Rangoon: An Arakanese political leader, U Aye Tha Aung, says he has told the UN Special human rights envoy to Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana that the violations of basic human rights are still continuing in western Burma’s Arakan State.

Kyauk Pru: Burmese military oppression is still continuing in western Burma’s Arakan State like in the military era, though it has been nearly one year since U Thein Sein led the civilian government takeover of state power, according to local residents.

The Shwe Gas Campaign that was launched by a group of Arakanese youths in their traditional tug-of-war or “Rahta-Swe-Bwe” held in Sittwe in western Burma’s Arakan State was forcibly stopped by the police, said a leader of the campaign.

Dhaka: The Burmese regime has recently invited the Arakan Liberation Party, or ALP, to union-level peace negotiations, said a spokesperson from the party.

Rathidaung: The army, police and forestry department that are based in the Kyauktan Area in Rathedaung Township in Arakan State are collecting illegal toll taxes from local villagers who are living off cutting wood and bamboo in the area.

Buthidaung: Five students in western Burma's Arakan State drowned when their ferry sank as they were traveling to school, said family members.

Minbya: The villagers from Palaypauk (Balipauk) Village in Minbya Township in Arakan State are in fear of arrest after being threatened by the army because they were unwilling to sacrifice their paddy harvests which are charged by the army as rent for their confiscated farmlands.

Rangoon: Six imprisoned Arakanese youth were freed on Friday as part of the latest presidential amnesty, said one of their relatives.