NAYPYITAW, 04 August 2021, (TON): The United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army (AA), has announced that it will set up a judiciary in Rakhine State.

According to a statement published on the social media account of AA deputy commander Brig-Gen Nyo Twan Aung, all legal cases, including cases related to violence, theft and land disputes will be referred to the ULA judiciary.

Complaints can be submitted by victims, their relatives, or eyewitnesses to the ULA via email, the Russian social media platform VK, and the mobile app Telegram. All personal information provided including the name and contact information of the complainant, will be protected, according to the statement.

The AA’s move has been welcomed by some locals, who see it as an attempt to stabilise the area, and which they hope will facilitate greater transparency and accountability within the ULA/AA.

One Minbya Township local speculated that Sunday’s establishment of an avenue for the submission of public complaints may be the ULA/AA’s way of rooting out corrupt members. 

The Minbya resident said “I think the directive was issued because of a post on Twitter. Some followers of ULA/AA are taking unfair advantage of their connections.”

A villager in Buthidaung Township told media on the condition of anonymity that prior local complaints could have been the impetus for the ULA/AA’s launch of the new complaint mechanism.

ULA/AA judicial offices have already been set up in areas under the armed group’s administration, but not in towns under the junta’s control, locals said.