A total of 64 armed incidents were recorded in December, 2018, up 20 compared with November, according to a report released by Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security (MIPS) on January 14.

According to the MIPS’s Township-based Conflict Monitoring System Database, there were 56 armed clashes and eight improvised explosive devices attacks in late December.

There were armed conflicts in 20 townships in November and 18 townships in December. There were 44 armed incidents in November. There was a significant increase in the number of armed incidents in December.

The increase in the number of armed incidents is linked to the armed clashes between the Tatmadaw and Arakan Army (AA) in December, according to the report.

During seven months ago, other regions and states, apart from Rakhine State, have seen a decline in the number of armed incidents between Tatmadaw and Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs).

The number of fights between the TNLA/PSLF, SSPP/SSA and RCSS/SSA has declined slightly but the intensity remains high.

In late December, there were at least two armed clashes between the RCSS/SSA and the PNLA/PNLO and three small armed clashes between Tatmadaw and the KIA/KIO, according to the MIPS.