Decoding The Arakan Army: Insurgent Strategies And Tactics – Analysis.

eurasiareview
March 30, 2019
By IPCS 
By Angshuman Choudhury*

Emblem of Arakan Army. Source: Wikipedia Commons.

Over the past four months, the Arakan Army (AA)—a Rakhine Ethnic Armed Organisation (EAO)—has emerged as a formidable insurgent actor in western Myanmar, particularly Chin and Rakhine states. The AA’s insurgency is based on a mix of conventional and subversive tactics, aimed at gaining strategic dominance in the short term and political-territorial control in the medium-to-long term. Much of its future strategies and operational design will depend on its relationship with the local population and the frequency and degree of the military’s response.

The Arakan Army and the ‘storm of the revolution’.

Frontier
MYANMAR

Friday, March 29, 2019

Arakan Army deputy chief Brigadier-General Nyo Tun Aung during an interview at the group's base near Laiza. (Hkun Lat)

The deputy leader of the Arakan Army tells Frontier in the border town of Laiza in Kachin State about the group’s shift in focus to Rakhine State and why the Rakhine people may have to endure more suffering in the years ahead.

By YE MON | FRONTIER

Photos HKUN LAT

THE SECURITY situation in Rakhine State continues to worsen as fighting between a defiant Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw spreads to more townships, claiming more lives on both sides and displacing thousands of frightened and anxious villagers.

Shortly before the latest flare-up in fighting, Frontier interviewed the Arakan Army’s deputy chief, Brigadier-General Nyo Tun Aung, near Laiza, the town on the Chinese border where the Kachin Independence Organisation has its headquarters.

Civilians hit by Rakhine fighting.

MYANMAR TIMES
FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019

By CHAN THAR

More than 50 civilians have been killed or are missing due to fighting between the Tatmadaw (military) and Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State, according to an investigation by the Arakan National Party (ANP).

Led by ANP Vice Chair Daw Aye Nu Sein, a nine-member commission set up on March 20 investigated the fighting in Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships.

The ANP said it would submit a report of its findings next week.

Fighting in Myanmar’s Rakhine Estimated to Have Displaced 22,000 People

RFA 
2019-03-27

Members of the Arakan National Party conduct a field visit to a displacement camp in western Myanmar's Rakhine state in an undated photo.Photo courtesy of Htun Aung Kyaw

Intense fighting this week between Myanmar forces and the rebel Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine state's Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships has displaced 2,000 villagers, raising the prospect of additional food and water shortages in the war-torn region, relief and disaster management workers said Wednesday.

Myanmar army urges civilian tip-offs on Arakan Army in Rakhine

The Daily Star
Tuesday, "March 26, 2019"

 FILE PHOTO: A Myanmar soldier patrols in a boat at the Mayu river near Buthidaung in the north of Rakhine state, Myanmar September 13, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer

The Tatmadaw requested people to give tip-offs about Arakan Army (AA) to respective administrative organizations and security organizations if the AA entered their towns, wards and villages to avoid further bloodshed in Rakhine State, it announced on March 23.

Arkan Army camps on Myanmar, Bangladesh borders, worry India

DNA

Sumit Kumar Singh

Updated: Mar 26, 2019

Myanmar Picture for representational purpose , Reuters

India has found Arkan Rohingiya Salvation Army (ARSA) has set up new bases at Myanmar and Bangladesh where cadre are being trained to launch massive attacks on security forces and big infrastructural projects. As per the intelligence report, some camps are situated very close to Rohingya refugee camps in Cox Bazar in Bangladesh. Their target are infrastructural projects between India and Myanmar.

Tatmadaw likens Arakan Army demands to ‘a child daydreaming’

Frontier 
MYANMAR
Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Major-General Tun Tun Nyi attends an earlier press conference in Yangon on February 23. (Thuya Zaw | Frontier)

By SU MYAT MON | FRONTIER

YANGON — The Tatmadaw has blamed the Arakan Army for an escalation in fighting in Rakhine State, with military spokespeople accusing the armed group of harming civilians and labelling its demands “impossible”.

“With the thoughts of a child daydreaming, some of the armed groups are asking for what is impossible,” Major-General Soe Naing Oo, chair of the Tatmadaw’s True News Information Team, said at a press briefing in Nay Pyi Taw on Monday to discuss recent fighting with the AA. “Don’t ask for impossible things,” he said.

Myanmar army urges civilian tip-offs on Arakan Army in Rakhine.

