23 May 2025
On May 22, the Arakan Army (AA) sent a threatening letter to the people of Rakhine who do not wish to be under the control of the AA. The letter warned of repercussions for those required to serve in the military and who intend to leave Rakhine State rather than comply.
The statement noted that a small number of young individuals have been attempting to evade their responsibilities by misinterpreting the National Defense Emergency Provision (NDEP) enacted by the AA, without fully comprehending its implications. It also mentioned that regulations have been established for those currently trying to leave Rakhine State through various means.
Individuals who wish to leave their homes for unjustifiable reasons, as well as those eligible for military service under the National Defense and Employment Protection Program (NDEP), are prohibited from traveling abroad. This restriction applies to military service eligible individuals aged 18 to 25 for women and 18 to 45 for men. The only exception to this rule is for patients with serious illnesses.
Anyone who transports evacuees by land or water for a fee will face prosecution. Additionally, traders involved in selling and buying essential food items, as well as cattle traders and those renting cattle, are strictly prohibited from carrying extra passengers during their journeys or transporting people for a fee.
“We live in Rakhine State and feel like we have nothing to do. We have finished university but still find ourselves without opportunities. So, we left Rakhine on our own. The journey cost about 1.5 million kyat per person. To travel from Rakhine, we took the Magway Road. We also had to pay money to those who assisted us along the way. The Arakan Army (AA) has prohibited everyone from leaving. In our group, there are students who wish to continue their education, but they cannot attend school,” a young resident from Rakhine, who arrived in Yangon about a week ago, told MT News.
#AA terrorists #Military Service Law #National Defense and Employment Protection Program (NDEP) #mtnews
