Combating in between junta soldiers and members of the Arakan Army (AA) has actually resumed in Myanmars Rakhine state for the first time in more than a year after the military assaulted 2 of the ethnic armys bases over the weekend, an AA authorities source said Monday.
A citizen of Rakhines Maungdaw area informed RFAs Myanmar Service on condition of privacy that the 2 sides had actually participated in “intense combating” on Feb. 4 and 6 in the vicinity of Latpan mountain near Metike village, around 30 miles from the seat of the town.
” We heard blasts and the shooting of both light and heavy weapons, originating from around 5 or six miles from the Taman Thar location where we live,” he stated, adding that the blasts appeared to originate from the foot of the mountain.
Another citizen of the conflict area, who also decreased to be called, said the fighting on Feb. 6 was “vicious” and lasted more than three hours.
” I heard three artillery blasts first and after an hour I heard gunfire. I couldnt see the combating, however it originated from the mountain west of our town,” he said.
Citizens of the municipality stated they are now too concerned to enter the neighboring woods to gather things they fear and need that the battling will infect their towns. The AA agreed to a ceasefire with Myanmars military in late 2020 after around two years of intensive fighting.
AA spokesperson Khine Thukha told RFA that the contesting the weekend emerged after the military launched offensives on Arakan Army bases.
On Feb. 4, a quadrant from the militarys Light Infantry Battalion No. 352 went into an AA base location and shot and eliminated AA fighters, he stated. Two days later on, combating resumed when military troops attempted to secure the Latpan mountain location, prompting AA fighters to engage, he stated. The fighting resulted in causalities on the military side.
Khine Thukha did not offer details on the variety of causalities associated with the two occurrences.
” Whether the battling will spread out or continue out to other locations depends upon the armed forces activities,” he said. “We will react to their actions as required.”
Reports under examination
When contacted by RFA on Monday, junta representative Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun validated the combating in Rakhine State on Feb. 4, however stated the military doubted if the fighting included the AA. The military took control of Myanmars federal government in a Feb. 2, 2021, coup.
” There was fighting in the Maungdaw area. It is complicated due to the fact that the AA said the combating was with their soldiers, but we do not understand how the AA entered into the Maungdaw area,” he stated. “The AA was not active in these areas. It is possible. We are still investigating.”
Zaw Min Tun stated there had actually been an exchange of shooting between border guard forces and the forbidden Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on Feb. 4 after the group performed a mine attack, hurting some of the soldiers.
ARSA, which has actually joined Myanmars shadow National Unity Government and other armed ethnic groups in fighting the junta, has actually been moving strongly to establish control over sprawling refugee camps in Bangladesh, where three-quarters of a million ethnic Rohingya left throughout a crackdown by Myanmars military in 2017. The crackdown can be found in response to ARSAs attack on Rakhine cops posts.
Homeowners of Maungdaw informed RFA last month that ARSA seemed taking benefit of the relative calm of the ceasefire between the military and the AA. In November, clashes broke out between ARSA and the military in Maungdaw. Last month, a guy from the municipalitys Khonedaing village was hurt when ARSA shooters opened fire on a group of 20 people who had gone to gather bamboo in the jungle.
Phae Than, a former legislator for neighboring Myaebon area, informed RFA that if reports of the battling in between the military and the AA are real and the 2 sides do not hold a discussion, clashes are likely to continue.
” If they launch attacks, the other side will respond, no matter where it is. Thats why they require to keep interaction,” he stated.
Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Composed in English by Joshua Lipes.
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Two days later, combating resumed when military troops attempted to protect the Latpan mountain area, prompting AA fighters to engage, he stated. The combating resulted in causalities on the military side.
It is made complex due to the fact that the AA stated the battling was with their troops, but we do not know how the AA got into the Maungdaw area,” he said. “The AA was not active in these areas. Locals of Maungdaw told RFA last month that ARSA appeared to be taking benefit of the relative calm of the ceasefire between the military and the AA.