The Daily Star
11:05 AM, March 26, 2019

FILE PHOTO: A Myanmar soldier patrols in a boat at the Mayu river near Buthidaung in the north of Rakhine state, Myanmar September 13, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer

Eleven Media Group, Myanmar

The Tatmadaw requested people to give tip-offs about Arakan Army (AA) to respective administrative organizations and security organizations if the AA entered their towns, wards and villages to avoid further bloodshed in Rakhine State, it announced on March 23.

Tatmadaw warns public not to believe Arakan Army.

MYANMAR TIMES
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.

Gunfire wounds six in temple town.

THE Star ONLINE
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2019

YANGON: At least six people were wounded in firing as Myanmar soldiers hunted ethnic Rakhine insurgents in the western town of Mrauk U, residents said, while the military issued a statement saying a convoy was ambushed entering the historic temple town.

Rakhine leader gets 20 years for treason.

THE Star ONLINE
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2019

Sittwe (Myanmar): A Myanmar court sentenced a prominent ethnic Rakhine leader to 20 years in jail for treason, a verdict likely to intensify anger amid fighting between the ethnic group and the army.

Eight injured in Mrauk U violence.

Frontier 
MYANMAR
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
By AFP

People look at an unexploded rocket in Mrauk U township in Rakhine State on March 16. (AFP)

YANGON — Fighting between Myanmar's military and the Arakan Army in Mrauk U, the ancient capital of the Rakhine kingdom, has left at least eight injured, scaring tourists and sparking fears that the historical monuments are under threat.

How India, Myanmar forces jointly destroyed NSCN-K, Arakan Army terrorist camps on eastern border: 10 things to know

By: NewsX Bureau | 16 March 2019,

India, Myanmar forces jointly destroy NSCN-K, Arakan Army terrorist camps on eastern border: Indian forces in coordination with Myanmar Army conducted a joint operation on February 17, 2019, on the Indo-Myanmar border and destroyed several terrorist camps of Arakan Army. The joint military operation was completed on March 2, 2019.

Image for representation only.

India, Myanmar forces jointly destroy NSCN-K, Arakan Army terrorist camps on eastern border:

Arakan Army Says It Is Holding 11 Myanmar Soldiers After Fierce Weekend Fighting.

RADIO FREE ASIA 

2019-03-12

The Arakan Army displays weapons and ammunition it seized during a weekend attack on Myanmar Army soldiers near Pyan So village in Paletwa township, western Myanmar's Chin state, March 11, 2019.

Photo courtesy of the Arakan Army's website

The Arakan Army has taken 11 Myanmar Army soldiers prisoner and seized arms following a weekend clash in Chin state’s Paletwa township, which abuts volatile Rakhine state where hostilities have intensified between the two sides since late last year, an AA official said Tuesday.

Rakhine Villagers Hold Funeral for Slain Woman, Recall Shooting by Myanmar Forces.

RADIO FREE ASIA 
Feb. 22, 2019.

Relatives mourn Ye Ye Soe, who was killed by gunfire amid fighting between Myanmar soldiers and the Arakan Army in Rathedaung township, western Myanmar’s Rakhine state, Feb. 22, 2019.

A funeral was held on Friday for a young woman shot dead by the Myanmar military in restive Rakhine state’s Rathedaung township state, where government forces are battling the rebel Arakan Army, as residents of the village where the woman was killed described indiscriminate firing upon them by national troops.

Myanmar Army Fight With Arakan Rebels Ensnares Local Bus Companies.

RADIO FREE ASIA 
2019-02-19

Residents hold bullet shell casings following fighting between the Myanmar military and ethnic Arakan Army in a village in Rathedaung township, western Myanmar's Rakhine state, Jan. 28, 2019. AFP

The Myanmar military on Tuesday denied an accusation by the rebel Arakan Army that it has been using passenger buses and cars to transport its troops in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state, where the two forces are fighting each other, a national army spokesman said.

The Arakan Army (AA) on Monday warned private bus companies in volatile Rakhine not to transport Myanmar soldiers, who it said were using private vehicles along with military trucks to move personnel into conflict zones, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported.

Amnesty: Myanmar army ops target Rakhine state.

5,200 men, women, children displaced due to ongoing fighting by Jan. 28, according to human rights group citing UN figures.

11.02.2019

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON

Myanmar security forces have shelled villages and blocked civilians from accessing food and humanitarian assistance in western Rakhine state since early 2019, a rights groups said Monday.

“Security forces have also used vague and repressive laws to detain civilians in the area,” according to the Amnesty International report based on fresh evidence on ongoing military operations.