is no longer functioning, said a Maungdaw resident.
“They go to work at most one day a week. Most government offices are closed. Those who are still working are doing so amidst danger,” the Maungdaw resident said.
According to local reports, there are no functioning junta offices in areas captured by the Arakan Army (AA) such as Paletwa, Pauktaw, Minbya, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Mrauk-U, Myebon, and Ramree. While in towns still seeing clashes such as Sittwe, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Kyaukphyu and Taungoke, only a handful of government offices remain operational.
The military junta has lost control of numerous townships in Arakan State, with reports that the Arakan Army is set to capture major towns such as Sittwe and Kyaukphyu soon. The government offices in these major towns are already largely deserted, locals report.
Sent by Narinjara.