CHAN THAR | TUESDAY, 26 MAR 2019
The Tatmadaw (military) has not killed any civilians or damaged any of their property during its clashes with the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State, Major General Tun Tun Nyi of the True News agency said.
“Everyone can see that the AA is trying to create racial conflict between the Rakhine and Bamar races. (Government spokesperson) U Zaw Htay has said that the situation in Rakhine has become a threat to the Union. The Tatmadaw has taken measures against the insurgents, but we are not always in a position protect the lives and property of people. We urge people to be cautious and not be exploited by the insurgents,” he said.
The True News agency called a press conference at the Defence Services Museum in Nay Pyi Taw on Monday to discuss the ceasefire agreements with armed ethnic groups and the effort to bring peace and stability to Rakhine.
The media asked if there were any plans to ensure that civilians aren’t affected by the armed clashes in Rakhine, but Maj Gen Tun Tun Nyi avoided the question.
AA spokesperson U Khine Thukha said the military’s intensified operations in Rakhine since the AA’s meeting with the government in Nay Pyi Taw had resulted in more than 20 clashes and about 120 military casualties within a week.
“There were eight clashes in a single day after the meeting. The Tatmadaw has escalated the fighting,” said U Khine Thukha.
He said there were clashes in the Mote Soe mountain range along the Lay Myo River, at the foot of Law Ya Ma mountain in Rathetaung and Buthidaung townships, and east of Min Thar mountain in Kyauktaw and Paletwa townships.
Representatives of eight armed ethnic groups, including the AA, met with government peace representatives in Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday to sign a ceasefire agreement, and both sides agreed to reduce the fighting.
“There has been no progress since then,” U Khine Thukha said.
A statement by the Commander-in-Chief’s Office on Friday said the AA had attacked military troops on Thursday night after the meeting in Nay Pyi Taw.
It said that 150 AA fighters attacked an area between Yay Kaung Chaung and Sa Taung villages in Rathetaung at about 9 pm. It said they used small weapons, and the clash lasted until 11pm.
At the press conference, Maj Gen Tun Tun Nyi said the nation’s leaders will soon decide whether to announce administrative order 144 due to the fighting in the Mrauk-U ancient heritage area.
The Arakan Army has taken advantage of the four-month unilateral ceasefire declared by the military, during which a political dialogue began. There weren’t any armed groups in Rakhine before the talks, Maj Gen Tun Tun Nyi said.
“Due to clashes with the armed groups that haven’t signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, the ceasefire was declared. They have ignored the statements released by our side. We don’t do any harm to civilians or local government mechanisms in our operations. They attacked us while we welcomed them with an open door of peace,” he said.
An AA statement on Sunday said the military suffered more than 120 causalities in battles with the AA from March 16 to 23 in five townships in Rakhine. The battles included AA ambushes of military vehicles in Kyauktaw and Paletwa, U Khine Thukha said.
“Three cars were totally destroyed,” he said.
The military and AA have engaged in fierce battles in northern Rakhine, Chin State and Paletwa since the end of November. More than 20,000 civilians have fled their homes to escape the fighting. There have been 16 civilian casualties and 31 people injured. More than 80 people have been arrested, said those helping the refugees.
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