Kant Kaw Ni Ni, Narinjara News, 24 February 2025 

On February 23, hundreds of Mro youths from northern Maungdaw, who opted to enlist in the Arakan Army (AA) for military training to protect their communities, organized a parade. 

The Mro youths, holding the Arakan national flag, were accompanied by village elders and the larger Mro community as they marched to participate in the training, confirmed Ko Aye Lwin, chairman of the Mro Youth Association, to Narinjara News. 

“Mro youth in northern Maungdaw are indeed marching to willingly enroll in military training. Their main aim is to shield their communities from dangers," he stated. 

Throughout the parade, Mro youth shouted phrases like “Arakan belongs to us,” “Let’s engage in constructing the Arakan nation,” and “Let’s take part in safeguarding the Arakan nation.” 

Ko Aye Lwin shared his pride and happiness that Mro youth in northern Maungdaw have opted to participate in military training to protect their communities. 

"We are filled with pride and joy that Mro youth in northern Maungdaw are willingly participating in military training. The Mro community accompanied them as well," he stated. 

He mentioned that the communities organized events to celebrate the Mro youth who marched to partake in military training for the protection of their communities. 

Mro youths in a parade

Likewise, Ko Aye Lwin noted that the Mro community in the Arakan area believes it is their responsibility to aid in the nation’s progress and security, which is why they choose to participate in military training. 

"Mro villages sit on the border, making them the initial targets if the terrorist group ARSA strikes. In the absence of stability and security, these villages become vulnerable targets. The northern Maungdaw region is extensive, and the security personnel are insufficient. That’s the reason Mro youth feel they need to contribute to defending the nation, to safeguard their own communities,” he stated. 

In similar occurrences, on the morning of September 30, 2024, four people, including three teens, from Kaing Gyi (Mro) village in southern Maungdaw Township disappeared after they went fishing at Let Wae Creek in the Mayu Mountains. 

AA forces carried out a search in the Mayu Mountains for the missing persons and found an ARSA camp, which they set ablaze. 

On August 7, 2024, ARSA insurgents kidnapped four civilians along Kote Pi Kyaw Road in northern Maungdaw. As reported by local residents, one of the prisoners succeeded in fleeing, while the remaining three were slain. 

On July 31, 2024, ARSA insurgents attacked a vehicle making its way from Kant Kaw Myaing Village in Buthidaung Township to Kyein Chaung Village in Maungdaw Township, close to Kyee Kan Pyin (South) village. The assault led to the deaths of four individuals, among them a school teacher, and caused injuries to two more.