Written by Myat Hnin Wai
Border News Agency
Kyauktaw, July 31

The Arakan Army (AA), which has transformed itself into the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government and now operates its administrative machinery, has been carrying out administrative and judicial functions in Arakan State since 2018 and 2019.

The AA’s administration and judiciary were the earliest institutions to begin operating, and it now has nearly eight years of experience in administration and judicial affairs.

However, people say that administrative officers and police officers who interact directly with the public still abuse their power, oppress citizens, and show favoritism.

In addition, in the judicial sector, there continue to be wrongful judgments and biased decisions that cause harm to the people.

In the early stages, the Arakan Army carried out its administrative functions through township and village-level officials, and those same individuals also handled judicial matters.

Now, full staff have been appointed in the judiciary and administration, and the system is functioning in a more complete and organized manner.

However, recent incidents demonstrate that there are still inappropriate behaviors and unfair decisions being made.

For example, in a case in Myaybon Township involving an attempted sexual assault, the judge granted bail to the perpetrator for over a year without taking any punitive action.

In addition, the township administration team and the village administrator even provided a character reference letter attesting to the good conduct of the man who attempted the sexual assault.

This incident occurred in Lun Lone Pike Village, Myaybon Township, on May 29, 2024.

A 23-year-old internally displaced woman was the victim. She was attacked and beaten by a 24-year-old local man named Myo Thet Naing, who attempted to sexually assault her.

The young woman was using the toilet in the yard of her home when her neighbor, Myo Thet Naing, entered the toilet completely naked and attempted to sexually assault her.

In addition, he allegedly choked her by the neck, punched her in the chest with his fists, and tried to drown her in the nearby well, according to the victim and local villagers.

The villagers managed to surround and capture the man, who had attempted to commit sexual assault and murder, and handed him over to the AA-controlled police force (DLEPS). Although the victim’s family filed a case, he was released on bail in less than a week.

The families have filed a case at Minbya police station against the accused under several charges: causing bodily injury punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment under Section 354, trespassing punishable by up to 7 years, causing hurt punishable under Section 452, and attempting to commit murder under Section 307.

The accused in these cases was neither arrested nor detained by the police station. The court granted bail and released him, allowing him to move freely within the area.

On the very day he was released on bail, the perpetrator was celebrating in the village. The villagers said they acted like he had won a victory, as if he was proud to be freed despite planning to commit wrongdoing. “They behave as if they know important people, as if they belong to someone powerful, and believe no one can arrest them,” a villager told Border News Agency.

This clearly reveals that the administrative officials and police officers under the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government have been colluding with the public instead of treating them fairly and respectfully. It also exposes the wrongful decisions made by the heads of the judiciary, who should be completely impartial but have shown bias.

Not only did they attempt to commit immoral acts such as trespassing and assault, but the perpetrator was also released on bail despite these actions. It was only after more than a year, following public criticism online, that he was re-arrested.

On June 28, 2025, more than a year later, the police arrested the accused person again. The judge who had previously granted bail was also summoned for questioning by the intelligence agency.

However, no official public announcement or notification was made regarding these actions.

Currently, the case is still under investigation in the court. However, the family members say that no detailed information or official updates about the case have been released, and there has been no noticeable progress in the matter.

These events occurred while the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government had fully appointed officials in the legal and judicial systems and was operating its machinery. Because of this, the public finds it difficult to fully understand or trust the judicial process.

At a time when the government is supposed to be functioning properly, mistakes like this are unacceptable. According to a lawyer involved in the cases within the Arakan People’s government and courts, such errors are no longer due to lack of understanding or inexperience with the law.

In March, a woman in Oh Pon Taung village, Minbra Township, was raped and brutally murdered. Up to now, the suspect has not been arrested.

In addition, on May 10, 2023, in Zaydi Taung area, Buthidaung Township, a nurse from a hospital reported to the Arakan Army that she had been assaulted and verbally abused by a group consisting of a senior doctor, his wife, and their apprentices.

However, instead of conducting a thorough investigation and taking action, the perpetrators were released and even appeared to be protected, according to family members and local residents. They claimed that no action was taken because the doctor involved in the incident was known to be close to the Arakan Army.

Now, the public says that this case has also simply faded away without any resolution.

In addition, in the case of Ma Nwe Thandar Win, who was raped and murdered in downtown Sittwe, although the perpetrator was sentenced to death, the family members say that they have yet to see any transparent and open proceedings.

Sources close to the matter also say, with supporting evidence, that there are still many cases in Arakan State where bias and favoritism have influenced outcomes.

These are instances of bias and favoritism by those responsible in the judicial departments of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government.

In addition, there have also been incidents in the administrative and police departments where suspects have been unlawfully beaten, tortured, and in some cases even beaten to death.

In October 2023, in Kywe Tae Village, Kyaukphru Township, a man named Ko Aung Naing, who had been arrested for a motorcycle theft case, died from injuries sustained after being beaten while in the custody of police officers under the Arakan People’s Government.

In that incident, the Arakan Army admitted that the police officers had beaten Ko Aung Naing but responded that his death was due to shock after drinking water, not because of the beating.

In addition, in March 2022, U Maung Gyi Hla from Myothit Ward in Mrauk-U also died while in the custody of the Arakan Army.

Human rights activists point out and criticize that incidents like these are serious mistakes that should never occur within an organization that claims to stand firmly as a revolutionary government.

The Arakan Army’s Commander-in-Chief, General Twan Mrat Naing, has frequently emphasized in interviews and speeches the importance of officers not abusing their power, not misusing their authority, and judicial staff remaining impartial.

However, on the ground, such incidents continue to be witnessed and reported.

If such incidents continue to occur, there is no doubt that the Arakan People’s Government, which currently enjoys full public support, will begin to lose some of that support and face increasing criticism.

Therefore, as the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government, it has become necessary to firmly take hold of and control the subordinate officials. Instead of protecting those who disobey the law, abuse power, show bias, or engage in corruption, the people are demanding decisive actions that will prevent such misconduct from happening again.

This is the time to swiftly address and punish the abuses and corruption within the judicial and administrative departments. If these problems are not dealt with in time before they worsen, the entire government machinery will inevitably have to face the punishment imposed by the people.