In October 2016, militants from the Arakan Rohingya Solidarity Army launched coordinated attacks on police outposts in northern Rakhine State, killing about a dozen officers and leading to a “security clearance” operation that came with accusations of human rights abuses.

ARSA launched similar, but larger attacks last week, leaving at least 100 dead and thousands more from all communities fleeing for their lives. Since the latest attacks, tensions have reached fever pitch.

“As the state government, we are trying to bring peace and stability to the state. To implement that, sometimes we need to provide the security forces and conduct a security operation in northern Rakhine. So in implementing that, it might have happened that some minor accidents have happened in that area. But the international community is hair splitting; they are spreading the wrong information to the community,” U Nyi Pu, Rakhine State Chief Minister.

This episode examines the precarious situation in northern Rakhine State at a time of heightened tensions.

This podcast was produced by Victoria Milko, with reporting by Oliver Slow and Su Myat Mon.