Written By Myat Hnin Wai
Border News Agency
Mrauk-U, June 1.
The Arakan Army (AA), in what is considered the final stage of the Arakan war, has successfully launched offensives and taken control of 15 townships, including Paletwa. It is now implementing administrative mechanisms as part of the Arakan People’s Revolution.
The Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government is not only engaging in governance, judiciary, and taxation, but is also seen providing public services alongside these efforts.
Since 2020, the Arakan Army (AA) has not only engaged in military operations but has also been actively building and running administrative and judicial systems in parallel.
However, due to limitations in territorial control at the time, the AA had to operate by organizing village leaders and communities, dividing areas into zones, and appointing local administrators to manage each designated territory.
Because the AA could not fully control all urban neighborhoods, the people living in towns remained under the administrative mechanisms of the central government. As a result, the Arakan Army was only able to establish partial governance in these areas.
The local administrators appointed by the AA for each region were tasked with handling a range of responsibilities, including governance, judiciary, and tax collection. These local administrators were, in turn, supervised and governed by military district commanders assigned to each military zone.
As administrative momentum gradually increased, the Arakan Army began establishing courts in some regions to handle legal matters. It also opened a central high court, which held the highest judicial authority under its system.
Starting from 2020 and continuing through the period after the military coup in 2021 up until 2022, the Arakan Army operated only in a limited capacity due to various constraints.
Changes Following the Capture of Towns
However, after the Arakan Army’s town-capturing offensives began in late 2023, it gained full control over towns, villages, and surrounding territories. As a result, the AA was able to significantly expand and institutionalize its governance, judicial, and administrative mechanisms across both urban and rural areas.
In the sectors of administration and judiciary, full offices and staff were officially established and appointed, leading to a more systematic and organized functioning of these institutions.
In addition, the AA has systematically expanded its institutions in sectors such as healthcare, education, environmental and public welfare, tax collection, rule of law, and fire safety. Offices and staff have been fully established and appointed at the regional and township levels, allowing these systems to operate in a more structured and organized manner.
In the administrative sector, where previously only local area administrators existed, the AA has now appointed township administrators and district-level (regional) administrators as well. A central administrative body has also been formed to coordinate governance across the entire controlled territory.
Judicial functions have also been expanded by appointing regional judges, township judges, and court staff according to the respective areas, establishing a more comprehensive judicial system.
Similarly, in sectors like education, healthcare, public welfare, and tax collection, committees are formed at township and regional levels with chairpersons, officers in charge, township administrators, regional administrators, and office staff all appointed to manage and oversee these services effectively.
However, despite these developments, the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government has not yet been able to fully establish a civilian administrative system. Regional, township, and village-level officials still remain under the authority and command of military district commanders, according to staff and officials within the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government.
“The regional heads of education and administration are at the same level as the military district commanders. However, the military district commanders have greater responsibilities. It can be said that these officials still remain under their authority,” said a district-level official of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government to Border News Agency.
Changes in the Administrative Sector and Public Perception
The Arakan Army, which previously managed administration mainly through village heads, area administrators, and military district commanders, expanded its administrative offices after fully capturing towns. Township administrative offices and regional administrative offices were opened and expanded.
These offices were staffed with township administrators, their deputies, office managers, and full teams of administrative staff.
Most of the administrative personnel are civilians, while the number of military personnel assigned to these roles remains limited.
Students who graduate from the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government’s Arakan State’s School for Public Policy and Administration (ASS PA) are being assigned to administrative departments.
Village leaders and area administrators (or township administrators) report to the township administrative offices, while township administrators report to the regional administrative offices.
These administrative systems remain under the control and supervision of the military district commanders according to the military districts.
However, after the formation of the Central Administrative Committee, it is anticipated that administrative authority will no longer flow through the military district commanders, but instead be exercised directly by the central administration, according to observers close to the matter.
The Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government is believed to be preparing to establish a more structured and purely civilian administrative system, as the current governance mechanism still reflects a degree of overlap between military and civilian roles.
“The exact responsibilities of the Central Administrative Committee are still unclear. It hasn’t been long since it was formed. But it is expected that the administrative system will improve,” said a person close to the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government to Border News Agency.
It is said that the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government only recently formed the Central Administrative Committee.
Sources close to the matter say that the administrative body includes civilian professionals and individuals with expertise in public administration.
However, some staff members from this not-yet-fully-civilian administrative department have reportedly been involved in misconduct, such as using authority in a heavy-handed manner or engaging in corruption when dealing with the public, according to some Arakanese residents.
These issues are due to the administrative system still being underdeveloped and the lack of full administrative capacity. Arakanese people have pointed out the need to enhance administrative competency, implement systematic oversight, and take appropriate disciplinary actions.
