Village administrators from 19 villages in Kutaung region in Rathedaung Township in Arakan State have submitted their resignation letters on December 16, citing that they face difficulties in performing their duties between the military council and the United League of Arakan / Arakan Army (ULA/AA), according to village administrators.
“It appears that the villagers don’t like us as we are appointed by the military council. We resigned of our own volition as we faced difficulties in performing duties at a time when there were clashes between the military council and the AA,” a village administrator said on condition of anonymity.
The village administrators who have submitted the resignation letters are from Kutaung, Shwelaungtin, Ugar, Zeekaing, Kyungyi, Nyaungpinlae, Minkanchaung, Sarpyingyi, Anaukpyin, Sarpyinchay, Kanpyin, Yaypikesone, Panzinmaw, Phyuchaung, Kyatroesat, Katchaung, Mingan and Thazi villages.
An administrator who has submitted his resignation letter said: “Administrators from Kutaung area resigned of their own volition. We have nothing to do with our duties.”
A local from Kutaung village in Rathedaung Township said: “Due to the resignation of ward and village administrators, villagers may have difficulties in the availability of the recommendation letters for travel, job application, the NRC. It makes youth more difficult. I cannot say exactly what kinds of difficulties the villagers may face.”
U Pe Than, a veteran political observer said: “Administrators try to have a better relationship with the military council and the AA. The military council creates the problem. Administrators worry as the military council opens the cases against them citing they help the ULA/AA. Locals suffer losses due to the resignation of village administrators. It hampers regional development tasks as village administrators have to cooperate with the military council for the availability of aid and medicine for pregnant mothers.”
Following the renewed fighting in Arakan State, the military council arrested at least village administrators and village in-charges from Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Kyaukphyu and Minbya Townships.
The military council continues to detain some village administrators under Section of the Unlawful Association Act.
In the third week of November before the ceasefire, more than 70 village administrators from Ponnagyun Township submitted their resignation letters as they were stuck in the clashes between two armed groups.
U Kyaw Nyunt, Minkhamaung village administrator from Maungdaw Township submitted his resignation letter on August 2 and U Maung Thein Nyunt, Tamanthar village administrator, on August 5 after the military council arrested two village administrators and one village in-charge from Maungdaw Township.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)