In an effort to defend Sittwe, the last remaining town in northern Arakan State, the military council is reportedly preparing to counter the Arakha Army (AA) offensive by deploying around 1,000 trained Muslims to various battalion headquarters.
Starting in the first week of 20 December, the military council has been making preparations by deploying military training graduates to Infantry Battalion (IB)-20 and IB-232, as well as Police Battalion Nos. 12 and 36, including the Regional Operations Command (Sittwe), according to the Muslim community in Sittwe.
“They (military training graduates) have been deployed to the battalions to reinforce them, as there is concern that the AA may launch an attack on Sittwe. They have also been sent to the Regional Operations Commands,” said a Muslim source.
Following the activation of the mandatory military service law for all alduts by the military council which is facing defeats on 10 February 2024, Muslims from Arakan State are also forcibly recruited and given military training.
In March 2024, the military council provided 14-day military training to over 2,000 Muslims from Baw Du Pha and Ohn Taw Gyi IDP camps, as well as from Bumay, Barsar, Thae Chaung, and Thet Kal Pyin villages in Sittwe Township, at the ROC (Sittwe).
Currently, there are frequent exchanges of fire between the military council and the AA in Sittwe Township. The military council’s artillery battalions are firing heavy shells to Ponnagyun and Pauktaw Townships every day.
Another Muslim from Sittwe Township stated, “I often hear gunfire in Sittwe. It’s difficult to tell if it’s a clash or one-sided shooting. The sounds are distant. Now, the military council is preparing to have the graduates fight at the front if the battle intensifies.”
Prior to the fighting in Sittwe Township, Muslim military graduates were assigned to guard checkpoints and villages. However, they have now been deployed to battalions.
Amid the outbreak of fighting, some Muslims from Sittwe are fleeing to Yangon and other townships controlled by the AA.
“Currently, there are clashes between the two sides in Sittwe Township. As a result, some people have fled the town, fearing they could be trapped if Sittwe is attacked. If the fighting intensifies, we Muslims will suffer even more from the war, so we are fleeing,” said a displaced Muslim from Bumay village.
Although the military council collaborated with Muslim forces like Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), and the Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA) to resist the AA’s offensives in the Arakan battles, they were ultimately defeated.
The ROC, IB-20, IB-232, IB-270, LIB-344, LIB-354 and the Police Battalions No.12 and No.36 are located in Sittwe, the headquarters of the Arakan State Administration Council.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)