“Just as there are those who carry out their duties properly, there are also some who treat their responsibilities as power and abuse them. Such behavior has created a lot of misunderstandings and tensions between the authorities and the public, especially at the grassroots level,” said a local resident from Pauktaw.
Such abuse of authority is said to be more common among lower-level officials – village administrators, local office staff, and area officers – rather than higher-ranking officials, according to the Arakanese public.
“If people are governed in an authoritarian manner, problems will surely arise. Governance must be based on distinguishing right from wrong. It must be impartial and free from corruption. If that can be achieved, then the administrative system will improve. But if corruption persists, if there is bias, if wrong is treated as right and right as wrong, then justice will disappear – and a good governance system will never be realized,” a human rights activist from Arakan pointed out.
Difference between Administrative and Political Departments
The administrative department is an organization or department under the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government (administration), whereas the political department is under the United League of Arakan (ULA) party.
The ULA formed the political departments during the previous ceasefire period, before the establishment of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government. At that time, the Arakan People’s authorities and administrative organs were already functioning, and political departments were established and are present across all nine military regions.
The heads of the political departments are the military district commanders, while the political leaders and deputy political leaders serve under these commanders. They are responsible for formulating party political policies, handling disciplinary matters, and, based on the needs within the military district, also carry out other necessary tasks.
In the political departments, in addition to military district commanders, political leaders, and deputy political leaders, office staff are also appointed. These departments are further subdivided into sections such as public relations, party affairs management, and finance.
Those responsible for the political departments do not have the authority to interfere with the operations of government departments.
However, the heads of the military districts – military district commanders – still directly or indirectly interfere in those operations through various means.
The political policies set by the ULA’s political department are implemented by the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government, which functions as the governing body.
Although the ULA and the government are distinct entities, since the government is not yet elected through a democratic electoral system, it is accurate to say that the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government is governing based on the plans and policies of the ULA.
Just like under the 2010 Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) government and the 2015 National League for Democracy (NLD) government, the current government can also be considered one operating under the influence of a single party’s dominance.
Weaknesses and Strengths of the Judicial System
Since the early days of its formation, the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government has prioritized the justice sector, operating it in a more structured manner than other administrative or tax collection mechanisms.
However, at that time, only a few courts had been established, and staffing was extremely limited.
But as the Arakan Army gained control of towns during the final phase of the revolutionary war, the number of courts has expanded, with more judges and administrative staff being appointed to handle the growing demand for legal proceedings.
According to judicial staff, all courts are directly overseen by the Chief Justice, with no direct interference from military officials in their proceedings.
However, on the ground, some Arakanese citizens report that there have been instances of bias in cases involving the families of high-ranking military officers.
“While there are a few cases of favoritism, to be fair, the judiciary remains the most well-functioning branch of the revolutionary administration,” said a lawyer currently handling cases under the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government’s court system.
The Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government has established mechanisms through which citizens can report judicial bias and corruption.
However, many locals say these mechanisms remain out of reach for ordinary people, making access to justice a distant goal.
For this reason, both Arakanese citizens and human rights advocates stress the need for the revolutionary government to place greater emphasis on strengthening the judiciary so that those who come to court in search of justice can do so with confidence and dignity.
“It needs to be fair from the very beginning. Not every citizen is able to file appeals or complaints,” said a young woman from Mrauk-U Township.
Although the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government currently provides some financial support (in the tens of thousands of kyats) to judicial and administrative staff along with monthly food stipends, many say it is not a sufficient amount.
“The judiciary is fundamental. It’s what brings public support, but it’s also what can lead to heavy criticism from the people. That’s why judicial staff should be given better compensation,” said a local lawyer inside Arakan.
Education and Healthcare
Before the formation of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government, the Arakan Army had already established the Arakan National Education Department in 2020. Through this department, they began offering free education in some villages.
After capturing all the towns and as the administrative mechanisms of the Myanmar junta collapsed, the education system was launched comprehensively across all areas under their control.
The Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government has since formed a Central Education Committee, and education officers have been appointed at the district, township, and regional levels.
From there, education officers have been appointed at the ward and village levels, and children are now being taught from Kindergarten (KG) to Grade 12.
This education program began in 2024, and for students in Grade 12, entrance exam-style assessments have also been conducted. The Education Committee of the Arakha People’s Revolutionary Government is responsible for preparing the exam questions and organizing the final examinations.
In addition to basic education, committees have also been formed to support higher education, and preparations are underway to establish vocational colleges and universities for students who have passed the university entrance level, according to education officials.
“There are also plans to open teacher training and medical training schools,” said an official from the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government.
In addition, arrangements are reportedly being made to provide opportunities for students to pursue education abroad, according to sources close to the matter.
