Arakan Army gains ground in Rakhine conflict, seizes control of Paletwa and other towns

BORDER LENS
The Borderlens Desk
February 20, 2024 

Reports emerging from Myanmar on Thursday have indicated that an ethnic army in the country has launched an attack on yet another major city in the west, with the state’s capital not far behind. The Arakan Army (AA), a rebel group, has intensified its fighting against Myanmar’s army in the strategically significant city of Sittwe in Rakhine province. This area holds particular importance due to India’s construction of a port for connectivity to its northeastern states via the Bay of Bengal.

Situation Update: Arakan Army Attacks SAC in Northern Rakhine and Paletwa

Rights group urges Arakan Army to release 54 civilians

MYANMAR TIMES

Nyan Lynn Aung  

01 May 2019

A human rights group in Chin State has called on the Arakan Army (AA) to release 54 ethnic Khumi people it seized more than three months ago.

The Khumi Affairs Coordination Council said the civilians were arrested by AA fighters at Kangtlang village in Paletwa township in Chin on February 2 and taken to the armed ethnic group’s base in Bangladesh in February.

It said the captives were forced to work at the camp and were not properly fed. It added that the families of the civilians were afraid for their health.

Chin Ethnics Urge Arakan Army to Free Villagers; AA Warns of Severe Fighting With Myanmar Army

RADIO FREE ASIA
2019-04-29

The Arakan Army insignia is seen on the uniform of a soldier in western Myanmar's Rakhine state in an undated photo.RFA 

 

An ethnic Chin group has called on the rebel Arakan Army (AA) to release 52 residents it abducted from Paletwa township in western Myanmar’s Chin state during a clash earlier this year with Myanmar forces that spilled over from armed conflict in adjacent Rakhine state, the head of the group said.

Hundreds More Flee Fighting in Northern Rakhine Over Weekend

The Irrawwady
11 Feburary 2019, By Moe Myint

People displaced by fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army over the weekend take shelter and have a meal at the Yoe Ta Yoke monastery in Ponnagyun Township, Rakhine State, on Sunday. / Rakhine Ethnic Congress / Facebook
YANGON — Fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar military’s Light Infantry Division 22 drove more than 500 residents of Saung Du Village, in northern Rakhine State’s Kyauktaw Township, out of their homes over the weekend.