Narinjara News, 26 August 2022

The ongoingbattle between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar Army has escalated in thesouthern part of Rakhine State.

The AA members onThursday evening challenged the junta forces for about 20 minutes at 4 pm inTaungup township.

The battlebroke out when themilitary council forces came to attack a temporary camp of AA near Thon Khwa Hsounvillage under Taungup township, which is adjacent to Thandwe township where thefamous Nga Pali beach is located.

"This battletook place at Kyin Taw Kyint of Thon Khwa Hsoun village, about 10 milesaway from Taungup town. Following the army attack, the AA members took adefensive stand where 12 junta soldiers were reportedly killed. Somesoldiers and AA members sustained injuries,” said a local villager.

Presently boththe armed forces have retreated from the battle site, he added.

It was the firstbattle that took place in the southern part of Rakhine State, which means theAA has lately expanded its military presence to those areas.

In a day ofAugust 25 alone, the fighting between the two forces also broke out in three Townships(Taungup, Maungdaw of Rakhine and Paletwa townships of Chin State).

A source close tothe AA informed that another fighting took place at a place near Namada villageunder Paletwa township for many hours, where the AA captured the Namada armycamp. In the evening hours, the military personnel attacked the AA base withjet fighters. 

Similarly, in thenorth of Maungdaw township, near Waila Taung and pillar number 39 thatdemarcates the Bangladesh border, there was another battle taking place 3 to 5pm yesterday.

"We couldhear the sound of gunfire from the side of pillar number 39. We heard the soundof heavy weapons in the morning and later small arms at around 3 pm. The battlestopped at 5 pm,” he added.

Because of theintense fighting over two thousand villagers left their places. Till dateno less than 60,000 IDPs have not been able to return to their villages. Theyare struggling to live due to lack of relief by the military council andalso international NGOs.

Themilitary council has lately blocked various transportation routes in Maungdawand Rathedaung townships. It has caused difficulties to those asylum seekers toget rice grains and other essential items.