An interview with U Khaing Thukha, spokesperson of the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA)
August 29th, 2022
It was reported that the Arakan Army (AA) attacked a column of 100 military council troops advancing from Kyauktaw between the villages of Lekka and Buu Ywet Manyo with landmines at around 4 p.m. on August 28th, resulting in a 20-minute battle between the two sides.
After the fighting, Kinseik village was shelled with heavy artillery by the 377th and 378th Light Infantry Battalions stationed in Mrauk-U, killing three people, including a child and a woman, and wounding eight. In addition, two monasteries in Hta Ma Rit ward were shelled, injuring one monk and one layman. U Khaing Thukha, spokesman for the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA /AA), was interviewed about the situation of the heavy artillery shelling by the military council.
Q: We heard that there were casualties in Kinseik village and Hta Ma Rit ward yesterday due to the heavy artillery shelling by the 377th and 378th Light Infantry Battalions of the military council. Please tell me what information the AA has received on this matter.
A: The 377th and 540th light infantry battalions stationed in Mrauk-U fired about 30 artillery rounds between 4:15 pm and 5:25 pm yesterday. As the military council fired these artillery shots into civilian areas where there was no fighting, there were several civilian casualties in Kinseik village in Mrauk-U township, including a five-year-old and a 66-year-old woman. They were killed on the spot. According to the latest report, U Hla Maung Thein, 42, also died today. So, there were three civilian casualties.
Q: How many people were wounded?
A: Five other women were wounded. A 60-year-old woman suffered an abdominal injury. Two women, 40-year-old and 30-year-old, were also wounded. Another three, 30- and 65-year-old men and a 5-year-old, were also wounded by the military council’s shelling.
Q: What’s AA’s position on unprovoked shelling of villages by the military council?
A: The Burmese army shelling villages in civilian areas with heavy artillery without any major fighting is a blatant war crime. It amounts to a war crime because the they targeted civilians.
Q: There’s evidence that the military council fired these artillery shells. Villagers and locals also say it was the Burmese army. But they often deny that that’s not true. What would you like to say about that?
A: There’s no doubt that the Burmese army deliberately fired heavy weapons this evening. Without there being any ongoing fighting at the time, they deliberately directed their attacks at the villages. This is a deliberate attack on civilians. This is a heinous war crime. They’ve committed a blatant war crime. The Burmese army will have to pay the price for what they’ve done.
Q: How will AA respond to this shooting?
A: We’ll retaliate against them for the targeted firing and the killing of civilians with the necessary severity.
Q: What would you like to say about the increasing military expansion and human rights violations by the Burmese military in Rakhine State?
A: Right, the Burmese army has increased its forces throughout Rakhine State. It’s also been blocking traffic routes in the state by various means for quite some time. This means that the Burmese army is causing all kinds of difficulties for the people, spreading fear and creating a situation where people are threatened with famine. Recently, the Burmese army tried to force their way into the areas where we’re stationed, and there were military clashes between the two sides. I mean, if they block our routes, we’ll do the same to their routes. Clashes between armed forces are commonplace. But the Burmese army’s actions of targeting and killing innocent civilians is an inhumane act.
Q: We’ve learned that there was fighting between the military council and AA yesterday. What’s the status of the fighting?
A: It was reported that the Burmese army entered the area where we’re stationed and there was a clash between the two sides near Lekka village. There was no heavy fighting.
Sent by Khaing Lu Hla (Yoma Land)