In the healthcare sector, hospitals and clinics have been established across various regions, and operations are reportedly being carried out with the help of former government-employed doctors and nurses, as well as medical officers trained by the Arakan Army.
According to the people of Arakan, the Health Department of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government is still not as extensive or far-reaching as the education sector.
While the government has managed to create conditions where every child in Arakan can access basic education, many citizens still remain far from receiving proper medical treatment.
In hospitals and clinics currently operating inside Arakan, there is not only a shortage of doctors and nurses, but also a lack of sufficient medicine and medical supplies. As a result, access to healthcare remains out of reach for many people.
During the intense fighting across Arakan, many of the existing local doctors, nurses, and midwives relocated to areas still under the control of the junta. Some also left for central Myanmar or foreign countries due to livelihood challenges such as food, shelter, and basic necessities.
Arakan locals say that many of the remaining former healthcare workers inside Arakan are not fully participating under the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government (APRG) health system.
Due to these factors, healthcare workers acknowledge that the Arakan People’s Health Department under the APRG is still facing a shortage of staff and personnel.
However, the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government (APRG) has been assisting patients in Arakan who cannot receive proper treatment locally by helping them seek medical care in neighboring countries such as Bangladesh and India.
Health workers say that in order for the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government to improve and strengthen the healthcare system, it is necessary to open more clinics and increase the number of staff by training and deploying new healthcare workers.
In addition, they also emphasize the need to supply essential medical equipment and medicines to meet the growing demand
People in Arakan say that former healthcare workers, both inside the region and those currently outside of it, should join and actively participate in the healthcare department of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government.
Municipal Affairs and Tax Collection
The Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government has been operating key departments such as administration and judiciary, as well as providing essential services for the people, including education and healthcare. Additionally, it has established and manages departments for municipal affairs and tax collection to support urban and rural infrastructure development.
The Department of Municipal Services manages sanitation and water supply, oversees bidding processes for infrastructure projects, and carries out the collection of municipal taxes.
The Tax Department is responsible for collecting various taxes necessary for running the government machinery, such as stall fees, business license taxes, and commodity taxes.
Previously, tax collection was carried out by local area chiefs and military officers assigned to different military regions. However, a central tax department has since been established to organize and systematically manage tax collection operations step by step.
Regarding the tax collection system of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government, there have been some criticisms about high tax rates. However, some observers believe that since the revolutionary government’s economic enterprises are still not fully independent and self-sufficient, they have no choice but to rely mainly on tax revenue to manage and operate the administration.
How should it be improved?
The administration of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government, though only about a year old, can be said to have visibly established itself and achieved some success within a short period.
However, the Arakan people also point out that there are still certain needs, such as an insufficient number of fully capable staff and a shortage of personnel. Additionally, there remains a noticeable gap and lack of cohesion between the military and civilian sectors.
It can be said that the education and health departments have reached a relatively well-organized civilian system. However, evaluations indicate that in administration and judicial processes, there are still direct or indirect entanglements and interference between the military and civilian sectors, leading to a mix of influences and disruptions.
For the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government to establish itself as a long-lasting, well-supported, and effective people’s government, it is necessary to promptly address and firmly resolve the issues of poor relationships, arrogance, and bias among administrative and judicial staff that have drawn criticism from the Arakan people, they emphasize.
As a revolutionary government directly built by the Arakan Army, the people may understand that there are some weaknesses during the revolutionary period. However, if similar mistakes such as corruption and abuse of power continue to occur repeatedly, the trust and support of the people will inevitably weaken, say the Arakan people.
Therefore, the Arakan people say that the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government – strengthened by the full support and power of the Arakan population – needs to enhance the capabilities of all those working within its administration and judicial system, including every department and official (staff). They should be trained and supervised to use their granted authority responsibly and work sincerely and diligently for the people.
The Arakan people say that, just like in the military speech of Arakan Army’s Commander-in-Chief Major General Twan Mrat Naing – where he gave the example that if a drop of spit is added to a pot of milk, no one will drink from it anymore – the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government must be careful and vigilant to ensure that the fault of one bad individual does not become the fault of the entire organization. They must prevent the whole system from being spoiled and protect the integrity of the government.
“No matter how pure a pot of cow’s milk may be, if even a single drop of spit falls into it, no one will want to drink it,” the Commander-in-Chief warned, using the metaphor to caution against the abuse of power, misconduct, or lapses in discipline among officers and soldiers.
If the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government continues to engage in abuses of power, public trust could begin to erode even before the revolution is complete – potentially hindering the effective functioning of its administrative system.
Therefore, local residents say that before the entire Arakan region can be fully secured and a complete, well-organized administrative system established, it is essential for the revolutionary government to carefully maintain and protect the trust and support of the people – ensuring their continued unity and participation.
