The Arakan Army (AA) has issued regulations prohibiting public gatherings and traditional water festival celebrations during the Thingyan period in Rakhine State. These regulations were not directly announced by the AA headquarters but were instead communicated through township-level authorities. The instructions were subsequently relayed to the Rakhine people through AA administrative bodies in respective townships. The regulations specifically prohibit the construction of water festival stages and water-throwing activities involving large crowds, ban vehicles carrying multiple passengers from touring around, and restrict inter-village festival celebrations using vehicles.
The restrictions also extend to religious and cultural activities, including observing Buddhist precepts at monasteries, holding donation ceremonies, organizing concerts that might draw crowds, and using loudspeakers that could create noise disturbances in towns and villages. The limitation on freely celebrating the Thingyan festival in Rakhine State has been ongoing since 2018, with people only able to observe minimal ceremonial activities. This situation continues to persist, significantly impacting the traditional celebration of this important cultural festival.
These restrictions on festival celebrations and public gatherings during the Thingyan period are believed to be implemented due to regional security concerns, resulting in a situation where people cannot celebrate their traditional cultural festival as usual. However, it is understood that these regulations have been put in place with the primary objective of ensuring public safety and security. The measures reflect the complex situation in Rakhine State, where traditional celebrations must be balanced against security considerations, leading to a more subdued observation of the water festival compared to previous years when celebrations were held without such restrictions.
