August 22nd, 2022
Fighting may be more intense due to the military’s increased deployments of troops in many townships of Arakan State and the growing strength of the Arakan Army (AA), said politician U Pe Than, ex-Lower House MP from Myebon Township.
“The military council is facing the cries on the military and political fronts at home and abroad. The military council may use the army as an auxiliary one even if it wants to start fighting in the Arakan military front when the military’s all-round sectors including the military and politics are on the downwards trend. The military council may mainly use the navy, air force and long-range missiles. The military council may turn to the military strategy in which the long-range missiles are fired from the strategic hills. The military has no sufficient number of troops as it has to open the military fronts across the country. It is assumed that the future fighting may be fiercer than the previous fighting as the strength of the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) grows,” he said.
The military council’s increased deployments in the Arakan State aim to get more control in the Arakan military front. The military council looks worried about the Arakan military front.
“The military has assumed that it needs to get more control over the Arakan military front than other fronts. The People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) are active in cities. The military has assumed that it is capable of controlling the PDF’s movements. The military looks worried as the advantage of the ULA/AA is that it has got the public’s support in Arakan State. The military is in a position to control the Arakan military front with the use of strength,” U Pe Than said.
“Since August 2nd, fighting has continued in Arakan State and Paletwa Township of Chin State. The military council is carrying out the deployments of troops. At around 9 am on August 17th, the military deployed the troops at the Light Infantry Battalion-234 based in Buthidaung by helicopters. The artillery battalion-378 sent around 30 soldiers and three military vehicles loaded with heavy weapons to Maungdaw,” a local from Buthidaung said.
At around 11 am yesterday, the military sent more than 100 soldiers to Myebon by a military vessel, according to locals.
On July 4th, the military council bombarded the AA’s camp in the Brigade-5 territory of the Karen National Union (KNU) on the Thai-Myanmar border by two jet fighters. The bombardment killed six members of the AA and destroyed some buildings. Since then, fighting erupted.
The military council suffered heavy losses in the Mayu Mountain fighting near Donpike in Rathedaung Township, Kyaukpandu fighting in southern Maungdaw, Wailar Mountain fighting in northern Maungdaw Township and fighting in Paletwa Township.
In retaliation for the bombardment, the AA attacked the military council in northern Maungdaw Township on July 19th. The military council suffered heavy casualties in the attack.
The AA publicized the weapons seized in the fighting, which humiliated the military council. As the military council has blocked the public roads and waterways, the public are facing livelihood difficulties.
Sent by Khaing Lu Hla (Yoma Myay)